The first point of the journey is Madrid Barajas Airport – the largest in the country. It is located almost 15 km from the central part of the metropolis. Usually international flights are received by Terminal 4, but if you are in the first or second, you will have to ride to the fourth for your luggage on a special free green bus.
Next, there are several ways to arrive in central Madrid:
In importance it is comparable to the Red Square in Russia. It is the starting point of tourist routes and all roads in Spain, and the zero kilometer is located here. The name translates as the gate of the sun. It is always crowded. The square is notable for:
Once you have your first impressions, turn your back on the building with the clock and turn left, taking the second intersection to find the capital's largest square.
The parade ground is framed by massive, ancient buildings. It is decorated with a royal statue on a horse. It is always noisy here, there are a lot of tourists, musicians, and artists. In early May, concerts are held there for a week. The first floors of the square and adjacent streets are occupied by restaurants where you can try jamon or sweet churros (sticks with chocolate fried in oil). By the way, one of the three tourist centers is located on it, where any information is available, a free map of the city. Address: Plaza Mayor, 27. Not far from the square, life is in full swing at the market ( Plaza de San Miguel ), which is worth a visit to snack on local delicacies and enjoy fruit.
The square is connected to the San Miguel market by Calle Mayor, one of the most popular streets in Madrid, which retains a special atmosphere. Pay attention to house 52, on the roof of which an angel crashed and the building at number 61, the narrowest in Madrid. The width of the house is only five meters. In addition to architectural delights, numerous cafes with local delicacies and souvenir shops attract attention. Head to the historic Plaza de la Ville. It is decorated with the ancient town hall and the Luhanes Tower. Once you've enjoyed the old-world spirit, continue down the stairs along Calle del Cordon to Segovia and the Royal Street.
Calle Baliente is closely connected with the lives of the ruling monarchs. The majestic Catedral de la Almudena hosted the royal couple's wedding. Admission is formally free, but they ask you to leave a euro as a donation. The cathedral is connected to the Royal Palace by a large square, which offers a beautiful panoramic view. You won't want to leave this place right away, so plan more time, deciding for yourself: to admire only the exterior or spend a couple of hours in the royal chambers.
To be fair, it is worth noting that Palacio Real, designed in Baroque and Rococo styles with elements of Eastern culture, is not the permanent residence of the royal couple. Monarchs come here for significant events or for ceremonial receptions; the rest of the time the palazzo is open to tourists.
Take note! On Wednesdays and in the last hour and a half before closing, the entrance to the palace is free, at other times the cost of the tour is 10 euros. The audio guide is paid separately. On the first floor, you will get acquainted with the large library, the armory with life-size figures of horsemen, and the pharmacological museum. Enjoy the frescoes as you climb the stairs. Three main places on the second floor that interest travelers:
After a walking, educational marathon, it’s nice to take a break in the parks near the palace, there are two of them: the clearly structured Sabatini Gardens (Jardines de Sabatini) and the more democratic Campo del Moro park with ponds, paths and peacocks. Or immediately go into the underground passage, which will lead strictly diagonally to Don Quixote and his faithful friend.
Piazza di Spagna is decorated with a monument to Cervantes with the above-mentioned figures of popular literary heroes. This is where Madrid's main shopping street, Gran Via, begins, where you can feel the rhythm of the modern city in the best possible way. Calle Gran Via, which translates as the big road, is where all transport routes intersect. Ancient buildings are replaced by skyscrapers. After admiring the shops and having a snack in a cafe, turn onto Alcala street through the beautiful Plaza de Cibeles, Paceo del Prado (note the Estacion de Atocha station, turned into a greenhouse inside), to Plaza de la Lealtad . Lealtad Square attracts the luxurious Ritz Hotel and the largest Prado Museum . Of course, you can’t walk around it in a few hours or a day, but you will get a general idea or just admire the building.
For reference: the museum has been operating since the 19th century, is considered the largest in the world, famous for its collections of works by Spanish, Italian, and Dutch painters. Closed for visitors on Mondays, on other days the last two hours before closing at 8 p.m. (three hours on Sundays) are free. The Spanish Hermitage is adjacent to the Museo Thyssen Bornemiza contemporary art gallery. Drop in to the restaurant near the gallery, where they serve special meatballs, potatoes with garlic sauce, marinated anchovies, and many other delicious things.
By the way, we recommend using the airport transfer such as Kiwitaxi.com from your hotel on your return trip because it will save you time and money.
It is convenient to go to the airport again from the Sol metro station, returning to Puerta del Sol.
If you have time and energy left, pay attention to two more attractions:
An entire city block is dedicated to it. It has cozy alleys of strawberry trees, fountains, ponds with boat rentals. Address: Plaza de Las Cortes, Principe de Verda or Ibiza metro station (line 9).
The most convenient way to get there is by tourist bus or metro on the blue line (10) to the station of the same name.
A trip on the double-decker Touristic Bus will make things much easier for lazy tourists who want to get to know Madrid in one day. They run along two routes (historical and modern city), intersecting with each other. Having bought a ticket for 24 hours, you can freely move around the city on them, choosing the place you like or take a sightseeing tour. It usually takes no more than one and a half hours. The cost of the Madrid Card, which includes discounts to more than 40 museums, is 47 Euros, Madrid Vision - for travel only - 16 Euros.
Madrid, even if you come to it for one day, will leave an unforgettable impression. It will captivate you with its unique atmosphere, magnificent architecture, and exquisite cuisine, so much so that you will want to return, get to know each other better, get to the suburbs: the Mills of Don Quixote and other interesting places.
