Tourist guide: what to do and see in Madrid
The city at your feet.
From the moment you arrive, Madrid will amaze. Although it is the capital and the biggest city in the country, its inhabitants will greet you with open arms. There are endless ideas here for your entertainment and with every visit you visit you'll be exposed to another one of Madrid's faces, which are always different and never disappointing: fiesta, culture, ideas for children or just pure tranquillity. The bohemian and the avant-garde mix harmoniously with the conservative and the more traditional without pretences; it is a worthy representative of Spain's international popularity. Enjoy!
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- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
- Sights
- Shopping
- Leisure
- Dining
- Open air
- Museum
Museo del Prado
Choose first and then calmly visit the rooms that most interest you. This way you'll really enjoy one of the world's most important art galleries.
For art aficionados
One of the world's most important art galleries, the epicentre of the Art Triangle which also includes the Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofía museums. You will feel a little like a pilgrim as people come to El Prado from all corners of the globe, with an almost religious fervour. Their objective is simply to admire the fantastic collection of paintings, many of which are European, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. If your passion is art, you're guaranteed to love it. Thanks should be given for the efforts of the Spanish monarchs who accumulated most of these works over the centuries. The schools in Spain, Flanders and Venice are those which most supply the institution, located in a building which Carlos III opened as a Natural Sciences Cabinet. The museum moved to its current site in 1819 and ever since it has not stopped collecting pieces; now you can see over than 1300 between the historic building and the Rafael Moneo (not to mention those that are in other institutions or in the warehouses). El Greco, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, Tiziano, Durero, Goya, Van Dick, Zurbarán, Murillo, El Bosco, Sorolla… The quality of the artists and the works is so high that entering El Prado is like opening an encyclopaedia. The website www.museodelprado.es includes recommendations for you to maximise your tour.
Plaza de la Paja
Although you're in the La Latina neighbourhood, it is not too well trodden by tourists. Experience the real Madrid!
Madrid de los Austrias.
It is one of the most charming spots in Madrid de los Austrias. You'll be blown away by its monumental gate and its traditional pipeclay floor, that is very hard to come by now in Madrid. Although you're in the La Latina neighbourhood, it is not too well trodden by tourists. It will be much quieter here. During the centuries XIII ans XIV it was the city's commercial axis and now is its packed with restaurants and lovely cafés where you can enjoy a sunny afternoon. One of the most attention-grabbing buildings is the Casa del Obispo, dating back to the sixteenth century, that is found adjacent to San Andrés Church. The rotund Palacio de los Vargas maintains the same architectural style. The square is sloping and simple but it could not be more effective. A secret awaits at its lower part: the garden, the Jardín del Príncipe de Anglona, a well-kept secret even for many locals. This little 500 square metre haven of peace was built in the eighteenth century and belonged to the palace to which it is attached. Today it is a public space and is almost always empty, so its a great place to rest and clear your head. Walk through its little labyrinth and sit on its benches with a good book.
Not even a trace of the action of the city.
Casa de Campo
A perfect place for visiting with children: nature, amusement park and zoo. What more could you ask for?
The city's largest park.
A field in the middle of the city. The Casa del Campo, the city's largest park, has been enjoying some extra shine for the past few years as the construction of Madrid Río and the expulsion of cars from the surface of Manzanares have brought it closer to the centre. The best way to arrive to this enormous 1722 hectare space is by crossing the Puente del Rey at the foot of the Campo del Moro at the Palacio Real. One of the major attractions is the 80,000 square metre lake with its huge fountain and pier, where you can also go canoeing. Here you can have a drink on the terrace, while admiring the monumental façade of the city: the Palacio Real, La Almudena, the rooftops of Madrid de los Austrias and the skyscrapers of Plaza de España. If you take a walk to get in touch with nature, you will find pines, poplars, banana trees, oaks and countless animals such as rabbits, squirrels and ducks. Prepare to scream with excitement because inside the Casa de Campo is an amusement park (www.parquedeatracciones.es) with many roller coasters and aquatic attractions. Feel that tingle in your belly! If you're going with children, you'll have a ball at the zoo (www.zoomadrid.com), with its 6000 animals and 500 species that they will surely want to cuddle. Nearby you'll find the cable car. You can take it back to the centre and feel like a bird!
Plaza Mayor
Visiting Madrid and not entering its Plaza Mayor would be unforgivable. It is one of the city's most photogenic sites.
237 balconies in the characteristic red colour.
One of the most photogenic outside sites. The Plaza Mayor, between Puerta del Sol and Plaza de la Villa, preserves it characteristic red colour. Its origins date back to the sixteenth century when a meat, fruit and vegetable market took place here. However, the aspect that you see now comes from the late sixteenth century and the start of the seventeenth. You feel as though you are back in that era as you stroll under its arcades or admire its 237 balconies. The main building is the Casa de la Panadería, decorated with paintings where you will find one of the tourist offices, so that you can request a map or information about one of Madrid's shows or attractions. In the middle is the equestrian statue of Felipe III and around its perimeter there are 9 gateways. The most famous of these are the Arco de Cuchilleros and the one that provides access to the Calle de Toledo. Although in the past it was used as a bullring or for the auto-da-fés during the Inquisition, today it is a place for relaxation which even has a philately fair on Sundays. Very authentic. The plaza has many terraces, but we recommend you go to the gateway leading onto calle Botoneras so you can try one of the calamari sandwiches at La Campana. 100% madrileño, although at first glance you might think it a little neglected.
The Temple of Debod
Sunsets seen from the Principe Pio Mountain make you feel as though Madrid has just disappeared.
Magical evenings in Madrid
Its evenings are magical with views of the Casa de Campo and the horizon free of buildings. It will make you feel like the city has disappeared. We are on the Principe Pio Mountain, the famous place where Goya set the shootings of 3 May 1808 in the War of Independence against the French. Then, during the Civil War, this place was transformed into el Cuartel de la Montaña, the Mountain barracks. Fortunately, nowadays it is a place of peace and tranquillity, even though at weekend it is full of people. Don't hesitate in having a picnic next to the Temple of Debod, the park's focal point, an authentic Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in 1968 in return for the help given following Unesco's appeal to save the Nubia temples from the construction of the Asuan dam. It is 2200 years old and comes from the south of the country, almost on the border with Sudan. The building, which is a golden colour during sunset and under artificial lighting, has been restored and consists of different bodies, one of which has columns. Of course, Debod comes from Amon and was a god whose worship become popular in Luxor. It is believed to represent air and sun. Feel these two natural elements as the day fades away.
Segovia Viaduct
Don't forget to climb up and down the steps (and breathe in-between) From calle de Segovia the sight of the viaduct is almost expressionistic.
23 metres above the ground
The writer Valle-Inclán, in "Luces de Bohemia", referred to it as the platform as the way to reach the stars. A very literary manner of mentioning the way in which many people tried to end their lives. Today it has has glass screens which aim to dissuade these urges. The Segovia has a 23-metre drop, forms the extension of calle de Bailén and connects the Alumdena Cathedral with the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande. The structure had to be reinforced and reformed during the 1970s as when it was built in 1934, nobody imagined that the surrounding traffic would increase so much. From above you can gain privileged views: the Casa de Campo and the Almudena on one side and the rooftops and towers of Madrid de los Austrias on the other. On one side are Las Vistillas, sloping gardens which are ideal for watching the sunset and where many popular fiestas take place, such as that of San Isidro, the patron saint of the city. Don't forget to climb up and down the stairs, because from the calle de Segovia, the sight of the viaduct is almost expressionistic. It is best when lit-up at night.
Retiro Park
Always lively, El Retiro is perfect for walking, playing sports or connecting with nature.
This is Madrid's best-loved park.
