Here are what we consider to be some of the must-see places during your visit to Madrid.

El Retiro

El Retiro is the favourite park of both Madrileños and tourists visiting the capital. It attracts around twenty million visitors a year, making it the most popular spot in Madrid.

It is also the largest urban park in Europe in terms of the number of trees and shrubs, and features a large number of sculptures and statues from different periods.

It features exhibition halls, puppet theatres, a municipal library, an artificial hill and a lake where you can row your own boat or take a trip on a solar-powered boat.

The Crystal Palace is another of the Retiro’s treasures. It is a glass and metal greenhouse inspired by London’s Crystal Palace. It was built to mark the Philippine Islands Exhibition.

It now belongs to the Reina Sofía Museum and houses an exhibition of contemporary art.

Cibeles Square

Located at the junction of the Paseo de Recoletos, the Paseo del Prado and Calle Alcalá.

Plaza de Cibeles is not only a tourist attraction due to its excellent location and iconic fountain, but also because of the significant buildings that surround it: the Palacio de Buenavista, which houses the Army Headquarters; the Palacio de Linares, which houses the Casa de América; the Bank of Spain, and the Palacio de Cibeles (or Communications Palace), which today houses Madrid City Council.

The building is open to visitors, as it is also a cultural venue hosting exhibitions and events, and you can access its terrace, which offers excellent views of the square and the surrounding area.

The Puerta de Alcalá

The Puerta de Alcalá is one of Madrid’s most iconic monuments and one of the most photographed. It was the first triumphal arch to be built in Europe following the fall of the Roman Empire.

The name ‘Puerta de Alcalá’ comes from its location on the old road leading to Alcalá de Henares, and the word ‘puerta’ (gate) refers to it being one of the five ancient royal gates that provided access to the city.

It stands in the centre of the roundabout in Plaza de la Independencia, next to the Retiro Park, and is the junction of such major streets as Alcalá, Alfonso XII and Serrano.

The Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol is one of Madrid’s most famous squares and the quintessential meeting place for locals and tourists alike.

It is home to three of the capital’s most significant landmarks and buildings, such as Kilometre Zero – the point from which Spain’s radial roads begin – the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, which is the symbol of Madrid, and the clock on the Casa de Correos, known throughout Spain as the place from which the famous New Year’s Eve chimes are broadcast.

The Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is situated right in the heart of Madrid, very close to the Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace. It is another of Madrid’s most iconic spots, a place steeped in history and brimming with atmosphere.

It can be accessed via 10 different entrances, which you’ll recognise by their large arches. The most notable building in the square is the Casa de la Panadería. Originally, this was the site of the market’s trading hall, and its ground floor, with its colonnaded portico, housed bakeries. It now houses the Madrid City Council’s tourist information centre.

Gran Vía

Gran Vía is Madrid’s busiest and most iconic area. It stands out for the number of landmark buildings it boasts, such as the Metrópolis building at the start of the street, the Capitol building, the Carrión with its illuminated sign, and the headquarters of Telefónica, which was Spain’s first skyscraper and one of the first in Europe.

Over the years, it has become a hub offering a wealth of options for enjoying the capital’s finest leisure activities, with cinemas, theatres and exhibitions.

It is also the perfect destination for a day’s shopping. The top brands have impressive shops all along the street, which tourists are keen to visit.