24 Jan 2026 You're already in Madrid, but that doesn't mean you can stop. On the contrary, this is just the beginning. You have so much to do and see in a city with endless options.
If you're a university student in Madrid, you don't know how lucky you are. We're going to tell you everything you can see and visit, both in the city centre and around the capital.
Join us on this route through the heart of Madrid and its most beautiful places. We'll tell you everything you need to know to get around like a true Madrileño.
To start becoming a true Madrileño, you must know how to get around the city centre. Spoiler alert: forget about the car.
The absolute kings here, without a doubt, are the metro and the bus. The former has 13 lines that operate from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. The cost varies depending on whether you buy a single ticket, which we advise against, or if you get a pass.
This pass has different prices, depending on the areas you want to cover. You'll discover this through daily use and your actual needs. You can get an idea, but until you use it daily, you won't fully know what you'll really need.
The bus knows every corner of Madrid, and it's no wonder, as it has more than 200 lines. The bus doesn't stop working in the early morning, although it does relax a lot. During nighttime hours, that is, from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM, the lines are reduced to 26.
And here comes a very important concept. Pay attention, everyone: the Cercanías (local train) is not the same as the metro. Keep this in mind when looking at the map; you must know how to differentiate them, because although the Cercanías (local train) covers important lines and interesting monuments, they are not the same. If you have any problems, don't hesitate to ask any operator; we're all here to help.
Finally, and leaving aside walking as a means of transportation, we come to the bicycle. This mode of transportation is increasingly used; the city has adapted to it with bike lanes, the company BiciMad, and with areas specifically dedicated to cyclists. Economical, fast, healthy, and sustainable, it's one of the best modes of transportation you can use in Madrid.
No matter how long you're spending in the capital, you can't leave without visiting these monuments. It's not a complicated task, because we haven't listed them all, just the most notable ones. And even speaking of highlights, we're still missing many.
So I don't want to hear a single excuse. The first stop is Puerta del Sol, a key hub for international tourism and local walkers. A meeting point with its kilometre zero, the Royal Post Office and its New Year's Eve chimes, the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, and the Tío Pepe sign are some of the must-see photos you'll take here.
Come on, if you need a bit of nature, let's go to El Retiro Park. El Retiro Park is the lung of Madrid, with more than 125 hectares and an endless variety of trees and flowers. Inside, in addition to strolling and enjoying a bit of peace, you should see the Mirador de Alfonso XII with its pond, the 19th-century Crystal Palace, and the Parterre Gardens, among other great attractions.
And as soon as you leave, you'll be able to visit, without having to walk far, the Puerta de Alcalá, the emblem of the city of Madrid, and the Cibeles fountain. The Puerta de Alcalá may sound more important and interesting in comparison, but you're missing a small detail: Cibeles Fountain is just as important as everything that surrounds it.
The Linares Palace, the Buenavista Palace, the Cibeles Palace, the Bank of Spain, and City Hall, all of which guard the goddess of fertility and nature.
We continue with emblematic and iconic places in Madrid and head for the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. But on our walk, before arriving, we'll come across one of the most famous places in Madrid and where calamari sandwiches are best served, another local heritage site.
Once you've seen the Royal Palace, stop by the Sabatini Gardens on your way to one of the best places to watch the sunsets in Madrid: the Temple of Debod.
And you should make a stop along your route to pay homage to the highest and finest arts. Delight and stimulate your senses at any of Madrid's museums: the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía National Art Center, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, or the CaixaForum cultural centre. Whatever you choose, find your style and immerse yourself in the world of the arts.
I'm sorry if you say Madrid has become too small for you, but I don't believe it. Neither I nor anyone else. If you're telling me you're an adventurer, an explorer, who needs to see and learn more, then yes.
If you love to continue expanding your knowledge and visiting new places, you're in the perfect place. The capital has the best connections in the country to the rest of the surrounding cities.
If you still want to stay close to Madrid, we recommend traveling to El Escorial, Toledo, Aranjuez, or Alcalá de Henares, all historic cities less than an hour and a half away by train. Traveling by bus is a bit different.
Segovia is two hours away by train, a magical place for all the senses. And, of course, from here you have the best connections to cities like Barcelona, Málaga, Zaragoza, and Valencia. The country is yours.
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