Why go

An ancient Egyptian temple is the last thing you expect to find in the middle of Madrid, which is exactly why the Temple of Debod is so memorable. Built in the 2nd century BC near Aswan in southern Egypt, it was given to Spain in 1968 as thanks for Spanish help in saving the temples of Nubia from the waters of the Aswan High Dam. It was taken apart, shipped to Madrid stone by stone and rebuilt in the Parque del Oeste, opening in 1972. It keeps its original east to west orientation.

The temple stands on a raised platform surrounded by reflecting pools, on the site of the old Montaña barracks, and the park around it has one of the finest views in the city, west over the Casa de Campo and south towards the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral.

What to see

  • The temple interior. Small chambers with carved reliefs, dedicated to the god Amun and the goddess Isis.
  • The exhibition. Displays in Spanish and English on the temple’s history and its journey from Egypt.
  • The gateways. Two stone pylons stand in front of the temple, framing the view.
  • The reflecting pools. At dusk, the lit temple is mirrored in the water.
  • The viewpoint. The terrace at the edge of the park looks out over the Casa de Campo, with the Royal Palace to the south.

Plan your visit

Entry is free. The interior opens from Tuesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 10am to 8pm, with last entry at 7.30pm. In summer, from 15 June to 15 September, it opens from 10am to 7pm, with last entry at 6.30pm. It is closed on Mondays, and third-party sources report it also closes on 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December.

Only a small number of people can go inside at once, so the city recommends booking a free timed ticket at madrid.es/debodreservas. Slots are released on the 15th of the previous month, with up to six tickets per booking. Your ticket is valid from five minutes before to ten minutes after the time shown. A visit inside takes about 30 minutes. The interior is not accessible for people with reduced mobility.

Sunset

The park around the temple is open at all times, and at sunset the lawns and the viewpoint fill with people watching the sky turn orange behind the Casa de Campo. In summer the interior closes before the sun goes down, so plan to visit inside earlier in the day and come back for the view. In winter, sunset falls well within opening hours.

Getting there

The temple is on Calle de Ferraz, a short walk from Plaza de España. Ventura Rodríguez Metro station (line 3) is about five minutes away, and Plaza de España (lines 2, 3 and 10) about seven.

Nearby

Plaza de España and the top of Gran Vía are a few minutes east, the Royal Palace about ten minutes south, and the Teleférico cable car to the Casa de Campo leaves from the Parque del Oeste nearby.