Madrid travel guide

One of my favourite European capital cities, Madrid is a must for art aficionados, foodies and museum lovers.

The elegant, friendly and walkable Spanish capital is awash with excellent museums and palaces, grand architecture and stately parks – you won’t be short of things to do. This is my mini guide to Madrid…

Art

Three of the world’s top art museums are a stone’s throw from each other in the centre of Madrid, in what’s known as the ‘Golden Triangle of Art’.

The enormous, prestigious Museo Nacional del Prado is where you’ll find countless works by the great Spanish masters, El Greco, Velazquez and Goya, along with portraits of the country’s kings and queens.

It also has a large collection of Greco and Roman sculptures, as well as paintings from other European nations.

Beware, it can be unbearably busy and the staff aren’t the friendliest.

A short walk away, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is the city’s premier modern art gallery.

Its biggest claim to fame? Picasso’s haunting ‘Guernica’ adorns its walls.

The enormous painting was painted in response to the bombing of the Basque village of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.

My favourite of the three is the splendid Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (above).

The huge, eclectic museum, which showcases the collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza family, spans the art’s history from the 13th to the 20th centuries and almost every major artist is on display.

Palaces

If you like a good palace, then Madrid is the city for you, as it’s home to two of the very best.

The lavish Palacio Real in the city centre (above) is the official home of the Spanish royal family and is the biggest palace in western Europe.

Just outside the city, nestled at the foot of the Guadarrama mountains, lies the magnificent El Escorial.

The austere behemoth is part-palace, part-monastery and was built as a mausoleum to the Spanish royals by Felipe II (he of the Spanish Armada fame). It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Madrid is also home to one of Europe’s newest cathedrals, the Catedral de la Almudena (above).

The modern basilica, which was completed in 1993, is next to the Palacio Real. It’s where Felipe VI married Letizia Ortiz in May 2004.

Museums

The Spanish capital is home to a host of excellent historical and cultural institutions – from the Museum of the History of Madrid to the National Archaeology Museum (above) and the Museo de América, which explores the cultures of the Americas.

The city also boasts a number of museums that showcase jaw-dropping private collections.

These include the delightful Museo de Cerralbo (above) and the fabulous Museo Lázaro Galdiano.

Parks

Green spaces abound in Madrid. The most notable is the enormous Parque del Retiro in the city centre.

This lovely space, which features a large boating lake, greenhouses and artworks, was once the private preserve of the royal family, but it was opened to the public in the mid-19th century.

Nearby, you’ll find the tranquil Real Jardín Botánico, a secluded 20-acre garden that’s home to some 5,500 species of plants from around the world.

Markets

Madrid is a gastronomic delight, so if you’re heading to the Spanish capital, be sure to spend some time checking out its many food markets.

The most famous is the central Mercado de San Miguel, not far from Plaza Mayor.

This large space is filled with stalls selling all kinds of tapas, small plates and produce, from traditional paella to exquisite patisserie and glasses of Spanish wine.

Be warned, it can be very busy and a tad overwhelming if you’re visiting in the early evening.

If you’re keen to try the ‘best tortilla in Spain’, make your way to the very popular Casa Dani in the Mercado de la Paz in the city’s ritzy Salamanca district.

Food

You can’t visit the Spanish capital without indulging in the country’s most famous sweet treat, churros (above).

Chocolatería San Gines is the place to go and has the queues to match.

Avoid the long line of people by popping around the corner to Churrería Chocolatería 1902 (above).

Spain isn’t much of a tea drinking nation, so if you’re craving a good cuppa, head to Sucré just south of the Parque del Retiro.

The delightful café has a superb range of teas and the food’s excellent, too.

For gluten- or sugar-free dining options, try Pizza Natura. This small chain (there are also outposts in Barcelona) has an extensive menu of tasty gluten-free pizzas, salads and sugar-free desserts. There are plenty of vegan options, too.

Day trips

If you fancy venturing outside Madrid, there are countless places to explore.

The pretty, historic city of Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the former home of El Greco, is just an hour away.

While the royal city of Aranjuez, 40 minutes south of the capital, is another UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to the spectacular royal summer palace and gardens (above).

Other sites worth visiting include the eye-catching city of Segovia, famous for its two-tier Roman aqueduct, and the ancient city of Salamanca, which boasts two cathedrals and one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Getting around

Madrid is a very walkable city and many of its main attractions are within walking distance.

The city’s metro system is cheap, reliable and easy to use, and there are good bus and train links if you’re looking to go further afield.

Have your say

Have you been to Madrid? If you’ve visited the Spanish capital, share your thoughts in the comments below.