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The rooftop terrace of the Almudena Cathedral boasts some of the best views of Madrid, Spain. You can access it by visiting the museum.
Balcony
After taking the stairs or the lift, you come to the balcony on the façade of the church. There are incredible views of the Royal Palace. On the balcony are large statues of the Four Evangelists in niches, sculpted by José Luis Parés.
First Gallery
Next is the first gallery of the museum, which contains exhibits on the history of the Catholic Church in Madrid and its patron saints, the Virgin of Almudena (Santa María la Real de la Almudena) and San Isidro Labrador.
Rooftop Terrace
From there, you walk or take the lift up to the highest point of the church, the rooftop terrace. There are panels indicating what you can see in the distance, but the views only extend to the east, south, and west.
To the east, it’s possible to spot several landmarks in the historic city.
To the south, you can see more landmarks, such as the gigantic dome of the Basilica of San Francisco. Looking down, there are great views of the Emir Mohamed I Park next to the Arab Walls.
Also on the rooftop terrace, you can get a closer look at some of the statues of the 12 Apostles on the cathedral. They were sculpted by Luis Sanguino.
Second Gallery
Once you finish admiring the views from the terrace, you can walk down to the second gallery of the museum. It includes items used during the celebration of the Catholic Liturgy. From there, it’s back to the balcony and down to the ground floor, where you walk through the interior of the Almudena Cathedral and exit through the east doors.
