The lack of access to the sea and the not-always-sunny weather mean that the capital of Spain is not visited by tourists as often as other parts of the country.
Madrid, although not as tempting as Andalusia or Catalonia, is excellent for city break trips. Two or three days in this city will not allow you to get to know it from A to Z, but it will certainly instill the desire for further visits. An additional incentive should be the fact that more and more often we can find cheap flights to Madrid (with Ryanair we can get there even for less than 400 PLN round trip). So, in order not to waste time, see which attractions are worth starting your tour of Madrid with.
The Art Triangle in Madrid
Prado Museum
This most emblematic museum in Madrid can be found on the picturesque Paseo del Prado avenue. The Prado Museum was founded in 1819 by order of King Ferdinand VII. Today, the collection of works of art here is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Here we will see works by Spanish artists (e.g. Diego Velazquez, Francisco Goya, José de Ribera), Italian (e.g. Sandro Boticelli, Rafael Santi, Caravaggio), Flemish (e.g. Hieronymus Bosch, Jan van Eyck, Peter Paul Rubens), British, German and Dutch. The Paseo del Prado boulevard itself, which is worth walking along before or after a visit to the Prado, is already encouraging to visit this valued museum.
Reina Sofía Museum
The full name of this place is Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The museum’s collection includes about 18,000 exhibits. They present art from the 19th century to modern times. The whole is divided into three historical periods (1900-1945, 1945-1968 and 1962-1982) allows you to see paintings by famous Spanish artists. The most emblematic work in the Reina Sofía Center for Art is “Guernica” by Pablo Picasso, which came here in 1992.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
This is the third most important museum in Madrid. Its collection includes works from the Middle Ages to the present day. Among the most recognizable artists here are: Pablo Picasso, El Greco, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Monet, van Gogh, Caravaggio, Goya, Monet and Dürer.
Monuments in Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid
Although it is the official residence of the King of Spain, it is not inhabited by the royal family. Both Juan Carlos I and his son Philip VI (the current King of Spain) live near Madrid in the Palacio de la Zarzuela. The Royal Palace in Madrid is used for official ceremonies held in the capital. Inside there are 3418 rooms. The area of the Royal Palace is 135,000 m2! That’s almost twice as much as Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Versailles. In other words – Palacio Real de Madrid is the largest royal palace in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world.
Designed mainly in the Baroque style, the monument was built in the 18th century during the reign of Philip V of Bourbon. Its interior is impressive with splendor, which you can see for yourself, because part of the rooms in the Royal Palace are open to visitors. If you want to see what the ceremonial changing of the guard in front of the Throne Room looks like, go to Palacio Real on the first Wednesday of the month between 12:00 and 13:00.
Egyptian Temple of Debod
Among the unusual monuments in Madrid is the 100% Egyptian Temple of Debod. It is a gift given to Spain by the government of Egypt in exchange for help in protecting monuments during the construction of the Aswan Dam. The monument was transported to Madrid in 1968. There were also several mishaps and difficulties associated with this at that time.
Santiago Bernabeú Stadium (Madrid)
What Camp Nou is for a Catalan, Santiago Bernabeú is for a resident of Madrid. It is in this stadium that Real Madrid and the Spanish national team play their matches. Santiago Bernabeú is located in the very center of the city. Even if you don’t plan to go to a match, in addition to the opportunity to see the stadium, there is also a museum waiting for you. Admission, as you can expect, is not one of the cheapest but if football is your apple in the eye, it probably won’t be a problem for you.
When visiting Santiago Bernabeú, we have the opportunity to see trophies, old equipment (e.g. balls from the 50s of the 20th century), team locker rooms, a conference room, a tunnel leading to the pitch and a bench of substitutes. On this last you can even sit for a while :). The tour culminates, of course, with a visit to the store with original gadgets of the team. Similarly, this is the case in other places of this type, such as the FC Barcelona store at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona.
Las Ventas
This is the largest bullring in Spain and the third largest in the world. It covers an area of 45,800 m2, can accommodate nearly 24,000 people, and its diameter measures 60 meters. The construction of the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas began in 1929 on the site that was called “Las Ventas del Espíritu Santo” (hence the name of the arena). The works lasted 7 years, and the arena was built mainly from materials such as: brick, metal and ceramics. In 1994, Las Ventas gained the title of a Spanish Monument of Artistic and Historical Significance.
Currently, the most important and largest event organized in this place are bullfights taking place on the occasion of the Fiestas de San Isidro. This type of entertainment is not for everyone, however … Personally, for humanitarian reasons, I do not support bullfighting, so I will not particularly encourage you to take part in it. An alternative, thanks to which you can get to know this element of Spanish culture better, and at the same time see the arena from the inside, is the museum located in Las Ventas. Among the exhibits are costumes of bullfighters from various eras, their portraits, photos, “trophies” in the form of bulls’ heads, as well as weapons with which these animals are dealt fatal blows.
