Madrid Travel Guide | My Life Trips

Madrid

Information

Madrid is the capital of Spain and the largest municipality in both the Community of Madrid and Spain as a whole. The city has almost 3.2 million inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million which is only smaller only from London and Berlin. Madrid is the third largest city in European Union.

As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political, economic and cultural center of the country. Madrid is also home to two world famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Due to its economic output, high standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial center of Southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.

What To See...

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor is the most attractive square in Madrid. Here you will find many cafes and the statue of Philip III in the center. Surely one of the most beautiful places of the city that deserves a visit.

Madrid Royal Palace

The wonderful Royal Palace of Madrid, along with the Campo Del Moro Gardens, which are located in front of it, is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Built in the 18th century, the Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Royal family, which nowadays is used only for formal ceremonies.

Temple Of Debod

This strange Egyptian temple in the center of Madrid is one of the city’s most interesting sights. This authentic Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century was donated by the Egyptian government to Spain. The inside of the temple is closed to the public at the moment, but you can walk freely outdoors.

El Retiro Park

El Retiro Park is Madrid’s most famous park and surely one of the top attractions that you have to visit. In the center there is a huge lake, where you can rent a boat and relax. El Retiro is a very popular destination for locals and tourists who want to escape for a while from the city’s fast pace.

Plaza De Espana

From the most historic squares of Madrid, which is surrounded by impressive buildings and the huge stone statue of Cervantes.

Plaza De Toros De Las Ventas

Although we are against this silly tradition, where bulls suffering tortures and finally killed for entertainment, this arena, built in 1920, is one of Madrid’s most famous attractions.

Gran Via

Gran Via is Madrid’s famous shopping street, with luxury stores and some of the city’s most famous theaters to be found here. The Metropolis building, located at the beginning of Gran Via, will surely attract your attention, because it is a real architectural gem.

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Even those who have little to do with sport, will surely have heard about the ”Queen of Europe”, which is no other than the pride of the city, Real Madrid! The visit to Santiago Bernabeu, which is the home stadium of Real Madrid, was one of the most beautiful experiences we had on this trip and we strongly recommend you to visit it. During the visit, you will be able to see the numerous trophies of the club, that really provokes awe, as also the changing rooms and even strolling through the field, which some of the world’s most famous football players have played. The ticket costs 25 euros per person but it is definitely worth the visit, because it is a truly unique experience.

Palacio De Cibeles

Palacio De Cibeles is the most impressive building of the city in our opinion! This building is Madrid’s former post office and nowadays hosts exhibitions, events and a restaurant. Beautiful at all times of the day and especially at night!

Puerta Del Sol

From the most central points of Madrid and the starting point for your visit to the city’s main attractions. In this square, there are many shops, shopping malls and restaurants. Surely at some point you will pass from here to visit some of the above attractions.

Nearby Excursions

No doubt the best choice for a nearby excursion from the city of Madrid is the magnificent Toledo! An incredible city with enormous history and beautiful architecture. You can find detailed information about Toledo on our site if you want here. The train from Madrid to Toledo costs 24 euros per person roundtrip and lasts about 35 minutes.

What To Eat

In such a huge city like Madrid, it is impossible not to find some very good restaurants that serve traditional Spanish cuisine. One of the most famous restaurants in the city is Botin, which is the oldest restaurant in the world, according to world Guinness Book Of Records. To be honest, we are not the biggest fans of Spanish cuisine, and dishes like the famous Tapas have not impressed us at all and we consider them to be very expensive and overestimated. In many restaurants you will find the traditional Sangria, which was really incredible and we unreservedly recommend you to taste it, along with a variety of local cheeses and the tasty cold cuts produced in the region such as Jamon Iberico.

How to move

Madrid is one of the largest cities in Europe and definitely to see its main attractions, that mentioned above, you will need a car or means of transport, such as bus or metro, preferably. Certainly if you choose a hotel in the center of the city, it will help you a lot, and save you a lot of money and time. Several top attractions are located near Sol Metro Station, and we believe that this is one of the best starting points for your daily strolls in the city of Madrid. The Metro ticket costs 1.5 euros per person for one route and 6 euros for the ticket including the stop at Madrid Barajas International Airport, which is about 29 kilometers from the city center by car or taxi and 40 minutes by train.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Madrid is not very expensive, since the choices you have are endless, due to the enormous size of the city. Of course, depending on the budget of your trip, you can choose from a very affordable room that will start from 40-50 euros in the city center to more expensive hotels, that cost over 100 euros for a double room per night. You can make your reservations via Booking.com

Booking.com