If you are visiting Madrid, the Royal Palace is an absolute must-see. It is an amazing space that…read morefeels less like a museum and more like a living testament to Spanish grandeur. The palace is very interesting and full of history, sitting on the site of an old 9th-century fortress and reborn in the 18th century after a massive fire.  The scale of the building is almost hard to wrap your head around. It actually has 3,400 rooms (3,418 to be exact!), making it the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Thankfully, the visitor route is easy to follow, and we made it through about 35 rooms, which was just enough to see the highlights without feeling completely overwhelmed. Each room is more jaw-dropping than the last--from the velvet-draped Throne Room to the stunning frescoes on the ceilings.  I highly recommend visiting with a tour guide. Not only do they provide the context that brings the tapestries and armor to life, but it's the best way to avoid the long lines that wrap around the Plaza de la Armería. Having a pro lead the way made the entrance seamless and ensured we didn't miss the "hidden" stories behind the Royal Pharmacy and the Grand Staircase. Whether you are a history buff or just want to see some of the most beautiful interiors in the world, don't skip this. It was easily the highlight of our time in the city!

We had pre booked our tickets online for the first entry of the day. We got there before hand and…read morelined up in the pre booked line. They ended up opening the doors an hour after the website said, and because that was after our reservation they wouldn't honor our tickets. They said we had to buy new ones and request a refund for the tickets we had purchased already. Now two weeks later and I have yet to hear back from their team regarding my request. The visit was cool and it's a really great experience. Just be careful with your reservation, I'd recommend a few hours into their opening time to be safe.

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.