Things to do while in Madrid

    

 

There are cities in the world that invite you to stay and live, at least for a while. That happens with Madrid. A friend of mine at San Francisco Bay Area Towing mentioned the crazy traffic and accidents in Madrid. Despite the traffic, noise and crowds in some areas, the capital has something that makes you feel at home. It is a welcoming city that is worth discovering.

The center of Madrid

If we are going to act as tourists, let’s do it well, so we will have to start at the center and visit the most visited point: Puerta del Sol. Going up Kilometer Zero and taking the picture with the bear and strawberry tree is a must, same as buying lottery in the administration of Dona Manolita. Then, you can move to the Plaza de la Villa in Madrid and the Plaza Mayor, with its nine access doors. Do not forget to go through the Arco de los Cuchilleros and visit one of their restaurants specialized in suckling pig.

The main street will take you to the Cathedral of Almudena and just in front you will have the majestic Palacio Real. If you have time, it is worth visiting inside and getting to know their art collections. Nearby are the Plaza de Oriente and the Jardines de Sabatini, one of the most beautiful of Madrid de los Austrias. The tour continues through the temple of Debod , a gift from Egypt to Spain built in 1968 and from there you can head towards the Plaza de España , the starting point of the famous Gran Vía in Madrid.

 

The Prado, the Retiro and the Cibeles

To start the day, you can go to the Carrera de San Jerónimo to see the Congress of Deputies and go down to Plaza Neptuno. From there, you can go to the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Art Center, two international references and a must-see meeting point for art lovers. Visiting these centers can take several hours, so it is important that you select the works you wish to see. The works of Velázquez are the great Room 12, with Las Meninas and The Drunkards in preferential place. Near the Prado is the Retiro Park , with its impressive Palacio de Cristal. At one end is the Puerta de Alcalá and very close to the famous Cibeles.

Don’t forget to plan well before traveling to spain. Any trip, especially an international trip takes lots of planning and organization. Safe travels and have fun!