Madrid

What You Should Know More About Madrid

• Q. Travel Advice

  ·         Keep the touts at bay.

  ·         Do not entertain the beggars.

  ·         Make sure you do not travel alone in the night hours.

  ·         Ensure that you have had sufficient research before going to any new place.

  ·         Nudity is strictly prohibited.

  ·         If you are visiting a temple or a religious place, make sure you dress accordingly.

  ·         Do not flaunt your cash or valuables in the public place.

  ·         Always ensure that you book a room in an area that is known to you.

  ·         Avoid booking a hotel in any shady region.

  ·         Beware of thefts. Make sure you have kept all your cash and valuables safely.

  ·         Enquire about the room safe before booking a hotel.

  ·         Do not leave any of your valuables in the hotel room.

  ·         Do not get involved in any fight with anyone.

  ·         Make sure you double check the seal of the water bottle before buying.

  ·         Check the quality of the street food before ordering for it.

  ·         Do not let anyone deceive you.

  ·         Girls make sure you do not get over friendly with the locals here.

  ·         Learn some words from the local language prevalent in the region.

  ·         Do not book any cab or taxi without negotiating the fare for the same. 

• Q. Drinking Law

  The legal age for drinking in Madrid is 16 years. 

• Q. Our Recommendations: What you can’t afford to miss?

  Prado National Museum

  
  

  As featured in many of the travel magazines and journals of Spain, the Prado National Museum is regarded as the most important national art museum here. Some of the finest European art collections find their way to this museum which dates back to the early 12th century. You will find more than 7000 paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings in this place to see. Work by Velazquez, titled ‘Las Meninas’ is the most popular sightseeing wonder here.

  
  

  Retiro Park

  
  

  Neatly trimmed lawns and paved walkways are a highlight of this wonderful tourist place. Being one of the largest parks in Madrid, it became public only after the fall of the nineteenth century. Spread across a spacious 1.4 square kilometre, the park lies in close concurrence to the Prado museum. On a tour of the park, you will find plenty of sculptures and a peaceful lake, and a view of some of the most splendid galleries.

  
  

  Royal palace of Madrid

  
  

  Among the many places to see in Madrid is the premier attraction, the Royal palace of Madrid. You will be thrilled to explore the ambits of this palace, which is by far the largest in the entire European region. Even the interiors of the palace are worthy of notice as they boast of an extravagant form of art. Some of the finest collections from Velazquez, Francisco de Goya and the likes, have been put up on display here. Different levels within the palace will introduce you to the Grand staircase, the royal library, the royal pharmacy, the royal armoury, the royal chapel, private residences and much more.

  
  

  Museo Sorolla

  
  

  Sightseeing opportunities in Madrid will bring you to the renowned Museo Sorolla. Although lesser known and not as grand as its ancient counterparts, the museum hosts an excellent art collection of the artists form the post-impressionist period. Almost hidden between the rocks and cement of neighbouring buildings, this well maintained and furbished museum will take you back to the 20th century, with its extensive art displays. You can even shop at the dingy gift shop within the precincts.

  
  

  Palacio de Cibeles 

  
  

  Spend your holidays in Madrid, between a fun filled and extravagant adventure of this marble construction which is highly regarded and renowned in the city. There are four prominent buildings that together make up the complex, including the Bank of Spain, the Palacio de Buenavista, the Palacio de Linares and the Cybele Palace. The fountain in front of the buildings has gained an iconic image in the city. The fountains, commonly going by the name, ‘Paseo de Recoletos’, are named after a popular Phyygian goddess.

  
  

  Plaza Mayor

  
  

  Among the many tourist places in Madrid is this, a historic and ancient construction that offers scenic sights and photography opportunities. People find it fun simply to walk around the complex, taking in the views. 

• Q. What you will like there?

  Gazing the city’s best views

  
  

  Madrid is popular for its attractive views and architectural wonders, which you must take in during your tour to the city. It is said that the Madrid skyline is a wholesome view that you just can’t enough of at once. If you wish to enjoy the view, there is a rooftop at Circulo de Bella Artes, where you can see the city and its wonderful spaces in abundance.

  
  

  Visit to the El Rastro

  
  

  Hosted on every Sunday, this is like an event that witnesses a huge crowd. More than a dozen stalls are set up here, where vendors offer second hand clothes, vinyl records, jewellery and much more. The morning hours are best time to visit this hustling avenue. Some cafes and bistros also lined up the area where you can enjoy a meal.

  
  

  Spend an evening immersed in music

  
  

  Madrid is popular for its culture of live shows and music performances. There are many theatres in the city that offer an extravagant opportunity for you to take a dip in soulful music performances and live shows. What can be a better way to spend an evening in this city than to explore its long known arts!

