Best views in Madrid: my top 3 viewpoints in the city

Madrid is such an incredible city in Europe. Historic buildings, delicious food, rich history, live music and stunning views. What more can you want from the Spanish capital? I love great views and I always try to find the most spectacular viewpoints when I travel. In this article I will share my favorite spots with the best views in Madrid. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

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1. Palacio de Cibeles

Cibeles Palace is a complex of two stunning white buildings located in Plaza de Cibeles in the center of Madrid. These emblematic buildings used to be the city’s post office and telegraph headquarters back in the day. Today it houses the City Council of Madrid.

cibeles viewpoint in madrid, one of the best views in madrid

There is an observation deck at Palacio de Cibeles on the top floor. It costs 3 euros to go up but it’s totally worth it. You can buy tickets here. This rooftop terrace is one of Madrid’s hidden gems.

It offers one of the best viewpoints of Madrid. You can see the Plaza de Cibeles fountain, Paseo de Recoletos, Paseo del Prado, and Gran Vía. Basically all major avenues located in the heart of the city.

I think the best time of day to visit is as soon as they open in the morning. That’s what I did and there were only 3 other people there. If you go this early you can have the entire place to yourself to enjoy one of the most iconic views of Madrid and take lots of pictures.

2. Temple of Debod

If you visit the city of Madrid, the Royal Palace should be on your itinerary. When you visit the palace continue walking past its Sabatini gardens and you will get to the Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple. You might be a little confused. Why is there an Egyptian temple in the heart of Madrid? It was a gift from the Egyptian government in 1968 for the help provided by Spain in saving the Abu Simbel temples.

Right next to Debod Temple there is a park with a beautiful view of Madrid. It’s free and you’ll be able to see the Royal Palace, plus a lot of the skyline of Madrid. It’s the perfect place to sit down on a bench and recharge while enjoying spectacular views of the Royal Palace and of the Madrid skyline.

view from the park next to temple of debod in madrid

3. The terrace at Riu Plaza España

Riu Plaza is an iconic hotel located in Plaza de España. The coolest thing about it is that it has a rooftop bar and a terrace on the 27th floor that offers the most spectacular view of Madrid.

This terrace has a 360 view of the city. And it also has a glass walkaway suspended in the air. It’s the perfect mix of adrenaline and the most breathtaking views of the city.

You can go to this rooftop bar to enjoy a drink and the views even though you are not a hotel guest. It tends to be a popular spot, but I can understand that as it’s a great place with amazing panoramic views of Madrid.

FAQ’s about Madrid

Where should I stay in Madrid?

Mid-budget hotels

I stayed at NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa in the city center. It’s about a 7-minute walk to Plaza Mayor. The hotel room was clean and cozy, and service was 10/10. They even gave me some brownies since I visited around my birthday. So sweet! You can read my full review of this hotel here.

me holding a plate with chocolate cake at a hotel in madrid

Other good mid-budget options are Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid, Only YOU Boutique Hotel, and Hotel Riu Plaza España.

Luxury hotels

If you have a higher budget and are seeking a more luxurious option in the city center, then Santo Mauro – a Luxury Collection Hotel, Four Seasons, and Mandarin Oriental Ritz are all great options.

Hostels

Unfortunately, I am not the right person to recommend you any hostels. I am in my 30s and I value comfort, so I will always choose to stay at a hotel vs a hostel. I can see how a hostel is a great option for younger people, but I’m at a different stage in life, so I prefer hotels.

Airbnb

I also tend to pick hotels over Airbnbs because I feel like it’s less of a risk and it’s a more reliable option. One time when I visited Miami with my friends we booked an Airbnb that looked great in pictures but looked really bad in reality. We ended up going to a hotel instead. After that experience I tend to avoid Airbnbs altogether.

What is the best time to visit Madrid?

I went in October and it was perfect. The weather is still pretty warm, but there are less tourists compared to the peak summer months. May could also be a great option.

I tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.

Weather in Madrid gets very hot and humid during the summer months, so it can be very uncomfortable to spend the entire day outside, exploring. August is usually vacation month for most European countries, including Spain, so many restaurants and shops will be closed.

What is the best day trip from Madrid?

When you’re in Madrid you have to take a day trip to Segovia and Toledo. The tour departs from Madrid city center, close to Palacio Real. In the morning you’ll visit Segovia, then you’ll be back in Madrid for lunch for about an hour, and in the afternoon you’ll head to Toledo.

Segovia’s old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will visit the Roman aqueduct, the Alcazar (which inspired Disney for Cinderella’s Castle as well as the Queen’s Castle in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), and the Cathedral.

Toledo used to be Spain’s capital city. It was also the city where El Greco lived, and you can see his masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, here.

It’s going to be a long day, but it’s so worth it. Fun fact: I met one of my really good friends on this tour. She is Greek, we have the same name, and she was also solo traveling in Madrid. Connecting with people from all over the world and making new friends are some of my favorite things about travel.

How can I get to the city center from Adolfo Suarez Madrid–Barajas Airport?

Train

You can take the RENFE train from terminal T4. If you land at other terminals you can take a free shuttle bus to take you to T4 to catch the train. A round trip costs 5.2 euros. There are trains leaving T4 every 15 minutes. The trains do not operate during the night though. If you take the train you should get to Atocha Train Station in about 30 minutes.

Bus

You can take Bus Line 203 which will take you to Atocha Train Station in about 45 minutes. Follow the “Airport Express Aeropuerto” sign to get to the two bus stops located at the Departures and Arrivals levels of T1 and T2, as well as the on the ground level of T4. Buses run 24/7. Bus tickets cost 5 euros and you can buy them on the bus using either cash or a credit card.

Metro

Taking the metro is a bit more complicated. From the airport you can take the Pink Metro Line 8. However, you will have to switch to Metro Line 10 or Metro Line 1 at Nuevos Ministerios subway station. There are two airport metro stations, one at T4 and another one on the first floor of T2 which serves T1, T2, and T3. A ticket costs around 5 euros.

Taxi / uber

This is the most convenient option since it leaves you right in front of your hotel. Taxis have a flat fee of 30 euros. Ubers are a bit cheaper. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.

How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

Is Madrid safe for a solo female traveler?

Yes, Madrid is pretty safe, but you do have to be aware of your surroundings. There were 2 instances when I didn’t feel safe, both of them due to pickpockets:

A hotel concierge alerted a group of tourists walking across the street from the Prado museum that there were pickpockets trying to steal from them.
On my day trip to Segovia and Toledo the tour guide asked us to let two people pass by. It turns out that those two people were pickpockets who were trying to target our group.

As long as you’re on high alert, as you should be anytime you travel solo, you’ll be fine.

Do I need cash for my trip to Madrid?

I didn’t use cash at all when I visited, I paid for everything with a credit card. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops who don’t accept credit cards.

Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.

How can I get around Madrid?

Madrid is a very walkable city and it has a great subway system with stations near all major attractions in case your hotel is further away from the city center. If you don’t like to take the subway you can always take an uber.

Do I have to tip in Madrid?

Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.

Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?

I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Madrid is a very popular destination so it’s very likely that tickets will sell out. Especially if you visit during the summer months. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.

Do people speak English in Madrid?

Yes, they do. Madrid attracts a lot of visitors each year and, as you can imagine, not all tourists speak Spanish. I still recommend you learn a few words in Spanish ahead of your trip though. I do this for every country I visit.