Downtown Madrid & Old Madrid: Best Sights and Sightseeing Route

Is Old Madrid worth visiting?

Yes. Even with only one day in Madrid, this is the area I would not skip.

Much of the appeal is in the streets between the attractions. The ticketed sights matter less here than the walk from one square to the next.

Best Old Madrid route

A practical route:

Puerta del Sol → Plaza Mayor → Mercado de San Miguel → Madrid de los Austrias → Almudena Cathedral → Royal Palace → Plaza de Oriente → Plaza de España → Gran Vía

Allow about 2.5 to 4 hours, depending on how often you stop and whether you eat on the way. The stops below follow the route in order.

1. Puerta del Sol

A natural starting point for central Madrid. You do not need a long stop here; use it to get your bearings, then head down Calle Mayor.

2. Plaza Mayor

One of Madrid’s most recognisable squares. Do not stay only in the middle of it: the arcades and the streets running off each corner are half of what makes it good.

3. Mercado de San Miguel

A handy food stop just west of Plaza Mayor. It gets busy and is aimed at visitors, so treat it as a quick bite before you head on.

4. Madrid de los Austrias

This is where the route gets more interesting. Give yourself time to wander here instead of walking straight from Plaza Mayor to the Royal Palace.

5. Plaza de la Villa

A smaller, quieter historic square that makes a good contrast with Plaza Mayor. The lanes around it are pedestrian, which is why walkers see more of this corner than Segway riders do.

6. Almudena Cathedral

The cathedral faces the Royal Palace across a wide plaza, and together they make one of the most impressive monumental areas in Madrid.

7. Royal Palace

If you only want the outside, the palace fits easily into the walk.

If you want to go in, plan it as a separate visit. Patrimonio Nacional, which runs the palace, suggests about 45 minutes for the self-guided route through the State Rooms and about 30 more for the Royal Armoury. Our Royal Palace guide covers tickets and timing.

8. Plaza de Oriente

A landscaped square on the east side of the palace, with good views back to the façade.

9. Plaza de España

This is where the historic centre gives way to the wider, newer centre of Madrid.

10. Gran Vía

One of Madrid’s great commercial streets, lined with shops, theatres and large early-20th-century buildings. It makes an easy place to finish, with metro stations along its length.

How long do you need for Old Madrid?

• 1 hour: Plaza Mayor and the streets around it
• 2 hours: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and the outside of the Royal Palace
• 3–4 hours: a relaxed walk through the whole historic centre
• Half day: add lunch and one interior visit, such as the palace

Can you explore independently?

Yes. Old Madrid is easy to explore without a tour: the distances are short, the main squares are signposted and you can do the route above with a phone map.

What you lose is the history behind buildings that look ordinary until someone explains them.

Is a walking tour worth it?

Yes, if history interests you. Old Madrid is the kind of area where a walking tour works best, because the guide can take you down lanes no wheeled tour may use and stop wherever there is a story. The free walking tour vs Segway comparison sets out what each format costs and covers.

Can you explore Old Madrid by Segway?

Yes, although a Segway makes most sense when you want to link Old Madrid with the rest of the centre:

• Plaza de España
• Gran Vía
• Cibeles
• Puerta de Alcalá
• Retiro Park

The 2-Hour Sightseeing Segway Tour of Central Madrid rides the front of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral, crosses Plaza Mayor and stops at the San Miguel market, and is rated 4.8/5 from 226 reviews (our breakdown). To add Retiro, the Paseo del Prado and the Templo de Debod in one session, the All Madrid Guided Segway Tour (3 Hours) costs about $52 and is rated 4.8/5 from 146 reviews. The historic centre Segway tours page compares every Old Madrid route.

Walk if Old Madrid itself is the destination. Take a Segway if Old Madrid is one part of a wider tour of Madrid’s highlights.

Best route if you only have two hours

Puerta del Sol → Plaza Mayor → Plaza de la Villa → Almudena Cathedral → Royal Palace → Plaza de Oriente

Skip the palace interior on this one; there is not time for it and the walk.

Best route if you have half a day

Puerta del Sol → Plaza Mayor → Madrid de los Austrias → Royal Palace → Plaza de Oriente → Plaza de España → Gran Vía

Final thoughts

Old Madrid is one of the easiest and most rewarding parts of the city to explore on your own.

Start at Puerta del Sol, walk through Plaza Mayor and Madrid de los Austrias, carry on to the Royal Palace and finish around Plaza de España and Gran Vía.

Take a walking tour for the history and explore on your own for flexibility. Book a Segway tour if you want to connect Old Madrid with Retiro, Cibeles and a much larger part of the city in the same morning; the Segway vs bike vs walking comparison helps if you are still choosing between formats.