Calle Mayor (High Street), Madrid

Calle Mayor (High Street), Madrid

Located on the northern side of the Town Square ("Plaza Mayor"), the historic High Street, or Calle Mayor, one of the oldest streets in the city, used to be the path for religious processions from the Royal Palace to the Monastery of Los Jerónimos. It also was the place where the guilds of silversmiths and jewelers concentrated. Nowadays, a trip down Calle Mayor offers a quintessential Madrid experience.

The street is lined with a diverse range of restaurants, bars, pubs, and shops, accompanied by the captivating facades of significant buildings. Notably, at number 88, a historic event unfolded in 1906 when an anarchist named Mateo Morral attempted to assassinate King Alfonso XIII and his bride by throwing a bomb from the top balcony of this building. Although innocent bystanders lost their lives in the explosion, the royal couple remained unharmed. To honor the victims, a monument now stands opposite the house.

For those who admire Cervantes, his birthplace at 48 Calle Mayor is a must-visit. Here, the Cervantes Birthplace Museum ("Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes"; Tue-Fri: 10am–5:30pm; Sat, Sun: 10am–6:30pm) showcases exhibitions dedicated to the celebrated author.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Madrid. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Calle Mayor (High Street) on Map

Sight Name: Calle Mayor (High Street)
Sight Location: Madrid, Spain (See walking tours in Madrid)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Madrid, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Madrid

Create Your Own Walk in Madrid

Creating your own self-guided walk in Madrid is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Souvenirs Shopping Tour

Souvenirs Shopping Tour

Shopping for souvenirs in Madrid is an exciting and delightful experience for anyone visiting the vibrant Spanish capital. Indeed, it would be a pity to leave Madrid without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. With this in mind, we've compiled a list of must-visit locations where you can find souvenirs, which are unique to Madrid and make for...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Buen Retiro Park Walking Tour

Buen Retiro Park Walking Tour

Buen Retiro Park, which translates to "Park of the Pleasant Retreat", is one of the main attractions in Madrid. Similarly to Central Park of New York City or Hyde Park of London, this former royal retreat is the most popular public outdoor space in the Spanish capital.

A green oasis in the heart of the city, the park has long been a favorite spot for both locals and tourists to go for...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Golden Mile Walking Tour

Golden Mile Walking Tour

Similarly to 5th Avenue in New York City, Champs Elysee in Paris, or Bond Street in London, the Golden Mile is one of the wealthiest and most expensive neighborhoods of the Spanish capital. Forming part of Madrid's Salamanca district, this posh area is known for its upscale shopping, cultural attractions, and gastronomic delights.

One of the prominent local landmarks is Columbus Square...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Madrid Food Tour

Madrid Food Tour

Spain is internationally reputed as a major gastronomic power and its capital city Madrid attests to this claim, being home to vibrant food markets and multiple establishments serving traditional Spanish food in a soul-warming atmosphere.

One of the iconic food destinations is Plaza Mayor, a bustling town square where you can savor traditional Spanish dishes. The square is home to numerous...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Miguel de Cervantes' Madrid Walking Tour

Miguel de Cervantes' Madrid Walking Tour

The name of the iconic Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes is closely associated with Madrid. The author is known for a number of works, but his 1605 novel Don Quixote de la Mancha is often held as the first modern novel.

Despite being regarded as one of the fathers of modern literature, very little is known about Cervantes' early life. Born in 1547, he had spent some of his young years in...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Ernest Hemingway's Madrid Walking Tour

Ernest Hemingway's Madrid Walking Tour

Amid the many writers who have expressed their love for Madrid, Ernest Hemingway is the one who did so quite famously. A recognized heavyweight of the 20th century literature - the author of The Sun Also Rises (1926), Death in the Afternoon (1932), The Fifth Column (1938), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940) and The Old Man and the Sea (1952) - was a frequent visitor to the Spanish capital.

Here,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


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