Tourist Attractions in Madrid

The Prado

The Prado is one of the most renowned museums in the world, featuring works by Spanish masters such as Velasquez, Goya and Picasso as well as other European artists like Raphael, Botticelli and Caravaggio. In the same area can be found the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, and Thyssen Bornemizsa, forming a triangle with the Prado known as the “Golden Triangle.” You'll find another important city landmark that was built during the reign of Carlos III nearby in the middle of Plaza Cánovas del Castillo, Neptune's Fountain. When you get tired from all those museums, you can stop in to the nearby Gran Café de Gijón, the historic café where some of the world's best writers like Federico Garcia Lorca and Antonio Machado have come to wet their whistle. Another option for an little escape from the city is the close by Parque del Buen Retiro, which lies behind the wrought-iron fence. This park is a green and peaceful oasis in the middle of the busy city and it's a great place to take a break from sightseeing.

Palacio Real

The Palacio Real (Royal Palace) was once the home of Spanish monarchs for centuries and is located in Old Madrid, in the 16th and 17th century district known as Los Austrias. However, the Royal Family no longer lives in the 18th-century building as it is now used for official functions and as a museum. The Palacio Real stands just beyond the Plaza de Oriente, which stands opposite the Teatro Real, the Opera House. The Plaza de Oriente is lined with elegant cafés like the Café de Oriente, an ideal spot to sit and relax. Nearby, on Calle Segovia where the Papal Nuncio used to be, are a number of cafés and restaurants in former ecclesiastical buildings, such as Café del Nuncio and the Taberna de los 100 Vinos.

Plaza de España

The busy Plaza de España has become the new gateway to the city. From here, you can easily get to many popular and historic destinations like the Royal Palace and the Puerta del Sol as well as the area known as Argüelles. In the Plaza de España, you'll find a monument to Cervantes with statues of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza, his most famous characters along with lots of people relaxing on the grass and the park benches. A few blocks away along the Calle Conde Duque, you will find the Cuartel de Conde Duque. It was built during the reign of Felipe V to house the Royal Guard. Today it's a cultural center that organizes excellent exhibitions of contemporary art, open-air concerts, theater performances, and educational workshops. Another nearby spot to visit is the Casa de Campo. On the perpendicular Paseo del Pintor Rosales, you'll soon come to the oldest building in Madrid, the Templo de Debod. The Egyptian government saved this temple from destruction during the building of the Aswan Dam, and presented it to Spain in 1960. The temple, dedicated to the goddess, Isis, is open to the public and worth visiting. Bars and restaurants abound in the areas surrounding the Plaza de España, such as Prada a Tope, which serves up the traditional, rustic cuisine of Spain's Léon region, or Dantxari, which serves up a taste of the Basque region.

Puerta del Sol

If you take the metro to Sol and leave by the Calle Carretas exit, you'll come out at the Puerta del Sol. Here, you'll see the famous clock tower, whose chimes officially announce the New Year on Spanish TV and radio. The statue of Carlos III is across from the clock tower, and the emblem of Madrid, the bear and arbutus tree (el oso y el madroño) is behind the statue. Within a couple of blocks and you'll come to Plaza de Santa Ana. The square is full of bars and restaurants and the area in general is crowded and lively at night. Many writers, painters, and intellectuals have lived and worked here and have been inspired by their surroundings. To your right is a small street called San Sebastián where you'll find a church by the same name, The Church of San Sebastián. The church archives hold the death certificates of Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Ruiz de Alarcón, among others. The most famous bar in the square is the Cervecería Alemana, which you'll find next to the Teatro Español. It's a quaint old-fashioned café where people sit, relax, read the newspaper, and have a bite to eat. A few blocks farther is where Calle Cervantes and Calle León meet. This is where Cervantes lived during the last few years of his life. Unfortunately, his house was demolished in the 19th Century. He was buried in the grounds of the Trinitarias Convent on Calle Lope de Vega. Much of the area surrounding the Puerta del Sol has a very lively nightlife and sports interesting restaurants, cafés and bars such as Los Gabrieles. Each room of the bar is wonderfully decorated in colorful ceramic tiles depicting a different scene. The most famous room has a recreation of Velázquez's painting Los borrachos (The Drunkards).

Plaza Mayor

In the center of Madrid is the Plaza Mayor with its statue of Felipe III in the center. The square used to be used by merchants in the Middle Ages, and later for special occasions during the reign of Felipe II. In the Plaza Mayor you will find the Casa de la Panadería, the Plaza's first building. The façade was redecorated in 1980, and the building now houses various exhibitions. One of the most famous bars in the Plaza is the kitschy bullfighting themed Torre del Oro , where you can pick up a sherry and some tapas to fuel the rest of your day or evening. Don't forget to browse the Tiendas de la Plaza Mayor, shops selling all kinds of goods from bullfighting souvenirs to flamenco costumes. Just a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor in the Plaza de las Descalzas is the Museo del Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales (Descalzes Reales Museum). The museum of the Franciscan convent houses important paintings, sculptures and other beautiful works of art. Across from the convent is the Café de las Descalzas, an intimate and romantic restaurant featuring live music (mostly flamenco) several days a week. Heading back towards the Plaza Mayor from the Plaza de las Descalzas, you will encounter the Plaza de la Villa, which now houses the Town Hall amidst 15th-17th century mansions. Finally, after all this sightseeing, you can head down Calle Mayor to get to Casa Ciriaco, a tavern where you can chow down on hearty Spanish food and wines.

Barrio de Salamanca

The Barrio de Salamanca is one of Madrid's most affluent and exclusive neighborhoods. The barrio is packed full of art galleries such as Galería Alcolea and Galería Jorge Juan, along with some of the world's most exclusive shopping at stores such as Chanel Boutique, Prada and Louis Vuitton to name just a few. Also abundant in the Barrio de Salamanca are museums. The famous Museo Arqueológico, with their reproduction of the Altamira caves in northern Spain and their prehistoric drawings. Here in Salamanca, you will also find the Museo de Escultura al Aire Libre, the outdoor sculpture garden featuring works by artists like Miró and Chillida. Also in the area is the Plaza de Colón, where you'll find two monuments to the discovery of America, one of them a statue of Columbus himself. Running from the Plaza de Colón to the Plaza de Castilla is the Paseo de la Castellana, one of Madrid's most famous streets, lined with grand mansions alongside national and foreign bank headquarters. When you start to work up an appetite, you can try any of the high quality restaurants in the Salamanca such as El Almirezz for Navarran and Basque food or L'Entrecôte for French food. There is also the Mercado de la Paz, designed by Gustav Eiffel, where you can browse the market for fresh foods or dine at one of the two restaurants in the market.

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