Madrid is a city full of possibilities, which offers a wide variety of cultural and leisure activities. Ideal to spend a long weekend, the Spanish capital is full of bars, monuments and streets perfect for walking and getting to know the city in depth. In this sense, a good way to get to know the city can be by doing a free tour in Madrid with Guruwalk. Next, we propose the top 10 essential things to do in Madrid, one of the most charming cities in Spain.
The Art Walk
El Paseo del Arte stretches for a kilometer in length where the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum are located. Thus, if you want to visit all of them, it is possible to purchase the Paseo del Arte Card that includes entry to all three. 2019 is also a special date to visit the Prado Museum since this year it is celebrating its bicentennial. There are also other museums like the Museo de Cera or the archaeological museum that is worth visiting.
The Retiro Park
You will not be able to say that you have known Madrid if you do not go to the Retiro Park. Considered the green lung of the city, the Retiro Park is made up of 118 hectares where you can walk, take a boat ride or have a picnic. Among its different gardens, the main highlights are the Vivaces garden, the Cecilio Rodríguez gardens and the Rosaleda. In the Retiro Park there is also the one known as Palacio de Cristal, which today is used as an exhibition hall.
The Trail
El Rastro takes place on Sunday mornings and holidays and has a long history, since it is 250 years old. In it you can find from second-hand clothes, books and furniture to true collector's items. Held on the Ribera de Curtidores slope, in the Lavapiés neighborhood, the Rastro market has been declared a Cultural Heritage of the People of Madrid.
The Santiago Bernabéu stadium
Even if you are not a big fan of football, it is still worth visiting the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Inaugurated in 1947, it has a capacity of more than 80.000 people. Visiting it you can take a tour that includes entry to areas of the field such as the presidential box, the playing field or the players' changing rooms. When taking the tour you can also see the trophies achieved by Real Madrid over time.
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is the largest palace in all of Western Europe, with more than 3.000 rooms spread over 135.000 square meters. Today, the Palace is a space reserved exclusively for the performance of State ceremonies, although it can also be visited. The surroundings of the Royal Palace are one of the most ideal places to enjoy a sunset in the city of Madrid. Architecturally, the Palace differs from others by its Baroque style.
The temple of Debod
The temple of Debod is another of the most perfect places to enjoy both a sunset and a starry night. Located in the Parque del Cuartel de la Montaña, this Egyptian temple was donated to Spain by the government of that country to prevent it from disappearing due to the floods caused by the construction of a dam.. Inside the building, you can find audiovisual projections where the history and other curious details about the temple are explained in detail.
The door of the sun
Puerta del Sol is the emblematic center of the city, a place of confluence and of numerous street protests. It also contains some of the most representative icons of the city: the Casa de Correos clock, the Kilometer Zero plaque and the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree..
The Terraces of La Latina
The terraces that are located in the neighborhood of La Latina are among the most beautiful in all of Madrid. Although there are differences in price, on a trip to the city it is worth opting for a slightly more expensive establishment that offers us spectacular views, a varied menu and the authentic character that defines the neighborhood.
Chueca's cocktail bars
Chueca is still today one of the Madrid neighborhoods with the most nightlife. Full of small bars and pubs, the neighborhood has some outstanding establishments such as Bar Chicote, designated on three occasions as the best bar in Europe. However, in Chueca there is a great variety of places that go from small cultural cafes to large nightclubs. Among the former, the Libertad 8 room stands out, while among the latter the one known as Teatro Barceló TClub.
The Gran Vía
Walking the Gran Vía is living Madrid one hundred percent. Full of shops and a great atmosphere, Gran Vía is one of the main streets of the city, as well as the most famous street in the Spanish capital.. On a walk along Gran Vía you can see the emblematic Metropolis Building, the Telefónica building, the Palacio de la Prensa, the Rialto Theater, the Plaza de Callao and the España Building.
Sure there are many others essential places in Madrid to complement this list of 'what to see'Although with these 10 points of interest, you can start to get to know the culture, art and history of the Spanish capital.