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.

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.]

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.

So I was sad because I bought a ticket to go on the rooftop, but it was raining, so I couldn't. But…read morethey refunded me automatically, so that was good. So instead I meandered between floors looking at all the art waiting for the rain to dissipate a bit. Some was cool, some I didn't get, to each their own. It's a gorgeous building and worth a visit if you have the time. I'll have to come back for the rooftop next time!

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.)

very delicious！ beautiful surroundings!…read more好吃！太好吃了！很出片！牛肉好吃 服务态度很漂亮，室外的话也都非常的温暖，因为它有火炉，而它离这个公园还有建筑都非常近，超级漂亮

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!

Nice park to hang out with a great monument to Cervantes and his number one muse - Don Quijote…read more While we were in the city, this place served as a landmark for me on my morning runs. The walking tours we were on stopped here, and it was well lit, between the ambient lighting and the Christmas lighting, for the kids to still want to hang out at the playground. Additionally, they had a small seasonal market there, an ice rink, and music. It remained busy well after sunset. It is surrounded by tall buildings that overlook the park and the surrounding trafficked streets, like Gran Via. It's clean. It's safe, and if you're into Cervantes, worth a stop.

Plaza de España marks the westernmost point of Calle Gran Via. It sits right across from Zara and…read morethe Plaza de España metro stop which actually connects to the Noviciado metro stop underground. There isn't much to the area besides the statue and there's some construction in the area, but I do appreciate the signage telling people how far the Palacio Real de Madrid & Temple Debod are. This is a location you check off your checklist for Madrid.

Beautiful beautiful rooms and collections Rudest staff of…read moreall time tho Line up early to avoid waiting, otherwise it would be like hours of wait

There was a bit of a wait like an hour or so. We waited in line for at least 1.5 hrs. We spent 3-4…read morehrs and leisurely walked around. I would say if you're a fan of art and old mansions, this would be for you. However, if you have a short attention span and walk very fast through each room, then this place is not for you. Cost was like 3 euros. Madrid is a walkable city so we just walked over here no Uber. Employees were nice and helpful as long as you respect the place.

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.