Spain · 7 destinations

What to see in the Community of Madrid

Madrid and the museums of the Paseo del Arte, the Retiro and life on the streets; and less than an hour away, Cervantes’ Alcalá, the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, the El Escorial monastery and Chinchón’s main square.

Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides

Cities, villages and nature

Open each one to see all its sights, where to stay, day trips and when to go.

Community of Madrid
Madrid

First-rate museums, the Retiro, neighbourhoods for tapas and a street life that never switches off: the capital, at Christmas too.
- Prado Museum
- Retiro Park
- Plaza Mayor
- San Miguel Market
What to see in Madrid
Community of Madrid
Alcalá de Henares

Cervantes’s city, with its Renaissance university and the arcaded Calle Mayor.
- University of Alcalá
- Cervantes’s Birthplace
- Calle Mayor
What to see in Alcalá de Henares
Community of Madrid
Aranjuez

The Royal Palace and its gardens by the Tagus, the Strawberry Train and its strawberries.
- Royal Palace of Aranjuez
- Jardines del Príncipe
- Strawberry Train
What to see in Aranjuez
Community of Madrid
San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Philip II’s monastery in the mountains outside Madrid, with the Valley of Cuelgamuros nearby.
- Monastery of El Escorial
- Philip II’s Seat
- Valley of the Fallen (Cuelgamuros)
What to see in San Lorenzo de El Escorial
Community of Madrid
Chinchón

An arcaded main square with wooden balconies, a castle and anís, an hour from Madrid.
- Plaza Mayor
- Castle of the Counts
- Wineries and anís
What to see in Chinchón
Community of Madrid
Manzanares el Real

A fairy-tale castle next to a reservoir, below La Pedriza, one of the most beautiful granite landscapes in the Sierra de Guadarrama.
- Castle of the Mendozas
- La Pedriza
- Santillana reservoir
- Old castle
What to see in Manzanares el Real
Community of Madrid
Buitrago del Lozoya

A walled town on a bend of the Lozoya river, in the Sierra Norte of Madrid, with a museum dedicated to Picasso.
- Walls
- Castle
- Picasso Museum
- Riverside walk
What to see in Buitrago del Lozoya

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal; summer is very hot and in December the streets fill with lights. San Isidro, on 15 May, is the city’s great festival.

What to eat

Cocido madrileño
Calamari sandwich
Callos a la madrileña (tripe stew)
Chocolate con churros
Rosquillas de San Isidro

Recipes to make at home

Frequently asked questions

What is there to see in the Community of Madrid?

The must-sees: Madrid, Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Chinchón, Manzanares el Real and Buitrago del Lozoya. Each guide has its sights, where to stay, day trips and when to go.

When is the best time to visit the Community of Madrid?

Spring and autumn are ideal; summer is very hot and in December the streets fill with lights. San Isidro, on 15 May, is the city’s great festival.

What to eat in the Community of Madrid?

Cocido madrileño, Calamari sandwich, Callos a la madrileña (tripe stew), Chocolate con churros and Rosquillas de San Isidro. You’ll find the recipe for cocido madrileño, costrada de alcalá and sopa de ajo (garlic soup) in their guides.

Which villages to see near Madrid?

Chinchón, Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Alcalá de Henares, Buitrago del Lozoya, Patones and Manzanares el Real.

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Reviewed 20 October 2026. Places and areas: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Cover photo: Álvaro Ibáñez from Madrid, Spain (CC BY 2.0), Wikimedia Commons.