It is the favourite park of the madrileños. Always lively, El Retiro is perfect for walking, playing sports or connecting with nature. Its name comes from the times of Felipe II when the place was used as a spiritual retreat (retiro). However, it was Carlos III (known as the king-mayor) who made it look similar to what it is today. He gave it railings and only permitted entry to those people with a certain level of hygiene and attire. The centre of this 118 hectare space is the lake with its large sculpture in honour of Alfonso XII. On Sundays the area is heaving with people playing the drums and basking in the sun. The late nineteenth century brought the legendary glass palaces and Velázquez. Water and the flower gardens surround us on all sides: the la montaña de los gatos (Cats' mountain), the Rosaleda (rose garden), la fuente de las Alcachofas (Alcachofas Fountain), the paseo de las estatuas (the statues' walk) etc. If it's spring, the scents fill your nostrils. And don't forget to look for the statue of the fallen angel, one of the few monuments in the world that represents the devil. Also, its altitude with relation to the sea in Alicante is 666 metres (who investigated that?) Anyway, thinking about it makes us a little uneasy.
Puerta del Sol
This is 0 km, the point from which Spain's network of roads is measured.
New year, new life!
This is at the heart of central Madrid. At the Puerta del Sol, on the pavement outside the Presidency of the Community of Madrid building is a plaque specifying that this is the exact point from which Spain’s network of roads is measured. In other words, this is where the country’s kilometre 0 is marked, making it almost your obligation to have your photo taken showing your foot right next to the plaque. Turn around and look at the building behind, which is where millions of eyes are fixed on New Years Eve at midnight. Its clock has the job of chiming 12 times to which the entire country eats 12 lucky grapes. You'll notice it as soon as you step onto it: the semi-circular Puerta del Sol is always jam-packed with people, mimes, human statues and demonstrations. Non-stop action. The buildings surrounding it date back to the nineteenth century when the unhealthy narrow streets were demolished to give Madrid a more modern look. The equestrian statue of Carlos III who is eyeing us seriously, and the futuristic Metro entrance and its surroundings show, on one side, the reflections of elegant balconies. And there are more protagonists: at the intersection with the calle de Alcalá, you can see the sculpture of the bear and the strawberry tree, symbols of the region.
Madrid Río
It is one of the city's green lungs and offers a 10 kilometre walk along the banks of the Manzanares river as well as games for the little ones.
A magnificent walk in the fresh air.
What is Madrid Río? It is an enormous park that combines woods, gardens and parks and extends from the south of Madrid (from the Arganzuela area) to Getafe forming the biggest park that the capital has ever seen. In fact, it originated as a result of general public concern. With the growth of the M-30 madrileña (the motorway that surrounds the city), pollution in Madrid was constantly increasing. So the city hall decided to bury this ring road and build what we now know as Madrid Río. Inside it boasts 30 kilometres of cycle paths, 33 tracks and circuits for skating and other urban sports, tennis courts, football, basketball, several climbing walls and many more activities. It is connected to the leisure zones of El Matadero and its surroundings that frequently host concerts and various outdoor activities. Currently, thousands of madrileños descend upon the area on their days off to practise sports, participate in nearby activities or simply to enjoy a picnic in one of the many grassy areas. Madrid's answer to Central Park.
Restaurante DiverXo
I'm so hungry! This restaurant opens new gastronomic horizons.
Chef David Muñoz is out to surprise.
A whole world is abuzz inside his shaven, crested head. David Muñoz's has an ever-increasing fan base. Why? His restaurant, DiverXo located in the Madrid area of Tetuán. Mouth-to-mouth initially sparked off his popularity. And then his two Michelin stars took care of the rest. His cooking fuses Mediterranean with Asian but there is a lot more to his culinary repertoire than just that. DiverXo, a modern space with white, black and silver touches, opens new horizons in the culinary experience. It is described as mestizaje, cutting-edge, revolutionary. And it comes at a price because you need to reserve a table one month in advance. There is no menu as such, but three set lists with seven, nice and eleven courses. The ingredients, disparate raw materials from the global pantry, are skilfully woven. Textures are contrasted. Equilibrium prevails. There are echoes of Spain, Japan, Peru and Africa. Wine pairing is performed by sommelier Javier Arroyo, who is just as likely to offer you a Jerez as he is a New Zealand broth. In DiverXo, around 50 new dishes are created every year, so the selection is always different. The element of surprise is paramount. Calle Pensamiento, 28. Madrid. 915 70 07 66.
San Antón Market
Arrive hungry. Introducing the little brother of San Miguel Market.
Eyes are on the rooftops of Chueca.
Introducing the little brother of San Miguel Market. Small not for its ambition or its appeal, which is large, but because it emerged later on and has the same concept of sophistication. Behind its straight-lined brick façade are two levels and a terrace. Downstairs are the traditional stalls selling vegetables, cold meats and fruit where some stallholders even inform their customers about what's new in via Twitter. On the second floor you'll find bars that serve both scrambled eggs with potatoes as well as sushi. And on the terrace, with your eyes gazing out over the rooftops of Chueca, is where you'll sip the latest in the area's cocktails and mingle with the young, gorgeous and successful (well, at least they look it). Next along you'll find the restaurant La cocina de San Antón, with fresh products that you can even choose from the lower level for them to cook for you upstairs. The place is packed at weekends with people breathing life into an area that was once abandoned for years. Writer Benito Pérez Galdos already wrote in Fortunata y Jacinta about the first market of street-vending stalls that was the origin of San Antón. What do you think he would say about such modernity today? More information on www.mercadosananton.com.
San Miguel Market
A essential culinary stop-off point when walking down Calle Mayor. Irresistible day and night.
You'll want to return every day!
It has forever been the neighbourhood market, with grandmothers and their baskets, right next to the Plaza Mayor. Nowadays, San Miguel Market has transformed itself into a culinary centre where you can buy fresh fish as well as enjoy a healthy roasted soybean snack, a cold beer, tapas or a frozen yoghurt. With its distinctive iron architecture dating back to the early nineteenth century, it is the last remaining market of its type in the capital. Following the path of the multifaceted Boqueria market in Barcelona but with more of a chic edge, San Miguel has won the hearts of locals and tourists alike who enjoy its colours, aromas and its tapas, and relies on the international pull of Spanish cuisine. Here, tasting, courses, events and presentations take place, with the objective of spreading the joy of Spanish culinary traditions and the concept of slow food. Note down some of these essential stopping points: Hamburguesa Nostra, salazones en La Casa del Bacalao, vinoteca Pinkleton & Wine, frutería La Flor, ostras Daniel Sorlut and dulces de Horno San Onofre. Irresistible. You will want to return every day. For more information visit www.mercadodesanmiguel.es.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Gooaaaaal! Real Madrid's colosseum is located right in the centre of Paseo de la Castellana.
Go Madrid!
It is an essential visit for footballs fans from all over the world. Real Madrid's colosseum is located right in the centre of Paseo de la Castellana, opposite the city's modern buildings such as the Torre Picasso. It takes its name from the president of the club who ordered its construction in 1947. From outside you can guess its capacity, but it's best to enter and buy a place on the tour that tales you right up to the pitch (that, of course, comes from Holland), areas such as the north end, the south end, the VIP box, the changing rooms and the bench with its 22 ergonomic seats where you almost sense the tension. Don't miss the Centro de Patrimonio Histórico de la Fundación Real Madrid (the Real Madrid Foundation Centre for Historical Heritage) with over 100,000 objects, documents and trophies, including items related to the legendary player, Alfredo di Stéfano. Its greatness knows no limits. During the tour you will find interactive and audiovisual components so that you can rock to the rhythm of the so-called world's greatest team, founded in 1902. A little while ago a plan to modernise the exterior of the stadium which will be made mostly of titanium. Just like its players?
Biblioteca Nacional (The National Library)
Here you can learn all about the Spanish language. The scent of books fills the air in the Biblioteca Nacional, the Spanish National Library.
Pure neoclassicism.
Pure neoclassicism It has all the makings of a portentous building and a grand staircase with sculptures overlooking the Paseo de Recoletos. Even just the façade itself is worth a visit. The Biblioteca Nacional is the institution which has preserved and made available books, incunabula, maps, periodicals, photographs, sound and music reproductions published in the Spanish territory over the centuries. Here you can learn about the Spanish language with 30,000 manuscripts and works such as the Madrid Codex by Leonardo da Vinci, the fourteenth-century copy of the Cantar de Mio Cid and modern monumental works such as as One Hundred Years of Solitude by García Márquez. Unfortunately you need a reader or researcher card to be able to access the collection, but you can easily and freely enter the exhibition rooms. In this last room, you'll learn the keys to the work of a librarian throughout history, see reproductions, facsimiles and original important volumes for Humanity and you can delve into the characters of Cervantes and El Quijote (for more information visit www.bne.es). If only they had taken us to a library like this during our boring literature classes at school!
Descalzas Monastery
Go through history in this Monastery, which occupies the place of one of the first palaces in Madrid.
A Renaissance treasure.
Silence. Between the hubbub of Callao and Calle de Preciados stands a Renaissance treasure where you can't shout. It is the Monasterio de las Descalzas, which occupies the place of one of the first palaces that existed in Madrid and where Carlos I and Isabel of Portugal lived. From that house you will be able to see that the Plateresque structure and a large number of decorative elements are maintained, but from the later 17th century paintings such as those of the Miracle Chapel have survived to this day. And that's not counting all the tapestries worn by many of the high society ladies who entered this convent. The monastery was founded by Juana de Austria, sister of Felipe II, and one of its most important parts is the church (with carvings of saints who procession during Holy Week in Madrid), the garden and the cloister. Get ready, because the surprises continue: look at the tapestries on cardboard by Rubens and the paintings by artists such as Brueghel, Sánchez Coello and Titian. Even Fra Angelico's The Annunciation, which you can now admire in the Prado Museum, was here for years. When you leave here, you will be aware of the walk through history that you have taken.
Palacio de Cibeles
Can you find it? It is the most majestic building in the square. Also called the Palacio de las Comunicaciones (Communications Palace) or the Edificio de Correos (Post office building).
Madrid's most sophisticated exterior
One of Madrid's most refined and cosmopolitan postcard images. The enormous Eificio de Correos (post office building), also known as the Palacio de Cibeles or Catedral de las Comunicaciones, will leave you open-mouthed. In fact, when it was inaugurated in 1919 it marked a milestone in twentieth century urbanism along with Gran Vía. Through its bowels have passed millions of official news items, passions, joys and sorrows in the form of cards, as well as telegrams and postcards from all over the world. For some time now, it has been acting as the City Hall, which was previously located in a building on the Plaza de la Villa in Madrid de los Austrias. And currently it is also the headquarters of Centro Centro, a proposal by the town council to spread culture, art, design and the citizens' movement with facilities dedicated to expositions, an enormous Wi-Fi room and an auditorium (more information on www.centrocentro.org). You can sit, relax, read the newspaper, work on your laptop and admire the glass ceiling. Upstairs the best awaits: a lounge terrace with prices that aren't exactly cheap, but the views of Gran Via, the statue of the goddess Cybele and the Castellana skyscrapers are all priceless. Madrid's most sophisticated exterior
Puerta de Toledo
Welcome! In the nineteenth century, the Puerta de Toledo greeted those arriving to Madrid.
Smaller than the Puerta de Alcalá, but just as loved.
Although it is smaller than the Puerta de Alcalá, the Puerta de Toledo receives its fair share of affection. It even has sevillanas (folk music from Seville) dedicated to it: "A la Puerta de Toledo, madre, le tengo celos" (At the Puerta de Toledo, mother, I am jealous). It forms part of the system of arches that lined the city to receive visitors until the nineteenth century. It was erected to commemorate the triumph of Napoleon and the arrival of José Bonaparte, also known as Pepe Botella (Pepe Bottle) for his supposed love of wine. But as fate would have it, its construction ended just as Fernando VII the Desired came to the throne and used it as a stone reminder of the French invader. From the square in which it is located, you will understand (and suffer, if you walk it), Madrid's topography with its hills, valleys and hollows. If you look straight ahead, you'll see the Baroque Toledo Bridge, built by Pedro de Ribera. Walk there because you will enjoy one of the puerta's most panoramic views. If you look up, the street goes into the heart of the La Latina district.
Almudena Cathedral
Don't miss the route to its blue cupola. One of the best visits in Madrid.
Cathedral, museum and a splendid cupola.
The cathedral came late to Madrid. It wasn't until 1993 when Pope John Paul II consecrated it as a temple of Christianity. How so? Although Madrid became the residence for the Kings of Castilla in the 16th century, the city belonged to the Archdiocese of Toledo until 1885, whose archbishop was designated the Cardinal Primate of the Church of Spain. Two years earlier, Alfonso XII laid the building's first stone as part of his neo-Gothic plans, in fashion at the time. But the turbulent history of twentieth century Spain, with its civil war in the middle, meant that its construction would take longer and would be finished in a more reserved style. Open from Sunday to Monday from 10 am to 9 pm, the façade of the Almudena will delight you with its two towers and inside with its colour and ribbed vaults. Go and see the Christ of Compassion, work of Baroque sculptor Martínez Montañés, and the funerary chest of San Isidro. If you want to see more, you can visit the museum featuring objects of historical and artistic value, that includes the route to the blue cupola. From up there you can take in one of the best views in Madrid. And it's one of the best-kept secrets, so you'll feel honoured to be there.
Congreso de los Diputados
The lions at its doors will eye you earnestly. You cannot climb up onto then, but you will definitely find a good photo opportunity here.
A witness to the history of Spain.
These big, unfriendly-looking lions protect the Congres de los Disputados in Madrid. Police officers will not allow you climb up onto them, but you can get close enough to take a snap. This temple with sober lines inspired by the antiquity was built in 1850 under Queen Isabel II. Parliamentary sessions were held in this very place until just a few years ago but under the roof of the old Espíritu Santo church, abandoned by its monks. The current building is not permanently open to the public so if you don't feel like waiting for it to open (early December each year), it's best to arrange a group visit by calling 91 390 65 25 and 91 390 65 26 or by emailing guias.congreso@sgral.congreso.es. Inside you'll be guided through the various rooms, such as the chamber where politicians debate (with the bullet holes from Antonio Tejero's failed coup d'etat of 23 February 1981), the Sala de los Pasos Perdidos (the Hall of Lost Steps) and the library. It is the ideal way to learn about the history of democracy in Spain. Between explanations, maybe you'll spot a politician walking through the corridors. You must remain alert. From outside you can see the successive extensions of the chamber with its vanguard stone and crystal façades. The square in front was designed as a lookout to the Paseo del Prado: the Neptune Fountain, the Ritz Hotel, the El Prado Museum, Jerónimos Church and the Academia de la Lengua. Record it all in your retina.
Las Ventas Bullring
Prepare yourself for the Monumental, the world's most important bullring.
White handkerchiefs and olés
You'll hear the olés resonate from all around. Don't be surprised that Las Ventas bullring has the nickname Monumental. This enormous neo-Mudejar building was completed in 1925. There was in fact another in the centre of Madrid, but only existed until the end of the nineteenth century next to Puerta de Alcalá, but it was demolished as it was too small to satisfy the madrileños' passion for bullfighting. And it was not just Madrid's residents, celebrities from overseas such as Ernest Hemingway, Orson Welles, Greta Garbo, Pablo Picasso and Sofía Loren feature in famous photographs of the ring. It is currently the world's most important and the third biggest in the world with a capacity of 23,000 spectators. You can feel the tension and the excitement at 5 in the afternoon, with the sun beating down, in a fight between March and October during the bullfighting season. If not, you can always visit the inside of this red bricked temple to learn all about the ritual and concepts such as the paseillo (the ceremonial entry of bullfighters), the tendido (lower level seating) or the Puerta Grande (main gate). Even though many are against bullfighting, it can do no harm to learn about this quintessentially Spanish tradition. The rest, feeling the magic which many claim to feel, is up to you. For further information visit www.las-ventas.com.
Teatro Real
The Plazas de Oriente and Isabel II surrender to your feet. You can hear the applause!
Feel the opera
It was a long-awaited night. On 19 November 1850, and after several decades of highs and lows in its construction, the Teatro Real hosted it first opera. It was La Favorita, by Donizzeti, and members of the Madrid bourgeoisie and Queen Isabel II, who wanted to celebrate her birthday in this way, listened to it unflinchingly. The Teatro Real played hard to get but the success of music and famous performers accompanied it for more than half a century. Then it suffered oblivion, fire, malfunction, temporary closure and another use of the opera temple during the Franco regime. Until 1997. It now produces its own shows and brings foreign staging that is proving to be a hit among young people. You can learn about this and much more during three different visits: general, artistic and technical, which are organised each day (for further information visit www.teatro-real.com). You can also admire its two façades. One opens onto Plaza de Isabel II and the other onto Plaza de Oriente and faces the Palacio Real. If you cover your eyes on the way from the airport and have your blindfold taken away here, you'll surely believe you're in Paris or Vienna.
Palacio Real
The Madrid sky is special when seen from the foot of the Palacio Real, the Royal Palace. Don't forget your camera!
Dusk in Madrid
This mound is an excellent spot to see without being seen. And it has been for centuries, even before Madrid was Madrid. The Emir Mohammed I built an alcazaba, or castle, here to defend Toledo from the advance of the Christians. It was then converted into an alcázar, or palace, until it was destroyed by a fire. It was then, in the eighteenth century, that King Felipe V decided to build the current grandiose Palacio Real. The inspiration comes from the sketches used by Bernini for the construction of the Louvre Museum in Paris. It is currently the residence of the Kings of Spain although they do not officially live here but it is used for State receptions. You can stroll through the Sabatini gardens and the Campo del Moro Gardens (entry via the Paseo Virgen del Puerto) and admire the different façades. Inside there are 3000 rooms, although not all can be visited. The most interesting are the Escalera Central (Main Staircase), the Salón del Trono (Throne Room) with its ceiling painted by Tiépolo, the Salita Gasparini (Gasparini Room) el Salón de Alarbaderos (Alarbaderos Room), the Real Farmacia (Royal Pharmacy) and the Real Armería (the Royal Armoury) which includes a gallery of canvases by Velázquez, Goya and Sorolla. Outside, every Wednesday at 11 am (except between July and September and days facing adverse weather conditions or special events) you can watch the colourful changing of the Royal Guard complete with horses and period uniforms. At dusk, you'll never tire of Madrid's red and violet skies.
Puerta de Alcalá
Have a competition The first to find the bullet holes above the Puerta de Alcalá is the winner.
There she stands, watching time go by.
“There she stands, watching time go by," belted out Spanish singer Ana Belén in 1986, with every Spanish person joining in the chorus to this song dedicated to the old city gate. This is just one token of affection that the 18th century Puerta de Alcalá has received and continues to receive. At first it received visitors from Catalonia and Aragon, but its arches have seen the political propaganda of the Civil War and the flock of sheep that used to graze here. It was Francesco Sabatini, the favoured architect of Carlos III, who gave the La Puerta de Alcalá this image. This king launched an ambitious urban development plan to bring the Spanish capital up to the same level as its European counterparts. As you'll want to take a photo, the best position is standing under the central arch with the Cybele statue and the start of the Gran Vía as the backdrop. Admire the Ionian capitals, the royal coats of arms and the lion heads decorating the monument, as well as the bullet holes of unknown origin that successive restorations have sought to preserve. Are you ready to find them? Take on your fellow travellers in a competition. The winner can suggest the next step in your Madrid tour.
Casino Gran Vía
4,500 square meters on three floors dedicated to the game
Playing in a palace
This palace rises at number 24 Gran Vía, having contained the dependencies of the Mercantile and Industrial Circle of Madrid –fencing room, fitness and chat areas, reading room, dining rooms, living rooms and offices- today rise as a leisure and entertainment for locals and tourists in the Spanish capital, under the name of Casino Gran Vía. It holds a total of 4,500 square meters on three floors dedicated to the game where visitors can find Roulettes, Black Jack, Baccarat, Poker rooms and more innovative range of machines and electronic roulettes. But also, its walls hide special places for enjoyment, such as the cocktail bar The GV Corner (with daily live music and DJ sessions), the Bulle Champagne Bar, the GV24 Artist's Bar (a multi-experiental place) or Mercantile Circle Restaurant, specialized in traditional cuisine. Visitors will get amazed with its beautiful Royal Hall, protected by National Heritage institution, and its central glass dome, prepared by the renowned French firm Maumejean. The opening hours are from 10.00 to 6.00 hours._x000D_
Museo Sorolla
What used to be his home is now a museum in his honour and is definitely worth a peaceful visit.
Sorolla the Great.
Like many of the great galleries and art centres in the world, the Sorolla Museum was a result of the express wish of the wife of Joaquín Sorolla, Clotilde García del Castillo, who, upon the death of her husband, wanted to donate all his property to the State provided they were used for public exhibitions. We owe this Museum to these two philanthropists and artists. It is found in the very house of the painter, on Paseo del General Martínez Campos, number 37 a few metres from the Paseo de la Castellana. You will see a large part of the collection of the painter himself as well as the figure-related donations which the museum has been receiving over time, such as the famous Sorolla statue. In any case, it is a significant close-up to the life of this eclectic artist. Your tour includes exhibitions of painting, sculpture, archaeology and pottery, with pieces dating back to Roman times. Perhaps the most significant are the paintings exhibited by José de Ribera, Mariano Fortuny and Sorolla. It opens from Tuesday to Sunday but we recommend that you visit it on Saturdays from midday or Sundays as admission is free.
Museo del Romanticismo
A highly recommended visit....you will fall head over heels for Goya's "San Gregorio Magno", you'll have never seen it before!
A tour of romance
The Museo del Romanticism is located in the heart of Malasaña in an ancient building in the central calle San Mateo. Due to the characteristics of the place itself, the capacity is quite limited so, despite not being one of the most visited museums, we recommend you schedule your visit in advance. The embryo of this museum was conceived in 1921 with an exhibition of more than 80 paintings from the collection of the Marquis de la Vega Inclan. After this impromptu start, many artists and different institutions started intermittently donating pieces for their exhibition. So now it features a broad spectrum of everything related to Spanish romanticism and takes the spectator on a journey through this movement until the nineteenth century. The palace opens its doors from Tuesdays to Sundays and admission is 3 euros. And there is a spectacular painting by Goya called San Gregorio Magno that you will have never seen before.
Museo Cerralbo
A palace with works by Zurbarán and El Greco. And take a look at its decor as it's just as impressive.
Private collection.
On calle Ventura Rodríguez, at around number 17 you will find the Museo Cerralbo. This is the private collection of the family of Enrique de Aguilera and Gamboa, the Marquis of Caerralbo in the seventeenth century. To provide some background information, it was a very influential family from the sixteenth to the twentieth century and, after the death of Enrique de Aguilera, they donated a large part of their heritage to be exhibited. Inside, not only can you see tremendous collections of paintings and prints but the residence itself has preserved the décor and aesthetics of each period that the family lived here. On its walls you can see works by Zurbarán, El Greco and Alonso Cano and even drawings by Tadeo Zuccaro (a highlight of the exhibition). However, we insist that you focus on the décor from the looms to the ceramic pieces. Time appears to have stood still in here in order to show you how this family lived. Open from Tuesday to Saturdays.
