Where are you staying in Madrid? We tell you what to see
Are you in Madrid? Welcome! The city has a lot to see. Depending on where you stay, you can choose your route. Here we are going to make some proposals with three points of reference: El Retiro, La Latina and Madrid de los Austrias.
Three routes that you can visit on foot, for which it is necessary to have good footwear. Or you can also choose the , which allows you to explore everything in a more comfortable and fun way.
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IF YOU STAY IN THE RETIRO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD
If you have chosen an accommodation near the Retiro Park, you should know that you are surrounded by very elegant neighborhoods that you can reach on foot.
The Salamanca district is the most stately in the city. To shop in the great designer stores, have a brunch in the trendy restaurant, or be close to the largest park in the city, Parque del Retiro. This park is gorgeous. You can navigate in its lake and lose yourself in its paths lined with ancient trees, while observing sculptures, monuments and botany. You can walk along the promenade of the statues of Spanish kings and visit the delicate Palacio de Cristal, where, from time to time, there are exhibitions of contemporary art.
From “El Retiro” you can go to the Puerta de Alcalá and observe its carvings, different on each of its faces. Continue through Alcalá until you find the famous statue of Cibeles. Turning towards the Paseo del Prado, you will find the essential museums: the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía, the latter in front of the main door of the Atocha train station.
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IF YOU STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF MADRID DE LOS AUSTRIAS
If you are staying in the old neighborhood of Los Austrias, you should know that you are in the historic center.
You will be surprised by corners such as the Garden of the Prince of Angola and the charming Scuare de la Villa with the old Town Hall and the oldest civil construction in Madrid, the House and Town of the Lujanes.
A good opportunity is to see the sunset from the gardens of the Royal Palace after visiting the Almudena Cathedral, and with the farewell of the day, continue through the Scuare de Oriente and towards Gran Vía, ending up with a visit to the Royal Theater.
Returning to the center, you cannot miss the Plaza Mayor and contemplate the facade of the “Casa de la Panadería”. It is one of the most characteristic areas and something very typical is to eat a squid sandwich in one of the many bars that are at the entrances to the square.
A more ‘gourmet’ plan is offered by the Mercado de San Miguel, an old market that today has been remodeled to offer the most select of Spanish gastronomy. With a full stomach, you can continue to La Latina.
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IF YOU STAY IN THE LA LATINA NEIGHBORHOOD
The colorful Mercado de la Cebada will catch your eye any day of the week. If it’s Sunday, a must-see are the thousands of stalls at El Rastro, Madrid’s best-known flea market, where you can find new things and antiques.
The ‘vintage’ fashion has brought interesting proposals for fans of this trend.
The medieval layout of the streets of Madrid de Los Austrias continues here, where Cava Baja and Cava Alta streets stand out, full of bars and restaurants, where you can taste good tapas and pinchos.
The Plaza de la Paja, once the residence of noble families, preserves the facade of the Vargas palace, of Renaissance origin and built by Francisco de Vargas y Medina, counselor of the Catholic Monarchs.