Top things to do in Madrid
Madrilenos, Madrid’s locals, sometimes disagree about the Spanish capital’s top attractions. From the Prado Museum’s masterpieces to the bric-a-brac of the El Rastro flea market, there is just about something for everyone staying in Madrid hotels.
The Prado Museum is usually high on the itineraries of those staying in hotels in Madrid, and the museum is one of the city’s most visited attractions. Its collection of European art, one of the finest of its kinds in the world and comparable to that housed in the Louvre, is based on the former Spanish Royal Collection.
Located on the Paseo del Prado and part of the so-called Golden Triangle of Art, the Prado Museum houses masterpieces including The Annunciation by Fra Angelico, Christ washing the Disciples’ Feet by Tintoretto and The Descent from the Cross by Rogier van der Weyden.
Visitors needn’t worry about the size of the collection – depending on how much time you have, devised routes encompassing either 15, 30 or 50 works can be followed, all of which take in what are considered the museum’s most important works.
The Paseo del Prado is something of an attraction in its own right. Used as a landmark and meeting place by locals, the tree-lined boulevard accommodates some of Madrid’s most important cultural and tourist institutions. In addition to the Prado Museum, these include the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum.
The former of these houses a broad range of art works from the 13th to the late 20th century, encompassing the celebrated Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo Romanticism and Pop Art periods. The latter is Spain’s national museum of 20th century art and includes pieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
If you book a stay in a Madrid hotel during the summer winter, chances are you’ll want to spend as much time sampling the city’s culture as you do basking in the famous Spanish sunshine. This isn’t always easy in cities containing millions of people, but this isn’t the case in Madrid. The Spanish capital’s most popular park, Parque del Retiro – which translates as Park of the Pleasant Retreat – is an ideal spot to catch a cool breeze and escape the hustle and bustle of the city streets.
The 320-acre park is located just a stone’s throw from the Prado Museum, and its highlights include the Retiro Pond at the park’s northern entrance and the Rosaleda rose garden. A few remaining buildings of the Buen Retiro Palace survive, including Cason del Buen Retiro and the Museo del Ejercito, both of which now house museum collections.
After cooling off in the park, many visitors to Madrid like to indulge in a spot of retail therapy Spanish style, and one of the best places to do this is the Gran Via. The lively street, which has grown to become one of the city’s busiest shopping areas, is as well-loved by architecture enthusiasts as it is by shoppers. Tourists can often be seen gazing up at the splendidly-decorated ‘edificios’ above them, which are considered a showcase of early 20th century architecture thanks to the Art Deco, Vienna Secession, Plateresque and Neo-Mudejar styles that can be seen.
The more retail-minded can explore the Gran Via’s many shopping malls, some of which are housed in old theatres. This boulevard has been used as a centre for shopping since the 1920s. The street is also home to the Telefonica Building, Madrid’s first skyscraper and a building inspired by American architecture. It is now home to the Telefonica’s flagship store.
Madrid’s other shopping highlight is arguably the El Rastro flea market, the largest outdoor market of its kind in Europe. Located in the city centre between Plaza Mayor, La Latina and Puerta de Toledo, the market takes place every Sunday through the winding streets of the Spanish capital’s oldest residential area.
Pretty much anything is available at the market, and visitors are often drawn to El Rastro as it is one of the best places in Madrid to mingle with the locals. While not formally organised, the general rule of thumb is that clothing stalls are located at the top of the hill, the streets to the west house arts and handicrafts and the narrow alleyways to the east sell antiques and second-hand goods. At the base of hill those staying in Madrid’s hotels can expect to find anything ranging from books to electrical goods. It’s always fun to have a go at haggling, but some stall owners will be pretty reluctant to budge from their prices.
A morning at El Rastro is perfectly complimented by visit to La Latina, one of Madrid’s oldest neighbourhoods. Widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to discover traditional Spanish tapas, La Latina is also popular among Madrid’s 30-somethings for a more upmarket evening out. One of the quainter parts of Madrid, La Latina is also home to some pretty churches and plazas, and is an excellent place for visitors to explore. Some of the best tapas bars can be found on Cava Baja and Cava Alta, while the Iglesia de San Andres and the Iglesia de San Francisco el Grande are among the best churches to visit.
Madrid is as famous for its entertainment as it is for its attractions. One of the most well-known Spanish pastimes is bullfighting, and the city’s largest bullring is the Plaza de Toros. When bullfighting is not taking place, the venue can be explored by members of the public, who also have access to a museum dedicated to the sport.
Widely regarded as the most Spanish of Spain’s cities, Madrid has plethora of art galleries, restaurants and nightlife options to take advantage of, all of which boost its reputation as one of Europe’s most open and welcoming capitals. In addition to its attractions, Madrid has a wealth of cultural offerings to experience, from bullfighting to flamenco shows. Why not see what all the fuss is about and book a stay in Madrid now?