Círculo de Bellas Artes
In the middle of the calle Alcalá is a centre which welcomes all forms of artistic expression.
International recognition
The Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid is located on 42, calle Alcalá. This centre was an initiative of the artists resident in Madrid who opened it in 1880. Among these, Carlos Arniches and Jacinto Benavente. The idea behind this project was to create a place for artists to welcome other artists and to take art out onto the street to show to the public. And this is what they achieved. Since it was set up until the present day, it has become one of the most visited centres and attracts great international recognition. Exhibitions, concerts, dance and theatre performances, workshops, photo galleries etc. All artistic trends are exhibited here. Live concert recordings are common from major radio stations as it stage boasts one of the best acoustics for live concerts in the world. Don't miss the chance to visit it. A secret: go up to the building's rooftop, as sometimes there are events taking place there and if not, you will have a great view of Gran Via.
Skyline Castellana
Touch Madrid's sky in a green, fresh setting....as if you were in the jungle.
Watchmen of the city.
This corner of Madrid is very different. It is as if you had come up to a rooftop to watch over the city, as if you were in the heart of the forest, as if you had swapped the hustle and bustle of the city for the jungle..... This is what's on offer at Skyline Castellana, cutting the Madrid sky at avenida del General Perón, on the corner with Capitán Haya, just in front of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. From here you can admire the whole of the city's financial hub, the paseo de la Castellana, from up above. It was designed with the aim of disconnecting from the rhythm of work, so more than 100 metres of terrace space is built on an immense green area of trees and vegetation. Cocktail experts, they also provide a great menu for a refreshing culinary experience. If you are visiting the city and you wish to stop, eat and rest for a while, this is for you. If you have the choice, try to visit it in the afternoon before dusk so you can watch the sunset while savouring one of its delicious cocktails. You'll love it!
Restaurante Public
Conventional dishes seasoned with avant-garde sauces with innovative garnishes at affordable prices!
Recommended for all!
Public opens its doors to feed all: traditional Mediterranean cooking in the form of conventional dishes but offering innovative and unique options. It is located on calle Desengaño number 11. The actaul establishment itself is one of its major draws. This is a place which cares about every last detail in terms of interior décor and lighting and also offers affordable prices. It is the perfect place to sit and enjoy reasonably-priced traditional Madrid food with a touch of the avant-garde right in the city centre.
Chocolatería San Ginés
What could be better than a cold Sunday afternoon spent sipping a hot chocolate on the pleasant Pasadizo de San Ginés?
Chocolate with churros.
There's nothing more madrileño than hot chocolate and churros at San Ginés. This chocolatería is tucked away on Pasadizo de San Ginés, a passageway across from calle Arenal. It's easy to find, but if you don't manage to, ask: every resident of Madrid knows where it is. For years and years, madrileños have warmed up their winters with a good cup of hot chocolate and some local-style churros or porras. Inside, there is everyone from the executives taking an early and hearty breakfast ahead of a hard day at work, to the group of elderly ladies who get together every day for their afternoon chat. Ssshhh: a secret.... This place has a hidden life. As it hardly opens at night, it has become a place of pilgrimage for the city's night owls, so on the lower floors, breakfast is often mixed with beer and other drinks for those who haven't yet made it home. If you have what it takes, we suggest you finish your night out in Madrid here.
Casa Lucio
The most castizo restaurant is also the most popular! Don't leave without trying its huevos fritos, fried eggs.
A veritable gastronomic institution
In the heart of Madrid de los Austrias is a veritable gastronomic institution. The eatery is located on number 35 of la Cava Baja, very close to the Plaza Mayor. Open since 1974, it took over from the previous restaurant, El Segoviano, whose owners were Lucio's mentors. Since then, a mixture of extraordinary traditional cuisine and excellent service has transformed it into the capital's most popular restaurant. As well as its famous scrambled eggs, don't forget to try its cocido madrileño, especially during the cold weather (a stew made from chickpeas and lots of vegetables, meats and sausage). Delicious!
Ramón Freixa
Ramon Freixa creates luxury gastronomy with his exclusive and exquisite dishes.
Top ten.
At the forefront of nouveau cuisine, Ramon Freixa ranks as one of the world's greatest chefs. Focusing on the idea of haute cuisine and innovation, his restaurant has quickly become a mecca within this genre. It is located on calle Claudio Coello 67, in the heart of the Salamanca area and is a well designed place which pays great attention to detail. If you plan on treating yourself to some luxury, in this restaurant you will find unimaginable and unique dishes. Its cuisine varies depending on the time of year and the concerns of the chef, but it will never fail to impress. It also boasts a popular and extensive wine list so we recommend you request one of the waiters to pair up your wine and food; you can't go wrong.
Estado Puro
Fun, unusual and unseen tapas from the wonderful Roncero! Book a table!
Cooking with humour.
Estado Puro blends traditional cooking, haute cuisine and humour: there's a lot of humour on these walls. All the dishes have a common denominator: the tapas format; the most laidback way of eating in Madrid is presented here in all its forms and varieties. Using the facilities of the NH Hotel on the Plaza de Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, halfway up the Paseo del Prado and under the signature of Paco Roncero, it is one of the greatest exponents of avant-garde cuisine in the world, and its menu is livened up with amusing, colloquial language. The establishment itself is welcoming and original. The perfect destination for enjoying tapas and beers before continuing your city sightseeing.
Kabuki
If we add Mediterranean gastronomy to Japanese gastronomy, what do we get? Kabuki! What a fabulous result!
A burst of flavours
It is said that Madrid is a melting pot of all the cities and all the people of the world. Proof of this is Kabuki, a restaurant that fuses Japanese and Mediterranean gastronomy. Here you can enjoy typically Spanish meat and fish alongside sushi and other Japanese specialities. You won't have seen anything like this. Initially, the restaurant prepared dishes from each country but due to its success, they decided to merge the dishes which gave birth to kabuki cooking. And there was more success to follow: in a few years it became one of the city's most original and visited restaurants. It was so successful that they opened another one. You can find them on calle Velázquez, 6 and on Avenida del Presidente Carmona, 2. It's no cheap option, but it's certainly worth it.
Indian restaurants on calle Lavapiés
An explosion of cultures and Indian food in Madrid's oldest neighbourhood.
Gastro India at number 42.
Welcome to Lavapiés, the old part of the city known for the diversity of its people where it seems you can breathe new air. You will find a curious mixture of nationalities in typical corralas (typical Madrid houses with corridors and balconies that connect to the neighbourhood). If you're ever walking down from plaza de Jacinto Benavente towards Plaza de Lavapiés, cross over and you will happen upon restaurants from all over the world. On 42 calle Lavapiés itself, you will find Baisakhi Indian Restaurant. This restaurant has been around for many years and has become a great place in which to sample Indian gastronomy.
Chicote Museum
Unrivalled cocktails in an already historical establishment frequented by national and international stars.
If only walls could speak!
The Chicote Museum, located at number 12 Gran Vía takes its name from Perico Chicote, the famous barman who worked in the Ritz in 1916. Years later, in 1931, he opened Madrid's first cocktail bar. Since it opened, thanks to its owners social relations, it has been a reference on the Madrid cultural scene and a meeting place for stars from all over the world, from political figures such as Princess Soraya or Rainiero of Monaco to film stars such as Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Eva Gardner. Although Perico Chicote has always been associated with the Franco regime, in the 1980s, the famous movida madrileña had one of its operations centres here. Rumour has it that here important record deals were signed here with artists such as Alaska, Nacha Pop and Los Secretos and that their walls witnessed some of the heartbreaks of other stars such as Sabina or Manolo Tena.
Flamenco in Madrid!
