Places of interest
Five places off the beaten track
It is not like madrileños go sightseeing every weekend, but we do love our history. You can find everything about the Plaza Mayor, the Puerta del Sol, or El Retiro Park and its glass palace in every tourist guide. But the five places we recommend here are a bit off the beaten path. Do not expect only a list of old buildings; in Madrid, there is also a place for the new.
Also known as the O'Reilly Palace Garden, the Huerto de las monjas (Spanish for "nun’s orchard") is one of the secret gardens in Madrid’s city centre. Originally, it was the orchard of a convent, which was in use until the 18th century. Its walls were demolished in 1972, and the gardens were opened to the public. It is surrounded by buildings, but it still keeps its peaceful and even mystical atmosphere. To reach the park, you have to walk through a small passage from Sacramento Street.
Find Huerto de las monjas
Allow yourself to go off the conventional routes and discover La Neomudéjar, one of Madrid’s hubs for avant-garde art. Inside its industrial-style building, you will find an alternative space full of street art, video performances, and even parkour: Madrid's creativity at its finest. La Neomudéjar is nothing like a museum; it is more like an artistic refuge perfect for escaping the crowds.
Find la Neomudéjar
Whether you are a football fan or not, you have to visit this place. You may not be a Real Madrid supporter, but the Cibeles fountain is more than the place where los blancos celebrate their many victories on the field. It was originally built in 1782 – long before football was invented – as a water supply infrastructure. It is surrounded by the majestic Cibeles Palace (which has an amazing rooftop) and one of the capital’s most secure buildings, the headquarters of the Bank of Spain.
Find the ghost station
Find Fuente de Cibeles
The frontones, walled courts for playing a sport called pelota vasca, were once very common in Spain. The sport is still popular in some areas of the country, but all the old frontones of Madrid are long gone, except for one: Beti Jai. After almost a century of abandonment, the city renovated the space and opened it up for visitors in 2019. Besides holding sports events, the Beti Jai frontón has also served as a rehearsal space for music bands and a centre for aeronautical experiments between 1904 and 1906 – it is said that engineer Torres Quevedo designed his telekino here, which later evolved into the first drone.
Find Frontón Beti Jai
When the local authorities decided to close the old metro station of Chamberí, they probably did not imagine it was going to become a secret symbol of Madrid. Nothing has changed here since the closure in 1966, and even the ticket office and turnstiles are the same ones that were originally installed over a century ago. Important information: to visit the ghost station of Chamberí, it is necessary to book a guided tour on Metro de Madrid’s website.
