A luxury trip to Madrid: Sights and exclusive highlights

Madrid is one of Europe’s leading luxury travel destinations! The Spanish capital offers elegant hotels, exciting cultural highlights, Michelin-star restaurants, stylish rooftop bars with fantastic views, and much more to sophisticated travellers who value exclusivity and quality. Take a look at our guide to the best addresses and the most important sights in Madrid!

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Stay in the best hotels in Madrid

Of course, there are hotels and accommodations in Madrid to match every budget and taste. Today, we’re introducing you to the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in the city. For everyone who wants to make their trip to Madrid special with an unforgettable hotel stay!

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid

The Four Seasons Madrid Hotel is one of the best addresses in the city when looking for stylish, comfortable and elegant accommodation. The 5-star hotel is one of the most photographed buildings in the city, it has a wonderful roof terrace with the restaurant of the Michelin-star-winning Dani García and a large wellness area.

Rosewood Villa Magna

This 5-star hotel in the Salamanca district is in a prime location for exploring the city. The amenities of the Villa Magna are first-rate and include a spacious wellness area with an attached gym. Guests are also spoiled with culinary delights in the various restaurants and in-house bars. The highlight is Amós Restaurante by the 3-star chef Jesús Sánchez.

Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid Hotel

The more than 110-year-old Ritz Madrid Hotel has undergone three years of extensive renovation under the management of the Mandarin Oriental chain and today shines in new splendour. The historical Belle Époque palace has been modernised while keeping all its traditional charm. The Royal Suite, almost 200 square meters in size, is fantastically beautiful. Countless Hollywood stars and even members of various royal families have stayed here!

The Westin Palace

The Westin Palace occupies a prime location on the Plaza de las Cortes, at the heart of the Art Walk that connects Madrid’s leading museums and galleries. Picasso, Hemingway and Dalí were among the illustrious guests in this famous luxury hotel, which preserves its Belle Époque atmosphere while reaching the highest modern standards.

Santo Mauro Autograph Collection

The Hotel Santo Mauro is also centrally located in the Chamberí district. It combines traditional aesthetics and extravagant luxury with elegant, modern designs. A special highlight is the huge garden of the hotel, which entices you to linger and relax.

Discover the most important sights and most beautiful parks in Madrid

Of course, no luxury trip to Madrid is complete without seeing the most important sights and visiting the most famous parks. We’ll show you what you shouldn’t miss!

Must-see Madrid sights

The Palacio Real – the Royal Palace – located on the Plaza de la Armería, is one of the most important sights in Madrid. Although it doesn’t serve as a residence for the royal family, it is used for ceremonial purposes as well as special events and occasions. The Palacio Real is almost twice the size of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles.

On the opposite side of the Plaza de la Armería is the beautiful Almudena Cathedral, another highlight among Madrid’s sights. The neoclassical-style construction was only completed in the mid-1990s when Pope John Paul II consecrated it as the episcopal church of the Archdiocese of Madrid.

The impressive Templo de Debod is also a top Madrid sightseeing location. This ancient Egyptian temple was originally built 4,000 years ago on the banks of the Nile. To protect it from the threat of flooding when a dam was built in Egypt, it was shipped to Madrid and rebuilt there.

The most beautiful parks in Madrid

Retiro Park is one of Madrid’s most delightful parks. Together with the nearby boulevard Paseo del Prado and other natural and cultural highlights, the area around Retiro Park was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the name Paisaje de la Luz (in English: Landscape of Light).

The UNESCO ensemble also includes the wonderful Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid and the Royal Botanical Garden. The garden, laid out in multi-level terraces, is carefully tended. You can admire the colourful splendour of its flowers all year round.

If you enjoy peace and quiet, visit the enchanting Parque de El Capricho a little further outside the centre in the Alameda de Osuna district, which features a small maze.

