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One of the city’s main attraction are its inhabitants with an infectious
thirst for street fiestas and not forgetting the thousands of bars, clubs,
restaurants, cafes and chiringuitos, which transform the streets into hubs
of buzzing activity throughout the night. However Madrid is a capital city
and as such looks like any other modern capital with vast expanses of high
rise buildings and sprawling suburbs. Nevertheless, the city center and most
of the key attractions including some large parks are easily explored on
foot.
Madrid’s location at the very heard of Spain makes it a convenient base
to explore the country further. Within a relatively small radius of the city
lie such national treasures as Toledo, El Escorial and Segovia offering some
breathtaking attractions and sights.
Madrid City Tour and Bull Fight
You cannot fully appreciate Spain until you have witnessed a bullfight. This
is without a doubt, one of the best spectacles in Spain! Experience the
anticipation of the audience, the art and skill of the bullfighter and the
bravery of the bull. This tour is not recommended for young children.
More Sightseeing Tours in Madrid |
Attractions
The Greater Madrid area is full of attractions for all ages. As Europe's
most elevated city (2,120 feet), warm, welcoming Madrid also is quite
compact. Its main north-south artery, Paseo de la Castellana (turning into
Paseo de los Recoletos and Paseo del Prado), links the city's two primary
train stations, Chamartín and Atocha. The oldest quarters are between Paseo
del Prado (with fabulous galleries) and Palacio Real to the west. Modern-day
Madrid stretches east into the 19th-century grid of the Barrio de Salmanca
and north through neighborhoods of Chamberi and Chamarti. Midway, the
barrios southeast of Puerta del Sol lead to the Lavapiés district, filled
with restaurants, bars and cafes. The densest concentration of overnight
accommodations are around Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Santa Ana and the barrios
of Malasaña and Chueca (for pensiones and hostales) and along the Gran Vía
(for hotels). The section of Madrid worthy of culinary exploration is in the
center, between the Royal Palace and midtown forest, the Parque del Buen
Retiro. No other European capital has a city center so congested so late
into the night, as though city ordinances demand that no one retire for
slumber too early. Madrid restaurants, eateries and bars provide a
kaleidoscope of nocturnal revelry. Despite ambitious modernization programs
in the works, Madrid residents take pride in knowing their city remains
refreshingly distinct from Paris, London, Rome, or other capitals.
Botanical Garden
 Just south of the Prado, the Jardin Botanico provides a relaxing respite
from museum touring. Grounds are embellished with plants, flowers and cacti
from around the world gathered under direction of King Carlos III.
Garden / Arboretum, Park Retiro. Call (91) 420-3017 for more information.
Casa de America
As a cultural center and art gallery, Casa de America focuses on Latin
America. The casa within the Palacio de Linares is said to be haunted by its
builder, who made a fortune in the New World and returned to a life
involving disturbing deaths.
Paseo de Recoletos 2. Call (91) 595-4800 for more information.
Church of San Nicolas
The red brick tower of the Church of San Nicolas is one of the oldest
buildings in Madrid, possibly built as part of an Arab mosque. Others
believe it was built after the Christian conquest of 1085. Brickwork and
horseshoe arches indicate it was crafted by either Moorish workers or
Spaniards. Exhibits inside detail the Islamic history of early Madrid.
Plaza San Nicolas. Call (91) 559-4064 for more information.
Museum of Archaeology
Sharing a neoclassical building with the National Library, the Museum of
Archaeology’s big attraction is a replica of prehistoric café paintings
found underground in Altamira and Cantabria, where access is quite
restricted.
Calle Serrano 13. Call (91) 577-7912 for more information.
The Prado Museum
The Prado, Madrid’s chief attraction, was commissioned in 1785 by King
Carlos III as a natural science museum. By completion in 1819, emphasis had
shifted to art gathered by royalty since the era of Ferdinand and Isabella.
Works of Spanish masters Goya, Valazquez and El Greco are here along with
masterpieces of Flemish and Italian artists.
Paseo del Prada. Call (91) 420-3662 for more information.
Queen Sofia Art Center
Madrid’s modern art museum, often called the Sofidu after the Pompidou
modern art center in Paris, showcases Picasso’s famous Guernica, depicting
the horror of 1937 Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica. Also on
display are major Cubist and Surrealist works including Salvador Dali’s The
Great Masturbator (1929), and The Enigma of Hitler (1939).
Santa Isabel 52. Call (91) 467-5062 for more information.
Plaza Santa Ana
Plaza de Santa Ana is one of the prettiest and most vibrant, and Plaza de
la Paja is tranquil, tumbling down the hill in the heart of Madrid's oldest
barrio, or neighborhood.
Plaza Mayor
The Plaza Mayor is an extremely grand 17th-century arcaded square in the heart of Madrid.
In the past, the square was the location of great festivals, ceremonies,
plays, and even the crowning of Kings. Unfortunately, it has also seen some
less than savoury events such as bullfights and the public burnings of
heretics. What can’t be disputed is that the Plaza Mayor has played a vital
role in Spanish history.
Royal Palace
Opulence reigns within the 2,800 Royal Palace rooms where a two-hour
guided tour winds along for more than a mile of gilded splendor. Highlights
include King Carlos III’s private Rococo décor apartments, the grand throne
room and the banquet hall seating up to 140 for state dinners. The royal
library has a first edition of Cervantes’ Don Quixote, the royal music
museum has five stringed instruments by Stradivarius, and the royal pharmacy
has vials and flasks used for the king’s medications.
Calle Bailen. Call (91) 559-7404 for more information.
Royal Tapestry Factory
Operating continuously since 1721, the Royal Tapestry Factory crafts rugs
and tapestries for Spain’s royals. Both modern methods and traditional
tapestry-making techniques are showcased alongside an exhibit of tapestries
created through the years representing what is on display at palaces
throughout Spain.
Fuenterrabia 2. Call (91) 551-3400 for more information.
Taberna de Antonio Sanchez
As Madrid’s oldest tavern, looking much as it did when opening in 1830,
the Antonio Sanchez has dark walls lined with bullfighting paintings, a zinc
bar and a pulley system for hoisting wine casks from the cellar. Meals are
served in a rear dining room, with bull’s tail stew among specialties.
Meson de Paredes 13. Call (91) 539-7826 for more information.
Thyssen Museum
As the newest of Madrid’s three major art centers, the Thyssen’s
collection of 800 paintings traces the history of Western art. Showcased are
examples from 13th century Italian Gothic through 20th century American Pop.
Works were assembled by Swiss industrialist Baron Hans Heinrich
Thyssen-Bornemisza and his father. In 1993, the baron, urged on by his wife
(a former Miss Spain), gave the collection to Spain.
Paseo del Prado. Call (91) 330-2800 for more information.
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