Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is also the capital of the autonomous region and province of Madrid. The city of Madrid is located in the historic region of New Castile near the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is Spain's administrative, financial, and transportation center. The city is famous for its historical landmarks, museums, active street life, broad boulevards, and outdoor cafés.

Madrid lies in an interior region in what is called the heart of Spain. The city has an area of 607 sq km (234 sq mi) and lies within a larger autonomous community and province, both also called Madrid, which make up the same area of 7995 sq km (3087 sq mi).

The city of Madrid spreads over several rolling hills at the northern edge of New Castille. Its average elevation is about 640 m (about 2100 ft) above sea level. Until about 1960 the small Manzanares River marked the western and southern boundaries of the city, but since then urbanization has spread across the river. Once a greenbelt at the edge of Madrid, the river is now bordered by high-speed roads that provide motorists with access to the center of the city. Beyond the developed part of the city, which ends abruptly, Madrid is surrounded by farmland.

Although Madrid has a northern latitude, its weather is mild most of the year. Winters in Madrid are fairly temperate because the Gulf Stream brings warm ocean water along the western coast of Spain and Portugal, and prevailing winds pull warm air inland.

It is rare for Madrid to have more than a trace of snow; the average temperature in January ranges from 2° C (35° F) to 9° C (47° F). In contrast, summers can be hot, with July temperatures ranging from 17° C (63° F) to 31° C (87° F). The summer heat is often lessened in the evenings by winds from the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains. These same winds, however, can make winter weather seem colder. The yearly rainfall varies considerably, but it averages 460 mm (18 in), about the same as a north american desert town.