Traveler Overview

4.0 23,260 reviews

Excellent45%
Very good37%
Average15%
Poor2%
Terrible1%

Travelers talk about

“christmas market”(153 reviews)

“people watching”(392 reviews)

“beautiful square”(202 reviews)

About

Huge plaza packed with cafes, bars and tourists.

Suggested duration: 1-2 hours

As featured in 3 Days in Madrid

Contact

Calle Gerona 4, 28012 Madrid, Spain

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Ways to Experience Plaza Mayor

Madrid Walking Tour at Night with Optional...

16 Reviews

from $20.00

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Madrid Hop-on Hop-off Tour

1,369 Reviews

from $25.43

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Guided Walking Tour of Historical Madrid

5 Reviews

from $40.46

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Private Highlights and Hidden Gems of Madrid...

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Reviews (23,260)

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1 - 10 of 7,082 reviews

Aussie_Mum_with_Teen

Madrid, Spain

132

Reviewed today via mobile

Try boccadillo calamares nearby

A boccadillo is a bun/bread roll and shops just off Plaza Mayor is a good place to get one. There are many fillings but the traditional one here is calamares (fried calamari rings). Yum!

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank Aussie_Mum_with_Teen

MichaelCroy

Denver, Colorado

153

Reviewed yesterday

A Fun Diversion

Large square, surrounded by the Mayor's office, lots of apartments and cafes. A number of fairly aggressive street performers and vendors can make the experience a little annoying, but if you can ignore them you can have a nice snack and enjoy the people watching.

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank MichaelCroy

pff965

Los Gallardos, Spain

8

Reviewed yesterday

A beautiful square in which to take in Spanish architecture, cuisine and day-to-day life.

We passed through the square a couple of times on which both occasions there was an eclectic mix of locals, traders, entertainers and tourists of all nationalities. The locals sit chatting perhaps being a little guilty of forgetting where they are whilst the tourists admire...More

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank pff965

Terry W

Australia

6815

Reviewed 2 days ago

Xmas markets

How can you not go here, it's yet another lovely Placa in Spain. Near the Placa Sol and nice eateries

Date of experience: December 2018

Thank Terry W

mattbY9092BN

Sydney, Australia

2611

Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile

Don't bother

Don't bother... Seriously. Yes, the architecture is interesting but it's like a crappy weekend markets with buskers and people harassing you for money. Seriously, if you are going, 10 minutes is enough time to absorb the atmosphere.

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank mattbY9092BN

BananaEggPie

Sydney, Australia

15956

Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile

The worst Plaza out of all the Plaza in Spain

This Plaza was disgusting. Heaps of people selling fake merchandise, and coming up to you and yelling at you to buy their crap. What's with the human goats...so creepy. Why do you deserve my money?! All they do is sit there very still and put...More

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank BananaEggPie

677kymc

Sunshine Coast, Australia

163

Reviewed 2 days ago via mobile

So many restaurants & space to enjoy

Such a large & lovely Plaza in which time joy some space, restaurants & simply soak in the atmosphere. You may even grab a bargain from the “fake” handbag and show sellers!

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank 677kymc

angelopoupazi

Larnaca, Cyprus

244

Reviewed 2 days ago

Beautiful place to be

Especially during the night is dreaming! Seeing all the restaurants around you and thinking that they have been there for many years it makes you appreciate the place more!

Date of experience: January 2019

Thank angelopoupazi

MikelMarshall

Valdemorillo, Spain

238

Reviewed 2 days ago

Be VERY careful

There is no doubt that Plaza Mayor is beautiful. The classic architecture and the spacious square make it an ideal place to spend a Spring morning, sitting on one of the many "terrazas" enjoying a relaxing cafe con leche. However, be warned! The plaza attracts...More

Date of experience: June 2018

Thank MikelMarshall

Samantha H

174

Reviewed 2 days ago

nice

This is very nice square. It has nice surrounding and the buildings. Many cafes and restaurant to have little snack

Date of experience: July 2018

Thank Samantha H

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Questions & Answers

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See all 8 questions

317elwynm

Correction to the tittle of my review on “Plaza Mayor.” The plaza I described in my review is actually the PLAZA DEL SOL. My apologies for any confusion. It was my first trip to Madrid, Spain.

September 24, 2018|

AnswerShow all 6 answers

Hope you enjoy it They are very close any way Plaza Mayor is the square one with no transit Sol is the center of Madrid and subway station is Sol

Sandra W

Are there any fiestas held here?

August 11, 2018|

AnswerShow all 4 answers

Looks like this one takes place in May, 6-15th. I’m sure there are many more throughout the year. Fiesta de San Isidro : May 6-15th.

Mary B

Thanks for your insight to the Plaza. Can you recommend anywhere to stay close to the Plaza Mayor maybe off the side streets. Or is there another neighborhood that would be accessible to cafes, restaurants, museums, etc. Any input will be aprecaited. Thank you!

April 9, 2018|

AnswerShow all 5 answers

Where to stay is a tough question. There's such a variety of accommodation in all the European cities. Your best bet is to use one of the sites that shows prices and locations on a map, put in your criteria, and see what... More

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Travel Forum Posts

Jacey B

Minneapolis, Minnesota

One night in Madrid (1 Replies)

My boyfriend and I are from the US and have a long layover in Madrid after a trip to Morocco. We get in on a Saturday night in early October at around 4pm and leave at noon the next day. We are staying in a hotel near Plaza Mayor. We are both in our late twenties and have never been to Spain. We want to make this one night count. Any suggestions on what to do or nearby bars/restaurants/clubs? Thanks!

July 26, 2015|

CitizenoftheAir

Massachusetts

Madrid Flamenco music with the locals (5 Replies)

Hello! We will be staying in Lavapies area. We have been to Flamenco shows multiple times. This time, we would like to enjoy flamenco music with the locals at a bar or some other venue, not a show. Also, if you could please advise us on where to go to a bar with with music, does not have to be flamenco, we be very thankful for your help. There used to be a bar the left of Plaza Mayor going down the steps to Cuchilleros where there was a great vibe with locals singing and playing....More

September 24, 2017|

Response fromwombat1223|

Pretty much all Flamenco is going to be full of tourists. Flamenco is from Andalusia, not Madrid. Even in places like Seville, it will not be for locals, generally. For music though there are some good clubs. One of the best jazz clubs if Cafe Central near Plaza Santa Ana.

Kaye J

London, United Kingdom

La Torre Del Oro Plaza Mayor (2 Replies)

La Torre del Oro - we wandered into this bar as it was quiet and smoke free. Ordered a drink from the bar and then the barmen were asking about whether we wanted tapas - no prices and we thought (naively) that prices would be the same as other bars, about 10 euros a plate - to our shock when we got the bill a small plate of gamberetti cost 20 euros. No wonder there are photos of politicians, film and music stars along with the bullfighting - these are the only people who can afford to eat...More

March 09, 2009|

Response fromMadridChulapo|

A barmen ripped you off and you say the hole Spain needs to learn a lesson?

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