Interesting places in Madrid
Plaza de Cibeles
For the inhabitants of Madrid, this place is an icon of the entire city. In the center of the characteristic square stands a majestic fountain (Fuente de Cibeles) depicting Cybele – the Phrygian goddess on a chariot. This is a favorite place for Real Madrid fans, who celebrate their club’s successes here.
In addition to the fountain, at Plaza de Cibeles we will also find several emblematic buildings. The most monumental of these is the Palacio de Comunicaciones (Palace of Communications), which houses the headquarters of the main post office. Another interesting building is the former palace of the Marquises – Palacio de Linares, as well as the Palacio de Buenavista (currently the seat of the Spanish Ministry of Defense) and the Banco de España (the main Bank of Spain).
Plaza de Cibeles is also a place where cultural events such as mappings and illuminations take place.
Chocolatería de San Ginés
This is the oldest chocolate shop that Madrid can boast of. A cult place, if only for its retro decor and, above all, delicious churros served with hot chocolate. Not only curious tourists are tempted by such a calorie bomb, but also Spanish pop culture stars. The restaurant even has a special place with photos of famous people who have visited Chocolatería de San Ginés.
Retiro Park
You don’t have to be a fan of relaxing on the meadow to love this place. Retiro Park is the largest green area in Madrid, offering its visitors several types of attractions. In the area there are wonderful museums (one of them is the Prado Museum), the Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal) adored by aesthetes, a rose garden smelling of thousands of flowers, lots of fountains and charming alleys.
Plaza Mayor
Until 1561 it was an ordinary marketplace located outside the city walls. Philip II, moving the capital of Spain to Madrid, decided to make Plaza Mayor a more representative place. It was here that various holidays were celebrated, kings were crowned, plays were staged, and even executions were carried out and bullfights were organized. Today, Plaza Mayor is primarily a tourist attraction – it is full of cafes, restaurants and pubs.
Plaza de Santa Ana
This Madrid square is full of bars and charming pubs where you can drink beer, wine and taste local tapas. Be sure to visit the Cerveceria Alemana brewery, which was a favorite place of Ernest Hemingway.
Puerta del Sol
Another emblematic square in Madrid. Here, we find the symbol of the city – a large sculpture of a bear and a strawberry tree. Puerta del Sol plays a big role in the life of Madrid’s residents. This is where the New Year’s Eve celebrations are held every year. Most of the demonstrations also take place here. Due to its location, Puerta del Sol is considered the center of Madrid. What’s more, we find here the so-called kilometer zero (the point from which the distance to other Spanish cities is calculated).
El Rastro
It was born in 1740 and since then has proudly welcomed the residents of Madrid every Sunday morning. We are talking, of course, about El Rastro – the most famous open-air market in Spain. Most of the things we find here are second-hand. It is an ideal place for collectors and fans of unusual souvenirs. It is said that you can find everything here, especially what you are not looking for. As a curiosity, it is worth adding that it was at the El Rastro market that the young Pedro Almodóvar once earned money by selling used things.
Puerta de Alcalá
Right next to Retiro Park, we find a neoclassical monument, or rather a former gate, which once pointed the way to the city of Alcalá de Henares. The design of this granite-marble monument is the responsibility of Francesco Sabatini – an architect at the court of King Charles III. The fact that Puerta de Alcalá is an important piece of history is evidenced by the fact that this monument is on the list of the most important cultural and historical goods of Spain.
Torre de Madrid
Built in the years 1954-1960, the skyscraper is currently the sixth tallest building in Madrid – it has 32 floors and measures 142 meters in height. Torre de Madrid was designed by the brothers Julián and José María Otamendi Machimbarrena on behalf of Compañía Inmobiliaria Metropolitana – a real estate company. For several years, the skyscraper was the tallest concrete structure in the world, as well as the tallest building in all of Spain.
Due to its location near Gran Vía (one of the main streets in Madrid), Torre de Madrid quickly became the most emblematic building in the city. The importance of this skyscraper in modern times is still not decreasing. On the ground floor, we find shops and shopping galleries. Floors 1 to 9 are occupied by the rooms of a five-star hotel (recommended if you are looking for a hotel near the center). On floors 10-32, in turn, there are luxury apartments.
Casa de la Panadería
It is the most recognizable building on the Plaza Mayor. La Casa de la Panadería is the oldest building on this square (construction began in 1590). Perhaps that is why its appearance set the direction in which the architecture of other buildings on Plaza Mayor developed. Apart from numerous aesthetic values (on the facade we find bas-reliefs, frescoes, antique shutters), there is another reason why tourists are so eager to visit Casa de la Panadería. This is where the main City Tourist Office (Oficina de Turismo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid) is located.
