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    Madrid Region

    Spain

    Madrid Region

    Region

    The Madrid region is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, at an elevation of around 650 meters.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Spain
    7. Madrid Region
    The Madrid region is located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, at an elevation of around 650 meters. In addition to the capital, it includes the royal sites of El Escorial and Aranjuez, the university city of Alcalá de Henares, and the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains in the north.
    With nearly seven million inhabitants, the Comunidad de Madrid is Spain's most populous region despite its relatively small size. To the north, the Sierra de Guadarrama rises over 2,400 meters; in the south, the landscape gives way to the Tajo plains. Three places outside the capital are UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Monastery of El Escorial, the Cultural Landscape of Aranjuez, and the Old Town of Alcalá de Henares. All are reachable from Madrid by local trains in under an hour, as are Toledo and Segovia in the neighboring regions.
    Aranjuez

    Place 1 of 3

    Aranjuez

    Aranjuez is located about 50 kilometers south of Madrid on the Tajo. Spanish kings spent spring here for centuries; the Royal Palace, extensive gardens, and the pleasure palace Casa del Labrador date from this era.

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    Madrid

    Place 2 of 3

    Madrid

    Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest city, home to some 3.4 million inhabitants.

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    San Lorenzo de El Escorial

    Place 3 of 3

    San Lorenzo de El Escorial

    San Lorenzo de El Escorial lies about 50 kilometres northwest of Madrid at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

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    Sights in Madrid Region

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Old Town and University of Alcalá de Henares
    Church

    Old Town and University of Alcalá de Henares

    About 30 kilometers east of Madrid lies the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. The university founded in 1499 with its Renaissance college San Ildefonso and the Old Town are UNESCO World Heritage. From Atocha station, take the Cercanías train for about 40 minutes.
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    Plaza Mayor of Chinchón
    Historic Landmark

    Plaza Mayor of Chinchón

    The irregular main square of the village of Chinchón, southeast of Madrid, is surrounded by houses with wooden galleries. It still hosts festivals and bullfights today, with restaurants and bars lining its sides.
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    Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
    National Park

    Sierra de Guadarrama National Park

    The mountain range north of Madrid reaches 2,428 meters at Peñalara and has been a National Park since 2013. Pine forests, granite outcrops, and mountain lakes make it the most popular hiking area for Madrid residents, with trailheads in places like Cercedilla, Rascafría, or the Navacerrada Pass.
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    City Wall of Buitrago del Lozoya
    Attraction

    City Wall of Buitrago del Lozoya

    Buitrago del Lozoya, in northern Madrid Region, is enclosed by the region's best-preserved city wall – the only one fully intact. Of Muslim origin, it was likely built between the 9th and 11th centuries to secure the route to the Somosierra Pass. A National Monument since 1931, a section is freely accessible.
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    Essen & Trinken

    Petit Palace Santa Barbara

    Moderne Zimmer in einem exklusiven Hotel mit Stadtblick, Fahrradverleih, Café-Bar und Terrasse.
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    Intelier Palacio San Martín

    Freundlich eingerichtete Zimmer und Suiten in stilvollem Hotel mit Fitnessraum und Restaurant mit Terrasse.
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    Food & Drink

    Aranjuez Strawberries and Asparagus

    The Tajo's vegetable gardens yield strawberries and green asparagus in spring.

    Chinchón's Anise

    The Chinchón anise spirit has been distilled in the town for centuries.

    Wines from Madrid

    The DO Vinos de Madrid includes vineyards in the south and west of the region, primarily with Garnacha and Tempranillo.

    Culture

    Court and CapitalSince Philip II moved the court to Madrid in 1561, the region has been politically and culturally shaped by the royal house. He had the Monastery of El Escorial built, and his successors expanded the summer residence in Aranjuez. Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, was a center of learning with its university.

    Exploring on-site

    The Cercanías train network connects Madrid with El Escorial, Aranjuez, Alcalá and places in the Sierra. Buses go to Chinchón and Manzanares el Real. With the Metro tourist ticket, you can also travel in the region if you choose the appropriate zone. For hiking in the Sierra, a rental car is more flexible.

    Round trips through this region

    Castilla y León & Madrid

    Castilla y León & Madrid

    The route leads through the historical heart of Spain, where it's noticeably less crowded than on the coasts. From Madrid, the journey takes you via Segovia and Ávila to Salamanca and Burgos; from there, it's about two and a half hours back to Madrid. The legs are short and driven on well-maintained motorways.

    9 Days
    5 stops

    Nearby

    Madrid

    Madrid

    Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest city, home to some 3.4 million inhabitants. Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofía form one of Europe's densest museum districts, also home to the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, and a nightlife that starts late.
    Barrio de Salamanca

    Barrio de Salamanca

    The Barrio de Salamanca is Madrid's elegant residential and shopping district north of the Retiro. Wide, right-angled streets with late 19th-century apartment buildings, luxury boutiques on Calle de Serrano and several museums shape the district.
    El Retiro

    El Retiro

    The Parque del Buen Retiro, with approximately 120 hectares, is Madrid's best-known park. It originated in the 17th century as a royal palace garden, became public in 1868, and since 2021, along with the Paseo del Prado, has been a UNESCO World Heritage. Key attractions include the Grand Pond, the Crystal Palace, and the Rose Garden.
    San Lorenzo de El Escorial

    San Lorenzo de El Escorial

    San Lorenzo de El Escorial lies about 50 kilometres northwest of Madrid at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The town is defined by the monastery of El Escorial, which Philip II had built in the 16th century as a palace, monastery and royal burial place, and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Aranjuez

    Aranjuez

    Aranjuez is located about 50 kilometers south of Madrid on the Tajo. Spanish kings spent spring here for centuries; the Royal Palace, extensive gardens, and the pleasure palace Casa del Labrador date from this era. The cultural landscape has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2001.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Unsplash, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI