Faro de Moncloa in Madrid

The Faro de Moncloa is an impressive 92 metre-tall tower, and has become one of the most iconic landmarks in Madrid in recent years. The Lighthouse was built in 1992 with the aim of honouring the capital being named European City of Culture.

It is located right in front of the Parque del Oeste and the famous Museum of America. The Moncloa Lighthouse is without a doubt one of the best places to visit, for locals and travellers alike. It offers incredible panoramic views of the whole city thanks to its glass structure and its impressive height. You can’t miss it!

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History of the Faro de Moncloa

This famous lighthouse is also known as the Torre de Iluminación y Comunicaciones del Ayuntamiento de Madrid. Designed by the architect Salvador Pérez Arroyo, construction began in 1990 and it was inaugurated in 1992. This impressive structure has a height of 110 metres, with a viewing platform at 90 metres.

The Moncloa Lighthouse is located in the University City of Madrid, making it a popular place for young people. In addition, there was once a restaurant located on the upper viewpoint, where you could enjoy lunch or dinner with spectacular views.

In 2005, because of the fire in the Windsor building, the Faro de Moncloa had to close temporarily due to non-compliance with safety measures. However, it has now been refurbished and is fully open to the public. In addition, it now has a café with views of the city.

From its spectacular viewpoint, you can enjoy views of the northwest side of Madrid, admiring symbolic places such as the Royal Palace, the Cuatro Torres, the Casa de Campo and even the Telefónica Building on Gran Vía. You can’t miss a visit to this incredible Madrid landmark.

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What to see in the area around Faro de Moncloa?

Almudena Cathedral

The Almudena Cathedral is, without a doubt, one of the most important religious monuments to visit in Madrid. As well as being a real visual experience for architecture lovers, you can also visit the inside of the cathedral.

This cathedral is known for its beautiful neo-Gothic style, as well as its long construction process, which took more than 110 years to complete. Make sure to go inside and discover all its architectural and ornamental features. If you want to know more details, you can read our post about the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.

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Arco de la Victoria

The Arco de la Victoria, also known as the Puerta de Moncloa, is an imposing triumphal arch dating back to 1950 to 1956. It has been compared to the famous Puerta de Alcalá, and the purpose of its construction was to commemorate Franco’s victory during the Spanish Civil War.

Its structure is 40 metres high, and at the back it has a monument to the Fallen of Madrid. It is located at one of the entrances to Madrid, and can be seen from the Moncloa Lighthouse itself. Above the arch, at the top, there is a beautiful sculpture with horses. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is one of the most beautiful hidden spots in Madrid. This Egyptian monument is a funerary site located in a wonderful park on top of a hill, which has beautiful views over Madrid.

This temple was donated by the Egyptian government to Spain, and you can visit the different rooms free of charge. When you’ve finished, we recommend strolling through the park and enjoying the peace and quiet. If you want to discover everything there is to see in the capital, check out our post: Things to see and do in Madrid.

What are the opening hours of the Faro de Moncloa?

The Moncloa Lighthouse is open to the public from Tuesday to Friday, from 9:30 to 14:45, and 15:15 to 20:00. During weekends, the afternoon opening hours are reduced to:15 to 17:00.

How much does it cost to enter the Faro de Moncloa?

General admission for adults to the Moncloa Lighthouse costs €4, while tickets for children between 7 and 14, the over 65s, the unemployed and people with disabilities cost just €2. Children under the age of 7 can enter for free.

How to get to Faro de Moncloa?

You can get to the Moncloa Lighthouse by two different means of public transport: the metro and the bus.

If you take the metro, you have to take lines 3 or 6 in the direction of Moncloa. If you decide to take the bus, you can choose between lines 44, 46, 82, 123, 122, 160, 162, A and G depending on your starting point.

How to plan your visit to the Faro de Moncloa?

Download the Passporter app:

• Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
• Save important information about the destinations you want to visit that you have found on the internet. Just install the Chrome extension and save everything useful for your trip.
• Save your tickets and reservations.
• Organise your route on Google maps with your accommodation as the starting point or any other that you indicate.
• Find out the best travel option for each place.
• Save and publish your own photos and experiences as you go along, so that when someone asks you “How was your trip to the Moncloa Lighthouse?” you can reply “Visit my traveller profile on Passporter!”

If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of the Passporter app, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.