  
  

  Take a candid click with the El Oso y el Madrono

  
  

  Madrid is famous for this meeting spot that brings together lost tourists and friends. The installation depicts a bear and a strawberry tree that goes as high as 4 metres. Since this is such a popular spot in the city, you will find plenty of tourists here, already taking the customary pictures.

  
  

  Enjoy a typical nightlife scene

  
  

  Nightlife in Madrid comes alive, especially at the Kapital, where party people and thumping music pump the mood in your system. Seven floors of sheer dancing, music and adventure awaits you at this place. There is no other way to enjoy the nightlife scene in the city more than this place.

  
  

  Try the popular local cuisines in the city

  
  

  Madrid is popular for its cocido and calamari sandwiches, a local cuisine that is relished by all tourists who come here. There are many shops and cafes in Madrid that serve this stew so well that you will find it hard to get over the flavours. The El Brillante café in Madrid is the most popular and happening place where you can relish the best calamari sandwiches. You’ll love the food here.

  
  

  Enjoy live concerts

  
  Madrid is popular as a partying spot and this is why you will find a number of venues that host the best concerts in town. There are endless options for venues in the city, where you can take your friends and family to enjoy some really happening live music. Some of the famous spots where you should definitely pay a visit are Palacio de los Deportes, La Riveria, and Palacio Vistalegre. These are the places that host some of the best live concerts and festivals such as the Dcode. Attending one of the many concerts held in Madrid indeed happens to be one of the most important things to do here.

• Q. Recommended reads for destination (govt. websites, travel forum articles)?

  Website: Official Website

  
  

• Q. When is the best time to visit Madrid?

  Madrid is the capital city of Spain and millions of people flock to the city every year. It is open to tourism the whole year, therefore there is no best time to visit Madrid. One can go to the city according to their convenience. The month wise break up for Madrid visitation is:

  March to June- The weather condition is pretty decent during this time as the country starts approaching summer. The tourism also begins to rise from April. One might find a crowd on some of the popular sites but it will not be that much that one gets demotivated to visit the sites. This the best time for people who cannot bear the harsh winters and want a somewhat quiet trip.

  July to October- Since the summer sets in during these months, the number of tourists visiting the city just shoots up. The weather conditions are the best during these months as one can enjoy the great monuments the city has. As many schools are also off during these months, the city gets really crowded at this time of the year.

  November to February- If one does not mind packing some warm clothes, then this is a good time for them to visit Madrid. The temperature falls during these months and so does tourism. This is the best time for people who want to complete their trip cheaply because one can get heavy discounts on almost everything during these months.

• Q. How to reach Madrid?

  Spain is a developed country and since Madrid is its capital, there is more than one way to reach the city. It is a very well connected city. The different ways by which one can reach Madrid are:

  • By Air- Airway is the most convenient and the fastest way to reach Madrid. Madrid has its own airport, Madrid Barajas International Airport. The heart of the city is 15 km away from the airport, so after landing at Madrid’s airport, one has to take a cab or drive themselves to their destination.
  • By Rail- This is the fastest way to reach Madrid if one does not want to spend a fortune on their journey. Madrid has two railway stations and very frequently trains travel to these stations. One can board a train from anywhere in the country to Madrid.
  • By Road- What better way to enjoy a vacation than a road trip? Spain is amazing country and one will be missing out on something really beautiful if they do not have a road trip here. Since the roads are also excellent here, it is very convenient for one to reach Madrid via roadway.

• Q. What are the things to do in Madrid?

  Spain, as a country, takes a lot of pride in their culture and the same is reflected in their capital, Madrid. Being the capital city of Spain, Madrid has some magnificent monuments which one can visit and there are numerous activities which one can do. Some of the activities are:

  • Sightseeing- Madrid has a very rich historical background and over the years some great monuments have been built in the city. It has some huge parks, the largest one is Casa de Campo, which has an area of 6.6 square miles. One can also see the architectural marvels and the skyscrapers in the city.
  • Adventure activities- Madrid has some really exciting adventure activities which cannot be done anywhere else in the world. The city has a lot of hills around it, making trekking one of the most famous activity here. One can also go for cave tours, kayaking, canyoning, paragliding, and the likes of Madrid.
  • Football- Madrid is the home city for two of the best football clubs in the whole world and their home stadiums are to die for. Santiago Bernabeu and Wanda Metropolitano are two majestic football grounds. One would be missing out on something great if they do not pay these places a visit.

• Q. What is the local food of Madrid? Which are the best places to taste this food?

  Spain is one of those countries which always comes in one’s mind when they think of good food. The people of Madrid love their meat and it is a no-brainer for someone who has had the local food of Madrid. Some of the typical and delicious local food of Madrid is Cocido Madrileno, Callos a la Madrilena, Churros con Chocolate. Places where one can have these lip-smacking food are:

  • La Mi Venta
  • Devour Madrid Food Tours
  • Mesol del Champinon
  • Madrid Chow

• Q. What is the best public transport to commute around Madrid?

