Squares & Avenues in Madrid
Madrid's grand plazas and boulevards, from Gran Vía's lights to Plaza Mayor's arcades.
must seePlaza Mayor
Madrid's grandest 17th-century square, ringed by porticoed apartments and cafe terraces, has hosted royal weddings, bullfights, and the Inquisition.
must seePuerta del Sol
Madrid's busiest square marks Spain's Kilometer Zero and the symbolic heart of the city, home to the Bear and Strawberry Tree statue and the New Year's Eve clock.
must seeGran Vía
A 1.3-kilometer avenue of early-20th-century towers, historic theaters, and flagship shops that's been Madrid's liveliest street since it opened in 1910.
iconicPlaza de Cibeles
An 18th-century fountain of the goddess Cybele set against the grand Cybele Palace, and the spot where Real Madrid fans have celebrated titles since the 1980s.
must seePlaza de España
A historic square reopened in 2021 after a major pedestrian-friendly renovation, still centered on its grand monument to Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, and Sancho Panza.
Plaza de Santa Ana
A relaxed, tree-lined square in the Barrio de las Letras, ringed by tapas terraces and historic theaters once frequented by Cervantes and Lope de Vega.
iconicPlaza de Colón
A grand square anchored by a towering Neo-Gothic monument to Christopher Columbus and one of the world's largest Spanish flags flying overhead.
Plaza de Oriente
A peaceful, sculpture-lined garden square between the Royal Palace and the Royal Theatre, ringed by statues of Spanish monarchs and a bronze of Felipe IV.