Bicycles may not be the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Madrid – lots of hills and long distances suggest other options for moving around the Spanish capital. But for die-hard cyclists (and nowadays, for less die-hard electric cyclists) the time and effort earns great rewards.
Proud to be a bike-friendly city (finally)
Madrid spent a long time as a cyclist’s nightmare, but over the past few years – thanks to various private and public programs and a network of cycle lanes – a true bicycle culture has blossomed. Now, visitors can see Madrid’s most emblematic buildings, plazas, parks and river all in one day without ever setting foot on the city subway system. The hard part is choosing a route!
Routes: a few ideas
The ideas presented below will give you a preview of the experiences your group can have on bicycle or electric bicycle. Get in touch with us to get the full details of the routes and start planning your tour!
- If you are in Madrid during the hotter months, take advantage of this route which is best taken in the late afternoon – cyclists are rewarded with spectacular sunsets from different viewpoints. It starts at Moncloa Lighthouse, a 92-meter high tower with a panoramic view of the entire city and surrounding mountains. After passing by countless historic sites and splendid gardens – the Park of the West, the Temple Gardens Of Debod, and the Royal Palace, to name a few – it ends up at Retiro Park.
- Madrid is the political capital of Spain, and many insitutional buildings are of great artistic and architectural importance. Follow this route which runs past the Ministry of Agriculture, a building by architect Velázquez-Bosco crowned by the spectacular sculptures of Agustí Querol. Then head to the Ministry of Health, considered one of the most outstanding examples of architecture after the Spanish Civil War. The route continues to the Palace of the Cortes, protected by two lions that sculptor Ponciano Ponzano created with fused guns from the War of Africa of 1860. It then finished at the Cuatro Torres, which are the tallest buildings in Madrid.
- For those looking to leave the city for a while, follow a route that starts at the Royal Palace and heads up to Casa de Campo, a park that is much bigger than Retiro, and looks more like a forest – except for the bars and restaurants that unobtrusively dot the area.
Whichever route you choose, your group is sure to agree that cycling is the new way to see Madrid!
