# Plaza Mayor, Madrid > Plaza Mayor is old Madrid's main square, built in 1617–1619 under King Philip III. It's a vast enclosed rectangle of arcades and hundreds of matching balconies, with the painted Casa de la Panadería and an equestrian statue of the king in the middle. Nine archways lead in, sheltering cafés and old shops. It's always open and free; allow 30 to 45 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-mayor-madrid - City: [Madrid](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid), Spain - YesGo score: 51/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 40 min - Opening hours: Always open - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free, 24 hours - Highlights: The arcades, Casa de la Panadería, Philip III's statue - Food: Calamari sandwiches, the San Miguel market - Time needed: 30–45 minutes - December: The Christmas market - Location: Centre, Sol or Ópera metro - Coordinates: 40.41546, -3.70738 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1619** — the square was completed (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 129 × 94 m** — size of the square (source: English Wikipedia) - **237** — balconies on its façades (source: English Wikipedia) - **9** — arched entrances (source: English Wikipedia) ## About Plaza Mayor The square was built under King **Philip III** to a design by the architect **Juan Gómez de Mora** and finished in **1619**. It replaced a market outside the old city walls and became the capital's ceremonial heart, hosting festivals, royal celebrations and fairs. It took its present form in the late 18th century, when the architect **Juan de Villanueva** rebuilt it: the houses were made the same height and the entrances closed with arches. The square measures about **129 by 94 metres**, with **237 balconies** around it, so wherever you stand it feels like the courtyard of a giant palace. ## What to see on the square The most striking building is the **Casa de la Panadería** on the north side, its façade painted with allegorical figures and signs of the zodiac. It was once the bakery that supplied the city's bread and now houses the tourist office. Opposite stands the **Casa de la Carnicería**, with corner turrets. In the middle is a bronze **equestrian statue of Philip III**. Of the nine arches, the most picturesque is the **Arco de Cuchilleros** in the south-west corner, where steep steps lead down to Calle de Cuchilleros and its old taverns. Under the arcades are cafés, souvenir shops and old hat and coin shops. ## What to see on Plaza Mayor - **Casa de la Panadería** — the painted façade. - **Philip III's statue** — in the centre of the square. - **Arco de Cuchilleros** — steps down to old taverns. - **The arcades** — cafés, shops and hatters. - **San Miguel market** — a glass market of tapas nearby. - **The Christmas market** — in December. > **What to eat** The square's signature snack is the **calamari sandwich**, bocadillo de calamares, sold in little bars around it, usually with a beer. Cafés on the square itself are pricier, so eat in the side streets or at the San Miguel market. ## Around the square Two minutes to the west is the **San Miguel market**, an elegant early 20th-century hall of glass and iron now selling tapas, ham, oysters and wine. Beyond it, Calle Mayor leads to [Almudena Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/almudena-cathedral) and the [Royal Palace](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/royal-palace-madrid). To the south lies **La Latina**, with Plaza de la Paja and Cava Baja, a street full of bars. To the east, Calle Mayor takes you in 5 minutes to [Puerta del Sol](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/puerta-del-sol), the city's central square. It all makes one walk through Habsburg Madrid, the oldest part of the city, with narrow streets and 16th and 17th-century convents. ## How to get to Plaza Mayor 1. Metro: **Sol** station (L1, L2, L3), a 5-minute walk along Calle Mayor. 2. Or **Ópera** station (L2, L5), a 7-minute walk. 3. From the Royal Palace, 10 minutes on foot. 4. The main entrances are the arches from Calle Mayor, Calle de Toledo and Cuchilleros. ## Tips In the morning the square is nearly empty and great for photos; in the evening, with the lamps lit, it's busy and lively. Street performers and costumed characters ask for money for photos, which is up to you. Watch your bag in the crowds. In December the square hosts a **Christmas market** selling nativity figures, decorations and novelty wigs, a long-standing Madrid tradition. In summer there are concerts and festivals, and in May, for the feast of San Isidro, locals dance the chotis, Madrid's traditional dance. It slots neatly into a route between Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace. ## Checklist Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Study the Casa de la Panadería façade - [ ] Take the Arco de Cuchilleros steps - [ ] Try a calamari sandwich - [ ] Visit the San Miguel market - [ ] Come back for the evening lights ## Places in Madrid: compare and choose Places in Madrid rated by YesGo. - [Puerta del Sol](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/puerta-del-sol) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 25 min · Free - [Plaza Mayor](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-mayor-madrid) — YesGo score 51/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free - [Plaza de España](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/plaza-de-espana-madrid) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Retiro Park](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/retiro-park) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 45 min · Free - [Ávila](https://yesgo.io/spain/madrid/avila) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 6 h · Town free ## Don't mix it up Many Spanish towns have a Plaza Mayor, the name for a main square. Madrid's is the best known; similar ones stand in Salamanca and Valladolid. ## Tips - Morning for crowd-free photos. - Calamari sandwiches in nearby bars. - San Miguel market is two minutes away. - A Christmas fair in December. ## Questions ### What is there to see on Plaza Mayor? The painted Casa de la Panadería, Philip III's statue, the arcades and the Arco de Cuchilleros. ### Is Plaza Mayor free? Yes, the square is always open and free. ### What should I eat on Plaza Mayor? A fried calamari sandwich, the square's signature snack. ### How do I get to Plaza Mayor? By metro to Sol, then 5 minutes along Calle Mayor. ### What's near Plaza Mayor? The San Miguel market, Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace and La Latina. ## How we checked Facts from English Wikipedia. Walking times are approximate. ## Sources - English Wikipedia: Plaza Mayor, Madrid - Madrid tourism portal, esmadrid.com --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.