Three Must-See Places in Madrid for Solo Travellers

Madrid is one of those places that, once you have visited, you might drive yourself mad trying to find a place quite like it.

The whole city feels like it was built for the solo traveller.   It is renowned for its stunning architecture, grand museums, and beautiful plazas for sitting drinking cortados – and, of course, basking in the sun.

There is culture abound in Madrid, so much so that you might feel like you trip over a new treasure every time you round a corner.  From the smell of delicious paella, to the clamor of cultural performances, to the lilt and flow of the Spanish language, rich experiences await the eager traveller.  In order to make sure you get the most out of your Spanish adventure, here are our top three must-see places in Madrid for solo travellers.

Museo Nacional del Prado

One of the great things about travelling to European cities by yourself is there is no need to try and persuade someone to come with you if you want to spend your day lazily browsing some of Madrid’s vast and amazing museums.

When it comes to these museums, there are none more well-regarded than the historical Museo del Prado. This museum opened to the public in 1819 as the Royal Museum of Painting and Sculpture, representing over 200 years of history just within the museum itself, let alone in the exhibits.

At the museum, you can see works dating all the way back to the 16th Century, with the largest collection of the works of Titian in any museum in the world. The Prado also contains the largest holdings of works from world-famous artists like Bosch, El Greco, Rubens, Velázquez and Goya. This is not only a museum of Spanish artworks, but is itself a representation of Spain and all it has given the world.

Plaza de Cibeles

When it comes to bang-for-your-buck, the Plaza de Cibeles really offers the most in the smallest space.

Far from being a quiet town square to drink coffee and people watch – although Madrid also boasts a multitude of these as well – the Plaza de Cibeles is surrounded by four prominent buildings showcasing some of Spain’s incredible architecture.  These buildings – the Bank of Spain Building, the Palacio de Buenavista, the Palace of Linares and the Cybele Palace – mark the boundaries of the square, and offer a one-stop shop of history and culture to fill your boots with.

The namesake, the Cybele Palace, formerly the Palace of Communications, is undoubtedly the stand-out building if you find yourself having to pick only one to visit.

Parque del Buen Retiro

If all of the culture-hunting around grand old buildings has started to make your legs tired, it might be time for a visit to Madrid’s famous El Retiro Park.

Once you have been sufficiently recharged with the energy needed to continue your journey, the park itself offers a huge range of sights to see, all in the context of the beautiful greenery.   As well as the rose garden, or Rosaleda, there is also the beautiful Crystal Palace, and the towering and iconic monument to King Alfonso XII of Spain.  This is not all there is to see in this vast area of natural beauty, and together with the nearby Paseo del Prado, El Retiro became a joint UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, as a ‘landscape of art and science.

This is a collaborative post