Puerta de Alcalá Neoclassical gate from 1778, floodlit after dark.
Plaza de Cibeles Neoclassical fountain and square, Madrid's symbol.
Palacio de Cibeles White palace with wedding-cake towers, now city hall.
Círculo de Bellas Artes Cultural hub with rooftop views and a historic facade.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Fills gaps in the Golden Triangle's art collections.
Museo del Prado Home to the best collection of Spanish art, from medieval to modern.
Parque del Retiro Madrid's grand central park, once a royal retreat.
Barrio de las Letras Literary quarter with Golden Age echoes.
Real Jardín Botánico 8-hectare botanic garden next to the Prado.
Palacio de Cristal Glass palace from the 1800s, now for art shows.
Puerta del Sol Bustling square, Spain's radial road hub.
CaixaForum Madrid Cultural center in a former power station.
Chocolatería San Ginés Classic churros con chocolate since 1894.
Gran Vía Central Madrid's grand boulevard, bustling with shops and neon.
Plaza Mayor Principal public square, once the heart of Old Madrid.
Plaza de España Pedestrian square at Gran Vía's end, reopened in 2021.
Museo Reina Sofía Modern art museum, home to Picasso's Guernica.
Mercado de San Miguel Covered market with a buzzy tapas scene.
Estación de Atocha Oldest major railway station, with a tropical garden inside.
Jardines de Sabatini Formal gardens behind the Royal Palace.
Palacio Real de Madrid Largest royal palace in Western Europe.
Catedral de la Almudena Consecrated in 1993 after a century's construction.
El Rastro Madrid's sprawling Sunday flea market.
Templo de Debod Ancient Egyptian temple, relocated to a park with sunset views.
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Home of Real Madrid, 83k seats, retractable roof.