Top Things to Do in the Madrid | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

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Places To Visit In Madrid

Almudena Cathedral

The seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid, Santa Maria la Real de La Almudena is a Catholic Cathedral. The interior of the cathedral is in the Neo-Gothic style, with a touch of contemporary art. It was consecrated in 1993 by Pope John Paul II. It seems that the cathedral had been built on a medieval mosque site that was destroyed when Alfonso VI conquered Madrid. The major attractions here include a Neo-Romanesque Crypt and a museum which explains the history of the church and the archdiocese of Madrid.The construction of this cathedral started in 1883, and it continued till 1993 and it is now the principle church in the Diocese of Madrid. King Felipe II wanted a cathedral for the new capital when it was transferred from Toledo to Madrid. The site on which the cathedral is built was originally the site of the first mosque of Madrid. The cathedral was designed by Francisco de Cubas in a gothic revival style. Read More

One of the largest parks in the Madrid city, El Retiro belonged to the Spanish Monarchy till the late 19th century. It is a beautiful park covering a large area and is filled with monuments, sculptures, galleries, lake and hosts a lot of events. The park is surrounded by the main city on all sides. Abode to over 15,000 trees, the El Retiro Park is one of the biggest parks in Madrid covering an area of 125 hectares. The park has some of the most important gardens namely the Jardines de Cecilio Rodriquez, the Jardin de Vivaces, the Rose Garden, the Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios and the Parterre Frances which has the oldest tree in Madrid. Earlier, it was owned by the Spanish Monarchy until the late 19th century when the park became open to the public. It is the place to indulge in leisure, cultural and sport activities and it is also popular for its architecture, history and the famous lake. Glass and Velaquez are two palaces which are used as exhibition halls. Read More

Gran Via is one of the streets with the most happening nightlife in Europe. It is ornamented with numerous clubs, hotels, theatres and shopping centres displaying early 20th-century Spanish architecture. The most famous street in the city of Madrid, the Gran Via has been mentioned in a lot of books and zarzuelas(Spanish operettas) as well as showcased in numerous films. The street begins from the Plaza de Alcala square and continues to connect the Plaza de Espana. Gran Via in literal terms refer to as great way and it is home to numerous business shops, banks, hotels, bars, restaurants and theatres. It is one of the most crucial commercial districts in Madrid. It is a must to walk along the street and gaze at these rooftops of the impressive buildings as most of them are decorated lavishly and has large statues perching on the ledge of the top. A few important buildings include Edificio Metropolis at the corner of Calle Alcala and the Telefonica building, which is the tallest skyscraper in Madrid. Read More

The most important Spanish national art museum is known as the Museo del Prado and it is located in the centre of Madrid city. It boasts of having the finest collections of European art in the world that dates back from the 12th century to the early 20th century. It is based on the former Royal collection of Spain. It is one of the greatest art museums in the world. One of the greatest art galleries in the world, Museo del Prado is located on the El Paseo del Prado street and is among the most popular cultural sights in Madrid. It has a brilliant display of art works by artists like Goya, Velazquez, Raphael, Rubens and Bosh. The museum is housed in a neo classical building that was opened as a museum in 1819. It has more than 7000 paintings, but only 1500 of them are on display now. If one is an art lover, it would be highly recommended to come with a full day's time. The paintings are exhibited in two buildings: the Villanueva Building and the Cason del been Retiro. Italian, Flemish, German and Spanish artworks can be found here. Read More

Museo Reina Sofia is the national museum of the modern art. Located in Madrid, it is dedicated to the 20th century art in Spain. It has collections of artists like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. The most important painting is Guernica by Picasso. The 18th century hospital in Madrid had been converted into a beautiful museum in 1992, which is now referred to as the Museo Reina Sofia. It was officially inaugurated on 10th September, 1992 and was named after Queen Sofia. The official name of the museum is Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. It has tow panoramic glass lifts in the outside and an extension was added to it by Jean Nouvel, a French architect, in 2005. It is a treasure house of both contemporary and modern art. There are two floors which are dedicated to temporary exhibits while the other two are devoted for the permanent collection. The collection covers genres like Pop, Abstract and Minimal art. The most important painting in this museum is by Pablo Picasso, known as Guernica. Another important painting was Pablo's Woman in Blue. The other artists whose works are featured in this museum include Miro and Dali. A part of the museum comprises of the library that specialized in 20th century art and has over 10000 volumes and 1000 periodicals. Read More

