The capital and the sky have a special relationship, beyond the hackneyed phrase -fromMadrid to the sky-, the viewpoints are spread throughout the city thanks to the slopes that make it up, something good had to have. The reddish sunsets attract the most romantics on specific dates, such as Valentine’s Day to these parks and structures.
You can also observe the city from the top floors of the buildings around Gran Vía where they are multiplied bars and restaurants the Madrid skyline can be seen in all its splendor.
1. Dalieda de San Francisco
The viewpoint of San Francisco Park – formerly called ‘Dalieda’ because of the dahlias that were planted there – has one of the best panoramic views of the southwest of the city in the background. Its sunset attracts couples and newcomers to the city.
This park is with you to the Basilica of San Francisco, an essential visit of the city, which gives it its name, but who we find represented in a sculptural group is San Isidro sleeping. And in these streets some of the most popular festivals of Madrid are celebrated, such as the Paloma.
📍 Gran Vía de San Francisco Street, 29 (Downtown)
2. Temple of Debod (Principe Pio Mountain)
In the central part of the mountain of Principe Pio is the Temple of Debod. An infallible viewpoint when it comes to watching the sun set over the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral.
The walk around the Egyptian temple – which was donated to Spain by the Egyptian government to prevent it from being flooded after the construction of the Aswan High Dam – is both cultural and bucolic. Apart from a tourist hot spot in the city.
📍 Calle Ferraz, 1 (Argüelles)
3. Viewpoint on the cornice of the Royal Palace
Between the Plaza de la Armería of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral there is a space known as the viewpoint of the cornice of the Royal Palace. This space is managed by Patrimonio Nacional, and is part of the improvement and adaptation works of what will be the welcome area and main entrance of the future Royal Collections Gallery.
The ticket to the viewpoint is through one of the five gates of the original enclosure of the palace, a gate that was designed in 1899 by the chief architect of the palace, Enrique Repullés Segarra.
📍 Calle de Bailén, 10 (downtown)
4. Cerro del Tío Pío (or Siete Tetas Park)
Outside the usual tourist circuit of the city of Madrid, we find this hill in the district of Puente de Vallecas. The Cerro del Tio Pio is also known as the Park of the Seven Boobs.
The first name is due to the first neighbor who built a house there in 1918 (previously it was a shanty town) and the second is due to the orography of the seven hills that form it. From this place you can enjoy a privileged panoramic view where the buildings of the city are combined with the mountains in the background and where the popularly known as pirulí, the antenna of the Torrespaña facilities of Televisión Española, stands out.
📍 Calle de Benjamín Palencia, 2 (Puente de Vallecas)
5. Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop terrace
Another gem in the center of Madrid is the Círculo de Bellas Artes, not only for its cultural program, and the beauty of the building, its rooftop has one of the best views of Madrid’s urban landscape. It is now a restaurant, bar and cocktail bar, although for many years it was an empty space to enjoy the capital’s skyline. The general ticket to go up to see the views costs 5,5€ and does not guarantee a place in the restaurant area.
📍 Calle de Alcalá, 42 (Downtown)
6. Moncloa Lighthouse
It is not a UFO, although it looks like one. The Moncloa Lighthouse, located 92 meters high, was inaugurated in 1992 on the occasion of Madrid’s European Cultural Capital as a communications and lighting tower.
Opened to the public again a few years ago, it offers a panoramic view of the city, where in addition to the city center, you can see in the background the mountains of Madrid in its entirety. To access this viewpoint, you must pay a general ticket of 4€.
📍 Avenida Arco de la Victoria, 2 (Moncloa)
7. Mirador Madrid (Cibeles Palace)
The Cibeles Palace not only houses the Madrid City Hall and the CentroCentro space. It also has a viewpoint on the eighth floor from which you can see the Plaza de Cibeles and the entire surrounding urban area with a privileged 360º view and has maps to facilitate the interpretation of the city.
The ticket costs 3€ and is worth it if you are visiting the city center.
📍 C ibeles Square (Center)
8. The Hortaleza silo
In the Huerta de la Salud Park in Hotaleza stands a polygonal tower whose spikes could be mistaken for something more sinister, but it is only a silo -where wheat was once stored- that now serves as a free viewpoint of Madrid, a cultural center, an exhibition hall and a reading room from Monday to Saturday. It was built in the early 20th century and there was also a barn and dovecote that were destroyed in the 1970s.
📍 Calle Mar de las Antillas, 8 (Parque Huerta de la Salud)
9. The Almudena Cathedral dome
This is one of the most interesting and least known views of Madrid. To visit the Almudena viewpoint you have to buy a ticket to the Cathedral Museum, which includes the ascent to the dome. The tour includes visits to rooms such as the Chapter House and the Main Sacristy or the rooms dedicated to the patron saints of the city: Santa María la Real de la Almudena and San Isidro Labrador.
The Royal Palace, the Plaza de Oriente, the Segovia Viaduct, the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande or the Edificio España are just a few of the buildings and monuments that can be seen.
📍 Calle de Bailén, 10 (Downtown)
10. Vistillas Gardens
Located on a hill in the neighborhood of La Latina this traditional viewpoint – the scene of Madrid’s summer festivals – consists of three esplanades. From the highest part you can see the banks of the Manzanares River, the Casa de Campo, or the Sierra de Guadarrama.
This tree-lined Suite was designed in the 1930s, in the heart of Madrid de los Austrias. The most characteristic feature of the park, besides the panoramic views, are the central stairs guarded by walls and lampposts.
📍 Plaza Gabriel Miró s/n (La Latina)