Instagram-worthy places in Madrid’s neighborhoods

Spain’s capital city has no shortage of photogenic monuments and iconic establishments (many of which we’ve tipped you off to as the most Instagrammable places in Madrid), but it’s time to let you in on the hidden gems. Once you’ve hit all of the historic sites on your list, toss your guidebook to the side, make sure your camera and phone are fully charged, and hit the streets of Madrid’s diverse neighborhoods. There is no shortage of Instagram-worthy places in Madrid’s over 45 different barrios, or neighborhoods—each with its own unique vibe and countless opportunities for the perfect shot to show your friends and family.

Malasaña

Of all the neighborhoods on this list, Malasaña is the one you’ve definitely heard of. Renowned as Madrid’s coolest neighborhood, here, you’ll find hip bars and restaurants, cute boutiques, and plenty of historical and cultural offerings, including museums, concerts, exhibitions, and more. Keep your eyes peeled for Malasaña’s walls of street art, of which there are many—though the most famous is certainly the turquoise blue wall with eyes painted on it that belongs to a store called Tom Pai on Calle de la Palma. (While over here, stop to refuel with a coffee at Toma Café. Trust us.)

Chueca

The hub of Madrid’s LGBTQ+ community, Chueca vibrates with energy and style and is filled with trendy places to grab a bite to eat, grab a drink, or hit the town. Beautiful, traditional buildings line this neighborhood, coupled with ideal plazas, or squares, where you can enjoy prime people watching and get a great photo any time of day.

For the quintessential Chueca experience, you have to go have a cocktail—and get a selfie—at Museo Chicote, which Lonely Planet describes as, “a Madrid landmark, complete with its 1930s-era interior, and its founder is said to have invented more than 100 cocktails, which the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Sophia Loren and Frank Sinatra all enjoyed at one time or another.”

P.S. The nearby neighborhoods of Justicia and Las Salesas have been picking up steam in recent years and are worth exploring with your camera, too!

La Latina

Made up of tiny, charming streets, bursting with color, and home to the infamous Sunday morning flea market, the neighborhood of La Latina is just the place to get the perfect Instagram photo on your Madrid trip. Visit the vibrant Mercado de la Cebada, stopping later for a tapa on the well-known Calle Cava Baja. When you go for a stroll along Calle de Segovia—one of the oldest streets in the city—wander towards the Segovia Viaduct, where you can get another stunning shot either from atop the bridge or down below it.

Barrio de las Letras

The Barrio de las Letras, also known as Huertas for the name of its main street, is a neighborhood rich in literary history, thanks to famous writers like Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Ernest Hemingway. Its proximity to three of Madrid’s big museums—the Prado, Reina Sofia, and Thyssen-Bornemisza—art galleries, gardens, and Plaza de Santa Ana ensures that you’ll have plenty of chances to snap a photo or two for Instagram. In fact, go sit and have a drink at Cervecería Alemana, where Hemingway had his own table with a window that overlooked the aforementioned square. Today, his photo hangs above the table, where you are actually allowed to sit, which definitely sounds #instagramworthy to us.

Lavapiés

Madrid’s bohemian Lavapiés is a true melting pot of culture, with the highest concentration of immigrants in the city. People from all over the world, of approximately 90 different nationalities, live together to create this special neighborhood, which has a lot to offer travelers visiting Madrid. At less than 20 minutes from the main Atocha railway station, you’re never far from Lavapiés’ plethora of tasty, international restaurants and eye-catching street art. If you haven’t taken enough photos already, check out La Tabacalera de Lavapiés—an old tobacco factory that is now a public visual arts center with rotating exhibitions, classes, shows, and more.

Want to make sure you’re seeing all the right spots around Madrid’s neighborhoods? Book an experience with Madrid Photo Tour, and you’ll have so many Instagram-worthy photos of Madrid you won’t know which ones to post!