If you're into flamenco, don't miss the world's most famous tablao: el Corral de la Morería.
Flamenco!
Between calle Bailén and the well known pradera de San Isidro is calle San Nicolás; on number 5 of this street you will find El Corral de la Morería. Some say it is the world's most famous Flamenco tablao. But one thing is for sure, if you want to dance or sing flamenco, you must come here: the leading dancers in the field come here to perform. Watching one of these shows is an unforgettable experience. We can make you two recommendations: make the most of this spot and have dinner while you watch the show and reserve your entry in advance as there is a fairly high demand (http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/reservas.html ). El Café de las Chinitas is another great place for flamenco in Madrid. It is found inside a spectacular seventeenth century palace on calle Torija, 7. Like a baptism, all the stars who have made a name in the world of flamenco have appeared here. Of course, the building is very famous for its décor; look at the Manila shawls on the stage.
Calle Martín de los Heros
Of course! Madrid's most cinephile street hosts Madrid's Walk of Fame.
Fancy some cinema?
Calle Martín de los Heros, in the heart of the Argüelles neighbourhood lies the cinema street. A few metres from the Plaza de España and the calle Princesa, you will find cinemas offering everything from the usual listings to independent films, original version films and more alternative short films. For this reason, in 2011 it was selected as the place in which to open Madrid's Walk of Fame. Along these pavements the first 25 stars dedicated to 25 icons of Spanish cinema were placed. Penélope Cruz, Fernando Fernán Gómez... Season after season, new tributes are added, helping to immortalise Spanish cinema and film-makers. Many people walk along here out of sheer curiosity, but many cinema buffs come to check out the listings or to browse in the nearby cinema-themed shops.
Live jazz
Jazz, blues, rock&roll, classical....any form of music is welcome in this city.
Music to your ears
Madrid is music. From classical concerts offered by the Teatro Real year after year (Plaza Isabel II, more commonly known as Plaza de Ópera) to the most alternative and avant-garde trends of in Malasaña, you will find a massive offering of live music. We will reveal to you some of the spots which will thrill you with their performances. Firstly, La Coquette: for many years this has been a blues and soul music institution in Madrid. Located on calle Hileras, 14, next to calle Arenal, it has nightly performances of American music. It's the ideal place to drink a beer while enjoying the concert. A few streets away on the Plaza de Santo Domingo is Soul Station. This club is open from Tuesday to Sunday and every day is dedicated to one particular style of music: soul, jazz, blues, rock&roll... It is customary to enter without asking as, if you're a fan of good music, you're bound to enjoy it. Finally, Café Central. It is one of the city's live music temples. All of Spain's top artists have performed here during their early days and you can normally find big names on the national scene giving small incognito gigs.
Lope de Vega Theatre
Applause resonates season after season in Madrid's famous theatre.
Broadway made in Spain.
This theatre is the centre of Broadway Madrid-style. For a few years now, this name has been applied to the part of Gran Vía that runs from the plaza de Callao to the Plaza de España where a wide range of musicals are on the agenda and the majority of the city's theatres are located. The Lope de Vega theatre occupies street numbers 53 to 59 of Madrid's famous street and is in fact a tribute to the homonymous former theatre that occupied the same location around 1850. The current building opened in 1949 and now it is Madrid's most emblematic theatre. As well as specialising in musicals, it also hosts premières, film screenings and first-class plays. If you want to make the most of your trip to Madrid and catch a musical, take a look at its schedule.
Terraces with views
Madrid from a height is infinitely beautiful and spectacular. Take note of three key points for this.
Bajo el cielo de Madrid, under the Madrid sky
You may have heard the world "bajo el cielo de Madrid", "under the Madrid sky". It is one of the city's charms and is one of the best ways to discover the city you're visiting. We propose three strategic points for you to rest and simply admire the landscape and the large city around you. In the popular and colourful neighbourhood of Lavapiés is a spot called Café Gaudeamus (calle Tribulete, 14): it has an amazing terrace on the fourth floor. From here you can see the cupola of the ancient Escuelas Church and the whole of the Lavapiés neighbourhood. It also charges affordable prices and the food is recommended. Switching neighbourhoods now, if you're in the Las Letras area, in plaza Santa Ana itself, you'll see the entrance to the hotel Penthouse ME: upstairs you'll find an ultra modern terrace where you can relax while sipping one of its delicious, imaginative cocktails. Finally, if you want to treat yourself, the restaurant located on the terrace hotel Urban (Carrera de San Jerónimo, 34) flaunts the best views of the city. This place has won many prizes for its location and cuisine.
Chueca, Gay District
Garish colours for the gayest area in Madrid. It has some of the best places to go out; why not check them out?
Gay pride
The Chueca area, next to Malasaña, is made up of the streets located between calle Fuencarral and Gran Vía. Its epicentre is the colourful plaza de Chueca itself which is the gay heart of the city with its flags hung up on practically every building. It is renowned for having the best places to hang out in the city. Although it is difficult to demonstrate, the entire neighbourhood enjoys a great atmosphere day and night. There are countless places to grab a snack. A few metres from the plaza, on calle Augusto Figueroa, you will find the Mercado de San Marcos, a new space to eat in Madrid with a fair few eateries inside, each one having a speciality and, if the weather is on your side, you can eat on the terrace upstairs. Of course, 28 June is Gay Pride Day, a major party in the area. During this period,the streets are brightly decked out, the neighbours take to the streets and the music blasts out until the wee hours. If you're there, don't miss it!
Taverns in the Las Letras neighbourhood
Unusual streets for Madrid's most literary area. Galdós would rewrite "La Fontana de Oro" (The Fountain of Gold).
The Golden Age
This neighbourhood harks back to the streets of Madrid during the Golden Age. From the plaza de Jacinto Benavente to the calle de la Cruz on one side from the paseio del Prado to the calle Atocha at the other end, this mesh of streets is possibly Madrid's most distinguished neighbourhood. Here lived Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Góngora and a large group of writers who, between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, belonged to the famous Golden Age of Spanish literature and the most important in international literature. Later on, from 1800 to 1900, these buildings were the stage of the novels of Benito Pérez Galdós: still open today is the Fontana de Oro (C/ Victoria, 1), the place which gave its name to one of his novels. While walking through these streets, look at the walls of the buildings and on the road as often chapters of stories are written on them for you to read. Calle Echegaray is full of taverns and establishments which preserve the décor of that era. At the end of the street you will see plaza de Santa Ana, one of the places with the best atmospheres in the city, both day and night.
Sundays at La Latina
Draft beers and Madrid's typical tapas wrapped up in the best atmosphere in the city any Sunday of the year.
Sundays on the terrace
We're introducing you to one of the most fun and authentic plans that Madrid has to offer. Every Sunday, the La Latina neighbourhood (behind the Plaza Mayor) is jam-packed with people the length and breadth of its streets occupying all the terraces of the area. A large number of these people come from the flea market that was on a few metres away on the Plaza del Cascorro (highly recommendable). Behind the hustle and bustle of this popular market, all visitors look for a spot to order traditional beers and Madrid-style tapas. So, they reach La Latina and this legendary neighbourhood becomes a popular hangout for madrileños. Groups of friends that haven't seen each other all week, couples strolling by, tourists. Everyone is here. Any terrace is perfect to sit, chat and indulge but let us give you a tip. If there is space, go up to the upper terrace of a bar called El Viajero (Plaza de la Cebada, 11). From this terrace you'll find a wonderful outside location from which to take in the Madrid skyline.
A night out in Malasaña
An inheritance of the Madrid movida movement, the nightlife in Madrid's most alternative neighbourhood is sure to impress.
The famous Vía Láctea!
