Write-up by AJ Yeakel

The following manual to Madrid I assembled although dwelling and studying in the metropolis. This guide should be beneficial to first-time website visitors to the metropolis, as it provides a short overview of Madrid’s significant tourist internet sites.

Must See Web sites

-Puerta del Sol/ Plaza Mayor/ Calle Gran Via:

Puerta del Sol is actually in the middle of the metropolis, and this location serves as the hub of tourist activity. There is a main plaza, touristy stores, and a lot of restaurants and bars. From the principal plaza you can stroll to Plaza Mayor, which is another big plaza surrounded by outdoor cafes and crammed with street performers and vacationers. Narrow cobblestone streets surround Plaza Mayor, and they are cool to test out. Plaza mayor is most likely the most “touristy” location to go in the metropolis and is a good spot to start your go to to Madrid.

On the other side of Puerta del Sol are some other newer buying streets which have been blocked off to visitors. If you walk via these streets, you will come to Gran Via, 1 of the greatest purchasing streets in the metropolis. Gran Through has a excellent assortment of department retailers and chain dining establishments, alongside strip clubs and intercourse stores. Gran Through is the most lively road in the metropolis and is well worth checking out.

-Reina Sofia artwork museum/ Prado artwork museum:

The Reina Sofia is the much more intriguing of the two museums in my opinion, as it homes operates from Picasso, Dali, and some other wild artists. Except if you are an artwork fanatic, you can do the complete museum in less than two hours and really feel like you have witnessed every thing. The museum is free on Saturdays.

The Prado is the older and a lot more renowned of the two museums. It is mainly filled with classical Spanish paintings, but you can also discover Rembrandts and Renaissance performs in the museum. The Prado is totally free on Sundays.

These museums are a short walk from each and every other and it would be easy to do both in one particular day.

If artwork is your factor, you can also examine out the Thyssen and the Sarollo museum, the two of which I’ve heard are fairly great.

-Parque Retiro:

Retiro is a huge park completed in the French model, and it is basically the Central Park of Madrid. When the weather conditions is very good, the park fills with individuals, and you can locate the younger folks by the huge statue of a man on a horse. The crowd here is fairly bohemian, and you’ll likely uncover a drum circle around the statue, particularly if you arrive on Sunday afternoon. As prolonged as the weather’s good, there is often a large group in this location kicking all around the soccer ball, juggling, smoking hash, etc.

-Palacio Genuine:

Palacio Genuine employed to be the royal palace of Spain, and it is now used only for government capabilities. The façade of the creating is extraordinary and the interior is wonderful as well. If you have done Versaille before, you can skip the tour of the palace, since they are really equivalent. Subsequent to Palacio True is a enormous cathedral that you can peek into for free.

-El Rastro Flea Marketplace:

El Rastro is a massive flea industry at metro cease La Latina. It is very best on Sundays. Right here you can purchase low cost souvenirs and other junk (absolutely nothing of any high quality). The cafes in this area are quite nice and a very good location to go to escape the crowds of the flea marketplace.

-Barrio Salamanca:

The Salamanca district is the nicest residential and commercial region in the town. Here you are going to find upscale eating places and all the stores you would find on Rodeo Drive. This area is effortlessly accessible by metro stops Velasquez and Serrano.

About the Writer

click on right here for a no cost listing of much more intriguing points to do in Madrid, and an overview of the Madrid nightlife.