Plaza de Cibeles

Plaza de Cibeles is one of Madrid's grandest squares, a monumental roundabout where the city's most beautiful fountain, depicting the goddess Cybele in a chariot pulled by lions, sits ringed by spectacular buildings. The showstopper is the Palacio de Cibeles (the former main post office, now the city hall and a cultural centre), a wedding-cake confection of white stone whose CentroCentro has a rooftop viewpoint over the plaza and the grand Gran Vía and Paseo del Prado beyond.

The fountain is also the traditional spot where Real Madrid fans celebrate their team's triumphs. It's a place to admire the architecture, ride up to the rooftop terrace for the view, and soak up Madrid's stately grandeur, right on the doorstep of the great art museums of the Paseo del Arte.

Don't miss

• The Cibeles fountain with its lion-drawn chariot
• The wedding-cake Palacio de Cibeles (city hall)
• The CentroCentro rooftop viewpoint
• Grand vistas down Gran Vía and the Paseo del Prado
• The fans' celebration spot for Real Madrid

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Plaza de Cibeles

Cheapest way inMadrid Walking Tour from Puerta del Sol to Retiro Park5★ · 2,688 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Most bookedMadrid Essential: Historic Center, Plaza Mayor & Royal Palace5★ · 7,234 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$3 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleMadrid Old City Guided Exclusive Guided Walking Tour5★ · 611 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$60 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Go up to the CentroCentro rooftop mirador for the best view over the plaza and avenues.
• The fountain sits on a busy roundabout, admire it from the surrounding pavements.
• It's beautifully floodlit at night and golden at sunset.
• Combine it with the nearby Prado, Retiro Park, and Gran Vía.

A bit of history

The Cibeles fountain was created in the late 18th century under Charles III as part of his beautification of Madrid. The surrounding palatial buildings, especially the early-20th-century Palacio de Cibeles, turned the square into a symbol of the capital; the post-office palace now serves as Madrid's city hall.