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    Madrid

    Spain

    Madrid

    CityCulture

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

    by Felix Gillen

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    5. Spain
    7. Madrid Region
    9. 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

    District 1 of 2

    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.

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    El Retiro

    District 2 of 2

    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.

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    Sights in Madrid

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Retiro-Park

    1Retiro-Park

    The park originated in the 17th century as a royal palace garden and has been open to the public since 1868. At the large pond with the equestrian monument of Alfonso XII, you can rent rowing boats; the Crystal Palace, made of glass and iron, hosts exhibitions by the Museo Reina Sofía. A UNESCO World Heritage site since 2021.
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    Palacio Real

    2Palacio Real

    Palast aus dem 18. Jahrhundert für Staatsanlässe sowie Führungen durch Säle voller Kunstwerke & Antiquitäten.
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    Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

    3Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

    Museum mit europäischen Meisterwerken vom 13. bis zum 20. Jahrhundert und von der Renaissance bis zur Pop Art.
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    Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

    4Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

    Real Madrid's stadium on Paseo de la Castellana, with over 80,000 seats and a retractable roof since renovation. The stadium tour leads through the museum, changing rooms and onto the stands.
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    Matadero Madrid

    5Matadero Madrid

    Kulturzentrum in einem ehemaligen Schlachthaus mit moderner Kunst, Ausstellungen, Performances und Kino.
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    Museo del Prado
    Museum

    6Museo del Prado

    One of the world's most important art museums, featuring the royal painting collection: Velázquez's “Las Meninas,” Goya's Black Paintings, works by El Greco, Titian, Rubens, and Hieronymus Bosch. In the early evening, admission to the permanent exhibition is free, but long queues form.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    La Esquina del Real

    Klassische französische Küche wie Foie gras, Ente und Kalbsbries in Restaurant mit gedämpfter Beleuchtung und Backsteinwänden.
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    2

    Corral de la Morería

    Kreative spanische Gerichte und abendliche Flamenco-Darbietungen in einem bekannten, urigen Restaurant.
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    Food and Drink

    Cocido madrileño

    Stew with chickpeas, vegetables, and various meats, served in several courses: first the broth with noodles, then chickpeas and meat.

    Bocadillo de calamares

    A bun with fried calamari rings, sold in the bars around the Plaza Mayor.

    Churros and Porras

    Fried pastry with thick hot chocolate, traditionally at Chocolatería San Ginés near Puerta del Sol.

    Vermut

    On the weekend, Madrileños drink a vermouth on tap before lunch, especially around the Rastro and in La Latina.

    Spirit

    Capital Since 1561Philip II made Madrid the royal seat in 1561, transforming it from a small town into the capital of a world empire. The Hapsburgs had the Plaza Mayor built, and in the 18th century, the Bourbons added the Royal Palace and the Paseo del Prado. The Prado displays masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco, the Reina Sofía features Picasso’s “Guernica”, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza bridges the gap to modernity.Life on the StreetsCity life unfolds outdoors: in the tapas bars of Cava Baja, at the El Rastro flea market on Sunday mornings, and on the terraces of Malasaña. In May, Madrid celebrates its patron saint San Isidro with concerts and festivities in traditional attire. Flamenco is performed in tablaos like Corral de la Morería.

    Exploring locally

    The Metro, with its twelve lines, is the fastest means of transport, complemented by EMT city buses and Cercanías suburban trains. From Barajas Airport, you can travel to the city centre by Metro Line 8, Cercanías train, or airport bus. The long-distance train stations Atocha and Chamartín connect Madrid with the whole country. For visitors, there is a Tourist Ticket for unlimited travel over several days. Driving into the city centre is not recommended: large areas are low-emission zones, and parking is expensive.

    Accommodations in Madrid

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    Campgrounds in Madrid

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    Plan your trip to Madrid

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      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
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      Trip to Madrid

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      • 1Retiro-Park3 days
      • 2Palacio Real4 days
      • 3Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza5 days
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    Nearby

    Madrid Region

    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.
    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