3 Southwest Area Route (Matadero – Río – Casa de Campo – Malasaña)
For urban cycling lovers who want to discover the city of Madrid or simply enjoy a ride through the most bike-friendly routes in the capital, here’s a list with links to the top 5 routes to explore MADRID BY BIKE.
Before you start, here’s some useful information:
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(Ventas – Juan Carlos I Park – Valdebebas – Chamartín – Bernabeu)
Google Maps Route Link HERE
LEVEL: Moderate (easy with an e-bike)
TOTAL DISTANCE: Approx. 25 km
BIKE LANE: 80%
This is a fantastic route to discover the northern part of the city.
We start at the Ventas bullring and follow the bike lane all the way to Juan Carlos I Park. In the park, you’ll easily find water fountains, cafés, play areas for kids, and some very interesting modern sculptures.
We exit the park heading toward IFEMA (Madrid’s exhibition center), passing by the venue (note: bikes are not allowed inside). We continue around IFEMA until we reach Valdebebas Forest Park.
Valdebebas Park was once a city landfill, but thanks to the efforts of locals and the city council, it has been transformed into a stunning forest park that will surely surprise you. At its center is a viewpoint offering amazing views of Madrid’s skyline.
From there, we follow the bike lane to the iconic “Mirador Building,” a striking piece of postmodern architecture. After this point, the bike lane ends, but you can continue along quiet streets to Chamartín Station and head toward Paseo de la Castellana to admire the Four Towers.
From there, take the side lane of Paseo de la Castellana, and it’s all downhill until you reach Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. This marks the end of the route—but you can easily extend it, as it intersects with the Green Ring (Anillo Verde) in several places.
(Cerro del Tío Pío – Vallecas – Caja Mágica – Matadero)
Google Maps Route Link HERE
LEVEL: Moderate (easy if you’re riding an e-bike)
DISTANCE COVERED: Approx. 28 km
BIKE LANE: 80%
This is one of the most beautiful routes, as it takes you through the famous neighborhood of Vallecas and several parks in the southern part of Madrid, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the city.
The ride begins at Retiro Park, following the O’Donnell bike lane until it splits. There, turn right to circle around the Almudena Cemetery. Continue on the bike lane that borders the Moratalaz district until you reach the “Seven Breasts Park” (Cerro del Tío Pío), where I highly recommend climbing one of the hills to enjoy the view.
Next, ride along Avenida de la Albufera—note that there is no bike lane on this stretch—until you reach the roundabout just before the M40. Turn right here onto another bike lane that leads to the Entrevías Forest Park. Be sure to follow the map closely here, as it’s easy to veer off course.
Cross the A4 motorway to reach the Manzanares Linear Park. Don’t miss the scenic viewpoint marked on the map—it’s definitely worth a stop. Continue riding along the Manzanares River to Matadero (a cultural center), and then take Calle Delicias toward Atocha Station. Delicias is a wide, busy street with no bike lane. If you’re not comfortable riding here, you can take a short detour through Embajadores for a quieter route.
This is the official end of the route, but you can easily extend it, as it intersects with Madrid’s Green Ring (Anillo Verde) at several points.
3 Southwest Area Route (Matadero – Río – Casa de Campo – Malasaña)
Google Maps Route Link HERE
LEVEL: Moderate (easy if you’re riding an e-bike)
DISTANCE COVERED: Approx. 25 km
BIKE LANE: 50%
This is one of the best routes to discover the city of Madrid by bike. It’s very complete and interesting. While we don’t ride on many dedicated bike lanes, the route takes you through Madrid Río Park and Casa de Campo, both car-free areas. The beginning is very easy, mostly downhill and flat, but it becomes a bit more challenging halfway through—nothing too alarming though.
We start pedaling from Retiro Park, descending along Calle Santa María de la Cabeza until Matadero (watch out for traffic near Atocha). At Matadero, we turn right onto what’s known as “Madrid Río,” which we follow all the way to Casa de Campo. Along the way, you can stop to admire the Toledo and Segovia Bridges, as well as the modern Arganzuela footbridge. In summer, you can cool off at the “Madrid beach” or visit the San Isidro Hermitage, which is along the route.
