The Best of Madrid by a Local

There’s so much to share about the city I called home for two years. This is why you can find three different posts about Madrid in this blog. ‘All You Need to Know About Madrid’ shares a reconnaissance of the coolest neighborhoods in Madrid, the best times to visit the museums, a guide to understand Madrid’s public transportation, as well as tips and tricks to experience the city like a local. For the foodies, I recommend checking out ‘Where & What to Eat Madrid’. In this post, I share the best things to see and places to visit, including a DIY Walking Tour that I would give my friends who visited.

DIY Walking tour in the city center

1. START AT Puerta del Sol

This is the busiest and most centric area in Madrid. It is also where you can find Km 0,  the point from which distances are measured in Spain.
The most touristy thing to do here is to take a pic with the sculpture of the Madrileño bear. You’ll have to be patient since many tourists line up for this pic. I personally preferred the picture with Km 0, something that tends to go unnoticed.

2. WALK TO PLAZA MAYOR

Take Calle Mayor towards Plaza Mayor and enter from any of the many of the passages leading to the Plaza. During the day, you’ll be able to appreciate the fresco-like painting covering the façades. It is also beautifully lit at night.

3. MERCADO DE SAN MIGUEL

I had my first vermouth in Spain and my life will never be the same. This has become my drink of choice, and although Spaniards drink it as an aperitif, I drink it at any time of the day or night. There is a wide variety of different types of vermouth in Mercado de San Miguel, starting from sweet, and dry to bitter. My personal favorite is “Andalucía” because is a good blend between sweet and bitter. Enjoy your vermouth with any of the many delicious tapas that the Mercado has to offer. You will need the strength to continue your walking tour. Remember to save your receipt since they’ll ask for it before entering the restroom, otherwise, it’s ¢50 which is not bad if you are in dire need of a clean restroom in the center. On the other hand, you also have the option of the restroom at Corte Inglés for free. This is a great tip while traveling in any big city in Spain.

4. SABITINI GARDENS & ROYAL PALACE

The Sabitini Gardens are located behind the Royal Palace, which can be easily accessed without entering the palace. The best pics are from the stairs heading down towards the gardens, shown in the pic above.

5. BEHIND PLAZA ESPAÑA

Walk out of the gardens and head towards Plaza España. There’s a monument of Don Quixote & Sancho Panza next to a pond on the back side of the Plaza. If it’s not too busy, you’ll be able to take pics of the monument without too many tourists around.

6. PARQUE DEL OESTE & TEMPLO DEBOD

Enjoy the views from Parque del Oeste and, if you’re lucky, Templo Debod will have water. At sunset, the reflection of the temple can be appreciated along with the colorful sky. The temple was donated by Egypt and it’s a must-see while in Madrid. The park hosts free concerts during the summer. The park has the most amazing views and plenty of space for a picnic. Be mindful that you’ll have to go up a few stairs to reach the park and temple, also it tends to be windy up here so bring a jacket or blanket.

7. THE FRONT OF PLAZA ESPAÑA

Walk back down to Plaza España, but this time walk in front of it, towards Gran Vía. This side of the plaza has a large fountain representing the Birth of Water and other large sculptures. It’s definitely more impressive with lights at night. If you’re lucky enough to be in Madrid during Pride Fest, this area hosts one of the largest music stages.

8. GRAN VÍA

Walk up to Gran Vía and check out the shops and theaters. I also consider this area to be more beautiful at night with  the big city lights. If you plan on doing some shopping, most shops close around 9 or 10pm. Primark is a must if you want cheap shopping, but you have to be patient because this store will be crowded with every tourist in Madrid. Luckily, there are toilets, Wi-Fi, chargers, and couches for shoppers to take a break. A local tip is to use the fitting rooms and make your purchases on the floor before the last. This is the floor with men’s clothes and home accessories.

PlACES TO VISIT OUTSIDE THE CENTER

RETIRO PARK

This is the largest park closest to the city center. It has several entrances including one by the famous Puerta de Alcalá. The landmarks inside the park are the Crystal Palace and a lovely man-made lake where you can rent boats. The Crystal Palace is free and has seasonal art exhibits. Keep in mind there might be a long line to enter in peak season. Next to the Crystal Palace, there’s the Palacio de Velázquez, a free museum. You can spend the whole day exploring Retiro and never get bored. There’s an innumerable amount of cool-looking fountains (including one of the devil with its demons), gardens that look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, and even peacocks!

CASA DE CAMPO

This is another huge green area but it might be a bit dry if you go in the summer. Casa de Campo is mainly frequented for sports like biking and running, but it also has a beautiful lake surrounded by lounge chairs and restaurants. Inside Casa de Campo you can find one of the entrances to the Cable Car (Teleferico). You can either take it one way from Casa de Campo to Argüelles (where Parque del Oeste is) or vice versa. Roundtrip is €6 as of the summer of 2019.

MONCLOA TOWER (FARO DE MONCLOA)

Besides the cable car, another great way to overlook Madrid is Moncloa Tower, which is also near the center. It’s €3 to go up an elevator and once up, you’ll be in a well-ventilated lobby with an amazing bird’s eye view of the city.

CÍRCULO DE BELLAS ARTES

If you prefer the view without protecting glass, then I recommend going up to Círculo de Bellas Artes. This rooftop bar charges a €4 cover and tends to have a line but that sunset view over Gran Vía is totally worth it.

MATADERO

One of my favorite places in Madrid is a little further south of the center. Matadero is off Legazpi metro station on lines 3 (yellow) and 6 (gray). It’s an old brick slaughterhouse along the river that is now an art hub. It is free to visit and it hosts rotating local art exhibits (naves) along with some free or cheap movie showing in the beautiful theatre. There is also a cantina with a lovely patio that serves drinks and pizzas, as well as a larger cafeteria with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, and even a small theatre inside. Make sure to check out the calendar for the many free events, such as concerts, food festivals, farmer’s markets, etc. It is also located next to a huge, new mall if you prefer to avoid the crowds in Gran Vía.

RASTRO

If you’re in Madrid on a Sunday make sure to check out this enormous flea market. It begins in Embajadores every Sunday from 8am – 3pm. You will find everything from antiques, handmade jewelry and clothes, the cheapest coats and shoes, the most affordable souvenirs made by local craftwomen and men, and anything else you can think of. Beware of pickpocketers since it gets very crowded. I found that the best times to go are either 9am or 1pm, so as to avoid the rush.

Enjoy your time in this magical and underrated city. If you ever become annoyed by the heat, cold, or crowds, just stop to have a caña (small beer) and tapa anywhere. You’ll be surprised how affordable this metropolitan city is. Follow me @bpresent.blog for more travel pics & ideas. Have fun in beautiful Madrid and always BE PRESENT.