Aerial view of the Plaza Mayor square and the city of Madrid

Viewing points in Madrid for enjoying the best views of the city

Madrid is a very special city. You’ll love strolling through its streets and discovering all its secrets, but if you visit some of its wonderful vista points located up on high, you’ll see some unforgettable views. So take note!

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The Rooftop Bar at the Círculo de Bellas Artes

Just a stone’s throw from Gran Vía, you’ll be able to enjoy one of the city’s best known vista points. From the top of the Círculo de Bellas Artes you’ll have a 360º panoramic view from a height of 56 metres. You’ll see the Metrópolis building in front of you - one of the most distinctive in the city.As a plus, you’ll be able to book a table in the restaurant that’s located on the rooftop itself, and so be able to take in these amazing views at your leisure.You’ll need a ticket to go up to the vista point. Check prices on their website.

View of Gran Vía and Calle Alcalá from Madrid’s Círculo de Bellas Artes

The terrace at El Corte Inglés in the Plaza de Callao square

From the ninth floor of El Corte Inglés de Callao you can enjoy one of Madrid's most impressive views from above, free of charge: Capitol building, the Gran Vía, España building and even the Royal Palace and the Royal Theater, not to mention the rest of the city centre rooftops. Views that are not to be missed. And if you feel like it, why not have a drink while you’re on the terrace?

Palacio de Cibeles vista point

The Palacio de Cibeles, today the home of the Madrid City Council, is not only beautiful on the outside, from the eighth floor you can reach a vista point with a 360º panoramic view that you’ll love. From there, you’ll be able to look out over a good part of the city centre, including the Retiro Park and the boulevards of the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos.Check their website for ticket prices for accessing the vista point.

View of the Plaza de Cibeles and the Calle Alcalá from the Palacio de Cibeles

Cerro del Tío Pío Park

If you leave the city centre behind, you’ll be able to enjoy a different kind of vista point. The Parque de las 7 Tetas or Cerro del Tío Pío Park is located in the Puente de Vallecas neighbourhood, and is an ideal place to enjoy panoramic views of Madrid while you tuck into a picnic lunch, or simply relax and stretch out on the grass. And these are views that you can enjoy completely free of charge.

The Montaña del Príncipe Pío - Temple of Debod

How about taking in some views of Madrid from an Egyptian temple dating right back to the second century BC? While the views from the hill called the Montaña del Príncipe Pío might not be quite as extensive as those you can see from other vista points, you’ll be able to admire the Casa de Campo, the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral from this singular location. The madrileños know that sunsets at the Temple of Debod are stunning, so if you can choose when to go, this time of day is an excellent option.

View of the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace of Madrid from the Montaña del Príncipe Pío

Cable car line

Very near the Temple of Debod, you’ll find the Madrid cable car for a very different way of enjoying those views out over the city. Covering 2.5 km on a journey that lasts for 11 minutes, the Cable Car offers views of the España building, the Almudena Cathedral, and the Royal Palace to mention just a few of the sights, as well as admiring the natural world of the Casa de Campo, Madrid’s biggest public park, right at your feet.You can check ticket prices on its website.

The Terrace at the Hotel Riu Plaza España

At the iconic España Building, you’ll find a rooftop terrace 100 metres high where you can admire a 360º panoramic view that is guaranteed to take your breath away. From this point you can see many of Madrid’s landmark buildings, and as it’s so high you can see further from here than from any other city centre vista point. You might also like to take the weight off your feet and enjoy a drink while you take in the views And as long as you don’t suffer from vertigo, another of the attractions is a stroll along the 4.5 metre glass walkway that you’ll find on the terrace itself.It’s well worth paying the admission fee. Check out the website for more information.

Views of Madrid from the España Building

Dome of the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena

If you’d like to enjoy some fantastic views of the Plaza de Oriente square and the Royal Palace, together with other emblematic sights in the old quarter of Madrid, then you really must go up to the vista point on the dome of the Almudena Cathedral. It doesn’t get too crowded, and the ticket price includes entrance to the cathedral’s museum. Although there are many other viewing points that are also worth a visit, we feel sure that in this selection you’ll find the one that’ll make you want to come back; because without a shadow of a doubt there are views that really are unforgettable. So now you know, on your next trip to Madrid, get ready to enjoy some spectacular panoramic views.