Madrid Local Attractions

King Philip II made Madrid it the capital of his mighty empire in 1561 and the historic old town, also known as Madrid de las Austrias (referring to the Hapsburg empire) is a fine example of the city's 16th and 17th century heyday. The impressive Plaza Mayor opened in 1620 and remains one of Spain's most popular and traditional squares

 

The 18th century left its neoclassical mark on the Royal Palace complex, the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro in the city centre. The church of San Francisco El Grande, fountains of Paseo del Prado, Toledo Bridge, Prado Museum and Puerta de Alcalá are all excellent examples of this splendid style.

The city has 73 museums that cover all fields, but the most important are situated in the Paseo el Arte which has three remarkable museums: the Prado which one of the world's greatest art galleries: the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries that range from the early Dutch masters to the most modern and contemporary art, and the Reina Sofía National Art Centre which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art with works by Picasso, Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí and Juan Gris.

It is a cosmopolitan city where you can enjoy the sun, go for walks, go rowing or feed the squirrels in Madrid's large green spaces including the Retiro Park (once playground of Spanish Monarchs), the Casa de Campo and the Juan Carlos I Park.

Modern Madrid can be found in its newer districts, mainly along its two main avenues: Gran Vía and Paseo de la Castellana. Gran Vía is the main place for shopping and leisure and Paseo de La Castellana crosses the city from north to south, and has some of the most elegant hotels in the capital.

In Madrid you can see concerts, exhibitions, ballet, opera, theatre productions and the latest movies. You can sample a wide variety of the finest Spanish and international cuisine or try tapas in the bars and taverns.

If you are planning to explore the area outside of the city centre and play some golf or go to some of the more out of the way beaches then you might consider hiring a car. There are a number of car hire firms based at Madrid Airport who will be pleased to have a vehicle awaiting your arrival. This also cuts down on transfer costs for you and your family.

We also provide information on other sporting and leisure amenities in Madrid including a Madrid Area Guide which contains information on Madrid local attractions, golf courses in Madrid, the best places for shops in Madrid and which are the Madrid market days. We have also included a list of recommended restaurants in Madrid as well as amusement and theme parks for great family days out in Madrid.