Welcome to Madrid's most alternative neighbourhood! There is something for everyone on its streets. From the plaza Dos de Mayo, the neighbourhood's nerve centre, stem the calles Daoíz and Velarde which commemorate the uprisings of 1808. And from there, the calles San Vicente Ferrer, La Plama and the maze of narrow streets crowd together and play host to one of the areas with the most colourful and vibrant nightlife. You can still feel the atmosphere that the1980s and its movida madrileña left behind in this neighbourhood. Nowadays it is a mixture of urban cultures, but above all a mixture of music, a lot of music. At dusk, take a seat on one of the terraces on Dos de Mayo or the Plaza de San Illdefonso and enjoy a few beers and snacks. At night the area is swarming with people. All of the area's bars and pubs are exceedingly original and you'll never find two the same. But if you want to visit a legendary eighties establishment, La Vía Láctea (c/ Velarde, 18) is still open. This is a disco frequented by artists such as Alaska and Los Secretos that today is still a regular haunt for national artists.
Original souvenirs Madrid al Cubo
Whether you want a souvenir of Madrid or not, go in: you'll be amazed by the wealth of creative, fun and different ideas.
Original souvenirs.
Are you looking for an out-of-the-ordinary souvenir of Madrid? If that's the case, you should visit Madrid al Cubo (there are two of them, one on calle de la Cruz, 35, next to Puerta del Sol and the second, on calle Concha Espina, 1, next to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
Its gifts are based on typical Madrid items but in a more modern and fun way: the popular flamenco dancers, bullfighters, street sign replicas, the a miniature Puerta de Alcalá....but all with a Madrid twist. There is also a specialised section devoted to books on Madrid's history. Its fun designs have been greeted with such success that Madrid's own residents go shopping in these stores, and there are things that we just cannot explain, you need to see them with your own eyes!
Las Rozas Village
A visit to this mini shopping city deserves a whole day. Its ongoing sales mean that you won't leave empty-handed.
"A shopping city"
Las Rozas is a typical township on the outskirts of Madrid. A peaceful residential area close to the Madrid's mountains, located around 20 kilometres away from the city via the A-6 motorway. Here you will find Las Rozas Village, the giant shopping complex which has been imitating a nineteenth century city for over a decade and offers a wide range of shops, cinemas, terraces and restaurants. Although its only disadvantage is its distance from the city centre, visiting this shopping city is extremely easy. You can reach it in under minutes by bus 9625, 628 and 629 operate continuously from Moncloa station), by train (C8A, C8B, C10 from Atocha and C8A and C8B from Chamartin) or on a bus leaving from Plaza de España in the centre. Spend a whole day there or at least a full afternoon: you will find discounts of up to 70% off top brands all year round.
Serrano
Exclusivity, luxury and elegance abound in one of the Spanish capital's most expensive neighbourhoods.
The Madrid Golden Mile
In the early nineteenth century, the enormous growth of the capital brought about the need for the Ensanche, the Madrid expansion plan, in order to modernise the city. More specifically, the current Salamanca area was planned as the aristocratic quarter of the city where the more affluent classes of society went to live. And it continues to be this way. The calle Serrano is at the heart of the Salamanca area, known as Madrid's Golden Mile and forms other streets such as Juan Bravo, Jorge Juan and Príncipe de Vergara. The city's most exclusive fashion stores and the most expensive and elegant restaurants are found here and you're sure to spot a celebrity around these streets.
TriBall
What is the essence of Madrid? Its proximity, its neighbourhoods you don't want to leave.....TriBall fights for this essence.
As Spanish singer, Joaquin Sabinas sang "Pongamos que hablo de Madrid" (Let's just say I'm talking about Madrid).
We'll let you into a little secret about the city. As you surely already know, Madrid has always been considered a city of neighbourhoods, and despite being a large city, it has not lost its community vibe, its small shops and its streets where people gather and greet each other daily. Within this context, traders and neighbours of the historical area of Triángulo Ballesta have joined forces to create the Triball platform to encourage and preserve this atmosphere and essence that links Tribunal with Gran Vía and Corredera de San Pablo. It is one of Madrid's most popular, historical and eclectic neighbourhoods. The characters of writer Emilio Pérez Galdós have passed through these streets, and they have been the stage of songs by popular singer Joaquín Sabina. All this has been brought together on the Triball platform and we advise you to visit the website www.triballmadrid.com to find out about what's on in the neighbourhood as well as its unique offers. From clothes shops to secret concerts, all the secrets of the old neighbourhood are here!
Malasaña
Everyone is welcome in Malasaña, no matter where you're from and whatever makes you tick, there's something for everyone here.
Alternative, underground and young people's
The Malasaña neighbourhood is synonymous with alternative, underground, culture and youth: it is home to Madrid's counter-cultural scene. It was the centre for Madrid's movida movement in the 1980s-a cultural explosion that these streets and the plaza del Dos de Mayo witnessed (don't leave without visiting it)-, various musicians and artists of all types found fame in this neighbourhood. In the 1990s, the movida disappeared, but the culture remained. An assortment of bars, record shops, terraces and extravagant clothing stores all have a place here and are linked by culture and music. Also, at nightfall, the crowd from the plaza del Dos de Mayo finish dining and spill out onto the neighbourhood's streets. It is one of the main nightlife areas in the capital and has the best rock bars and pubs in Madrid.
Salesas
Here begins the Soho of Madrid: a strip of exclusive shops where the Marc Jacobs store reigns.
Take a breather...
Plaza de las Salesas is a small square behind the busy calle Génova, practically right next to the Plaza de Colón and the Paseo de la Castellana. However, this tree-filled square oozes calm and tranquillity. One of Madrid's most popular shopping routes starts here (the so-called Soho of Madrid) along calles de Conde de Xiquena, Argensola, Almirante, Bárbara de Braganza and Fernando VI. This area blends internationally renowned designer stores, little independent boutiques, souvenir shops and excellent cafés with historic terraces. And all of this with a sophisticated, exclusive vibe. You'll chance upon shops such as Nice Things (one of the most popular Spanish chains of recent times), See by Chloé, Paul&Joe, Hunter, American College, Marc by Marc Jacobs (which opened in 2008 in nº 2 Marqués de la Ensenada which resulted in people calling this area the Soho of Madrid).
Calle Fuencarral
A great vibe and two kilometres of the coolest shopping around.
The heart of the Malasaña area.
The calle Fuencarral is the backbone that links up Gran Vía with the Bilbao area and is also the heart of Malasaña, Madrid's most alternative and underground district. Since the 1980s it has become a symbol of suburban culture, combining the bar and disco area at night with the shoppingroute by day. The street may stretch to over 2 kilometres, but walking it is a must. From the Glorieta de Bilbao you will start to come across the major clothing stores mixed with original bars and terraces and retail clothing outlets that you've never seen before. This is Malasaña, a blend of small urban cultures. The street also links up the Chamberí and Chueca neighbourhoods, thus providing you with an eclectic mix of neighbourhoods. The second stretch of the street is pedestrianised and here you'll find the Mercado de Fuencarral, a small and alternative shopping centre. At the end of the street, Gran Vía awaits for you to continue your shopping itinerary.
El Rastro de Madrid
An appealing option for a sunny Sunday morning. Round off your purchases with cold beers on one of the nearby terraces.
A pleasant Sunday crowd.
The La Latina neighbourhood takes on a whole new look on Sunday mornings. From first thing, hundreds of stalls are set up along the plaza del Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores. The stallholders don't waste much time; shortly, this entire area and its intersecting avenue right up to the Ronda de Toledo will be packed out with a friendly crowd. This flea market has been operating since around 1740. It knew success right from the start, but now for many years it has become of the city's main attractions. As you walk, you'll come across stalls selling all sorts, but the fun doesn't end there. The surrounding bars and terraces heave with people, creating a great atmosphere and transforming the La Latina neighbourhood every Sunday into a hive of activity, with people thronging to buy beers and tapas to bring El Rastro to a close. Watching the sunset as you savour a beer in one of these streets is one of Madrid's sheer delights.
