RunCity

Madrid on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Madrid's best-known sights, including Crystal Palace, Retiro Park, Puerta de Alcalá, Cibeles Fountain and more. It is about 7 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Madrid leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 7 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 64 minRunning
Play Madrid in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Madrid
Photo: Zarateman · CC0

This walk crosses central Madrid from Retiro Park in the east to the Temple of Debod in the west, about 7 km on mostly flat streets. It starts at the Crystal Palace, the glass pavilion by the pond in the Retiro, and leaves the park through the Puerta de Alcalá. The Cibeles Fountain and the winged dome of the Metrópolis Building mark the start of the Gran Vía, and from there it is a short walk to the Puerta del Sol, the official centre of Spain, and the arcaded Plaza Mayor.

The bonus stop is Plaza de Cascorro at the top of El Rastro, the flea market that fills the streets on Sunday mornings. The route then reaches the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace facing it across the square, Plaza de España with its Cervantes monument, and ends at the Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple rebuilt in a park. Time the end for sunset: the temple's terrace is one of the best places in Madrid to watch it.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Crystal Palace, Retiro Park

    Crystal Palace, Retiro Park

    The glass pavilion by the pond.

    Photo: vpogarcia · CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. Puerta de Alcalá

    Puerta de Alcalá

    The neoclassical gate in the middle of the roundabout.

    Photo: Fernando Pascullo · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Cibeles Fountain

    Cibeles Fountain Photo

    The goddess on her lion-drawn chariot.

    Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Metrópolis Building

    Metrópolis Building Photo

    The winged statue on the dome at the corner of Gran Vía.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Puerta del Sol

    Puerta del Sol

    The square with the Kilometre Zero plaque.

    Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Plaza Mayor

    Plaza Mayor

    The arcaded square with the king on horseback.

    Photo: Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 2.0

  7. El Rastro, Plaza de Cascorro

    El Rastro, Plaza de Cascorro Bonus

    The square at the top of Madrid's famous Sunday flea market.

    Photo: Msoltanolkotabii · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Almudena Cathedral

    Almudena Cathedral

    The cathedral that faces the palace across the square.

    Photo: Fernando · CC BY-SA 4.0

  9. Royal Palace of Madrid

    Royal Palace of Madrid Photo

    The palace façade from the Plaza de la Armería.

    Photo: Tim Adams · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Plaza de España

    Plaza de España Photo

    The Cervantes monument with the high-rises behind.

    Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0

  11. Temple of Debod

    Temple of Debod Photo

    The Egyptian temple gate reflected in its pool.

    Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Madrid in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Madrid on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 7 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Madrid is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Madrid?

    Open Madrid in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Madrid leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Crystal Palace, Retiro Park and finishing at Temple of Debod. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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