Best photography spots in Madrid Spain. Madrid is a beautiful place to visit no matter when you go. This Spanish city has plenty to explore and is a classic way to discover the culture and history of Spain.
This city is a major tourist attraction for many reasons from delicious food to calming nature to historic architecture. The best advice for visiting is to keep your itinerary open so you can add new sights and suggestions to your daily schedule. If you’re looking for ideas, here’s a list of the best photography spots in Madrid.
The Gear
The gear we recommend is a good camera and the holy trinity. A wide-angle lens. 14-24mm or something similar. A 24-70mm or something similar and, of course, a 70-200mm or something similar.
If you do not have these particular lenses, do not worry; something similar will be just fine. It would be best if you also had a tripod.
1. Temple of Debod
This is a cool place to visit because it is a flashback to Egypt right in the city. This temple is a thousands of years old Egyptian structure that resides in Madrid. It’s a bit of a hidden gem and is absolutely beautiful towering over the water especially at sunset or sunrise when the lighting is a lovely color.
2. San Miguel Market
If you make the trip to Europe, the markets are always a must visit especially because they are bustling with city life and filled with lots of authentic experiences and food. This market has its share of exotic fruits, oysters, champagne, and colorful desserts to try. The structure of the market is also a perfect frame in your shots.
3. Royal Palace
This 18th century palace is the largest in the country. There are many places inside and out to capture some amazing shots. This is a baroque style palace with lots of ground space to explore. Visitors flock here for its beauty and magnificence.
4. Almudena Cathedral
This is a gorgeous cathedral with a stunning inside. The long aisle is lined with arches that go up to the ceilings. There’s also delicate stained glass windows and a colorfully designed ceiling. The square outside the cathedral is also a perfect Madrid spot to admire and photograph.
5. Puerta del Sol
This location is a large public square that is ideal for people watching, admiring the buildings, and enjoying the day. There are a few places to eat and snack nearby including a dessert shop. There are lots of street performers, commuters, and vendors in the area to keep you entertained.
6. Metropolis Building
You may have seen this building pictured in many photos of Madrid. It was built recently, just in the 20th century and is topped with a Renaissance reminiscent sculpture at the top. The facades on the building help illuminate it at all times especially when lights flash against it.
Best photography spots in Madrid Spain
7. Sabatini Gardens
The best time to visit these gardens is early in the morning before anyone else gets there. You’ll definitely want the time and quiet to explore this beautiful space.
8. Grand Via
This wide area for shopping is lined with 20th century architecture. One of the iconic spots to photograph here is the Carrion Building which has a neon Schweppes billboard lit up on top. The best shots of it will be captured if you can get higher up. Use the surrounding buildings to get a better vantage point.
9. Palacio de Cibeles
This old post office was converted into a cultural center and is a good place to catch the sunset. You can get great views of the city below. If you head to the higher floor like the 8th floor bar you can capture some nice sunset photos.
10. Museo Cerralbo
This museum is less popular than others even though it is probably one of the most important ones in the city. It is decorated in neo-baroque and rococo design elements and is a good example of aristocratic life. There are lots of intricate portraits along the walls as well as a grand staircase to capture.
Best photography spots in Madrid Spain
11. Crystal Palace
This palace is located in Retiro Park. It is a complete glass and wrought iron building that is nestled perfectly within the lush greenery of the landscape. It was constructed in 1887 and now serves as a museum office. It looks great with the water fountain in front and especially in the fall with the colorful leaves surrounding it.
12. Palma Street
This is a famous street in the city that is famous for the “wall of eyes”. It is located in the Malasena neighborhood and those who visit will stop by the Tompai store to grab a shot of this bold and cool mural.
13. Monumento Alfonso XII Madrid
This is a very cool and photogenic sculpture located in Retiro Park. This is a great place to take photos because of the symmetrical design of the monument and the beauty it exhibits when the light shines through the pillars. The actual sculpture itself features a man on a horse watching over the city.
14. Desert City
This special botanical garden is about 15 minutes outside the city and showcases native and exotic plants that do not need too much water. This is known as xeriscaping and features desert plants like cacti and succulents.
15. Plaza Mayor
This is a classic and iconic Madrid photo location. The plaza is the epicenter of the city and is commonly photographed by anyone who visits. You can get really creative with your shots by finding unique angles and perspectives to capture.
best photography spots in madrid spain Plaza Mayor
16. Calle de la Cava Baja
This is a busy street lined with many tapas bars, restaurants, and vendors. There is a lively and colorful atmosphere here with lots to enjoy and many welcoming people to meet. There are cobblestone streets and apartments side by side in a colorful array.
17. Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop
If you are looking for the perfect place to capture that Madrid sunset, this is the place to go. You can grab a magnificent view of the city while also enjoying fresh food. This is great to get some panoramic shots and images of the sun going down over Madrid.
Best photography spots in Madrid Spain
18. Atocha Railway Station
This station is the city’s metro gateway. It has some places inside that are great for leading line shots. There is also a garden and many places to sit and eat. The turtle pond is also a fun spot at the station because it is rumored that many use it as a popular place to abandon their turtles.
19. Museo ABC Madrid
This museum has some really spectacular exhibits and is overall a very photogenic location to photograph. The inside is adorned with patterns of triangles that brighten the entire space. They are multicolored on the floors and black, white, and gray along the ceilings.
These are the Best photography spots in Madrid Spain.
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