VanDam's newly revised
2026 Edition StreetSmart® Madrid maps all top attractions including museums, major architecture, hotels, key dining and shopping destinations – all at an immensely legible scale of 1:10,000 complete with 3-D building illustrations. Clear information design allows users to read the map from three feet away and has earned VanDam maps a place in the MoMA Collection. The map includes
eleven self–guided walks through the most intriguing neighborhoods. It is film laminated, accordion folded, watered and tear proof fits into shirt pocket or purse.
Coverage: Madrid Street Map 1:15,800; Madrid Overview Map: 1: 40,000; Madrid Metro Map (schematic), Centro Historico Map 1:10,000; Dimensions: 4” x 9” folded, 9” x 36” unfolded, fits into shirt pocket or purse.
StreetSmart® Madrid is so legible you will instantly understand how Conde Duque connects with Chamberí, Chueca with Casa de Campo, Malasaña with Moratalaz, Parque de Buen Retiro with the Prado and Sol with Salamanca. From God's perspective to the most minute alleys our map will be a treasured companion during your stay to understand how the city functions.
This new 2026 edition sports two extra panels for increased type size and a larger Metro Transportation Map covering subways, light rail and trains.
Madrid is unique in many ways: It sports unrivaled collections of art treasures by Picasso, Goya, Rubens, Bosch, Dürer, El Greco and Velasquez to name a few. Its eclectic Modernista architecture combines French Art Nouveau, Catalan and Viennese modernism, and even elements of Neo-Mudéjar to create confectionery buildings.
Despite a 1,200 year documented history — it was founded by the Emir of Córdoba — Madrid has the vibe of a young city that celebrates life to the fullest. Turn a corner and new worlds unfold.
Look for Cante Jondo performances— the original non commercial version of flamenco to discover Duende — the man of the house as the poet Gabriel Garcia Lorca described it — which manifests itself in the electric energy between performer and audience. Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco, Corral de la Morería and Sanlúcar are options.
Spain is a country where big parts of the population don’t want to be Spanish, but consider themselves separate nations like Catalans, Vascos, Andaluzes and Gallegos. Madrileños seem the exception. How ironic then that the separatist regions came to the rescue of Spain’s central social democratic government — citing minority protections — to defeat and keep the right-wing out of federal office.
Madrid is the only European city where two top teams Real Madrid FC (the Royals) compete with its more working class cross town rival Atlético de Madrid (Los Colchoneros —“The Mattress Makers”) for the top crown in the Champion League and produce some of the best soccer/futbol in Europe, if not the world.
Here is what’s special among the eleven recommended walks.
Modernista Walk in Jerónimos showcases the spectacular wealth and resulting architectural beauty of a modernism quite different from northern European sensibilities like the Bauhaus, Le Corbusier etc.
Chueca Walk is the LGBTQ+ jewel of Centro filled with gay bars, tasty neighborhood restaurants and tons of style.
Manzanares Rio Walk. In a feat of inspired urban planning and traffic management the City buried the major freeway bordering the Manzanares River to create a linear river park. The perfect place to beat the heat. While Madrid has enough other industry to not only be defined by tourism, it’s a good idea to go off season when temps and tourist traffic are lower.
Malesaña Walk is a hike through a lovely residential neighborhood with Modernista architectural jewels leading into Gran Via, the Fifth Avenue of Madrid.
Shopping in Recoletos ranges from global luxury chains to the best in optical fashion.
Paseo de Castellana Walk: A stroll through the spine of the city offers grand architecture, cultural landmarks and culinary delights frequented by affluent locals who live and play away from the more touristy Centro. What the Champs de Élysées is to Paris, this walk is to Madrid.
Arts & Letters Walk. Immerse yourself in Spanish literature and treasure the bookstores en route to
Caixa Forum the art and culture center designed by
Herzog & de Meuron in a former power plant. Here is Madrid’s answer to the
Tate Modern in London.
While enjoying our eleven self-guided walks stop at any super market to see how affordable food items can be. They cost a fraction of what you are used to paying at home. A decent bottle of wine for less than 5 Euros, anyone?
Get StreetSmart Madrid and become an instant Madrileño!Stephan Van Dam, AIGA is an award-winning cartographer, graphic designer, and information architect. He is the president, principal and creative director of New York-based VanDam Publishing. Twenty-seven of his maps are in the MoMA Collection.
The universal power of maps has been his guiding passion for the past 25 years and fuels his desire to tell stories and construct new realities through maps in all media. He's has mapped over 85 world cities, and holds several patents in the field of paper engineering and origami map folding.
His work has been honored by the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA), the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the editors of ID magazine and has been featured on national television and been sighted in numerous feature films.
