Paseo del Prado and other Madrid, Spain Things to Do Tips

Fancy a break from museum watching? Then Paseo del Prado might be for you. The street goes between the Botanical Gardens and the Cibeles Fountain. In the middle of the street there's a wide islet with benches, fountains (their water is NOT drinkable) and a small children's play park with swings. If you get hungry there's a Vips restaurant close by (read my separate tip about it) and there's kiosks that sell water and ice cream.

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Address: Paseo del Prado
Directions: Nearest metro stations: Atocha and Banco de España.

One of Madrid's famous art museums and part of the "Triangle of Culture" together with Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia museums. It's not as big as the Louvre but it has a good collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures, including an interesting exhibition of Middle Eastern carpets, pottery, paintings, etc.

Minus points for not allowing visitors to take pictures inside the museum, even without flash (although I found out after I took the last 2 pictures of this tip).

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Address: Paseo del Prado
Directions: Nearest metro stations: Atocha and Banco de España
Website: http://museoprado.mcu.es/home.html

Great place to relax while taking in the views of Casa de Campo. I could see as far as Parque de Atracciones, Almúdena Cathedral and the Royal Palace. Inside the cabin there's an audioguide (in Spanish only) that tells you where and what to see. Perfect after a day of walking.

Should hunger attack, there's a cafeteria where you can enjoy a good meal. There's also a souvenir store.

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Address: Casa de Campo

Madrid's science museum has permanent exhibitions in acoustics, optics, medicine and hygiene, astronomy, electricity and every day objects, among other things. Their collection of instruments and apparatus dates from the 16th century and forward and they've been donated to the museum by educational institutions.

This is where I first saw, and found out, that there's such a thing called "night dial" :)

Practical info: open Monday-Saturday 10am-2pm and 4pm-6pm, Sunday 10am-2:30pm, free admission. You leave your backpack at a locker at the entrance. Start by going upstairs and going clockwise, then go downstairs and walk clockwise to see all the exhibitions, as the guard kindly told me. All the information is written in Spanish but there's a general brochure in English available.

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Address: Paseo de las Delicias, 61
Directions: Nearest metro station: Delicias and Palos de la Frontera, nearest commuter train station: Delicias.
Same location as the Railroad Museum.
Website: www.mec.es/mnct/museo.html (only in Spanish)

Train lovers lookie here! The Railroad Museum includes exhibitions of steam, electric and diesel trains and wagons. They have 4 rooms featuring infrastructure and models of foreign and Spanish trains. Unfortunately we didn't have time to enter but it sounds like fun!

Practical info: open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-3pm, closed in August. Entrance fee 4€, free on Saturdays.

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Address: Paseo de las Delicias, 61
Directions: Nearest metro station: Delicias and Palos de la Frontera, nearest commuter train station: Delicias.
Same location as the Science Museum.
Website: www.museodelferrocarril.org (only in Spanish)

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the royal Spanish family although they don't live there and was built over a fortress that burned down in 1734. It's big and quite impressive from the outside. When we were there it was already closed for the public so I'll add getting into the palace on my next visit.

It can be seen from the Madrid Railway :)

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Address: c/Bailén s/n
Directions: Nearest metro station: Opera, nearest commuter train station: Príncipe Pío. The main entrance is in front of Almúdena Cathedral.

Madrid is a "green" city with a lot of parks and gardens to contrast their jungle of concrete and cement. Plaza de Oriente is a small but beautiful green oasis in front of (or behind?) the Royal Palace and close to the Almúdena Cathedral. It was built to put some distance between the royal family and any possible street disturbances. Nowadays it's one place to take a break from walking while enjoying the scenery of 2 beautiful buildings, or perhaps to have a picnic. One of the most picturesque people I saw there was a woman with one of these old cameras. We wanted to ask how much it would cost to have our picture taken but she was packing to go home.

Beware of some women offering foot massages and other street sellers.

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Address: Between Royal Palace and Opera House
Directions: Nearest metro station: Ópera.

On a circle on the intersection of Alcalá street and Paseo del Prado you'll find the Cibeles Fountain. This sculpture was built by the Spanish architect Ventura Rodríguez and was installed in 1782. The sculpture represents Cibeles, the Phrygian goddess of fertility and agriculture, on a lion-pulled chariot. She holds a scepter and the keys to the city. Today the fountain is the traditional meeting point for fans and the football players of Real Madrid when they celebrate their winnings.

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Address: Where Alcala street crosses Paseo del Prado
Directions: Walking distance from Prado Museum. Nearest metro station: Banco de España.

Now let's walk away from Paseo del Prado and Cibeles Square and we'll find the Alcalá Gate. This gate was constructed under the kingdom of Carlos III because he wanted a monumental gate on the road from Madrid to the nearby city Alcalá de Henares and replaces an old brick made and more humble gate. The design was by Francesco Sabatini and it was inaugurated in 1778. The gate has some statues on top, representing 4 cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude.

One curious piece of information about this Gate: Spanish singers Víctor Manuel and Ana Belén recorded a song called "La Puerta de Alcalá" in 1986, composed by Bernardo Fuster and Luis Mendo. This song became a popular hit.

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Address: Alcalá street
Directions: Walking distance from Cibeles Square.

Walking away from Cibeles Square and towards the Atocha-Renfe station, you'll see another sculpture in a fountain. This one is called Fuente de Neptuno (Neptune Fountain) and portrays Neptune, the god of the sea, standing on a chariot pulled by horses and surrounded by dolphins. He has a trident on one hand and a snake entangled on the other arm. This fountain is the place where Atlético de Madrid fans and football players meet to celebrate their victories.

Beware of the pickpockets in this area.

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Address: Paseo del Prado
Directions: Close to the Ritz hotel and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum.