Madrid promises photo opportunities that are virtually endless whether you're looking for impressive statues, picturesque public squares or vibrant greenery. It's the capital of Spain and a place where you'll find a satisfying combination of history and modern splendor perfect for your Instagram.

Whether you want to fill your feed with the beauty of nature, grab still shots of the bustling city or capture images of historic sites, you can find it all here. Take a look at the 10 most Instagrammable places in Madrid.

  • 1

    El Oso y el Madroño

    Check out an impressive sculpture

    El Oso y el Madroño
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    El Oso y el Madroño, or the Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, is a 20th-century statue made from stone and bronze. Depicting exactly what the name suggests, the statue towers 4 meters high on a staggered granite pedestal.

    This statue is special in that it represents the coat of arms of Madrid, showcasing a deep connection to the city that's apparent when you look at the local heraldry. You'll find this statue on the east side of the Puerta del Sol, northeast of Plaza Mayor.

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    Location: Prta del Sol, 1, 28013 Madrid, Spain

    Open: 24/7

    Phone: +34 915 29 82 10

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  • 2

    Plaza Mayor

    Visit Madrid's main square

    Plaza Mayor
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    Plaza Mayor is a public square and former center of Old Madrid where you'll find a well-maintained monument of history along with shops and eateries. Surrounded by historic buildings, this square offers opportunities for stunning photos no matter which angle you approach from.

    Don't forget to stop by the iconic King Philip III statue in the middle of the square for additional photo opportunities. The square is located in the Centro district in between the Opera and Tirso de Molina metro stations.

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    Location: Pl. Mayor, 28012 Madrid, Spain

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  • 3

    Calle Gran Vía

    Visit the great way

    Calle Gran Vía
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    Calle Gran Vía, or The Great Way, is a popular street and urban malecon where you'll find the most important shopping neighborhoods in the city along with hotels. Known sometimes as the Spanish Broadway, you'll find an impressive showcase of 20th-century revival architecture that contrasts well with the more historical buildings throughout the rest of the city.

    Several different architectural styles can be found here to serve as a backdrop for your Instagram photos. You'll find Vienna Secession, Plateresque, Neo-Mudejar and Art Deco to name a few. It's all located in between Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de España, just a 10-minute walk from the city centre.

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    Location: Calle Gran Vía, 28015 Madrid, Spain

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  • 4

    CaixaForum Museum

    See a contemporary architectural marvel

    CaixaForum Museum
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    The CaixaForum Museum is an ideal photo stop where you can see a vertical garden and a building that appears as if it's levitating. The building's facade seems to stop before it reaches the ground level, making it appear as if it's levitating.

    The vertical garden is especially impressive, as it appears as if the building is covered in greenery. Upon closer examination, however, you'll find a variety of plant life all meticulously organized. See it for yourself with a 10-minute drive southeast of Madrid's city centre.

    Location: P.º del Prado, 36, 28014 Madrid, Spain

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 8 pm

    Phone: +34 913 30 73 00

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    photo by Nemo (CC BY-SA 4.0) modified

  • 5

    Puente Monumental De Arganzuela

    Immerse yourself in a modern spiral design

    Puente Monumental De Arganzuela
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    Puente Monumental De Arganzuela is a footbridge that features a unique spiral design made from curved steel plates over the walking platform. Photo opportunities are available from a distance and from within, though you should try to get both when you visit.

    When you visit this bridge, you'll find it complete with interior lighting, so you can see easily enough even at night. The spiral design does still have openings to the sky, however, so it's easier to capture a more outdoorsy look despite the modern design. You'll find it crossing the Manzanares, about 2 miles south of the center of the city.

    Location: P.º de las Yeserías, 4, 28005 Madrid, Spain

    Open: 24/7

    Phone: +34 915 29 82 10

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  • 6

    Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid

    Enjoy the vibrancy of a botanical garden

    Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
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    The Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid is a vibrant botanical garden with an extensive array of greenery and colorful domestic and exotic plants. You'll find 7 outdoor sections and 5 greenhouses with 90,000 plants and 1,500 trees.

    One of the most iconic aspects of these gardens is the herbarium, which is among the largest of its kind in the country and features more than a million specimens from around the world. You can see it all for yourself just southeast of the city centre and north of the Estación del Arte metro station.

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    Location: Plaza de Murillo, 2, 28014 Madrid, Spain

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 8.30 pm

    Phone: +34 914 20 30 17

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  • 7

    Calle de la Palma

    Check out a scenic and narrow street

    Calle de la Palma
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    Calle de la Palma is a quaint street in town that's home to several centuries-old buildings perfect for photo opportunities deep in the city. Many of the shops and restaurants here have unique facades as well, including one that displays a colorful array of squares around the front door.

    The street contains several residential properties as well, so make sure you're respectful of people's privacy when taking any pictures in the area. You can experience this street for yourself south of Plaza del Dos de Mayo and north of Plaza Juan Pujol.

    Location: Calle Palma, 28015 Madrid, Spain

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    photo by Asqueladd (CC BY-SA 3.0) modified

  • 8

    Círculo de Bellas Artes

    Visit a property of cultural interest

    Círculo de Bellas Artes
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    The scenic Círculo de Bellas Artes is a cultural center with numerous artistic exhibitions and a stable program of presenters and artists you can enjoy. The building dates back to the early 20th century and features a modern and striking architectural design.

    One of the best features of this building is the rooftop. It's freely accessible to visitors, and you'll be met with panoramic views where you can take in virtually all of Madrid. You'll find this building across the street from Edificio Metropolis and just a short walk southwest from the Banco de Espana metro station.

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    Location: C. de Alcalá, 42, 28014 Madrid, Spain

    Open: Monday–Thursday from noon to 12.30 am, Friday–Sunday from noon to 2.30 am

    Phone: +34 913 60 54 00

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  • 9

    Palacio de Cristal

    Explore a conservatory

    Palacio de Cristal
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    Palacio de Cristal, or the glass palace, is a conservatory housed in an impressive structure constructed mostly of glass set within an iron framework. In fact, the glass is so prominent that visitors inside often feel as if they're still outside, given the visibility of the sky and surrounding trees from within.

    The unique design here presents opportunities for photos you won't want to miss out on. Plus, it's located right next to a lake with a fountain for that extra aesthetic benefit. You'll find this glass palace near the center of Parque de El Retiro, 2 miles east of Madrid's city centre.

    Location: P.º de Cuba, 4, 28009 Madrid, Spain

    Open: Daily from 10 am to 10 pm

    Phone: +34 917 74 10 00

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  • 10

    Templo De Debod

    Step into the past

    Templo De Debod
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    The Templo De Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple that was disassembled, then moved from its original location and rebuilt in Madrid. The temple's design and materials date back to 200 BCE, so you can look far into the distant past when you visit.

    When you visit this temple, you'll find something particularly unique in Spain, as the temple is positively Egyptian and offers a different aesthetic for any photos taken here. You can see it all for yourself 2 miles northwest of the city centre, on the western edge of Malasana.

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    Location: C. de Ferraz, 1, 28008 Madrid, Spain

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