It has turned into a cosmopolitan, modern urban center but still manages to preserve its traditions. The modern city spreads east into the 19th-century grid of Barrio de Salamanca and sprawls north through Chamberi and Chamartin, but you can also explore Madrid on foot with its oldest quarters situated between the Royal Palace and the Parque del Buen Retiro.
Here are some brilliant travel tops while roaming around Madrid:
- Explore the Centro Historico. The Plaza Mayor is the right place which evokes the glory of Spain’s Golden Age.
- Immerse yourself in the museum row. You can find a mix of art and architecture in the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen boasting of extensive and impressive collections.
- Socialize while eating the famous tapas. Indulge yourself in a madrilèno way of socializing and eat tapas while learning about them combined with local wine as you stroll along the bars of Cava Baja.
- Relax in the Retiro Gardens on a Sunday. Visit relaxing Retiro Gardens and commune with nature on a Sunday morning.
- Get yourself a Madrid Card which entitles you to free entry in 50 museums and monuments, and avoid the long lines for many attractions. It’s made available in increments of one, two, three, or five days and can be availed at madridcard.com , at tourist offices, and some museums and hotels.
- Enjoy some side trips while in Madrid. Madrid is known as an excellent jumping-off point for exploring other historically significant sites. The enormous monastery of El Escorial would be the best attraction if you prefer to stick close to Madrid. The high-speed train can take you farther to two destinations: Toledo and Segovia.