I have visited Madrid several times and did not realize that you can a) go into the Palacio de…read moreCibeles and b) that it is free. My bf made this discovery when he was exploring while I was at work. Great discovery! After entering through a security/bag check, you walk upstairs onto the 2nd floor. There is a tourist office as well as a large relaxing/working space. An exhibit offers an overview of the commitment to green spaces in English and Spanish. The floors above house the history of the building, including the architecture and design. There are also special exhibits featuring different artists. If you are visiting before early May 2026, I highly recommend Ana Juan's "Wunderkammer" exhibition. Beautiful and thought provoking! There is an observation deck that can be accessed for €4. It was closed in mid-Feb for technical repairs without a confirmed reopening date. Hopefully it will be available to the public again soon! A bit farther away but you can always venture to the top of the Riu hotel for incredible views.

Madrid is truly a treasure trove of architectural riches, but unlike Paris or London, I didn't…read morethink Madrid had a single defining landmark that came to mind. This mammoth building might be it. Jamie W and I just happened to be walking on the Gran Via when we were gobsmacked by the architectural grandeur of this dual purpose building (Photo 9). It's not only Madrid's City Hall but also CentroCentro, a thriving public cultural center. Designed by Antonio Palacios and open since 1919, the building has soaring ceilings with neo-Gothic towers that make it look like it started life as a cathedral. It didn't and was actually the main post office for years. The main draw here is the rooftop terrace which offers a panoramic view of central Madrid, in particular, the bustling Plaza de Cibeles below (Video). Admission is 4€, and a timeslot reservation is required to use their glass elevator. It's easier just to take the curving stairs from the top. En route, you can stop at Cornamusa Cibeles for a moderately priced set-menu lunch. We did and thought it was decent enough (review: https://yelp.to/wlIeOvQ_vQ). There's also a glass-vaulted gallery that hosts contemporary art exhibitions. On the ground floor is a cafe where you can have a light lunch or just a cup of coffee (Photo 8). We opted for the latter. It was hodgepodge but somehow it worked. RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/wzXOFbYL73

Here's something you don't see every day - it's a vertical garden. Not flat like the botanical…read moregardens nearby. This garden is a dramatic four-story (78 feet!) tall green wall near the CaixaForum building. Facing south, the garden gets near constant sunlight as it moves across the sky. And yes, it sure gets hot in Madrid. But you'll find yourself much cooler with a visit to the garden. Worth admiring the 250 different species of plants that survive and thrive without soil. It is an ever-changing, living piece of art. [Review 12542 overall, 2332 of 2019.]

Meanwhile, the companion in some ways of the other review I just wrote, of the Palace of the Stock…read moreExchange in Portugal, this tour is definitely of a gaudy palace built by royalty with a whole *lot* of stolen gold and jewels, so I was glad to learn that it isn't *still* owned by the royal family, it's owned by the state and mostly used for state functions, other than its purpose as far as tourists are concerned, being a museum of a fraction of the riches Spain owns (and not a coincidence, presumably, that they also built a museum of *more* of the riches owned by Spain, on display right next door, for a combined, reduced price.) The self-guided tour is worth it if you like seeing a bunch of super ornate architecture, furniture, artwork, etc. We got snippets of the actual tour as we passed each other at various points - I was happier being able to walk through the route at our own pace, which took about an hour. I felt sorry for the people whose tickets were for any time the following day, though, as it was randomly closed all day the next day we were in Madrid a few months ago, which I gather isn't an altogether rare thing to happen, that they take reservations and then close last minute. We got in in the nick of time, it seemed. By the way, if you have bags, you do have to leave your bags downstairs in a locker at a small additional fee. It was small enough I do remember exactly how much it even was, though, so it clearly wasn't a big deal.

Palacio Real de Madrid is probably my favorite palaces we've seen on our travels…read more I loved that they had these massive air purifiers so it didn't smell stale or dusty (it was incredibly comfortable), but I also adored the absolutely gorgeous purple wallpaper and how much care had been taken in the decor inside the building. Absolutely do a tour if you have a chance as ours gave such a clear impression of the space and added such a nice depth to our visit. It was one of my favorite things we did while in Madrid, and I can't recommend visiting Palacio Real de Madrid enough.

