Here are my top three must see attractions in Madrid. Enjoy!
1. Mercado de San Miguel
This vibrant indoor market, covered by a glass enclosure, has a buzzing atmosphere and is always popular with visitors. The idea is to go round the market choosing a few pinchos here and there and take them to the central tables to enjoy them with a glass of vino or a mojito. The seating area is fairly limited which promotes a very social vibe, especially during busy times, as it is the norm to end up sharing with whoever has a spare seat. This may turn some people off but in fact it creates a very energetic and fun evening as you are bound to meat some new people whilst getting a bit merry. If you visit the frozen yoghurt stall you’ll see from their framed photo that it was once even graced by the presence of Prince Phillip and Camilla! This is a perfect pre dinner activity with the range of drinks stalls and nibbles to tempt you but, as I found out, you have to taste a bit of everything and it ends up being your dinner! The market is situated just outside one of the corners of Plaza Mayor which gives you a very scenic route towards this lively market.
2. The Retiro Park
This magnificent park is a wonderful place to take a stroll, get an ice cream and take in the surroundings. It is no surprise that it used to be restricted to use by the royal family alone, as the most grand of monuments seem to appear along every pathway. On a sunny day you will see the central lake full of rowing boats, a great activity for a bit of sunbathing and relaxing on the water, rather romantic too. You will also find a 19th centuryCrystalPalace and other attractive buildings housing various art exhibitions in addition to a pond of turtles! For locals it is the place to be for running and roller-blading thanks to its impressive expanse and wide walkways, just try not to get caught up in their paths!
3.Reina Sofi aMuseum
This giant museum is home to many respected artists’ works, the ultimate piece being Picasso’s Guernica. But make sure you go with a plan in mind and a map in hand! The museum is so big that you should pick out which artists you are most interested in seeing and plan a route to avoid the risk of getting totally lost and missing them. You could spend at least 3 days looking at every piece of work, ranging from abstract videos, wall projections and even art in the form of sound for which you’re provided with headphones. Therefore it is probably better to do this bit by bit but bear in mind that entry is free on Sunday!
It is clear that you need to spend at least a weekend in the Spanish capital to really enjoy everything it has to offer. Go with Oh
provide great apartments located all over the city so you could situate yourself conveniently close to any of these attractions and make the most of your time there.