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The Bear and the Strawberry Tree

Madrid architecture

Madrid is the highest-altitude capital city in the European Union, sitting at 667 meters above sea level — high enough that the city experiences notably cold winters and hot summers. The Prado Museum houses one of the finest collections of European art in the world, with masterworks by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. Madrileños are famous for their late-night culture: dinner rarely starts before 9pm, and nightlife continues well past midnight on any given day of the week.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 1619Oldest · Plaza Mayor, Madrid
  • 34 mTallest · Royal Palace of Madrid
  • 6Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoAdolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)

    Madrid-Barajas Airport is one of Europe's largest by land area, featuring four terminals including the celebrated Terminal 4 — designed by Richard Rogers and Antonio Lamela — whose undulating bamboo-colored roof and wave-like ceilings have won international architecture awards. The metro line connects all terminals to the city center in around 25 minutes.

  • CurrencyEuro (€)
  • LanguageSpanish

    Castilian Spanish (Castellano) as spoken in Madrid is considered the prestige dialect of the Spanish-speaking world, and what most learners study as standard Spanish. The Madrid accent is known for its distinctive pronunciation of 'c' and 'z' sounds — a feature not found in Latin American Spanish. The city is a major global crossroads where you will hear dozens of languages.

  • Getting aroundMetro de Madrid

    Madrid's metro system is one of the largest in the world with 13 lines and over 300 stations, making it the most comprehensive way to navigate the city. A single ticket covers the entire system, and the metro runs until 1:30am on weekdays and 24 hours on weekends — reflecting the city's famously late-night culture. The city's EMT bus network complements the metro with over 200 bus routes running through the night.

5 landmarks in Madrid

  1. Museo del Prado
    Photo: Emilio J. Rodríguez Posada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Museo del Prado

    Calle de Ruiz de Alarcón 23, 28014 Madrid, Spain

    Spain's national art museum and one of the world's finest, home to Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's masterpieces, and El Greco's works.

    Built
    1819
    Architect
    Juan de Villanueva
    Style
    Neoclassical
    Height
    17 m (56 ft)
    Stories
    3
    Today
    Art museum
  2. Royal Palace of Madrid
    Photo: Tim Adams, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Royal Palace of Madrid

    Calle de Bailén s/n, 28071 Madrid, Spain

    The official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, the largest royal palace in Europe by floor area with 3,418 rooms.

    Built
    1764
    Architect
    Juan Bautista Sachetti, Filippo Juvara
    Style
    Spanish Baroque / Classicist
    Height
    34 m (112 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Royal palace / museum
  3. Museo Reina Sofía
    Photo: Museoreinasofia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Museo Reina Sofía

    Calle de Santa Isabel 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain

    Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, housing Picasso's Guernica — arguably the most famous anti-war painting in history.

    Built
    1992
    Architect
    Francesco Sabatini (original), Jean Nouvel (extension)
    Style
    Neoclassical / Contemporary
    Height
    16 m (52 ft)
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Modern art museum
  4. Buen Retiro Park
    Photo: Max Alexander / PromoMadrid, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Buen Retiro Park

    Plaza de la Independencia 7, 28001 Madrid, Spain

    Madrid's beloved 125-hectare public park, once a royal retreat now home to a boating lake, the Crystal Palace, and the famous Fallen Angel statue.

    Built
    1631
    Architect
    Royal gardens / various
    Style
    Landscape / Formal gardens
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Public park
  5. Plaza Mayor, Madrid
    Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Plaza Mayor, Madrid

    Plaza Mayor, 28012 Madrid, Spain

    A grand public square in the heart of Madrid, built under the reign of Philip III and used historically for bullfights, executions, and markets.

    Built
    1619
    Architect
    Juan de Herrera, Juan Gómez de Mora
    Style
    Herreran
    Stories
    4
    Today
    Public square / restaurants

More cities in Europe

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