Hey travellers
Lets talk all things Madrid. Now Madrid is a big city. It's very busy and commercialised so having an idea of what you want to do and how to navigate the city is your best bet at avoiding the overwhelming portion of it.
Madrid is the capital of Spain and very business orientated. Locals go about their day and the city runs actively into each day with little pause.
The city in itself is modernized so as a visitor your focus is what lies within. Visiting museums and gardens are a highlight and there are a wide variety of them.
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Museums are relatively affordable to visit and you can spend a lot of time in them. Two key museums I visited were the Cerralbo museum, which was a museum of a historical mansion owned by the artist Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, Marquis of Cerralbo. A beautiful travel back in time to the highlights of luxury living in that time. A cheap entry fee of €3 and calm tourist spot makes it a must visit in Madrid.
Cerralbo Museum
The second museum was the Archaeological Museum. A collection of Spanish history along with international historical significance to tie it all together it is a unique experience and super informative. Purchasing your ticket online gets you a discount although entrance at the door is only €6.
Archaeological Museum
As for Madrids pristine gardens, Retiro Park is a popular choice which also holds the Cristal Palace, a beautiful structure of glass that used to be a green house. It is free to visit the palace and the park is huge so you can happily spend some time strolling around them.
Crystal Palace
The city is scattered with green spaces and eco integration. The Caixaforum is a sustainable green wall which in laymen's terms refers to a garden that grows vertically along a face and normally fed through a drip system and promotes sustainability. Alongside it is the cultural centre which often holds design focused exhibitions and is a magnificent building in its own essence and worth the visit.
CaixaForum
Another green space would be the Madrid Station, Puerta da Atocha. The station is beautiful from the outside but its character is the well sustained miniature botanical garden inside to raise ecological awareness and inspire eco friendly living. No need to pay and a quick visit would definitely be worth it.
Puerta da Atocha
The city is very diverse and unlike many other cultural hotspots, the citys attractions are located quite far from one another so determine areas and tackle them on a day to avoid overspending on transportation costs, although many buses charge only around €1.5 for a single trip.
A must see and iconic cultural aspect of Spanish culture is bullfighting. The largest bullfighting ring in Spain is located right here in Madrid! The Las Ventas Bullring is open for public visitations outside scheduled events including a museum and audio guided tour through the arena. An interesting visit although can be considered a harsh sport. You can purchase an online ticket here.
Las Ventas Bullring
located more to the West of Madrid you will find the more architectural highlights of the city and the tourist shopping hotspot. The Plaza Mayor is a square surrounded by an iconic red plaza full of restaurants, cafes and shops and a perfect way to spend an afternoon and grab your souvenirs. Don't purchase too hastily as there are many shops and they vary in pricing.
The Cathedral de la Almudena is a free entry church with beautiful tainted glass artworks and high ceilings. A perfect representation of Spanish and Christian religious architecture. Situated directly across from the cathedral you will find probably the most famous attraction in Madrid. The Royal Palace. A visit is mandatory but recommended to purchase tickets online due to its popularity. The palace is beautiful inside and guided tours are available. I purchased my ticket for a good price online but be prepared to wait in queues regardless whether you have a prebought ticket or get one at the door. The assurance with a ticket are potential discounts and entry guaranteed. I booked my online ticket to the Palace through Get Your Guide
Royal Palace of Madrid
The city is filled with markets. Unfortunately, I was not able to visit all of which I wanted to due to them being closed on the days I prepared to visit them. This is something to keep in mind. Although I was able to visit the San Miguel Food Market which is a great social market with loads of food stands and drink bars where you can try different local cuisine including churros! Although the supposed best churros can be bought at the Chocolatería San Ginés around the corner from the Plaza Mayor. For €5.50 you get 6 churros freshly made with a cup of hot chocolate! This is a 10/10 and I suggest to aim for an awkward visiting time to avoid the queue due to it being the tourist hotspot for authentic churros.
Madrid is a lively, modern and interesting city offering something for anyone's needs. Make sure to stop by and don't miss out on these Madrid highlights on your next trip!
Happy traveling,
Taz dx
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