Sacred Monuments in Madrid
Almudena Cathedral (Catedral de la Almudena)
This is currently the only cathedral in Madrid and, interestingly, one of the youngest in Spain. Although plans for its construction had been in place since the 16th century, actual work did not begin until three centuries later, partly at the initiative of Queen Maria de las Mercedes of Orleans. Ultimately, although La Almudena was opened in 1993, finishing work continued for over 10 more years.
Church of San Ginés
One of the oldest churches in Madrid. The first mentions of it date back to the 9th century. However, a fire that broke out in 1645 caused most of the church to be rebuilt. The only element that survived was the bell tower – we can admire it to this day. The Church of San Ginés is also a place where there are several tiny chapels, and in them, among others, paintings by El Greco.
El Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales
This is a royal monastery of the Poor Clares (Order of St. Clare), which is located in the former palace of Charles V. This place gains popularity during Holy Week, when processions are organized in the courtyard. In the monastery museum of Descalzas Reales, we can also admire Flemish tapestries and paintings by masters of the Spanish Golden Age.
Interesting Districts of Madrid
Cuatro Torres Business Area
This place used to be called “Madrid Arena”. Today, Cuatro Torres Business Area is a typical business district, which also houses the four tallest skyscrapers in Spain: Torre Caja Madrid (250 m high), Torre de Cristal (249.50 m), Torre Sacyr Vallehermoso (236 m) and Torre Espacio (223 m).
Barrio de La Latina and Lavapiés
These two oldest districts in Madrid are a true cultural mix. Regardless of religion, origin or skin color – every open person will find something for themselves here. The districts of La Latina and Lavapiés are also very popular among the LGBT community – we find here several gay bars, which can be easily recognized thanks to rainbow ornaments. This great cultural richness of both districts also makes them not the safest. When going here, it is worth watching out for pickpockets.
Malasaña
This district of Madrid is often compared to London. The reason is not only the appearance of some buildings, but also the wide variety of clothing stores. It is said to be the most alternative district in the city. Apart from the shops themselves, there are also plenty of bars and restaurants here.
Chueca
Another district in Madrid that is very popular among gays and lesbians. The greatest revival takes place at night, when parties take place not only in bars, but also in the streets. If you are looking for good fun in Madrid, Chueca is the place where you will surely find it.
Salamanca
This is a more residential district of Madrid. In addition to houses, there are also shops of well-known designers. It is worth stopping by here if you are looking for unique souvenirs or simply – you are interested in contemporary art and design. Districts such as Salamanca show that Madrid is a city that has not yet said the last word in both of these fields.
Family Attractions in Madrid
Parque Warner Madrid
If you like amusement parks, head here first! Parque Warner Madrid is a theme park entirely dedicated to Warner Bros. cartoons. Carousels, the longest wooden roller coaster in Europe, haunted places, a visit to the Wild West and a selfie with cartoon characters! Such a number of attractions will surely satisfy the expectations of every child – including the big one).
Parque de atracciones de Madrid
The history of the Amusement Park in Madrid dates back to 1969. It was then that it was officially opened by Carlos Arias Navarro. It also quickly turned out to be very popular, and attractions such as El Tobogán, Los Coches de Choque, El Laberinto de Espejos and 7 Picos are real hits of this place. Over the years, many attractions have been rebuilt. Today in Parque de atracciones de Madrid we find 4 entertainment zones:
- Muy Exigente – for those who love real adrenaline,
- Emocionante – with a little thrill, just right for the start of the fun,
- Familiar – quiet attractions for a joint family vacation,
- Nickelodeonland – a zone created for the youngest children.
Madrid SnowZone
If you like winter madness, no tourist attraction in Madrid can compare to Madrid SnowZone. It is one of the largest indoor snow parks in the world and the only such place in all of Spain. Over 18,000 m2 of snow-covered slopes, freestyle ramps, a snow zip line, ice mini golf, equipment rental and a children’s school – you can’t pass by such a handful of attractions!
Teleférico de Madrid
A great idea for the first trip around Madrid is a ride on the Teleférico de Madrid gondola lift. It stretches for almost 2,500 meters, and the landscape spreading from the windows of the cabins paints before us a view of the most famous attractions in the capital of Spain, such as the Palacio Real or Parque Warner Madrid.
Fiestas de San Isidro (May 11-15)
Do you want to see how the people of Madrid have fun? Go here on May 11-15. It is then that the most important holiday in Madrid is organized in honor of the patron saint of the city (San Isidro Labrador). Concerts, workshops, dance shows, tastings of local dishes, fireworks displays and a great atmosphere – this is the quintessence of Fiestas de San Isidro.
