The true essence of Madrid is in its neighbourhoods. To learn more about this beautiful city, we recommend that, in addition to visiting the best-known and most frequented places, you visit some of the most famous neighbourhoods in Madrid.
The most famous and authentic neighbourhoods in Madrid
The Spanish capital does not lack places that fascinate and inspire locals and visitors.“Iconic areas that house history, art, passion, and culture in each of its streets” sings one of the verses of the famous song written by the Mexican composer Agustín Lara in honor of this city.
The Center: the most historic Madrid
The Center of Madrid is officially divided into six main neighbourhoods: Palacio, Embajadores, Cortes, Justicia, Universidad, and Sol.
Some of the places to visit are the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Almudena Cathedral, the Sabatini Gardens, the Royal Theater of Madrid, the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza de Oriente, the Plaza de la Villa, the Plaza Mayor and the Arco de Cuchilleros, the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande, the Gran Vía and the Metrópolis Building, the Palacio de las Cortes, the Plaza de España, and the Palacio de Liria, among others.
Retiro & Paseo del Arte: epicenter of cultural life
Residential neighbourhood with “El Retiro Park” as the protagonist and one of its main attractions. It is also known as “the Art Triangle,” since in just 2 kilometres, it contains three of the most important museums in the world and the most essential in Madrid: the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
The area of Paseo del Prado, El Retiro, and other 90 monuments and outstanding landmarks—the Landscape of Arts and Sciences, also known as the Landscape of Light , has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021 as a Cultural Landscape.
Places of interest: the National Library, el “Parque del Retiro”, Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza de Cibeles, Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Neptune Fountain, “Iglesia de los Jerónimos“, the Botanical Garden, the Cuesta de Moyano, the Plaza de Atocha, among others.
Barrio de Salamanca: one of the most relevant areas of Madrid
Attached to the beautiful “Parque del Retiro,” it was initially conceived as the place of residence for families belonging to the aristocratic and bourgeois classes. Today, it is recognized for being one of the most important areas and one of the luxury fashion areas in Madrid.
Places of interest: the National Archaeological Museum, the Juan March Foundation, the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, the WiZink Center, and the Plaza de Felipe II.
Chamberí neighbourhood, heritage of the aristocracy
Area of residence of a large part of the aristocracy of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Here you will find Calle Zurbano, described in the New York Times as “one of the best in Europe,” a street dotted with charming palaces, boutiques, restaurants, and museums. It is highly recommended if you are looking to explore Madrid beyond the conventional tourist areas.
You can also walk along the so-called “Avenida de los Cines,” a section of Fuencarral Street that goes from the Bilbao roundabout to the Quevedo roundabout, where new movie theaters open their doors.
Places of interest: Plaza de Olavide, Platform Zero-Chamberí Station, “Museo Sorolla”, Teatros del Canal, Cine Paz, “Cine Proyecciones”, Sala Berlanga, Casa de las Flores.
Castellana: financial hub of Madrid
The financial area offers a look at a much more modern Madrid. Throughout its length, you will find some of the most characteristic buildings and places in Madrid, ending with one of the most modern economic centers in Europe, the CTBA, better known as “The Four Towers,” these being the tallest buildings in all of Spain.
Embassies, museums, shopping centers, gastronomic variety, or ministerial headquarters are some other options offered by this area.
Some of the points of interest are Plaza de Colón, the Nuevos Ministerios building complex, the famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the Azca complex, Plaza de Cuzco, or Plaza de Castilla, with its emblematic Puerta de Europa Towers, better known as the Torres Kio.
Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid
Princesa: one of the largest areas of Madrid
It extends from Plaza de España to Moncloa. Area with nineteenth-century buildings that were for the most part the residence of the lower and middle Spanish aristocracy, in which you can visit an authentic monument of ancient Egypt.
Here is the University City, where most of the faculties and higher schools of the Complutense University of Madrid and the Polytechnic University of Madrid are located, as well as more than thirty colleges and facilities of the National University of Education Distance (UNED). This area is home to several influential nightlife hubs in Madrid.
Places of Interest: the Debod Temple, the Temple Gardens, the Parque del Oeste, the Dehesa de la Villa, the Triumphal Arch, the Moncloa Lighthouse, the Cerralbo Museum, the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida, the Estación del Norte, the Costume Museum, the Museum of America, the Madrid Cable Car, and the Principe Pio Shopping Center.
Some things to do in Madrid
You have more information for more activities for your first visit, your second visit and the 10 most visited places in Madrid
Our accommodations
We have apartments in all these areas, from the apartments in center Madrid to the apartments in Retiro area, including apartments in the Salamanca neighborhood and apartments in Chamberi. We have apartments for days next to Calle Serrano and La Castellana in the Escultor Building. Get to know our list of apartments for companies or our list of apartments for students.
If you want to stay in Madrid or have a residence
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