Twig Step
 |
I am guessing that you will be travelling by train, by the times you state. If you are coming from the South, you will arrive in Atocha Station.
Here there is a tourist information office where you can ask for a map.
From Atocha most of the city sites are in walking distance and you won't need to use the metro unless the weather is bad - comfy shoes would be good though.
Also take some time to walk around the station, as it has this huge glass roof with a garden with massive palm trees and a pond full of the biggest terrapins I've ever seen.
Here is a walking route of Madrid that you can do in a day, that I wrote for a friend visiting the city: (As you can see there is plenty to do, and lots to fit in)
On leaving the main station, take a left a long Calle Atocha, to see the Reina Sofia art Gallery which is only 3 minutes walk away. If you are a fan of modern art this museum is a must see, and entry is free on Wednesdays and Sundays. If you only have time to see one painting make it Picasso's Guernica, which is huge and undoubtably one of Picasso's most important works. Also there are Miro, DalĂ, Juan Gris and many other famous modern artists.
If modern art isn´t your thing, start to walk up the Paseo del Prado which is Madrid's main boulevard. On the left in number 36 is the Caixa forum, which is a new exhibition and architecture and design fans, should take a peek through the door, and inspect the "living wall".
Continue walking up the Paseo del Prado, but cross over. Soon on the right you will find the Royal Botanic Gardens, which are probably at their best in spring, and not so interesting in winter. Just after the Botanic Gardens is the Museo del Prado, Madrid's most famous museum, and home of master pieces by Goya, and Velaquez, and my personal favourite, the surrealist paintings by El Bosco.
If you continue walking us the Paseo del Prado until you reach the Calle de Alcala, you will see the Cibeles Fountain in the middle, which is where Real Madrid fans congregate to celebrate victory, on your right the Spanish National Bank, and on your left the Palacio de Correos, all spectacular buildings. Look right up the Calle del Alcala and you will see the Puerto del Alcala, the old city gates on the road to Alcala de Henares. You can either head up to the puerto de Alcala, for a walk in the Retiro Park - try to the the main rectangular pond, and the crystal palace.
Otherwise turn left walking up the Calle de Alcala towards the Metropolis building, and turn right at the Granvia., which is Madrid’s main commercial street. Continue to the plaza de Callao, and turn left down the pedestrianized street calle Preciados towards the Plaza del Sol. The Plaza del sol is the geographic centre of Madrid, and new year celebrations happen here. Just under the clock next to the metro entrance is a plaque on the floor marking the centre of the city. If you walked with out stopping it would take about 45 minutes to get from Atocha to Sol Following this route.
Also in the Plaza del Sol in the corner of Calle Arenal and Calle Mayor is an excellent bakery, and in the Calle Arenal the Casa Llabra, one of the oldest restaurants in Madrid, and once a socialist hideout during the dictatorship. Here you can buy the best cod croquettes in Spain, washed down with a glass of Vermut.
If you want lunch take a small circular route around the area of Calle Espoz de Mina, /Plaza Santa Ana, and the area, and stop in any bar with a menu del dĂa that takes your fancy, you will be spoilt for choice.
Return to the Plaza del Sol, and take the Calle Mayor until you reach the Plaza Mayor, and take a look around. Leave the square in the north west corner, down somestairs, and turn left imediatedly to the Calle Cuchilleros, which in m opinion is the most beautiful street in Madrid. If you didn’t have lunch in Sol already, the Meson de la Tortilla, and the Meson del Champiñon do great tapas.
Continue down the Calle Mayor, stopping to look at the plaza de la villa. In the left side of the square in the Calle del Codo see if you can spot an Arabic doorway, one of the last remaining reminders of the moors in Madrid.
At the end of the Calle Mayor you will find the Cathedral de la Almudena, which is where the royal weddings take place, turn right up the Calle Bailen to the Royal Palance, and take in the views, of the Sierra. You can do guided tours of the Palace, but you may not have time. Do however pop into the cathedral.
Now depending on how tired out you are and how much time you have left, you can either walk back to Sol past the opera house and Calle del Arenal, stopping to look at St Gines church. From Sol you can take the metro (light blue line) back to Atocha.
Otherwise, you can walk back to Atocha, passing through the Barrio de la Latina, one of the most representative areas of Madrid. From the Almudena, take the Calle Saramento and then Callle San Justo to the Plaza de Segovia and |
Travel
Forum 
Spain 
No Spam
Adult 
Gambling
Unfinished
Deception
Plagiarism
Not English
