What are some good/fun places to visit in Madrid, Spain?

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bgarland_17

Just returned from a trip to Spain! The Museo del Prado is a must-see in Madrid. It is a world-class art museum with many famous pieces by Velazquez, El Greco, Goya, and many others. The museum does not just contain priceless works of art, but also gives the viewer an interesting look into the history of Spain through the eyes of Spanish artists who experienced it first-hand. Just make sure you set aside at least 3 hours to thoroughly enjoy what the Prado has to offer. Far from being an art connoisseur, I would suggest this to anyone with an interest in learning more about Spanish culture and history.

Another must-see location within an hour of Madrid is Toledo. This medieval city has remained much as it appeared hundreds of years ago, and has much to offer. Because the streets are so winding, narrow, and all very similar, I would suggest getting a local guide to show you all the sites on a day-trip to this spot. Some suggestions include the Toledo Cathedral, the Alcazar, and some of the artisan shops that can be found on every corner in Toledo.

Since you are going to be living in Madrid, I'll also suggest some places in and around Spain. Segovia is a very friendly town with beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains west of Madrid. Avila, Salamanca, and Santiago de Compostela are all wonderful places to visit as well, with much more friendly atmospheres than you will find in Madrid. Santiago in particular was recently voted a World Heritage Site, because of its ancient Cathedral which has been a major pilgrimage destination for centuries.

If you have the time, I would also visit Portugal since you will be so close. Braga, in the north of Portugal, is a very quaint city with a beautiful Cathedral built into the foothills that gives a wonderful view of Braga and the surrounding mountains. It is located on the Mount of Bom Jesus, and has beautiful gardens in the surrounding area.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is also a place full of culture and intrigue. Some of the unique sites to see include the "25th of April 1974" Bridge, which looks just like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Tower of Belem located at the mouth of the Tajo River, and an old-fashioned elevator that was designed by the architect of the Eiffel Tower. The Portuguese in general are very willing to speak English or Spanish, and I found them very friendly wherever I went.

Whenever you are out-and-about in a big city like Madrid or Barcelona make sure you keep an eye on your belongings AT ALL TIMES. I had my camera stolen from me in a church in Madrid while I was at Mass. This is one reason I like to stick to the smaller cities and towns during my travels, plus the prices are usually lower and the people are usually nicer. Just make sure that wherever you go you remain vigilant and you will be fine.

I hope this helps- have a wonderful time!

dart

If you are living there, you need to be sure to explore all the important towns nearby...and don't forget to travel about the rest of the country.

Don't miss: Toledo, Ãvila, Segovia, Salamanca, Santander, Donostia (San SebastiÃ¡n, Sevilla, Granada, Barcelona, and make sure to hit a couple of other small towns in various places!

IN Madrid...if you want to be treated like family, try El Rey del Pimiento...little, dark locals' restaurant, just across the street from a little Plaza called Puerta Cerrada...it's about ten minutes from the Plaza Mayor.
MamÃ¡ should take care of you.

ortzadarra

PaÃ¬s Vasco, CataluÃ±a, Asturias, CÃ²rdoba and Sevilla.

I strongly recommend you to visit them. There are many interesting sites in Madrid, but it is not a beautiful region.

Ah! Don`t forget that in PaÃ¬s Vasco and Catalunya people are quite nice and friendly, but they are not spanish. They have their own language, culture and customs.

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