Budget · 3-hour walk · Madrid
Habsburg Madrid in three hours
Puerta del Sol through the old arcaded squares to the palace, finishing at the Egyptian temple for sunset.
The oldest part of Madrid is compact, flat and almost entirely free, which makes three hours generous rather than tight. It runs east to west so that it finishes at the Templo de Debod, which faces the sunset over the Casa de Campo and is where the city goes to watch it. The palace is the only ticket and it closes early.
The route, stop by stop
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Puerta del Sol
Kilometre zero of the Spanish road network, marked in the pavement. The bear and strawberry tree statue is on the east side.
15 min here Walk here → -
Plaza Mayor
Arcaded on all four sides and entirely enclosed. Eat nothing on the square itself.
20 min here Walk here → -
Mercado de San Miguel
A wrought-iron market hall turned tapas counter. Busy, not cheap, and still the best single stop for lunch on this walk.
25 min here Walk here → -
Royal Palace of Madrid
Europe's largest royal palace by floor area and still in official use. Free for EU citizens in the last two hours.
55 min here Walk here → -
Templo de Debod
A 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple given to Spain in 1968, reflected in a pool facing due west. Arrive half an hour before sunset.
30 min here Walk here →
More in Madrid
Every walking route in Madrid, or the full Madrid guide for where to stay and what a day costs.