Madrid
Madrid is a city I’ve visited a few times. Each time I’ve gone I’ve based myself in a different neighbourhood and it’s felt like a brand new adventure. There’s lots to see in this sprawling city but if it’s your first visit and you only have a few days here are some things you might want to check off your list.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is the main square in Madrid and a major tourist attraction with the equestrian statue of Phillip lll dominating the centre. A large square with cafes and shops all around the perimeter, it’s a popular meeting place.
Puerta del Sol
This large square is known as the central point in Madrid and is a gathering point for many. Located at the east end of the square is the much photographed statue of the Bear and the Strawberry tree which represents the coat of arms of Madrid. At the other end is El Corte Ingles, the Spanish department store.
Royal Palace of Madrid
Madrid Palace is impressive by any standards. It’s the largest palace in Western Europe and the official home of the Spanish Royal Family, although they don’t actually live there. The Palace is open to the public and tickets can be bought online at the official website.
Art Galleries and Museums
Madrid hosts three of the best Art Galleries and Museums all within walking distance of each other.
The Prado
The world famous Prado Museum is well worth a visit. It’s free if you arrive two hours before closing but if there are too many people you’re not guaranteed entry. If you go online you can buy time stamped tickets meaning you need to arrive at a specific time to get in. Among the many artworks, highlights are The Garden of the Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch and David and Goliath by Caravaggio
The Thyssen-Bornemisza
With free entry on Mondays The Thyssen highlights include Saint Catherine of Alexandria by Caravaggio and The Grand Canal of San Vio, Venice by Canaletto
The Reina Sofia
Unlike the other two museums, The Reina Sofia largely focuses on 20th century Spanish art and heavily features works by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. A major highlight is Picasso’s Guernica. Like the other two museums it is advisable to buy tickets in advance online.
Shopping
If you’ve done lots of sightseeing and are ready to go shopping, head for the Gran Via. A long, wide boulevard it is flanked on both sides by bars, restaurants, museums and shops including major Spanish brands such as Zara and Mango.
Local Barrios
There are lots of different neighbourhoods to explore, each with their own character. One of my favourites is Huertas which is close to the Prado and Thyssen museums.
Huertas is a traditional area of Madrid, close to the centre with narrow cobbled streets lined with bars, restaurants and individual little shops.
The area is also known as the Barrio de las Letras (or Neighbourhood of Literature) due to the Spanish masters of literature such as Lope de Vega and Cervantes who lived in the area in the 17th century. Walking down the Calle Huertas, look out for the sentences taken from Spanish 17th century prose which are inlaid into the pedestrianised street.
A popular area for nightlife, Huertas has plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from. Ventura de la Vega is the street to head for with some of the best restaurants. It’s an area that gets busy at night so you may want to consider making a dinner reservation rather than just turning up at a restaurant.
And if after a late night you need some sustenance, head for a local cafe and order churros and chocolate. It’s a great way to end the night or start the morning!