Enjoy haute cuisine in Madrid’s starred restaurants

More than 20 restaurants in Madrid have stars in the current Michelin Guide, offering guests unusual, creative and high-quality dishes. Here we show you a small selection of some of the best. A visit to one of these starred restaurants is the perfect way to round off your trip to Madrid in a special and unforgettable way. Remember to reserve in good time!

Saddle Restaurant received a Michelin star in 2021. Here, head chef Adolfo Santos and his team delight their guests with seasonal products. At the bar, you can choose from over 200 types of champagne!

There are no limits to the imagination of David Muñoz in the famous DiverXo. The culinary creations by the celebrity chef sparkle with creativity, variety and uniqueness. The restaurant has been awarded three Michelin stars and continues to amaze and delight guests.

Coque Restaurant in the Chamberí district is run by the Sandoval brothers, the third generation of the family to be in charge here. Chef de cuisine Mario Sandoval and his team once again convinced the gastronomy critics in 2021 to maintain Coque’s two Michelin stars.

El Invernadero restaurant by Madrid chef Rodrigo de la Calle received not only a Michelin star in 2021 but also the new Green Star of the Michelin Guide thanks to its sustainability concept. The design of the restaurant is based on a greenhouse, and the menu is also available in vegetarian or vegan versions on request.

Art and culture in Madrid – Exclusive highlights

Culture in Madrid is incredibly diverse, with numerous great museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls. Here are a few selected highlights.

In some of Madrid’s most important museums, you can book a private visit. This allows you to enjoy the great art collections in an exclusive setting without being disturbed or distracted by other museum visitors. These private visits are offered, for example, in the Reina Sofía Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Prado Museum. For art lovers, it guarantees a one-of-a-kind experience!

The famous Teatro Real on the Plaza de Oriente is a must for all opera lovers and you should visit one of its internationally acclaimed productions. The Opera House was awarded Best Opera House at the prestigious International Opera Awards 2021 (the Oscars of the opera scene) a year ago!

And those who love musicals will also find lots to enjoy in Madrid: Gran Vía, the most famous street in the city, is also considered the Broadway of Madrid because of its theatres.

To round off your cultural visit to Madrid, you should definitely attend a flamenco show. This Spanish dance has been recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010. Villa Rosa and the Corral de la Morería are among the best tablaos in the city.

The best rooftop bars in Madrid

Madrid has mild temperatures most of the year, and even in the autumn and winter months, there are plenty of days when it’s pleasant to sit outside. No wonder there are so many great rooftop bars in Madrid where you can enjoy exquisite drinks and dishes while taking in views of the city. Here are our favourites:

The Ginkgo Restaurante & Sky Bar is located on the 12th floor of the 5-star Hotel VP Plaza de España Design, near the Palacio Real and the Almudena Cathedral. It is also open to guests who are not staying at the hotel. Thanks to the location, you have a fantastic view!

La Terraza on the roof of the 4-star Hotel Emperador is one of the most exclusive rooftop bars in the city. There is a pool here and it often hosts lavish parties!

Another exclusive bar high above the city’s rooftops is the 360º Rooftop Bar on the 27th floor of the Hotel Riu Plaza España. The view is simply fantastic. Enjoy your drinks by the stylish pool and just have a good time!

On the roof of The Principal Hotel, a 5-star hotel, on Gran Vía, you will find La Terrazza. This elegant rooftop bar offers exquisite cocktails and the relaxed atmosphere of a modern urban garden with a magnificent view!

More tips for your luxury trip to Madrid

Of course, there are many other unusual and special activities that you can experience during your Madrid stay.

For example, football fans have the opportunity to watch a game of the world-famous Real Madrid team from VIP seats in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Certainly an unforgettable experience!

And those who prefer to go shopping are spoiled for choice in Madrid. All major luxury brands have flagship stores in the city, and there are numerous high-end boutiques and jewellery shops. You should definitely visit the luxurious Galeria Canalejas very close to the Puerta del Sol.

Are you ready for your very own exclusive luxury trip to Madrid? What are you waiting for?

Let’s go to Madrid!