Welcome to Madrid

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and its largest city. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is around 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after London and Paris. The city spans a total of 604.3 km2 (233.3 sq miles).

While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include 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 (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain’s historical archives; a large number of National museums, and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which completes the shortcomings of the other two museums.

For more information visit: Official Madrid tourism website

Events & City Highlights Map

Below is a map of conference events & city highlights in the surroundings.

Open the side toolbar (top-left) to select and hide/unhide those you’re least/most interested in.

Highlights & Recommendations

There is something for everyone and there is always something going in Madrid…

Here’s a list of our top recommendations.

Parks & Historical sites

📌 Retiro Park: A vast, elegant park perfect for a relaxing stroll, boat ride, or visit to the Crystal Palace / More information / Directions

📌 Royal Botanical Gardens (Real Jardín Botánico): A peaceful, historic botanical garden near the Prado Museum, home to thousands of plant species from around the world, perfect for a quiet stroll amid curated greenery / More information / Directions / Official website / Ticket purchase

📌 Royal Observatory of Madrid: Founded in the 18th century, this scientific landmark features neoclassical architecture, antique telescopes, and guided tours that explore Spain’s astronomical heritage / More information / Directions / Official website / Ticket purchase

📌 Temple of Debod: An ancient Egyptian temple offering one of the best sunset views in Madrid. It’s a peaceful spot to unwind / More information / Directions

Retiro

Observatory

Botanical garden

Debod temple

Cityscape highlights

📌 Plaza de Cibeles: An iconic Madrid landmark featuring the majestic Cibeles Fountain and the striking Cibeles Palace, beautifully illuminated at night / Directions

📌 Gran Vía: Madrid’s main shopping street, illuminated beautifully at night. It’s great for a leisurely stroll and some window shopping / More information / Directions

📌 Puerta del Sol: The symbolic center of Madrid and Spain’s “Kilometer Zero,” surrounded by historic buildings and the famous Bear and Strawberry Tree statue / More information / Directions

📌 Plaza Mayor: A grand 17th-century square in the heart of Madrid, surrounded by elegant arcades and vibrant cafés, perfect for soaking up the city’s historic charm / More information / Directions

Gran Vía

Plaza Mayor

Puerta del Sol

Plaza de Cibeles

Most visited

📌 Royal Palace: Europe’s largest royal residence, known for its lavish interiors and grand architecture / More information / Directions / Official website / Ticket purchase

📌 Almudena Cathedral: Directly across from the Royal Palace, this modern cathedral features a mix of architectural styles and a beautiful dome view / More information / Directions

📌 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium & Museum: The legendary home of Real Madrid, offering behind-the-scenes tours of the pitch, locker rooms, and trophy displays / More information / Directions / Ticket purchase

Royal Palace

Almudena Cathedral

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Art Museums

📌 Prado Museum: One of the world’s premier art museums, showcasing masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and other Spanish masters / More information / Directions / Ticket purchase

📌 Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum: A remarkable private collection tracing Western art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century / More information / Directions / Ticket purchase

📌 Reina Sofía Museum: Spain’s premier museum of 20th-century art, renowned for housing Picasso’s Guernica and an extensive collection of modern and contemporary works by artists like Dalí and Miró / More information / Directions / Ticket purchase

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Prado Museum

Reina Sofía Museum

Events & Festivals

📌 Madrid Book Fair (Feria del Libro de Madrid): An annual open-air literary festival in the Retiro Park featuring hundreds of book stalls, author signings, and cultural events, celebrating literature from Spain and beyond (30 May to 15 June) / Note that there is another smaller permanent book fair even closer to the conference venue / More information / Directions / Official website

📌 Botanical Garden Nights (Noches del Botánico): An open-air summer concert series held in Madrid’s Royal Botanical Garden, featuring a diverse lineup of international and Spanish artists across genres like jazz, pop, rock, and flamenco, all set in a lush, intimate setting (4 June to 31 July) / Note that these are different botanical gardens from those listed above / More information / Directions / Official website

📌 PHotoESPAÑA: An annual international photography festival that transforms Madrid into a vibrant hub of visual arts, showcasing over 80 exhibitions by renowned and emerging artists across the city’s museums, galleries, and cultural spaces (30 April to 14 September) / More information / Official website

Feria del Libro

PHotoESPAÑA

Noches del Botánico

Tapas & drinks

📌 Mercado de San Miguel: A historic market where you can sample gourmet tapas, fresh seafood, and local wines in a lively setting / More information / Directions

📌 Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop (Azotea del Círculo): The rooftop terrace of the Fine Arts Circle (Círculo de Bellas Artes) offers panoramic views of the city skyline. Enjoy a drink as you take in the sights / More information / Directions

📌 La Latina neighborhood: One of Madrid’s most traditional districts, famous for its tapas bars and lively atmosphere, especially along Cava Baja street / More information / Directions

Mercado San Miguel

Azotea del Círculo

La Latina

Let yourself drive around

📌 Bus Madrid Panoramic City Tour: A hop-on-hop-off sightseeing bus that covers Madrid’s major landmarks with informative audio commentary / More information / Directions / Ticket purchase