Discover a dozen awesome attractions in Madrid
Madrid, Spain's central capital, is a city of elegant boulevards and expansive, manicured parks such as the Buen Retiro. It’s renowned for its rich repositories of European art, including the Prado Museum’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish masters. The heart of old Hapsburg Madrid is the portico-lined Plaza Mayor, and nearby is the baroque Royal Palace.
1. Calle Gran Via
The Gran Vía ("Great Way") leads from Calle de Alcalá, close to Plaza de Cibeles, to Plaza de España. The street, sometimes referred to as the "Spanish Broadway", is one of the city's most important shopping areas, with a large number of hotels, movie theatres and shopping centres. The Gran Vía serves as a showcase of early 20th-century revival architecture, with architectural styles ranging from Vienna Secession style, Plateresque, Neo-Mudéjar, Art Deco, among others.
Almudena Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid and was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993. The Neo-Gothic interior is uniquely modern, with chapels and statues of contemporary artists, in heterogeneous styles, from historical revivals to "pop-art" decor. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel features mosaics by Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik. The icons in the apse were painted by Kiko Argüello, artist and founder of the Neocatechumenal Way.
3. El Retiro Park (Buen Retiro Park)
The El Retiro Park is a large and popular 1.4 km2 (350 acres) park at the edge of the city centre, very close to the Puerta de Alcalá and not far from the Prado Museum. On its grounds are gardens, statues and other monuments, galleries, an artificial lake, and venues which host a variety of events. The park is entirely surrounded by the present-day city.
4. Lavapies
Vibrant, multicultural Lavapiés is spread out over steep medieval streets filled with lively Indian restaurants and old Spanish taverns. Edgy art shows and events take place at the Tabacalera and La Casa Encendida cultural centers, in contrast with the modern masterpieces, like Picasso’s “Guernica," showcased at the Reina Sofía Museum nearby. Vendors at the busy San Fernando Market sell cheese, books and craft beer.
5.Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía ("Queen Sofía National Museum Art Centre"; MNCARS) is Spain's national museum of 20th-century art. The museum was officially inaugurated on September 10, 1990, and is named for Queen Sofía. It is located at the southern end of the so-called Golden Triangle of Art (located along the Paseo del Prado and also comprising the Museo del Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza). The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spain's two greatest 20th-century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. The most famous masterpiece in the museum is Picasso's 1937 painting Guernica.
The Prado Museum is the main Spanish national art museum and is widely considered to house one of the world's finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and the single best collection of Spanish art. Founded as a museum of paintings and sculpture in 1819, it also contains important collections of other types of works. The Prado Museum is one of the most visited sites in the world, and is considered one of the greatest art museums in the world.
7. Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is a major public space in the heart of Madrid. It was once the centre of Old Madrid. It was first built (1580–1619) during the reign of Philip III. Only a few blocks away is another famous plaza, the Puerta del Sol.
8. Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol (English: "Gate of the Sun") is a public square and one of the best known and busiest places in the city. This is the centre (Km 0) of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. The New Year's celebration has been broadcast live since 31 December 1962 on major radio and television networks including Atresmedia and RTVE.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Madrid, although now used only for state ceremonies. The palace has 135,000 m2 (1,450,000 sq ft) of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is the second largest functioning royal palace after the Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City, and the second largest by floor area in Europe, after the Apostolic Palace.
The Mercado de San Miguel was opened back in 2016 as a local food market and is one of the city’s finest examples of cast-iron architecture located a stone's throw from Plaza Mayor. In 2009 it became Madrid’s first gourmet market and in 2018 it was relaunched with a number of internationally-renowned chefs joining the ranks. Situated in the heart of the area known as Madrid de los Austrias (Hapbsurg Madrid), it welcomes over 10 million visitors a year. Inside, you can sample the finest products from different parts of the country, ranging from tapas prepared with the freshest fish and seafood from the Galician coast to a wide variety of gourmet cheeses from all over Spain, without forgetting meat, fruit, vegetables, cakes and an endless range of options at the 30 stands that make up the market’s fleet.
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is a football stadium with a current seating capacity of 81,044, it has been the home stadium of Real Madrid since its completion in 1947. It is the second-largest stadium in Spain and third-largest home to a top-flight European club after Camp Nou and Westfalenstadion.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is an art museum located near the Prado Museum on one of the city's main boulevards. It is known as part of the "Golden Triangle of Art", which also includes the Prado and the Reina Sofía national galleries. The Thyssen-Bornemisza fills the historical gaps in its counterparts' collections: in the Prado's case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia it concerns Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the 20th century. With over 1,600 paintings, it was once the second largest private collection in the world after the British Royal Collection.
Eat cocido madrilerno (Madrid stew)
Cocido madrileño is a traditional chickpea-based stew from Madrid, Spain. A substantial dish prepared with meat and vegetables, it is most popular during the winter but is served throughout the year in some restaurants. Initially it was a dish for humble people, but it started to climb in society thanks to its inclusion in restaurant menus.
Eat tapas & pinxtos
Tapas and pintxos are terms to describe small plates of food, but tapas are often smaller versions of a large dish (and therefore, perfect for sharing), while pintxos are little enough to be gobbled in a single bite and often served on a toothpick or small piece of bread
Drink wine
Spanish wine includes red, white, and sparkling wines produced throughout the country. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 1.2 million hectares (2.9 million acres) planted in wine grapes, making it the most widely planted wine-producing nation, but the second largest producer of wine in the world, behind Italy and ahead of France and the United States.
Sleep at Ocean Drive Madrid
Ocean Drive Madrid showcases all the spirit and personality of its mother brand, OD Hotels, to the vibrant and ever-alive capital of Spain. An unbeatable location in the heart of the city, Plaza de Isabel II, in front of the Opera Palace, a few steps from the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía, as well as a walk-through emblematic neighborhood such as La Latina, Huertas, Los Austrias, Malasaña or Chueca.
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Play at Adventurous Appetites Madrid Tapas Tours
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BEST TIME TO EXPERIENCE: The best time to visit Madrid is in the fall (September to November) or spring (March to May).
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