The Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid was founded in 1880 by a small group of artists. It is a private, non-profit cultural institution, officially declared a ‘Centre for the Protection of the Fine Arts and Public Interest’.
But that was not the reason why I went there. I went there to see the views. The Círculo de Bellas Artes 7th floor rooftop terrace offers some of the best views of Madrid city centre; you have a 360º panoramic view of just about all the famous landmarks.
The views from the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop terrace
Starting from the north, you have a fantastic view of the Gran Via and Alcalá street with the famous Metropolis Building at the intersection. Going in a clockwise direction from there, we can see the Colon Building, National Library, the Salamanca district, the National Bank, Palacio de Cibeles, Retiro Park, Prado Museum, Saint Jerome Church, Atocha station, Santa Ana square, and so much more. If it’s in Madrid, you can probably see it from here!
Rooftop restaurant and bar
There is also an excellent rooftop restaurant and bar. When I was there, the restaurant was fully booked, so if you want to eat there, I would recommend booking well in advance.
However, I did make use of the bar. At 17€ for a G&T, it’s not cheap, but so worth it. The comfortable seating and the views make it a great place to spend an hour or two.
Entrance
There is an admission fee to the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop terrace. When I visited, the entrance fee was 5€.
Círculo de Bellas Artes photo gallery
