Characterized by warm dry summers and cool winters and best-known for its historical architecture, world-renowned art museums, great monuments, beautiful gardens and parks, a variety of restaurants, cafes and pubs, bullfights and vivacious all-night fiestas, Madrid — the explosive capital and the bustling heart of Spain, never fails to amaze, promising non-stop fun and entertainment. If you are looking to visit Madrid , it is a perfect choice for a European city break with plenty to see and do all year-round.
If you want a truly unique and memorable Spain holidays in the amazing city of Madrid, do not miss out any of the below-listed things to do.
Madrid’s Golden Triangle
Mention the Golden Triangle in Madrid, and the three museums in the heart of the city will immediately come to their minds. Located on the Paseo del Prado, the artistic trio includes the most significant Museo del Prado, boasting some of the world’s greatest art treasures, including thousands of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures, such as Goya’s Black Paintings and el Greco’s ‘Adoration of the Shepards’; the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía with its stunning collection of modern art, including the newly-returned Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ that had been housed in New York foe over 20 years; and the least known Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, where you’ll find works by Picasso and Goya, and master works by Degas, Monet, Renior and Van Gogh.
Parque del Buen Retiro
Otherwise called the ‘Park of the Pleasant Retreat,’ Parque del Buen Retiro is one of the city’s most popular attractions and the most expansive park and landmark, filled with abundant greenery, stunning fountains and museums, marble monuments and numerous statues, a beautiful lake and hectares of aromatic bay leaf trees, ponds and rose gardens.
Located in the heart of the city of Madrid, very close to the Puerta de Alcalá and the Prado Museum, and covering an area of around 350 acres, Buen Retiro features the former grounds of Real Sitio del Buen Retiro Palace, a 17th century weekend palace of King Philips IV and is a magnificent park that attracts locals and international travelers alike. Some beautiful features of the park include: the Palacio de Cristal, which is a glass structure that was originally used to house a variety of exotic plants, the Rosaleda rose garden; and the Ejercito – a preeminent museum for military artifacts. In a nutshell, Buen Retiro is a great way to relax and refresh your energy.
Palacio Real (Royal Palace)
The Palacio Real is another top tourist destination in Madrid, and one of the most impressive palaces in Europe. Boasting over 2,000 luxuriously decorated and elegantly furnished rooms (of which 59 can be visited), it is the official residence for the Royal family, though they only use it for state ceremonies and the rest of the time, it’s open to public. The origins of the Palace date back to the 9th century when the Islamic Kingdom of Toledo built a defensive fort on the site, which was later used by the Kings of Castle.
The Palacio Real is where visitors will appreciate magnificent furniture and tapestries, fascinating paintings by Velázquez, Rubens, Goya, El Greco and Caravaggio and frescoes by Tiépolo.
Whether you are after art and culture, a shopping enthusiast or a romantic honeymooner, you are assured to have a vacation of a lifetime!
