Address: Puente de Segovia, S/N, 28005 Madrid, Spain Public transport: Transit lines with routes passing near the Puente De Segovia: Bus (138, 31, 36, 39); Train (C1, C10); Metro (M-6)
The best places to watch the sunset in Madrid
You can’t beat a good sunset, and the golden hour is when Madrid really starts to come alive. The city becomes blanketed in an amber hue, madrileños begin populating terraces, rooftop bars and outdoor hangouts to begin their evening festivities, and some of Madrid’s most iconic settings take on a whole new light as dusk sets in.
If you’re a photographer, or even an Instagrammer who thinks they’re a photographer, you’ll be well aware of the magic of sunset. And there’s no better time to get a pic of Madrid than as the sun goes down.
Want to watch the sunset in Madrid? Need to know where to be to get the best pics for the ‘gram?
See for yourself in this handy video guide:
Top spots to watch the sunset
Puente de Segovia
Catedral de la Almudena
You’ll spot this grand cathedral quite easily as you cross the Puente de Segovia, and its elevated hilltop position means one thing: cracking views. Day or night, Madrid looks breathtaking from up here, especially when you climb up to the dome of the cathedral. Entry to the cathedral museum costs just 6€ including access to the dome, which sadly isn’t open at sunset. Worry not, because the views of the city are still stunning at ground level.
Royal Palace of Madrid
About 200m from the Catedral de la Almudena is the Royal Palace of Madrid. The history of Madrid runs through this Royal Palace, home to every Spanish King from Charles III in 1764 through to Alfonso XIII in 1931. That’s a lot of royalty, and these days it attracts a lot of tourists – partly due to its rich history and stunning architecture, but also because this palace occupies another hilltop and is one of the best sunset spots in Madrid.
If you get here a little earlier – and we recommend you do – you can explore the extensive palace grounds (oh, and some of its 3,000 rooms) for the reasonable price of 13€, with audio guides available for an extra 3€. The nearby Teatro Real opera house and gardens are also worth a visit, and rather conveniently, you’ll walk past them should you choose to approach from Opera station.
Sabatini Gardens
Further on up the Calle de Balien are the Sabatini Gardens. Part of the Royal Palace grounds, these gardens look magnificent at any time, but are truly spectacular at dusk. It’s also one of the most romantic spots to catch the sunset in Madrid, so if you’re in the city with someone special… you now know where to take them.
Temple of Debod
Madrid’s “Egyptian jewel” is one of the city’s more popular tourist attractions by day, but draws far smaller crowds as nightfall approaches. The Temple of Debod is an authentic, 2000+ years old, Egyptian temple, and the last stop on our ‘tour’, but we recommend you get here before sunset to access the interior of the temple (it closes before dark.) Then, when you’re ready to move on, head to the hill and watch the sun set on your new favourite city.
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