Madrid doesn’t sleep but it does make you dream. During the day the city has a rhythm and at night a different part of the city blossoms and offers a wide range of leisure and cultural events.
But when the day starts to fall, that’s when the magic begins. The sunsets in Madrid are spectacular, as long as you know where to go to see them.
But don’t think that when night falls, the viewpoints are over. Not at all. Madrid’s lights shine with their own light and are stars well worth admiring. So here we bring you the best viewpoints to enjoy the capital at dusk and at night.
The best views of Madrid at night
Templo de Debod
Calle Ferraz, 1
Visiting the Temple of Debod is a very good tip, but being there at sunset is almost a must. This Egyptian temple, a gift from the Egyptian government to Spain, is located in a park with a fantastic location.
But it gets even better when you get to the viewpoint at the end of the park, on Príncipe Pío Mountain. From there you’ll see the Almudena Cathedral, the Royal Palace, the Church of San Francisco el Grande and views you’ll never forget.
Cerro del Tío Pío or Parque de las Siete Tetas
Calle de Benjamín Palencia, 2
We moved a little away from the city centre to get a perspective of the impressive views that the capital has in store for us.
The Parque de las Siete Tetas, as it is also known because of its seven hills, is a quiet place where you can see the buildings of Madrid, presided over by the ‘Pirulí’ and the mountains as a backdrop.
It is a fantastic place to watch the sunset and plays with the contours and lights of the buildings to create a fantastic view of the Spanish capital in the middle of the night.
Jardines de San Francisco
Calle Gran Vía de San Francisco, 29
The viewpoint in San Francisco Park, very close to the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral, gives you a moment of tranquillity during your day in Madrid. Its sunsets are well known among locals, and no wonder.
And that is its strong point, the sunset, watching the sun disappear in the southwest area of the city, in an idyllic park. Just look around and you will discover couples who go there to enjoy the silence and the wonderful views.
Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes
Calle de Alcalá, 42
We return to the heart of Madrid, to see how the night can shine brighter than the sun itself. One of the most popular rooftops in the Spanish capital brings us, in addition to a great variety of drinks and cocktails thanks to its well-known bar and restaurant, a vision of the lively and dynamic city.
Between Calle Alcalá and Gran Vía, right in front of you is one of the most emblematic buildings in Madrid; the Metrópolis Building and its unmistakable goddess Victoria crowning it. The lights shine here more than anywhere else.
We arrive at the first place where time does matter. Until now we have seen public places, open and accessible at any time and free of charge. Here we have to pay an entrance fee of €5.5 to gain access to the roof.
Plaza de Callao
We take a stroll along the Gran Vía, Madrid’s main artery, where everything happens and where dreams can come true. Following the lights we reach Plaza de Callao, one of the most recognisable places in Madrid.
Are you telling me you’ve never seen the gigantic Schweppes sign on the Carrión Building? This is another of those magical places in the capital, where you feel like you’re living in a film you’ve been watching all your life.
Palacio de Cibeles
Although we refer to the Palacio de Cibeles, or Palacio de Comunicaciones, in reality the real spectacle is the whole area of the Plaza de Cibeles. You could take a 360-degree photo and everything would be illuminated.
It has some truly majestic buildings, such as the Casa de América or the Palacio de Linares, as well as the Cibeles fountain, but above all stands the Palacio de Cibeles, home to Madrid’s City Hall.
Palacio Real and Jardines de Sabatini
Closing our route through the most luminous Madrid in the middle of the night we reach the monumental area of the Spanish capital. Next to the impressive Almudena Cathedral are the Royal Palace and the Sabatini Gardens.
From the Sabatini Gardens, with the north façade of Madrid’s Royal Palace as a backdrop, we can enjoy a corner full of beauty and light in the middle of the Madrid night. The size of the place and its beauty will leave you speechless, even if you have already visited it in broad daylight.