Free self-guided walk · Madrid

From the Royal Palace to the Prado

A free self-guided walk from the Royal Palace through Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, along Calle de las Huertas to the Prado and the gates of Retiro Park.

Distance
3.1 km
Walking time
41 min
Allow
About 2.5 hours with stops
Stops
7

Open the route in Google MapsMadrid city guide

About this walk

Madrid's historic centre runs east from the Royal Palace to the great museums on the Paseo del Prado. This walk crosses it through the old Habsburg quarter and the Literary Quarter.

The route ends where Retiro Park begins, a good place for a rest.

  • Terrain: Mostly flat and paved, with a gentle slope down to the Paseo del Prado.
  • Best time: Morning or early evening; summer afternoons are very hot.

Route map

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Route and stop positions © OpenStreetMap contributors. North is up.

The stops

  1. Royal Palace

    Start at the vast 18th-century palace and the Almudena Cathedral facing it.

  2. Plaza de Oriente

    A formal garden square between the palace and the opera house.

  3. Mercado de San Miguel

    A glass-and-iron market hall turned food hall.

  4. Plaza Mayor

    The arcaded 17th-century main square.

  5. Puerta del Sol

    The busy square at the symbolic centre of Spain, with the Kilometre Zero plaque.

  6. Calle de las Huertas

    A street through the Literary Quarter, with quotations set into the pavement.

  7. Museo del Prado

    Finish at the national art museum on the Paseo del Prado, by the gates of Retiro Park.

Tips

  • The Prado is free in its last two hours on most days; expect a queue.
  • Lunch is late in Madrid, from about 2pm.
  • Sol metro station is at the halfway point.

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Sources and review date

This walk was last reviewed on 2026-10-28. Distance and walking time come from OpenStreetMap's walking router and don't include time at stops. Opening hours and access change; please check before you go.