landmark
Plaza Mayor
Grand 17th-century rectangular plaza in central Madrid surrounded by three-storey residential buildings with 237 balconies.
0 km · about 5 min drive
Madrid, Spain · Europe
Madrid works well as a base: 46km from Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.
Madrid is a major city located in Madrid, Spain. With a population of 3,255,944, it is one of the largest urban centers in Europe.
On a road trip, Madrid sits in Spain, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Madrid time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Madrid to your route.
Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in theRead more
EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi). Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula at about 660 metres (2,170 ft) above mean sea level. The capital city of both Spain and the surrounding autonomous community of Madrid, it is the political, economic and cultural centre of the country.
The primitive core of Madrid, a walled military outpost, dates back to the late 9th century, under the Emirate of Córdoba. Conquered by Christians in 1083 or 1085, it consolidated in the Late Middle Ages as a sizeable town of the Crown of Castile. The development of Madrid as an administrative centre was fostered after 1561, as it became the permanent seat of the court of the Hispanic Monarchy. The following centuries were characterised by the reinforcement of Madrid's status within the framework of a centralised form of state-building.
The Madrid urban agglomeration has the second-largest GDP in the European Union. Madrid is ranked as an alpha world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. The metropolitan area hosts major Spanish companies such as Telefónica, Iberia, BBVA and FCC. It concentrates the bulk of banking operations in Spain and it is the Spanish-speaking city generating the largest number of webpages. Madrid houses the headquarters of UN Tourism, the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), the Organization of Ibero-American States (OEI), and the Public Interest Oversight Board (PIOB). Pursuant to the standardising role of the Royal Spanish Academy, Madrid is a centre for Spanish linguistic prescriptivism. Madrid organises fairs such as FITUR, ARCO, SIMO TCI and the Madrid Fashion Week. Madrid is home to football clubs Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.
Madrid is one of Spain's leading destinations for international tourism. In 2023, it ranked second among Spanish tourist destinations with 5,757,815 international visitors. Madrid's main international source markets include the United States, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Mexico. Its landmarks include the Plaza Mayor; the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, founded in 1631; the 19th-century National Library building containing some of Spain's historical archives; many national museums; and the UNESCO World heritage "Golden Triangle of Art", located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: the Prado Museum; the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art; and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which complements the holdings of the other two museums. The mayor is José Luis Martínez-Almeida from the People's Party.
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Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Madrid.
Madrid offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Madrid is located in Madrid, Spain, Europe. The coordinates are 40.4165 latitude, -3.7026 longitude.
Madrid has a population of approximately 3,255,944 people, making it a major city in Spain.
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Essential numbers in Spain
Guardia Civil (traffic police): 062. Two warning triangles required in vehicles.
Full driving guide for Spain6 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Grand 17th-century rectangular plaza in central Madrid surrounded by three-storey residential buildings with 237 balconies.
0 km · about 5 min drive
museum
Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, home to Picasso's monumental anti-war painting Guernica.
1 km · about 5 min drive
museum
Spain's premier art museum with an unrivaled collection of European art, including masterworks by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco.
1 km · about 5 min drive
racetrack
A tight, twisting 3.4km circuit north of Madrid designed by John Hugenholtz that hosted nine Spanish Grands Prix. Still active for club racing and track days, largely unchanged since the 1970s.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
A vast granite royal monastery and palace at the foot of the Guadarrama mountains, burial place of Spanish kings.
42 km · about 50 min drive
national park
Granite peaks and pine forests north of Madrid, with the Puerto de Navacerrada pass beloved by drivers and skiers.
46 km · about 55 min drive
April to October
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