Madrid is a beautiful city, full of special places, good weather and good food, nice and you want to return there. I want to recommend my favorite spots, what you should not miss in Madrid.

1. Spectacular views.

– Roof of Circulo de Bellas Artes.

Here you can enjoy one of the best views of Madrid from the roof of Circulo de Bellas Artes. The best time to visit this place is at sunset.
Calle Marques de Casa Riera
Metro: Banco
Price: € 4,-

If you want to know more, you can read the article I wrote: “From Madrid to Heaven”

– View of the Gran Vía.
From here you have the best view of the Gran Vía, the main central street in the center of Madrid. Other parts of the city you can see from here. It is located on the top floor of El Corte Ingles (large department store), there are also several eateries. Located on Calle del Carmen, between Puerta del Sol and Plaza de Callao. El Corte Ingles has several offices in this area, be aware that you take the right one. Go to the window and terrace. A perfect time to visit is when at night the lamps start to burn.
Calle del Carmen
Metro: Callao
Admission: Free

2. Walk around the “barrio de los Austria” (Austrian neighborhood).

It’s not a real neighborhood, but describes himself as primitive medieval piece Madrid initiated by the Austrian Court. It is the most monumental piece in the city. I like to go:

– Plaza Mayor.
It houses the Office of Tourism. It is full of terraces, very touristy. Around the square in the surrounding streets are many bars. You can go eat calamari sandwich, typical and delicious.
Metro: Sol

– Royal Palace, the Sabatini Gardens.
You can go inside to see it, but the view from outside is spectacular.
Free: Monday to Thursday 16:00-18:00 (October to March)
Monday to Thursday 18:00-20:00 (April-September).
Admission is free for the citizens of the European Union. You must show your passport, identity card or driving license.
Metro: Opera

– Opera Square.

– Walk around the streets of the old city of Madrid.

– Mercado de San Miguel
Metro: Sol

3. Going for tapas in Madrid Markets

– Mercado de San Miguel.
It is an ancient market, beautiful, quite touristy and expensive, but delicious and special dishes.
mercadodesanmiguel.es
Plaza de San Miguel, s/n
Next to Plaza Mayor.
Metro: Sol

– Mercado de San Antón
Here’s the full Madrileños. Modern. To eat, drink and buy food.
mercadodesanantón.com
Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 24
Metro: Chueca

For more information you can read the article I wrote: “The Saints markets of Madrid”

– “El restaurante vegetariano”
A good place to eat (not tapas) is near “Malasaña” a bohemian neighborhood, multicultural, full of small neighborhood shops and bars.
Vegetarian restaurant, small, good quality.
Menu: € 10,-. Starter, main course, bread, drink and dessert or coffee is included in the price.
http://elrestaurantevegetariano.com
Calle del Marqués de Santa Ana, 34
Metro: Tribunal

4. Sunday in La Latina, El Rastro

El Rastro is a big market where you can find everything, including very good street musicians. It began in the eighteenth century and is known as one of the largest markets in Europe where you can find a lot of curiosities. The market is open on Sunday mornings.
Close this visit with tasty tapas in the traditional district of Madrid, La Latina (next to the Rastro). It is here full of bars, around the Plaza de la Cebada and the Plaza de la Paja. I usually go to the “Almendro” in the street Almendro.
Metro: Latina

5. The most beautiful park of the city “el Retiro”

Retiro. The gardens have their origins in the seventeenth century, they were used for the recreation of the court of Philip IV. They say the children of the king got bells to find them in this huge garden.
It is now a beautiful park, the heart of the city where everyone can relax and enjoy where you can sport, watch exhibitions, rowing and of course walking. It is an important place for the locals. You should definitely visit the Glass Palace, it’s like a fairy tale.
Metro: Retiro

6. Matadero de Madrid

Interdisciplinary creative center that focuses on the production, distribution and training in the cultural sector. It is a modern center of culture, exhibitions, theater, cinema, library. The building combines the modern with its previous position, slaughterhouse. Only to see the building is already worth. You eat well, it is nice and not expensive.
mataderomadrid.org
Plaza de Legazpi 8
Metro: Legazpi
More in my blog: “The Matadero Madrid, center contemporary creations”

Madrid Rio. Next to the park is the Matadero Madrid Rio, quite large, built around the Manzanares River, especially for recreation and sport. You can rent bicycles. BajaBikes.eu

7. Museums

At the Paseo del Prado, a large tree-lined boulevard, are four of the most important museums in Madrid.

– Museo del Prado.
One of the most important museums worldwide.
Do not miss the works of El Bosco (Hieronymus Bosch), his “Garden of Delights” and the works of Goya.
www.museodelprado.es
Free entry: Tuesday to Saturday 18:00-20:00
Sunday and holidays 17:00-20:00
These two hours are perfect to visit the museum with children.

– CaixaForum Madrid. Vertical garden.
Special vertical garden placed on the facade of a nearby building.
Paseo del Prado, 36
Metro: Atocha

– Reina Sofia Museum.
Museum of Contemporary Art. There is the “Guernica” by Picasso.
Do not miss the new terrace, with a modern and spectacular architecture.
museoreinasofia.es
Calle de Santa Isabel, 52
Metro: Atocha
Free admission: Monday from 19.00 to 21:00
Wednesday and Saturday from 19.00 to 21:00
Sunday 13:30 -19:00

– Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
The world’s largest private collection. With top pieces. There are usually very interesting temporary exhibitions.
museothyssen.org
Paseo del Prado, 8
Metro: Banco

8. Shopping in Madrid

A.- Calle Preciado. Best known. Especially clothing stores.
Take a break and eat ”croquetas” in one of the oldest bars of Madrid. Lovely.
Casa Labra.
Calle Tetuan, 12 (near the Puerta del Sol)
www.casalabra.es

B.- Fuencarral. Very nice, with smaller stores

C.- Calle Serrano. Designer shops and brands.

D. Hema in Madrid.
There are already two locations. The products and the design is typical Hema. When I was there I imagined myself in the Netherlands, but the cashier spoke perfect Spanish ….
Calle de Orense, 15
Metro Bernabeu
Calle Fuencarral, 140
Metro Tribunal

9. Sunset at the Temple of Debod

Unbelievable, but in the center of the town is an Egyptian temple from the fourth century BC. This temple was brought stone by stone from Egypt to Spain as a gift for helping to protect the temples of Nubia after the establishment of the Aswan dam.
It is positioned so that the sun is on the back side. This is the best time to visit it.
Calle Ferraz 1
Very close to the Plaza de España, in the Parque de la Montaña.
Metro: Plaza of Spain

If you do visit each neighborhood, you can see everything in a short time. Most of the above written can be done on foot from the center (Puerta del Sol, “zero kilometer”). The metro is also good to get anywhere quickly. Then buy a bonus card of 10 trips, you can use it with more than one person and is much cheaper.

Madrid is worth to visit. It is a modern, pleasant and unexpected beautiful city!!! Already in the eighteenth century it was said “from Madrid to Heaven”.

Photos: Ángeles Nieto