  Public transport is an integral part of any city as the majority of the people in the city travel in them. Madrid is a very clean and developed city. The transport system here is very efficient. It has an excellent metro system which connects the whole city. It is the best mode of transport as one can reach their destination very quickly without any traffic that too at a really low price. Madrid has a very good bus system also and numerous buses run very frequently in the city, making it very convenient for the commuters. One can also hire a cab to commute around Madrid.

• Q. What is the local language in Madrid and which are the most commonly used greetings?

  Since Madrid is the capital of Spain, it reflects everything the country represents. It is a very diverse city but the most widely spoken language in Madrid is Spanish. Spanish is not only Madrid’s local language, it is also the national language of Spain. In fact, Spanish is such a popular dialect that the national language of many countries around the world is Spanish. Some of the common greetings in Spanish are:

  Hi- Hola

  Thank You- Gracias

  Welcome- Bienvenido

  Good morning- Buenos dias

• Q. Which are the best shopping places in Madrid and what are they famous for?

  Madrid can arguably be said to be the most fashion-forward city in Spain. The people of Madrid not only follow fashion, they generally set the fashion trend, at least in their country. There are many places where one go for shopping in Madrid, some of them are:

  • Gran Via- Gran Via is the grandest shopping mall of Spain. It has some of the best brands in the whole world and their collection of clothes here are to die for. Not only is Gran Via a house to some great brands, but it also boasts a very grand architecture. The mall looks like a palace from outside and is like heaven from inside.
  • Serrano- People can find normal shopping malls everywhere in Spain, which has outlets of some cool brands. But what is difficult to find is a luxury shopping mall. Serrano should not be visited by middle-class people. The products sold here are luxurious and very highly priced.
  • Mercado de Motores- Every place has a street market which sells products at very cheap prices, Mercado de Motores is that street market of Madrid. One can find everything in this market and the price of the product would not be that high, provided one knows how to bargain.

• Q. Which are the most visited historic monuments in Madrid?

  Spain has a great historical background and over the years several monuments and architectural wonders have been built here. Madrid, being the capital of Spain, has been the heart of these constructions. There are some magnificent monuments in Madrid which one can visit. Some of these monuments are:

  • Puerta del Sol
  • Parque de Templo de Debod
  • Royal Palace
  • Estacion de Atocha
  • Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

• Q. Which are the places to enjoy adventure activities in Madrid?

  Madrid can be said to be the adventure hub of Spain. There are so many adventure activities which a person can do here that one will get tired. Some of the adventure activities which can be done here are:

  • Trekking- Trekking is the most sought-after activity in Madrid. It is because Madrid is surrounded by some beautiful hills and hiking becomes very fun here. One gets to explore the nature in its purest form while trekking.
  • Kayaking- Kayaking is an activity where one is given a kayak boat and they have to row it through the currents and against the rapids of the river. It is a very fun activity but it is not advisable to people who do not know swimming.
  • Rock climbing- Rock climbing is very dangerous activity as one has to climb a rock without any external support. This is a very thrilling activity and one should definitely give it a try.

• Q. Where can I attend concerts in Madrid?

  Spaniards love their music and art. Their music is renowned all over the world. People from every country come to Spain to attend some of the amazing concerts held here. Madrid holds the maximum number of concerts in Spain and it is filled with places where these concerts can be held. Some of the places where one can go to attend these concerts are:

  • El Junco
  • Café La Palma
  • Sala Clamores
  • La Riviera
  • WiZink Center

• Q. Which are the famous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Madrid?

  Madrid is a very animal-friendly city. The people of Madrid love animals and many photographic enthusiasts visit the city every year, just capture the wildlife present around Madrid. in their camera. Some of the wildlife sanctuaries in Madrid are:

  • Safari Madrid
  • Grefa
  • El Rincon del Galgo

• Q. How is the nightlife in Madrid?

  Madrid is filled with people who love to enjoy. There several places here which are open at night and it also has some amazing lounges and bars. Since people from all over the world come to Madrid, all of them get out at night and explore the city. This, as a result, makes the nightlife of Madrid very happening. Some of the places to enjoy Madrid’s nightlife are:

  • Casa Patas
  • Kapital
  • Toni 2 Piano Bar
  • Sambhad Café Cocteleria

• Q. What are the famous destinations to witness the art and culture of Madrid?

  Spaniards are very artistic people and they love their art. They are very good at whichever art they work. Madrid has a very rich culture and this richness of culture and art of Madrid can be seen in:

  • National Museum of Decorative Arts
  • Lazaro Galdiano Museum
  • Paseo del Arte