Madrid Spain

Madrid, a city, a destination

Madrid is the capital of Spain and has a wide tourist offer for which it is recognized as one of the most visited cities in all Europe. Only in 2019 it registered the visit of more than 10 million people.

The city combines tourist attractions with the extraordinary beauty of its streets and squares, it is also considered one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. If you visit Madrid you will find warm people, squares, museums, shopping centers, and top quality services.

One of the great attractions of Madrid is its gastronomy. Along with the classic traditional Spanish food, Japanese, Brazilian, Vietnamese, Peruvian, Mexican and Indian cuisine is also offered.

What documents do you need to travel to Madrid?

When you prepare your vacation to Madrid you cannot forget some essential documents. Among them is the passport. This document must have a minimum validity of three months after the expected date of departure from the territory and have been issued within ten years prior to the date of entry.

Buy your round trip ticket. Even if you have enough time to do it from the capital of Spain, don’t forget that it is essential to specify your return date.

You must prove where you will stay. If you will stay in hotel, pension, hostel, apartment or at the home of friends or relatives, only one reservation is needed to be paid. If it is by invitation letter, then you must present it, better if it is the original.

Must justify less EUR 65.52 per person per day , this is the import minimal and economical to justify. If it is in cash, or by presenting certified checks, travelers checks, letters of payment or credit cards, they must be accompanied by the bank account statement or an updated bank book. Letters from banks or Internet bank statements are not accepted.

Another very important document is health insurance, which confirms that the person is not going to be an additional burden on the Spanish health system if necessary.

The best season to visit Madrid

If your interest is the beaches, seeing year is the hottest season, in June, July and August. For season, the average temperature is 30ºC at this time.

We recommend, however, to visit Madrid in September, October or April or May. During these months the climate is temperate and very welcoming, the cold is still not excessive.

What museums to visit in Madrid?

The Prado Museum, an appointment with art

Museum of the Prado in Madrid is considered one of the most important in the world and also one of the most visited in the world.

This fame is due to its large collection of art pieces, collections originated by the collecting hobby of the ruling dynasties throughout the centuries.

When you walk through its huge rooms you will find very complete collections of world-class artists such as Velázquez, El Greco, Goya, Tiziano, Rubens and El Bosco.

Other works by important artists include the collections, Murillo, Ribera, Zurbarán, Rafael, Veronese, Tintoretto or Van Dyck are present.

As well as the names of the painters, there are also pieces recognized by all . There are exhibited La Maja Desnuda de Goya, El Jardín de las Delicias del Bosco, Las Meninas by Velázquez and the Three Graces by Rubens.

If you decide to bet on the Prado Museum you can access its website to choose what you will not miss in the museum. And already in it, if you wish, you can request a guided tour, with specialists who will not miss any interesting detail.

The Queen Sofía Museum

Another of the must-see places when visiting Madrid is Queen Sofía Museum. This institution was founded in 1992 and houses an important collection of works of Spanish contemporary art.

There you can see works by such important artists as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí or Joan Miró. The most representative painting that can be seen is Guernica, by Picasso. Entrance is completely free for you on Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings and the rest of the days from 7:00 p.m. the museum is free so you will have no excuse for not any day of the week.

El Sol and Alcalá, the two doors of Madrid

Alcala´s door

Inaugurated in 1778, the Alcalá´s door is another of the most representative monuments in Madrid. It is located where the street of the same name begins, in the Plaza de la Independencia. It is very popular among Spaniards not only for its beauty and meaning but also for having a song dedicated to it: La Puerta de Alcalá by Víctor Manuel and Ana Belén.

The door of the sun

Visiting the door of the sun is one of the biggest reasons to visit Madrid. This is one of the most popular squares in Spain because from it the end of the year bells are announced for the whole country.

In this square you will find the clock of the Casa de Correos building, the statue of the Bear and the Madroño, the symbol of Madrid and kilometer zero, the point where Spanish roads begin.

Street shows and mimes give away art while you meet thousands of people who pass through the square.

Those people, like you, are looking for a place with world fame and particular charm.

La Cibeles and Neptuno, between the sky and the sea.

When it comes to fame and beauty, Cibeles has a privileged position. Plaza de la Cibeles has represented Madrid since 1782, when the architect Ventura Rodríguez designed it.

At first it was used to supply water for the city’s inhabitants, today it is only the main element of this square. The statue that represents the goddess Cibeles in a car drawn by Lions serves as the setting for the celebration of Real Madrid titles.

Its fame is such that it has been sung and exalted in poems, in addition to being surrounded by emblematic buildings. Among them are the Palacio de Comunicaciones, the Palacio de Buenavista, the Banco de España , the Placio de Linar.

The Neptune statue on the other hand, is very popular. It was designed in 1777 and its construction, started in 1782, ended in 1786. The Atlético de Madrid titles are held there. It is a neoclassical fountain located in the central area of the Plaza de Cánovas.

The Royal Palace or Palacio de Oriente in Madrid

Another place that you cannot miss if you go to Madrid is the Royal Palace or Palacio de Oriente in Madrid. This is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family today is used only for receptions, ceremonies and official functions.

The construction of this beautiful palace, one of the most beautiful in the world, began in 1738 . More than three centuries remain untouched in this place. The gardens are another sample of elegance that combines with the architecture, they can also be visited.

The visit inside will allow you to access the Official Rooms that includes the Throne Room, The Royal Armory , with all kinds of weapons that make up one of the most important collections in the world.

You can also visit the Royal Pharmacy where potions and medicines were made for the regents. Utensils and vessels of the time are shown. You can explore the entire castle on your own or request a guided tour.

The Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is a curious site in Madrid. It was a gift from Egypt for the help they gave to save the temples of Nubia, the temple is more than 2,000 years old. It is an opportunity to move to Ancient Egypt through the contemplation of the hieroglyphs.

The Gran Vía

Gran Vía is a famous avenue in Madrid. It is considered one of the most important works in the city. To build it, more than 300 houses had to be demolished and 50 streets had to be eliminated.

It starts at Calle de Alcalá and ends at Plaza de España . Walking through it you will find restaurants, fashion stores and cinemas. Cinemas, today, are transformed into theaters, to revive the great musicals.

Along the Avenue you will find important buildings such as the Metropolis, The Hotel of Letters, the Telephone Building, or the Capitol Building with its mythical neon by Schweppes , which appears in such well-known films as The Day of the Beast.

The Santiago Bernabeu

In the heart of Paseo de la Castellana is the Santiago Bernabeu. It is one of the largest stadiums in the world and a must-see place, especially if you are a soccer and Real Madrid lover. It was inaugurated on December 14, 1947.

San Miguel Market

A century has passed since the Mercado de San Miguel was inaugurated as a food market. Today it is one of the main gastronomic markets in the world.

The Iberian ham and seafood that arrive daily from Galicia, the Mediterranean rice dishes and the exquisite cheeses of Castilla, Asturias or the Basque Country, you can find them there.