the best things to do in madrid

Modern and vibrant, Madrid is Spain’s fascinating capital and one of Europe’s most popular destinations. The city boasts excellent art museums, architectural structures, mouth-watering cuisine, great nightlife, and of course the rich history that is evident in most of its structures. Here are the best things to do in Madrid

Visit the Royal Palace
Palacio Real is an unmistakable neoclassical palace of the 18th century which was once the official dwelling of Spanish kings and queens up to 1931. Gawk at the opulent interiors of the throne, banquet, and armory which are explained through the audio guides when you are on a self-guided tour. It is spectacular to view the beautiful city of Korea from the palace gardens. It would take approximately 2-3 hours to take a quick glimpse at the most popular attractions.

Stroll through Retiro Park
This is one of the largest parks in Madrid and is frequently visited by very many people. Stroll down avenues with tree cover to visit some of the following attractions, the Glass Palace, which houses a Temporary exhibition, the Lake, where you can hire a rowing boat, and the Lovely Sculpture of the Alfonso XII which is beside the Lake. They include the Rose Garden as well as the Fallen Angel sculpture. You can just spend a couple of hours strolling and observing the crowds.

Tour the Prado Museum
Regarded as one of the most popular museums globally, Museo Nacional del Prado has an extensive collection of European paintings. There is a great program here to view masterpieces like Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights”, Velázquez’s “Las Meninas” and Goya’s “Third of May”. When planning to visit this gallery, it is advisable to purchase tickets in advance as this gallery can only accommodate a certain number of visitors per time allowing only a 2-3 hours visit or more visits for those who really wanna enjoy the gallery to the maximum.

Wander La Latina Neighborhood
It is a picturesque area and one of the most popular neighborhoods in the Spanish capital. Its alleyways are filled with small boutiques and shops that offer items such as Spanish-crafted guitars, local exotic cheeses, used clothing, and many others. Visit one of the taverns that serve tapas or an artsy boutique before heading to the Sunday morning El Rastro flea market. It is an atmospheric barrio which turns into a venue for people’s activities in the evening.

See a Flamenco Performance
Spanish flamenco music and dance is one of the popular forms of entertainment in Spain. Las Tablas, Cardamomo, Café de Chinitas, and Villa Rosa are great places to watch live flamenco dancing accompanied by drinks and a meal. The romantic dances give the audience a flavor of Spain and its arts especially Andalusian. Reservations are required.

Enjoy Tapas-Hopping
Eating a variety of tapas from one bar to another or switching between wine and beer is a classic of the Madrid food scene. They are located in La Latina, El Rastro, Chueca, Malasaña, and Huertas districts. Some of the popular Spanish plates you can try to range from patatas bravas, tortilla española, cured meats and cheeses, peppers stuffed with a variety of ingredients, and gambas al ajillo (garlic prawns) among others accompanied by wines, beers, and vermouth. It will be great to go bar hopping, you get to enjoy your night and also have your tummy filled.

Day Trip to Toledo
Another excellent destination that is easily accessible from Madrid by train or coach is the fairy-tale city of Toledo which has been dubbed the “City of Three Cultures” due to the strong Christian, Moorish, and Jewish presence in the city. Side streets of cobblestones lead past churches synagogues and old houses that give a flavor of Toledo’s past as the former Spanish capital. Those tourist attractions worth seeing are the Cathedral of Avila which has Gothic architecture and the House and Museum of El Greco. Toledo’s food and crafts are also traditional.

Get to know the cultural heritage of the area – the Golden Triangle of Art.
Besides the Prado Museum, Madrid is home to two other great art galleries which are located near each other and are collectively referred to as the Art Golden Triangle They are the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with an impressive collection of paintings beginning from the old masters to such modern artists as Picasso, Pollock, and Bonnard; and the Reina Sofia Museum of modern and contemporary art with paintings and sculptures by Picasso, Dali, and others. This means that you will need to purchase a combo ticket to ensure that you see all the shows.

Wander Gran Via Street
The Gran Vía is one of the most frequented streets of Madrid for business, shopping, and entertainment, restaurants, theatres, and cinemas. It is advisable to walk slowly down this colorful street, which features some amazing architectural parts from the early 20th century. Shop for high fashion in some of the fine boutiques, and sample some local cuisine at a Terraza restaurant for lunch or pre-theater cocktails before experiencing the glamour of the theatre in the splendid theatre houses along the boulevard.

Pub Crawl Through the Chueca Neighbourhood
Chueca is one of the most popular and vibrant barrios of Madrid that is considered Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) friendly. At night you find the young people thronging the different plazas and streets going from bar to bar to drink beers, wine, and cocktails. Snuggle up into a wooden bar to try draft vermouth or just a modern cocktail bar to spend time with friends and watch people. As for Chueca, it is vibrant any day of the week, as it is a night owl’s paradise.

Ride in the Temple of Debod
Located in the Parque Oeste, this small Pharaonic temple was dismantled, moved to Spain in 1968 as a gift, and then reconstructed out of bricks. The temple’s exterior has many hieroglyphics carved in stones and even if one has not seen any temple, it would be worth coming to see this one if you can arrange to come in the evening when the light will reflect off the temple. Most people, especially local people, flock to the area during the evening when most people are going home from work and business, so it is advisable to get there early in the evening or during the evening.

I mean you take a walk around the Mercado San Miguel and do some shopping there.
If you’re looking for Spanish tapas and various gourmet products, you should visit a historic market that has been in business since 1916. Indulge in seafood, ham carved straight from the bone, cheeses, bread, ciders, wines, and many other artisan food products whose national origin can be traced from the four regions of the country. Take some food home or have a spontaneous eat-now-we-move party.

These are merely a few of the main sights to see in the capital and largest city of Spain. Madrid has everything to offer everyone and for any budget from museums drawing visitors from all across the globe to stunning architecture, parks, great cuisine, energetic bars, and everything else in between. Since it is rather simple to navigate around this city, it would be advisable to use public transportation from one location to another. Anyhow, Madrid is here; a city with unquestionable beauty and a more conventional Spanish perspective.

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