Plaza de Castilla Square

Address: Plaza de Castilla, Madrid, Spain

Hours: Open 24 hours (public square)

Admission: Free (public square)

Plaza de Castilla is a major urban roundabout and transport nexus in the northern district of Madrid, Spain, located on the Paseo de la Castellana. It is known for prominent modern landmarks that mark Madrid’s northern approach.

Key visual features include the leaning Puerta de Europa towers and an obelisk sculpted by Santiago Calatrava; the combination of towers and sculpture creates a distinct skyline marker. The plaza handles heavy traffic flows and connects several arterial roads and suburban routes.

The modern ensemble around the plaza developed in the late 20th century during northern Madrid’s expansion as business and transport infrastructure was extended. The towers and surrounding high-rise buildings are products of this period of urban development.

Geographically the plaza sits on the northern stretch of Paseo de la Castellana, approximately 6 to 8 kilometres north of central Madrid landmarks such as Puerta del Sol, and forms a gateway between central Madrid and the city’s northern districts.

• Transport hub: Plaza de Castilla is a major transport interchange at the northern end of Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana and is a practical departure point for northern suburban routes and buses.
• Distinctive skyline features: The plaza is often used as a visual gateway to northern Madrid because of the leaning Torres KIO towers and the Calatrava obelisk, which are prominent landmarks when arriving from the city centre.

What to See#

• Puerta de Europa (Torres KIO): The twin leaning towers known as the Puerta de Europa (Gate of Europe or Torres KIO), a pair of 114-metre office towers that lean toward each other and mark the plaza’s western edge.
• Calatrava obelisk: The Calatrava obelisk, a white sculptural column by Santiago Calatrava, located within the plaza roundabout and visible from main approach roads.

Plaza de Castilla sits at the northern end of Paseo de la Castellana in Madrid. Take Metro to Plaza de Castilla station (Lines 1, 9 and 10) - the plaza and its towers are immediately adjacent to the station exits (1-2 minute walk). By car head north on Paseo de la Castellana from central Madrid (roughly 5-7 km from Puerta del Sol) and use the M30/A-1 urban links to reach the interchange; many EMT bus routes also run along the Castellana.

• Go late afternoon to catch the best light on the leaning Puerta de Europa towers and to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic through the roundabout.
• Use Plaza de Castilla metro station for direct access, then cross to the pedestrian areas on Paseo de la Castellana for uninterrupted views of the towers.
• Visit on weekend mornings or evenings when traffic around the roundabout is lighter and it's easier to walk and photograph the towers up close.