Madrid is such a rewarding city for urban sketching. It gives you elegant architecture, grand public squares, green parks, and beautiful historic details that keep your eyes moving from one corner to another. I loved sketching in Madrid because every walk felt inspiring, and each place offered a very different mood. If you are planning a sketching trip, these 5 places are truly great for sketching and for slowing down to enjoy the city.
If Barcelona is in your travel plans, kindly suggest you to read my post about 5 places to sketch in Barcelona.
My watercolors that I use for sketching here.
Retiro Park
Retiro Park is one of the best places to sketch in Madrid if you want a mix of nature, movement, and monuments. In this sketch, I painted the park with watercolors, then added a few black pen lines and some brown pencil touches to the monument. I really enjoyed the lively scene with the boats on the water and the people gathering near the monument. An interesting fact is that El Retiro was once a royal park, created for the Spanish monarchy before it became a public space for everyone to enjoy.
Almudena Cathedral
The Cathedral is a wonderful place to sketch if you love architectural lines and elegant symmetry. Here I started with pen lines and then colored the cathedral with watercolors, which helped me keep the structure clear while still giving it a soft atmosphere. I really loved the architecture of this church, especially the towers and the balance of the facade. The cathedral was only completed in 1993, which makes it much newer than many famous European cathedrals.
Metropolis Building
The Metropolis Building is one of the most iconic buildings on Gran Vía, and it makes a striking subject for an urban sketch. I tried to create an evening mood here, with the lights of the building showing through against a darker sky. That contrast made the sketch feel dramatic and full of city energy. The building is crowned by a winged statue, and it has become one of the most recognized architectural symbols of Madrid.
Plaza Mayor
Main Square is one of the classic sketching spots in Madrid because it combines open space, strong shapes, and a lot of atmosphere. I made this sketch with watercolor and pen, and on purpose I decided not to color the statue. I think that helped separate it from the building and gave the scene more dimension. Plaza Mayor has existed since the early 17th century and has served many roles over time, including markets, celebrations, and public events.
Casa Gallardo
Casa Gallardo is a fantastic place to sketch if you love decorative architecture and expressive linework. Art Nouveau is one of my favorite architectural styles, so I was very happy to sketch this building again. This time I could really feel how my skills have grown, even though there is still so much to learn and keep practicing. Casa Gallardo is considered one of the best examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Madrid, which makes it especially exciting for architecture lovers and sketchers.
Madrid is full of sketching opportunities, but these 5 places really stood out to me. Each one has its own character, from peaceful park views to detailed facades and lively city squares. I think that is what makes Madrid so special for sketchers: you can explore many moods and subjects in one city. If you enjoy urban sketching, Madrid will definitely give you plenty of inspiration and many pages to fill in your sketchbook.
