Top 5 Attractions to see in Madrid

Fuente de la Cibeles By Wikimedia

Top 5 Attractions to see in Madrid

The city of Madrid has countless activities, attractive neighbourhoods and parks for sightseeing.

Some places to visit include the palace, Retiro, Prado and you can read more on this from our blog on  10 Best day trips from Madrid.

There are several monuments to see like historical and art museums. You can also enjoy food carnivals and beautiful flamenco dances.

If you happen to be in Madrid for a short time and would love to see some of the best sights in the city, we have a list of the top 5 attractions to see in this city.

1.Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol Madrid, By Manuel M. Vicente-Wikimedia

We start with Puerta del Sol also known as Gate of the Sun that is at the heart of Madrid.

This square light up on New Year’s Eve with revellers welcoming in the new year. The square has limited car traffic and is therefore pleasurable to walk through as you admire the architecture and take photos.

At the centre of the square is Casa de Correos, the government’s headquarters that has a massive clock that chimes during new year’s celebrations.

In front of Casa de Correos is a plaque that shows where the national highway begins from, it is known as Kilometre Zero.

Madrid’s symbol is represented by a bear statue next to a strawberry tree at the entrance of the square. It was built in 1967.

Puerta del Sol has been the meeting point for many local and tourists alike. it is one of the most famous landmarks in the city hence the reason why it is on our top attractions.

A brief history of this square is that it served as a gate in the 15^th century with the city wall around it. Later in the 18^th century, Casa de Correos was built.

Then in the 19^th century, architects Lucio del Valle, Juan Rivera and Jose More refined the palace further.

A fountain was built in the 20^th century but was removed to allow pedestrians to walk with ease.

Several historical events have been celebrated in Puerta del Sol like the proclamation of the Second Republic in 1931 and the 15-M Movement, a vast demonstration for Spanish democracy in 2011.

2. Puerta de Alcalá

Puerta del Alcala By Selbymay -Wikimedia

Another attraction that one must see while in Madrid is Puerta de Alcalá, a Neo-classical monument set in Plaza de la Independencia in Madrid.

This was the first monument to be built in the continent as a symbol of triumph against the Romans. It is way older than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

It is another famous landmark in Madrid located closely to one of the main entrances to El Retiro Park.

This gate was built in 1778 by Francesco Sabatini an Italian architect. Sabatini worked for the royal Spanish family for most of his life.

The gate was built to replace a brick monument that had been built in the 16^th century demolished by King Charles 3^rd. This the remaining gate among five that initially made part of the city walls.

It got its name from being along the road that led to Alcalá de Henares, a Spanish city which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. this site is 35 kilometres from Madrid.

Situated close to El Retiro park, you can also spend some time there once you are done admiring this monument.

3. Plaza de Cibeles

Fuente de la Cibeles By Wikimedia

Plaza de Cibeles is one of the most beautiful plazas in Madrid. It is surrounded by several buildings that were built in a Neo-Classical style. The stunning Palacio de Cibeles in the plaza was designed by Antonio Palacios.

Another impressive monument at the plaza is Fuente de la Cibeles, a fountain. This statue depicts the Roman goddess Cybele on a chariot drawn by lions.

The fountain is made of purple marbles and was once the source of water for the people that lived nearby.

This fountain was built in 1782 by Ventura Rodriguez. It was then moved to the centre of Plaza de Cibeles and became a decorative element in 1895.

Spanish sports teams such as Real Madrid, National Spanish football and basketball have been celebrating their victories at this square.

To enjoy impressive views of the city, head over to the Palace that has a rooftop terrace with a bar and restaurant.

Other famous buildings at the plaza worth your time are Palacio de Buenavista built in 1777, Banco de España built in 1891 and Palacio de Linares built in 1900.

4. Museo Reina Sofia

Museo Reina Sofia By Rodney – Wikimedia

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, which was initially a hospital, was designed to complement the historical Prado Museum. It was officially opened by Queen Sofia in 1992.

This national museum is considered as a modern museum showcasing modern art of the 20^th century.

In 2005, it got an expansion and a facelift from Jean Nouvel, a French architect. This museum is home to wide-ranging artworks by Spanish artists like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.

Masterpieces from Picasso include El Guernica that depicts the horrors of the Spanish Civil war.

You can get to this museum by taking the Atocha subway close to the Golden Triangle of art.

Other than the wide range of excellent Spanish art pieces, there are frequent temporary exhibitions both from national and international artists.

There is also a free-access library with a plethora of art materials such as educational books, audio and video recordings.

A record of 4.5 million people visited the museum in 2019.

5. Neptune Fountain

Neptune Fountain By Jules Verne Times Two-Wikimedia

The last attraction to see in this beautiful city is the Neptune Fountain, a marble neo-classical fountain, that is one of the most stunning in Madrid.

You will find this magnificent fountain in the centre of Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo. Its other name is Plaza de Neptuno and was inspired by Greek mythology.

It depicts Neptune, a Greek sea god, holding a trident on a carriage. The carriage is pulled by two creatures with a horse-shaped upper body and a fish like-tail.

Construction of this fountain was commissioned by King Charles III to modernize the city. It was built between 1780 and 1784 by Ventura Rodríguez and Juan Pascual de Mena.

There are beautiful aristocratic buildings that were built between the 18^th and 19^th centuries like the Ritz and the Palace hotels.

This fountain initially faced Paseo del Prado but was moved after some renovation to the centre of Plaza de Casanova del Castillo.