Matadero Madrid
This is one of the most important contemporary art centres in Europe.
Experience the new millennium.
Where once they cut up pigs, today it's a source of culture. At Matadero Madrid, situated at the foot of the remodelled Manzanares river, you will be amazed and will leave knowing more about yourself. It is already rated by some as one of the most important contemporary art centres in Europe. You can see an exhibition on recycling and expressiveness to a film on human isolation (for more information visit www.mataderomadrid.org). Las Naves del Teatro Español is one of its cornerstones with its cafe-theatre, its large stage area and a room for workshops and discussions. In Intermediae more alternative trends await and La Central de Diseño stands as a bulwark of the image as a product. For motion pictures you'll have the Cineteca, dedicated almost exclusively to non-fiction. Feeling peckish? No problem, as La Cantina serves delicious, healthy meals. Your eyes will wander to the early twentieth century industrial architecture, pure decadence and charm, that mixes with the most ground-breaking visual language, like the Nave de Música. La Casa del Lector (The Readers' House) is the last space to join this museum of the new millennium. Experimentation is heard, seen, touched.
La Casa Encendida
Not just for tourists, this is a cultural centre in every sense of the word.
The home of the avant-garde.
A few metres from the Museo Reina Sofía, you'll stumble across yet another great cultural centre, but this one is more geared towards young people and more alternative urban expression. La Casa Encendida is from the Obra Social de Caja Madrid (Caja Madrid Social Foundation) and is a great place to find out about the very latest in creation. Its agenda is structured around four pillars: culture, education, solidarity (the institution also has a fair trade shop) and the environment. So in one weekend, you can see a photography exhibition about ground-breaking Dutch artists, participate in a haiku workshop and attend a concert which mixes piano and electronic music. You can also visit the library, its multimedia studio, its radio and photography laboratories and cafeteria which pumps out jazz music and you can sink your teeth into their delicious cakes. Upstairs you have the rooftop, a space with an urban garden and seats where you can enjoy the fresh air and perhaps another activity. Children, of course, are more than welcome and there are many workshops on offer to educate them in a contemporary, prejudice-free setting. For more information visit www.lacasaencendida.es.
CaixaForum
If you're standing in front of it, take a look at your right: A vertical garden!
It is the former electrical station that supplied the centre of Madrid.
A century ago, coal was the raw material that filled the building. Today it is art and culture in general. La Central Eléctrica del Mediodía, which supplied electricity to the whole of the central area in the early twentieth century is located on Paseo del Prado and complements the area's cultural offering. Even before you enter you will be amazed by the brick architecture and the renovations performed by Herzog & de Meuron who eliminated the granite base and achieved an almost magical visual effect as the building appears to be floating above the floor. On the wall of the adjacent building is the famous vertical garden by Patrick Blanc, which houses 15,000 plants and 250 different species and survives without land, only with water. It is incredibly green. Inside the Caixa Forum you will find, covering 10,000 square metres, exhibition rooms, an auditorium, restaurant, shop etc. Its has an eclectic range of activities with art exhibitions going from strength to strength year after year, conferences, debates on current affairs, concerts, film festivals and educational workshops. On the first floor there is a lounge area from which you can observe the urban bustle.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The temporary exhibitions organised are perfect: you will leave satisfied with what you've seen, but not too tired.
Portraits and landscapes in the Art Triangle.
Pay special attention to the portraits and landscapes. Its international authors, absent from the Spanish museum scene since the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza opened in 1992, complement El Prado and the Reina Sofía, the other two centres in the Art Triangle. This private institution reflects the aesthetic tastes of the two barons who amassed such a fortune in paintings, Hans Thyssen-Bornemisza and Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. Here you'll hardly see virgin or Christs, but nearly a thousand works, including portraits, everyday scenes, still and abstractions which cover the Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism, Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism, American painting of the nineteenth century , experimental avant-garde of the early twentieth century and so on until the days of the Pop Art. Some of the most renowned artists who have a place in the Thyssen are Caravaggio, Rubens, Rothko, Klee, Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Freud, Kandinsky, Bacon, Hopper… A league of champions in the making. This museum collection joins that of Carmen Cervera, which focuses on Spanish art without forgetting the national quota and with a clear supporting axis in which you will lose yourself in remote places and celebrate the explosions of colour. For more information: www.museothyssen.org.
Museo Reina Sofía
One word will describe it: "avant garde". If you dress in red on the day you visit, you will blend in with its new building by Jean Nouvel.
Pure contemporary art
This is the home of Guernika by Picasso, an enormous canvas that displays all the horrors of the wars and has become a worldwide metaphor for pain. But the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (www.museoreinasofia.es) has so much to offer you in terms of contemporary art. In fact, some say it is the natural continuation of El Prado's collections. The Reina Sofía collection, part of the Art Triangle, starts with artists from the turn of the nineteenth-twentieth centuries , such as Zuloaga or Juan Gris. Then you will continue by learning about three great figures such as Picasso, Dalí and Miró and then figurative art from the mid-twentieth century and abstract from painters such as Oteiza and Chillida. There is also the foreign quota with works by Mark Rothko, Francis Bacon, Roy Lichtenstein and Kandinsky. Although it was inaugurated in 1990 in the neoclassical Hospital of San Carlos, in 2005 it expanded with its new red and avant-garde building by Jean Nouvel, which includes the library and the cafeteria where a new public square was opened. This tour, where painting and architecture unite, is so intense that when you complete it, you will probably feel like a refreshing, cold beer. You can do this on the historic patio next to the entrance. The best way to enjoy it.
Plaza de España
Get your camera ready! Pay homage to Cervantes with a photo next to the statues of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza.
Halfway between the Templo de Debod, Gran Vía and the Palacio Real.
It could be the downtown plaza of any American city, but it's not... The Plaza de España is located halfway between the Templo de Debod, Gran Vía and the Palacio Real. Can you see the two buildings which frame it and play at being skyscrapers? This was the attempt by Francisco Franco to give the Spanish capital a cosmopolitan appearance. One of them is the Edificio España, built in 1953 which has a neo-baroque aspect and bears resemblances to American structures. Although it has houses a hotel, offices and shops, it is currently empty and cannot be visited. The other is the Torre de Madrid, a svelte white building built in 1957 which is in use. Both iconic buildings are the work of Julián and José María Otamendi. Stroll among the trees of Plaza de España, cool off in its fountains and lie in the grass to rest between walks. The sunny days always attract big crowds and very often events are organised such as Gay Pride concerts or handicraft fairs. Guaranteed fun. In the middle stands a great monument honouring Cervantes which overlooks the statues of Don Quixote on the horse and Sancho Panza on a donkey. Take a fun photo with them.
Gran Vía
Madrid's heart beats stronger and faster on Gran Vía Shops, cafés, theatres and cinemas that never sleep.
The ultimate landmark
Singer Antonio Flores sang about this street: "llevas aquí casi toda la vida, Gran Vía, la gente te quiere todavía." (You've been here for almost a lifetime, Gran Vía, but still people love you.) And that's how it is. This street, which runs from Alcalá to Plaza de España, is Madrid's most emblematic street. It was built at the end of the nineteenth century in response to the widespread development taking place in the capital and it managed to relieve the busy city centre. It is now the city's main artery (followed by the Paseo de la Castellana). Along the street, particularly from the point where it meets calle Fuencarral and leaks onto Plaza de España, you will find one of the main shopping areas. On both sides, you'll see the main clothes chains. Don't forget to visit the perpendicular streets (for example, there are many shops along calle Montera). Setting off halfway down at plaza de Callao, here you can check out calle Preciados to Puerta del Sol, another of Madrid's more characterful shopping streets, or you can continue going down the recently dubbed Broadway of Madrid, the last stretch of Gran Vía.
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