Films and TV series shot in Madrid: locations to see on foot

Madrid is the setting for a large part of Spanish cinema, and the Gran Vía is its most recognisable image. This guide suggests a walking route past a few film and series locations you can see for free from the street, separating what you can visit from what you can only look at from outside. It does not claim to list every shoot: crews move from one address to another each season, and a series set is often just a facade. Check the opening hours of paid places, such as cinemas, before you go (seen in October 2026).

A film route in half a day

Stop	What you see	Access
Gran Vía and Callao	Facades of former cinema palaces, neon signs	Free, from the street
Edificio Capitol	Corner-tower building, seen in several films	Outside only
Cine Doré	Art Nouveau cinema, home of the Filmoteca Española	Paid screenings
Plaza de Oriente and Royal Palace	Settings for historical fiction and series	Free from outside

Allow three to four hours of relaxed walking, meals not included. The route works well at dusk, when the Gran Vía signs light up.

Gran Vía: the street of cinemas

The Gran Vía at night, with its signs

The Gran Vía was cut through the city in the early 20th century and filled with cinemas, theatres and domed buildings. It is often the backdrop of Spanish productions because it combines a dense urban setting and very varied facades within a few hundred metres. For the visitor, the point is mainly to look up: the rooftops, domes and signs are what make the street recognisable on screen.

The street is busy all day and late at night. In summer walk on the shaded side, and keep your belongings in front of you in the crowd, as on any big tourist avenue (see scams to avoid in Madrid).

Callao and the Edificio Capitol

The Edificio Capitol on Callao square

Callao square opens the Gran Vía on the Sol side. The Edificio Capitol, with its corner tower, is one of the most photographed buildings there; it appears on screen in several Spanish productions, including Álex de la Iglesia's film "El día de la bestia" (1995), whose action takes place on the rooftops of the Gran Vía. The interior and roof are not visitable like a monument: enjoy the square from the ground. For an overview of the rooftops in this area, see the best views of Madrid.

Cine Doré: watch a film in a period setting

The facade of the Cine Doré

The Cine Doré, at calle Santa Isabel 3 in the Lavapiés district, is the home of the Filmoteca Española. It shows heritage films, often in the original language with subtitles, in an Art Nouveau building. It is the easiest cinema outing to organise for a visitor who wants a Madrid cinema experience without looking for a recent release. Check the Filmoteca's official programme before you come: screenings change every week, and films are not always dubbed or subtitled in your language. Combine it with a walk in Lavapiés.

Almodóvar and the Movida

Pedro Almodóvar made Madrid the setting of several of his films, starting with "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" (1988), set in the city. There is no single official trail: the location guides you find online are private initiatives, to be compared with each other. To understand the period, the best thing is to walk around Malasaña, the district linked to the 1980s Movida.

"Money Heist" and other series

The series "Money Heist" ("La casa de papel") is often associated with Madrid, but its Royal Mint is a set: the exterior of the building was filmed at the headquarters of the CSIC (the Spanish National Research Council) on calle Serrano, in the Salamanca district, not at the real mint. It is not a place to visit: look at the outside if you pass by. For a real visit to the mint, see the Mint Museum. For other series, the Plaza de Oriente and the Royal Palace regularly appear as the backdrop of historical fiction.

Practical tips

Photography: respect film crews if you come across one; perimeters are marked, and officers may divert pedestrian traffic.
Time: mornings for facades, dusk for the signs.
Before you go: check the title of a recent shoot with the city tourist office if a specific place interests you; do not count on a set staying in place.