"Spanish Capital" Madrid by el_ruso

Madrid Travel Guide: 5,306 reviews and 10,727 photos

Madrid has been the capital of Spain since the end of the XVI century.

Madrid is not that big. Yet it offers the energy and urban atmosphere of a large city. If you like cities, you will love it. If you like tranquility, chances are you won't, but you should still be able to enjoy its sights. The city has many pedestrianized streets, and especially on the weekends it seems the entire population is out walking around.

The main sites are the royal palace, the amazing archeology museum, the outstanding architecture o the city center. Near the royal palace there is a real Egyptian temple. The city has a truly wonderful city park El Retiro. There is a museum of Latin America (both pre-Columbian and Spanish) which is nice but again a bit underwhelming if you have been to similar museums in Latin America itself. If you can, take a 30 min trip to Manzanares to see a fantastic medieval castle.

РУССКИЙ

Мадрид - столица Испании с конца XVI в.

Сам по себе город небольшой, но он полон энергии и атмосферы мегаполиса. Если Вам нравятся большие города, Вы полюбите Мадрид. Если же Вы предпочитаете тишину и спокойствие, то скорее всего нет, но всё равно вы получите удовольствия от ознакомления с его достопримечательностями. В центре города много пешеходных улиц, и особенно по выходным кажется, что всё население выходит на прогулку.

Pros and Cons

Pros:energy, rhythm and urban atmosphere of a megapolis
Cons:energy, rhythm and urban atmosphere of a megapolis
In a nutshell:for the urban aficionados

Last visit to Madrid: Apr 2007
Intro Updated May 1, 2007
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Reviews (42)

Salamanca Shopping (1)

Area North and East of Parque El Retiro is where the upper classes reside. It is called Salamanca. (Do not confuse with... more travel advice

Madrid Streets - 5 of 5 Things to Do (32)

Walking in Madrid is a joy. Many streets in the center are pedestrian, and at night it seems the whole population is out... more travel advice

Madrid Streets - 4 of 5 Things to Do (32)

Walking in Madrid is a joy. Many streets in the center are pedestrian, and at night it seems the whole population is out... more travel advice

Madrid Streets - 3 of 5 Things to Do (32)

Walking in Madrid is a joy. Many streets in the center are pedestrian, and at night it seems the whole population is out... more travel advice

Comments (3)

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marielexoteria Nov 12, 2007 at 6:30 AM

I'm sorry you didn't have a good time in Madrid when it comes to eating, but your to do tips are quite good.
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atufft May 7, 2007 at 1:30 PM

Thanks for the frank information on dining, transportation, and lodging. The newer museums look great...
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trvlrtom Apr 30, 2007 at 4:36 PM

Wow! A VT who doesn't appreciate different dining hours, language on menus, and prices between countries. I've been to Spain many times, and love the food - as long as you don't always eat at cheap joints. Hope your future experiences in Spain are better