Sunny terraces in Madrid
Madrid is a city lived outdoors, and a good terrace in the sun makes all the difference. Sunny terraces estimates in real time which licensed terraces in Madrid are in the sun and which are in shade, based on the sun's position and the height of the buildings.
Where to find sunny terraces in Madrid
The sun changes a lot from one street to the next. These neighbourhoods have plenty of good terraces for a drink in the sun:
- La Latina: squares like Plaza de la Paja or La Cebada, perfect for a sunny Sunday aperitif.
- Malasaña: Plaza del Dos de Mayo and its surroundings fill with sun in the afternoon.
- Chamberí: quiet squares like Olavide, sunny for much of the day.
- Salamanca district: wide, orderly streets with sunny terraces.
- Las Letras and Sol: narrower, shadier streets; the map helps you find the sunny stretches.
- Retiro and around: open areas with lots of sun next to the park.
Best times to find sun
Because the sun moves, a terrace can be sunny at midday and shaded by mid-afternoon. Jump the time forward in the app to check whether your terrace will still be in the sun when you arrive, or pick a moment of the day like vermouth hour or sunset.
Sun and the season
In winter the sun is low and buildings cast long shadows, so narrow streets spend more hours in shade. In summer, with the sun high, there is sun even in the centre at midday. The calculation uses the date you choose.
How to use the map
Open the sunny terraces map: it centres on your location if you allow it, or on the city if not. With the bubbles at the top you change city, date, time and radius, and filter by sun or shade; you can also turn on the tree layer if you have allergies.