Madrid
Madrid is the largest city in Spain and its capital, but it’s also a great introduction to Spain if you are combining it into a larger tour. It’s relatively friendly and not as overwhelming as some other cities of this size. Madrid is truly one of Europe’s nightlife capitals and the action starts very late. This is easier for the Spanish due to the fact that they still very much observe the siesta rules of shutting nearly everything down for a few hours in the afternoon for a meal and perhaps even a nap. If this is your first stop in Spain it will be a bit shocking, but you can adapt to it as long as you are aware of it in advance.
What To Do
The Prado Museum is one of the finest collections of art in the world. Many classics by Spanish artists are housed here, but there are notable works from masters from throughout Europe. The Reina Sofía National Museum and Art Centre is just across the street and it houses an excellent collection of modern art, including many of the more famous works of Picasso.
The Palacio Real (royal palace) is another sight not to be missed. This enormous structure houses many treasures from throughout Spain’s history and also a separate armory palace that has fascinating displays of medieval weapons and armor. And try your best to stay up late enough to sample the nightlife. The action begins after midnight and lasts until dawn, but things are going on all over town so it’s easy to join in even for first-time visitors.
Getting There
Madrid is in the center of the country so it’s a major transportation hub, particularly for the trains. But cities in Spain are spread out and the new competition among discount carriers often means that you can fly from places like Barcelona for less than the train fare. You can book a flight into Madrid’s Barajas International Airport from cities nearby and of course also from abroad. The airport is on the subway line so it’s cheap, fast, and easy to get into town from there.
Where To Stay
There are many hostels in Madrid and of course quite a variety of hotels in Madrid in all price ranges. It’s possible to save a bit of money by booking a place out of the center, but especially if you’ll be out late it may be worth it to pay a bit extra for a central location.
Attractions in Madrid
Address: Gran Via 25, Madrid E-28013, Spain
Madrid’s Gran Via is the most famous street in the city and is roughly the equivalent of the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The street runs between the Plaza de Cibeles and the Plaza de España, a few short blocks north of the Puerto del Sol, which marks the center of Madrid. In spite of its importance and central location, the current incarnation of the street wasn’t completed until 1929, after decades of arguments and then construction
The Gran Via is lined with high-end shopping as well as many of the city’s finer hotels, but the main attraction is the architecture. Some of the most notable architects of the 20th Century designed the buildings, which were intentionally commissioned to show off the extravagant and fashionable trends of the early part of the century.
It’s easy to walk along the sidewalks getting caught up in window-shopping and people watching without ever noticing the amazing buildings lining the street, so a conscious effort must be made to look up in order to fully appreciate the area.
Hours: Always open
Admission: Free, it’s just a street
Address: Calle de Bailen, Madrid, 28013, Spain
Palacio Real means Royal Palace in Spanish so it should be of no surprise that this is the official residence of the current King of Spain, Juan Carlos I. However, he and his family do not actually live in the Palacio Real, instead choosing to live in the more modest Palacio de la Zarzuela on the edge of Madrid. The palace is occasionally used to host official state functions and during these times it’s closed to the public, but otherwise an impressive portion is available for regular tours.
The location has been home to fortresses and palaces since the 9th Century, but this particular one was completed in 1755. It’s the largest palace in Western Europe and one of the top tourist attractions in all of Spain. The interior is lavishly decorated and serves as a museum of Spanish treasures for visitors. There is artwork from various Spanish masters in addition to collections of weaponry, porcelain and even musical instruments.
Hours: 9:30 to 5 p.m. - October to March; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - April to September, closing at 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. respectively, on Sundays
Admission: Adults - €10; ages 5 – 16 and 65+ - €6
Address: Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid, Spain
Madrid's most popular park is the Parque del Buen Retiro, sometimes called Jardines del Buen Retiro, and it covers more than 300 acres in the city center. There was once a royal palace retreat on this site in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the land was outside the city of Madrid. The space was turned into a public park (sans palace) in the 1860s, and the city slowly expanded to its present size, surrounding the park in the process.
Some of the features of Parque del Buen Retiro include a man-made lake and the beautiful building made primarily of glass - the Crystal Palace - at one end of yet another lake. Several of the buildings which remain in the park, including the Crystal Palace, are used to display temporary exhibitions. Two of the original palace buildings have survived, and they house an army museum and an art museum. One fountain in the park is particularly notable in that the statue represents Lucifer as an angel falling form heaven - it's likely that it's the only statue in Europe dedicated to Satan.
Still, even with a Satan fountain, Parque del Buen Retiro is a great place for kids of all ages, and the ideal place to spent a sunny day.
Hours: Always open (museum hours vary)
Admission: Free (museum prices vary)
Address: Plaza de España, Madrid
Madrid's Plaza de Espana (or, more accurately, Plaza de España) is a large public square in the city center at one end of the lovely Gran Via. It's a popular place for street performers, vendors, locals and tourists - especially in nice weather. The Plaza is perhaps best known for the monument which honors the famous Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes. Just below the seated figure of Cervantes are two figures who'll be familiar to most people - it's Don Quixote de la Mancha and his trusty squire, Sancho Panza.
Despite the fact that the Plaza de España is right in the middle of a busy city and surrounded on all sides by car-filled streets, it can be a great place to relax - even for just a few minutes - between sight-seeing stops. Some of the city's better known skyscrapers are right on the square as well, including the Edificio de España which dates from 1947, and the Torre de Madrid which is one of the city's tallest buildings.
The public square was created after a barracks on the site was demolished, but it didn't become the popular meeting spot it is today until after the two nearby skyscrapers were built.
Hours: Always open
Admission: Free
Address: Plaza Mayor, Madrid, Spain
Dating back to the late 16th Century, the Plaza Mayor is the most historically important public square in Madrid, but unlike most major European public squares, the Plaza Mayor is far from being a hub of the city. Only a few blocks from Central Madrid’s actual center and transportation hub of Puerto del Sol, Plaza Mayor is completely surrounded by 3-story residential buildings, although there are nine separate entranceways.
Over the centuries the 120 x 90 meter (394 x 295 foot) plaza has been the scene of bullfights, soccer matches, and even public executions, but today it’s mostly used as a meeting place for locals, particularly near the equestrian statue of Felipe III in the center. During warm months the edges of the plaza become covered with tables and chairs, as outdoor cafes set up shop in typical European style.
Various other cultural events are held in the plaza, and the streets and alleys surrounding the entrances are filled with small shops of interest to visitors, but still it’s very easy to miss the plaza itself on your first try. It’s a massive open space, but being completely surrounded by buildings means you have to look closely for the small entranceways or you’ll never find it.
Hours: Always open
Admission: Free
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