Upon arriving at Casa de Campo, we leave the river by turning left and circle around the lake. Then, we climb up to the Teleférico (cable car), where you can enjoy excellent views of the western part of the city.
We venture deeper into Casa de Campo, where you can experience tranquility just minutes from the urban bustle. Leaving Casa de Campo, we cross the M30 highway via a footbridge and arrive at the San Antonio de la Florida Hermitage, the burial site of the famous painter Goya. From here, a small uphill begins through Parque del Oeste until we reach the Temple of Debod, where you can admire views of Casa de Campo.
Attention: Biking is prohibited in the gardens surrounding the Temple of Debod, so you’ll need to dismount and walk your bike through this section. Afterward, we continue to Plaza de España and then enter the fantastic Malasaña neighborhood. Wandering through the streets, we reach Plaza del 2 de Mayo and continue straight to Calle Serrano and the Puerta de Alcalá.
This route can be shortened easily by skipping Casa de Campo. Hope you enjoy it!
4 Central Area Route (The Icons of Madrid)
Google Maps Route Link HERE
LEVEL: Moderate – (easy if you go with an e-bike)
DISTANCE: Approximately 12 km
BIKE LANES: 40%
This route is specially designed to discover the most iconic places in Madrid, such as the Puerta de Alcalá, the Royal Palace, or the Rastro market. It’s a fairly easy ride to wander through the historic center and see some must-visit spots if you’re visiting the city.
We start the adventure at our shop near Retiro Park. We head north along Paseo del Prado until we reach the famous Cibeles Fountain, where Madrid’s City Hall is located and where Real Madrid’s sports victories are celebrated. We recommend visiting the rooftop of the Telecom Palace to admire the views. Another nearby building with rooftop access is the “Círculo de Bellas Artes” on Alcalá Street, which costs €4 but is well worth it.
We turn left onto Alcalá Street, taking the bike lane on the left side. This lane takes us to Puerta del Sol and Kilometer Zero (the point from which distances to all highways from Madrid are measured in every direction). We continue on the bike lane along Mayor Street until reaching Plaza Mayor, where you must get off your bike to enter. Continuing ahead, you’ll find the San Miguel Market (a very touristy but interesting place) and Plaza de la Villa.
At the end of Mayor Street, we turn right to enter the Royal Palace (NOTE: biking is prohibited in the Plaza de Armas).
Next to the palace are the Sabatini Gardens, a must-see. From here, we head back via Santiago Street, crossing the Austrias neighborhood and later through Cava Baja to the Cebada Market, a traditional Madrid market where we recommend trying a snack at one of the stalls (this place keeps its old charm without expensive prices for tapas). We continue to Plaza Cascorro, the heart of “El Rastro,” a famous Sunday flea market (if it’s open, better leave your bikes outside).
Next, we head towards Lavapiés, Madrid’s old Jewish quarter, known for its multicultural vibe and charm. We cross Lavapiés and arrive at the Reina Sofía Museum, home to Picasso’s famous “Guernica.” From here, we cross Paseo del Prado back to Retiro Park, where you can explore freely without traffic—a perfect place to end this route, don’t you think?
5 Green Ring Route of Madrid
Google Maps Route Link HERE
LEVEL: Difficult – (Moderate if you go with an e-bike)
DISTANCE: Approximately 65 km
BIKE LANES: 70%
The Green Ring is a route that circles around the city of Madrid, stretching about 65 km. It’s designed to be done by bike. Most sections have bike lanes, although in some parts you will need to ride on regular streets. The route is fairly well marked with orange markers every 300 meters or so, but there are sections where it’s easy to get off track. That’s why we provide this Google Maps route so you can follow it on your mobile navigation without confusion.
It’s also well equipped with rest areas and water fountains roughly every 1.5 km.
On the map we provide, the route starts in the East at Avenida Daroca and goes around the North, but you can choose your own starting point and direction.
We hope you finish it and share your experience with us!