This is a beautiful stop while walking around Madrid. It's right by Retiro Park and Plaza de la…read moreIndependencia, so it's easy to visit before or after a walk through the park. It's specially beautiful at the time of sunset and when it's lit up in the evening; best times to take photos. This is one of those quick visits yet a classic classical landmark and a must-visit in Madrid.

Puerta de Alcalá is one of those classic Madrid landmarks that looks even better in person. It is…read moresuch a cute picture spot for the gram, especially with the city traffic and architecture around it giving that postcard feel. I also loved that it is right by the beautiful Retiro Park, so it is easy to work into a day of exploring. A little history makes it even cooler. Puerta de Alcalá was commissioned by King Charles III and completed in 1778, making it one of Madrid's most iconic monuments. It was originally built as one of the royal gates into the city, and now it stands as a beautiful symbol of Madrid's history and charm. If you are nearby, it is definitely worth stopping for a few photos and taking in the view. Oh and it's also right by a Starbucks if you want to be basic and grab a drink like I did. lol (I swear I also went to local cafés as well.)

Didn't even know this place existed. A friend and I were traveling in Madrid and it was Sunday…read morewhich was a perfect time to visit this area because of 'Las Ramblas'. We sort of got lost and took a different way back... I was glad we did because we ran into this gem. We just sat on a makeshift chair and looked around at people playing soccer, building, studying, planting or just lounging. Its unlike any park I have ever seen. It doesn't feel like a public part as as much of a community project. Its is out of this world and just strait cool. Spent an hour just lounging and eating breakfast while a few people jammed on acoustic guitar.

This place took me completely by surprise. A construction site that has been turned from an ignored…read morederelict site into a community space, this is a great example of how people have responded to the recession. There is a cafe, a stage for concerts, a basketball/football court and regular film screenings. All provided by people who saw a failed property development and decided to use it for something better. An excellent example of community spirit.

One of the few monuments dedicated to the devil (one of the two in Madrid). This fountain, at 666…read moremeters above sea level, is located in one of the highest places of El Retiro Park. I think this point there is one of the best sunsets in the city, depending on the time of year, you can see the sun behind the skyline of the downtown. It is worth going up the Cuesta de Moyanos to this point of the Park when the sun sets, just to see the colors of Madrid sky.

The view here is amazing. We had awesome food and drinks but being able to really take in the city…read morewas one of the best parts! Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Liked - Gambas French toast Cocktail

Though I'm not a native Spaniard, I studied abroad here and visited too- this is one of the best…read morerooftop views in the city! Unless you make a dinner reservation (only way to get food too), tickets are 5 euro to enter the bar and you might wait around 10 min in line to enter. While cocktails are expensive by European standards at 10 euro, tinto de verano (a classic) isn't terrible at 5 euro. Even without drinks, definitely worth it just for the view! Sunsets are amazing. On a chilly evening, they have heaters over some of the lounge chairs. I'd highly recommend to get a great view of the city!

This is a landmark in central Madrid. It is an actual Egyptian temple that was moved to Spain when…read moreflooding from building the Aswan Dam was going to destroy many archaeological sites. It is surrounded by a beautiful park, easily accessible by public transportation.

Sunset at Temple De Bod is a daily celebration of life. As the sun's last rays cast down on the…read morecity, throngs of people do a pilgrimage to view the splendor.

It just looks so dang iconic. It is the closest thing to New York's Flatiron in Madrid. The feel is…read moresimilar, but distinctly European.

The Fountain of Neptune is a neoclassical fountain in the center of the Plaza de Cánovas del…read moreCastillo, a roundabout in the Paseo del Prado. The sculpture in the center represents Neptune, a Roman water deity. It was made in 1781 out of marble.

Lovely by day but stunning by night. The lights hit the statues perfectly to bring Neptune to life…read more The fountain is a major landmark along the Paseo del Prado, right in front of the Museo Thussen-Bornemisza and the Museo Prado. Major tourist area, of course. If you're going to try and get a close up of the fountain, watch the traffic!