As with many metropolitan areas of similar size, two distinct zones of urbanisation can be distinguished:* Inner ring ("primera corona"): Alcorcón, Leganés, Getafe, Móstoles, Fuenlabrada, Coslada, Alcobendas, Pozuelo de Alarcón, San Fernando de Henares* Outer ring ("segunda corona"): Villaviciosa de Odón, Parla, Pinto, Valdemoro, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Torrejón de Ardoz, Alcalá de Henares, San Sebastián de los Reyes, Tres Cantos, Las Rozas de Madrid, Majadahonda, Boadilla del MonteThe largest suburbs are to the South, and in general along the main routes leading out of Madrid.
To je največje metropolitansko območje v Španiji in tretje največje v Evropski uniji.