Madrid sights and landmarks guide

If you’re looking for an exotic European holiday with equal amounts of cultural exposure and wild fun, look no further than Madrid. The Spanish capital is a large, sprawling, contemporary as well as historical metropolis that will provide you with many opportunities for light hearted entertainment as well as serious sightseeing. April and May are the best time to visit, since summers are too hot and winters can get uncomfortably cold. Traditionally, the people of Madrid would shut down their shops for siestas during the hot afternoons, but this is no longer a common practice, except with the smaller shops. 

Art buffs throng to the Museo del Prado, widely considered to be one of the best museums in the world, and containing priceless works by master artists such as Goya, Caravaggio and Bosch. Close to the museum is the delightful Paseo del Prado, a walking path peppered with fountains that is ideal for a leisurely stroll. The fascinating collection at the National Archeology Museum features the lineage of Spanish civilization, and is absorbing viewing for the casual visitor as well as the history aficionado. Both these museums are closed on Mondays. Puerta del Sol is the center of the city and has the famous iconic statue of a bear climbing a tree. 

Madrid is rumored to have the wildest nightlife scene in all of Europe, if not in the world, and it is estimated that it is the European city with the most number of bars. Bars and clubs in popular areas such as the Gran Via and the Malasaña district often remain open until well past sunrise, with patrons staying as ‘late’ as breakfast time.

Salamanca district is the place for high end and designer shopping. El Rastro is the weekly flea market where you can get just about anything, and Sunday morning is the time to go there. The central park El Retiro is great for boating and for viewing the fabulous Crystal Palace, an elaborate structure made completely of glass.

Madrid is well connected by rail to other significant European cities such as Barcelona, Paris, Zurich and Lisbon. It also has an intricate bus network to help you get around inexpensively, while car rental operators are plentiful as well. The Metrobus or underground local rail system is also a popular means of transport, and you can purchase Metrobus tickets for discounted rides. Taxis are fairly expensive, and bicycling is best enjoyed in the parks due to the dearth of cycles on the roads and the heavy traffic.