The Heart of Madrid! and other Madrid, Spain Things to Do Tips

In Madrid, all roads seem to lead to the Puerta del Sol - or rather, they all start from there, as indicated by the KM 0 sign on the pavement. Because it is such a central location, Sol makes for a great meeting point and a nice place to start exploring the city. There isn't that much to do besides looking around and taking pictures, and yet the place is always teeming with people and activity, which makes for a fun atmosphere.

I think most people will agree that the nicest building around the Puerta del Sol is the "Casa de Correos", dating back to the 17th century. On New Year's Eve, Madrileños gather around the Casa de Correos with 12 grapes, which they eat as the building's clock chimes, thus turning the Puerta del Sol into Madrid's Times Square. Also, while you're there don't forget to look for the statue of "El Oso y El Madroño" (the bear and the strawberry tree), which is the symbol of the city of Madrid.

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Address: Old Madrid
Directions: Metro "Sol"

Plaza Mayor is another popular tourist spot in Madrid. It was built during the reigns of King Felipe II and his son King Felipe III, at the turn of the 17th century, when it was deemed that Plaza de la Villa, the former city square, had become too small for the city's growing population (Plaza de la Villa still exists, it is located nearby on Calle Mayor). Plaza Mayor served different puposes: on top of housing the city's public market, royal and religious celebrations were held in the square, as well as bullfights and public executions.

Today, public executions and bullfights have given way to street performers and all sorts of entertainment, ranging from Mexican mariachis to chair massages. Plaza Mayor is also home to the tourist office (at No. 27 Plaza Mayor), different souvenir shops, and several restaurants where tourists gather to enjoy a meal or a drink out on the sunny patios. Those interested in architecture won't want to miss the Panaderia, the oldest building (1590) of the Plaza Mayor. Out of the nine doors leading to the plaza, the most famous one is called the "Arco de Cuchilleros" and it leads down to La Latina.

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Phone: 91 588 29 06
Address: Old Madrid
Directions: Just down the street (Calle Mayor) from Puerta del Sol
Website: http://www.esmadrid.com
Other Contact: descubremadrid@munimadrid.es

As I mentioned in the introduction, I didn't know much about Madrid before I got there, but one thing I did know was that it was home to the famous Prado Museum. The Prado houses a collection of over a thousand classic European paintings, dating from the 12th to the 19th century. Spanish painters Velazquez and Goya are prominently featured in the museum, but the works of other painters and sculptors such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Botticelli and Raphael are also on display.

I have to admit that since I don't know all that much about classical and religious arts, the Prado wasn't necessarily my favorite museum in Madrid. I did however learn a lot, and by the end of my visit I was able to recognize many famous scenes, such as the rest on the flight to Egypt and Lot and his daughters. My favorite paintings included Las Meninas by Velazquez, The Three Graces by Rubens, and the rather haunting "black paintings" by Goya (unfortunately, as in most museums in Madrid, it was not possible to take pictures).

On a side note, we had lunch at the Cafe Prado, and without being anything too special, it was good and quite affordable. The museum is open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm every day (closed on Mondays). Admission: 6 Euros (free after 6:00 pm).

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Phone: 91 330 28 00
Address: Paseo del Prado
Directions: Metro "Atocha"
Website: http://www.museodelprado.es
Other Contact: museo.nacional@museodelprado.es

To think that the paintings displayed in this museum were actually part of a private collection is absolutely mind-blowing! Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza had a passion for the arts, and luckily for him he had enough money to sustain this passion. Starting in the 1920s, he began acquiring classical paintings, and upon his death in 1947, his youngest son Hans started adding to the collection, and his wife Carmen soon followed suit. The result is a stunning collection that covers eight centuries of European and American paintings, with examples from all the major artistic movements that have evolved throughout the years. Carmen Cervera (Miss Spain 1961) was instrumental in transferring the collection to Madrid. The museum opened in 1992, and a wing was added in 2004 to house the Thyssen-Bornemisza family's 1500 paintings.

I spent about 5 hours at the Thyssen but I could easily have spent more. The museum is organized in chronological order, which basically turns the visit into an art history lesson! Opening hours are 10:00 am to 7:00 pm every day (closed on Mondays). Admission: 6 Euros.

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Phone: 91 369 01 51
Address: No. 8, Paseo del Prado
Directions: Metro "Banco de España"
Website: http://www.museothyssen.org
Other Contact: mtb@museothyssen.org

Classical arts are very popular in Madrid, to the point where you might forget that some of Spain's most influential painters are actually from the 20th century! To immerse yourself in the world of Picasso, Dali, Miro & co., I highly recommend a visit to the Reina Sofia museum. I believe that even those who are not too familiar with modern arts will enjoy their visit. Again, this museum is organized in chronological order and according to the major movements that have shaped the arts over the course of the last 100 years or so, which makes for a nice progression towards the most modern and abstract pieces.

It took me about 4 hours to make it through the permanent collection. If you want to take a break and head out for lunch, there's a nice plaza surrounding the museum, and there's also a nice inner courtyard. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, open from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm on Sundays (and it's free!), and from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm the rest of the week. Admission: 6 Euros.

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Phone: 91 774 10 00
Address: No. 52, calle Santa Isabel
Directions: Metro Atocha
Website: http://www.museoreinasofia.es
Other Contact: direccion.mncars@cars.mcu.es

There are several parks in Madrid, but none are as famous or beloved as El Retiro. This park covers about 350 acres, and offers a nice mix of gardens, natural areas, monuments, and arts. Originally, the park surrounded a royal palace, a bit like the gardens at Versailles. However, the palace no longer exists, and the park has now become one of the city's most popular attractions, both for tourists and locals. While it is pleasant to get lost in the park's several trails, most of the action is usually concentrated around the large pond and monument to Alfonso XII. On more than one occasion I found myself drawn to one of the park's sunny patios towards the end of the afternoon to enjoy a glass of wine or beer to the sound of djembes and saxophones, watching people jog by or row around the pond. A nice, green refuge away from the city's noises and crowds.

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Directions: The main entrance is located near the Puerta de Alcala

...but he doesn't live there anymore so it is now open to the public. Madrid's Royal Palace was built during the 18th century with the idea of bringing to Spain the same sort of oppulence that existed at Versailles. The result was one of Western Europe's largest royal palaces, although the royal family divided its time between several palaces and usually ended up spending only a few months each year in Madrid. In 1962, the royal family moved to Zarzuela, using the Royal Palace only for official functions.

The visit of the palace gives access to the throne room, the king's private appartments, the very impressive dining room and porcelaine room, and the royal chapel, among other things (again, it was not allowed to take pictures inside the palace, sorry!). All the rooms are richly decorated (though I wouldn't say it is quite as nice as Versailles) and include a vast number of remarkable paintings by Goya, Velazquez, and other classical painters. It is also possible to visit the more or less interesting Real Farmacia, and the Real Armeria, which I found surprisingly impressive. Outside, the palace is beautifully surrounded by the Plaza del Oriente, the Sabatini Gardens, and the Campo del Moro.

Opening hours are from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (3:00 pm on Sundays). General admission: 8 Euros.

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Address: Calle Bailen
Directions: Metro Opera
Website: http://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/preal/preal.htm
Other Contact: info@patrimonionacional.es

Madrid's most important cathedral is surprisingly modern and perhaps this is part of the reason why locals in general are not overly fond of it. Although its construction began in 1879, it was only finished in 1993, in a style that is meant to reflect that of the Royal Palace that sits in front of it. The cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, Madrid's patron saint, and it is open to the public free of charge.

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Address: No. 10, Calle Bailen
Directions: In front of the Royal Palace, Metro Opera

In my opinion, the entire city of Madrid runs on very little sleep, but perhaps it is even more obvious along Gran Via, one of its most famous streets. With its hundreds of shops, restaurants, theatres and hotels, Gran Via's sidewalks are always full of people day and night, which gives it the atmosphere of a small Broadway street. The architecture of Gran Via is also strikingly different from that of the old city, thanks to the fact that most buildings date back to the same turn of the 20th century period (over 300 buildings were destroyed to make way for Gran Via).

The street begins at the corner of Calle de Alcala and ends at the Plaza de España, where you'll find a nice little park with a gigantic monument to Cervantes. Although Gran Via can be divided into three main sections, two main architerctural styles stand out in my opinion: starting at the corner of Calle de Alcala, it is easy to see that the first portion of the street was clearly inspired by 19th century Parisian architecture. In fact, French architects Jules and Raymond Fevrier designed the famous Metropolis building which sits at the very beginning of the street. But as you move towards Plaza de España, you can see that the style of the buildings gradually became influenced by the Chicago school of American architecture, giving way to the city's first high-rise buildings. No doubt you'll look like a tourist, but once you're done shopping, it's worth walking around and looking up to see all the beautiful architectural details that grace the buildings located all along Gran Via.

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Directions: Between Calle de Alcala and Plaza de España

Located in the Barrio de las Letras, Plaza Santa Ana is a good place to go for tapas and drinks. I much prefered the atmosphere there to the one in Plaza Mayor, being more casual and perhaps a bit less touristic (there actually were people speaking Spanish!). The connection between the Plaza and literature dates back to the 16th century, when both Cervantes and Lope de Vega lived in the area. The Plaza is also closely associated with American author Ernest Hemingway, who often stayed at the Hotel Reina Victoria and drank at the Cerveceria Alemana. Two statues commemorate Plaza Santa Ana's literary roots: one of Pedro Calderon de la Barca (the "Spanish Shakespeare") and one of Federico Garcia Lorca.

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Directions: In Old Madrid, a short walk away from Puerta del Sol