Tourism in Madrid

The cultural and tourist offer of Madrid is wide and varied. The following are just a few of the numerous monuments and places of interest you can find in the city:

  • El Prado, MadridEl Prado Museum: ocated in Ruiz de Alarcón street 23, in the so-called Paseo del Prado, it houses art works from the main European artists between the 16th and the 21st century. The halls dedicated to the Spanish paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries, with works from Velázquez, Goya or Murillo are particularly interesting.
  • Reina Sofia, MadridReina Sofía Museum in Santa Isabel street number 52, it exhibits paintings from the 20th and 21st centuries. We might highlight the works of Dalí and Picasso (El Guernica).
  • Thyssen Bornemisza, MadridThyssen Bornemisza Museum: art gallery with ancient paintings and art works from the 20th century. It is located in Paseo del Prado number 8 and includes masterpieces from El Greco, Jan Van Eick and Durero, among others.
  • Puerta del Sol, MadridPuerta del Sol one of the most visited squares of the city, with the Clock House and the emblematic statue of the bear and the strawberry tree.
  • La Almudena, MadridLa Almudena Cathedral: : located near the Royal Palace, it is the Episcopal see of the Archdiocese of Madrid. It is a Catholic temple with a neoclassical façade and a Neo-Gothic interior.
  • Palacio Real, MadridThe Royal Palace: Cathedral: also known as Palacio de Oriente (The Palace of the East), it is the official place of residence of the Spanish monarchy, although currently it is used to celebrate ceremonies, receptions and official acts, as the Kings of Spain live in the Zarzuela Palace. You can visit the halls, the royal armoury, the magnificent gardens…
  • Plaza Mayor, MadridPlaza Mayor (Main Square): at very short distance from the Puerta del Sol and the Royal Palace, the Main Square was designed by Juan de Herrera and Juan Gómez de Mora. In the centre, we will find the statue of Felipe III; the Casa de la Panadería (The Bakery House), the oldest building of the square; and the Arco de Cuchilleros (The Cutler Arch), one of the most important gates of the square.
  • Retiro, MadridEl Retiro: it is the most famous park of Madrid. There you can find a wide variety of shows: puppets, musicians, theatre… It houses an artificial pond with small boats for rent, the so-called “statue walk” with sculptures of the kings of Spain, the impressive monument to Alfonso XII… and much more.

Shopping:

  • Rastro, MadridEl Rastro: it is a street market which takes place every Sunday in the well-known district of La Latina. There you can find books, paintings, antiques, clothes and everything you can imagine…
  • Salamanca, MadridBarrio de Salamanca, Velázquez and Goya: these are the appropriate areas to go if you are looking for big firms.
  • Gran Vía, MadridGran Vía, Preciados and Princesa: these are commercial streets with numerous shops.