The Royal Palace of Madrid was the royal residence of the city of Madrid, now used only for state ceremonies. Located on Bailen Street, it is accessible from Opera metro station. The palace now contains furniture, paintings, ceramics and tapestries, which attract visitors from all over the world. Palacio Royal refers to the Royal palace of the Madrid, which is the largest building in Madrid. Though King Felipe VI do not reside in that palace, and chose Palacio de la Zarzuela as their residency. It is not the official residence of the king, yet all the major ceremonies take palce here. It is also refered to as the Palacio de Oriente sometimes are it is located close to Plaza de Oriente square. the origin of this dates backs to the times when the Alcazar castle was built here during the 16th century when the Muslim Kingdom ruled in Toledo. The current palace was built when King Felipe V decided to build a palace for his Borbon dynasty during the perid of 1738 and 1755. It islocated on the Bailen street. Read More

Considered as one of the famous landmarks of the city, Plaza de Cibeles is a square which has a neo classical complex of marble sculptures and fountains. It is situated at the intersection point of Calle de Alcala, Paseo de Recoletosa and Paseo del Prado. There are four marvellous buildings that dominate the square: The Bank of Spain, the Palacio de Linares, the Palacio de Buena vista and the Cybele Palace. The Cibeles fountain is now considered to be the icon of Madrid. Plaza de Cibeles in located in the heart of the city and it portrays the Greek goddess of fertility and nature, Cybele, sitting on a chariot holding a scepter along with a key, who is being pulled by two lions. The pull of wild lions signify the power of the goddess or of nature. It was designed by Ventura Rodriques in 1782. Some say that the source of this fountain goes back to the times when Madrid was a Moorish settlement. Real Madrid football team has unofficially adopted the fountain and they use it as a meeting point for its fans when they win a cup. There are many interesting architectural jewels that can be found on the four corners of the square formed by the intersection of the roads. The Palacio de Buenavista, Palacio de Linares and some other buildings are worth having a glance. Palacio de Comunicaciones is also present there which is now the headquarters of the Madrid city hall. Read More

The Plaza de la Villa, located in the historic centre of the city of Madrid, is situated next to the main street. Three small streets originated from it that corresponded to the medieval layout of the city. There are buildings of great historical value built around its main facades. One of the oldest plazas in Madrid, the Plaza de la Villa is a small plaza which is bounded by some of the best historically important monuments in this city. The oldest, among all the buildings, is the House and Tower Lujanes.The plaza was constructed during the Austrian Hapsburg Dynasty which led to this name. Though it is smaller than all its neighboring plazas, it has the most charm in itself. The plaza is surrounded on three sides by the 15th century Torre de los Lujanes, Ayuntamiento and the Casa de Cisneros, while the fourth side opens to Calle Mayor. Nowadays, it has a large ornamental garden surrounding it. Read More

Madrid Square, also known as Plaza Mayor, is a bustling and historic public square located in the heart of Madrid, Spain. It is one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks and an ideal point to start sightseeing in the city. It is a popular gathering place for both locals and tourists. Madrid Square is an ideal starting point for exploring the city. The square is surrounded by some of Madrid's most famous attractions, including the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Teatro Real opera house, and the Gran Vía shopping district. It is also the site of the iconic clock tower and the statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, which have become symbols of the city.Today, the square is a lively and vibrant hub of activity, with street performers, vendors, and local events taking place throughout the year.Visitors to Madrid Square will enjoy the lively atmosphere and the opportunity to experience the bustling heart of the city. Whether you're a local or a tourist, this historic square is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Madrid. Read More

The Sun's Gate

Puerta del Sol is one of the busiest and most popular public squares in the city of Madrid. This is considered to be the centre of the radial network of roads in Spain. It features many popular attractions along with a large clock that is the centre attraction here. Puerta del Sol refers to the Gate of the sun in Spanish. Puerta del Sol can be considered as the official central point in the city of Madrid. In its earlier days, it used to be the eastern gate of the city and now it is much more than that. The square is home to the famous clock tower, "Real Casa de Correos", whose bells mark the beginning of a new year. The tower was first built as a part of the Post Office which is now the headquarters of the President of Madrid's autonomous community. Visiting this place during the Christmas or New Year is considered to be the best time and it is also broadcasted live on the television. The other major attractions in this square include the Oso y Madrono statue, which is the official symbol of the city, Calle Alcala and the equestrian Statue of Carlos III, which is located at the centre of Kilometer Zero. Read More