So I’m home now about two weeks from my Spanish adventure, but to be honest, I’m still thinking of Madrid. It is a city that I have really fallen in love with, and one I’ve really enjoyed sharing with all my lovely visitors this year.
Over the course of hosting my visitors, I developed this “walking tour” of the city, taking in the key things to see when you visit Madrid and on a route that (I think) makes sense. It probably isn’t very original, but it worked for me and my guests, so I hope it works for you guys too.
So without further ado, here is my tried and tested walking tour of Madrid, which is easily completed in just a few hours!
1. First stop is Puerta del Sol, considered the centre of Madrid. Check out the Ayuntamiento, or town hall, as you walk over to Calle Mayor. The Ayuntamiento is the big orange building, carrying the red Madrid flag and the Spanish flag. On the sides, there are memorials for the 2004 terrorist attack and the defence of the city against Napoleon in 1808. Don’t forget to look down and spot “Kilometre 0”, which marks the start of all roads in Spain.
2. With your back to the Ayuntamiento, turn left and continue down Calle Mayor or Main Street. Calle Mayor is not the most important street in the city, but it is home to many of the landmarks that make the city famous. The first you will probably spot is a little arch up to the left, which leads you into the stunning Plaza Mayor. Most cities and towns in Spain have a main square in this style, but few compare to this space which has been a public garden, a bull ring and a war zone.
3. Once you’ve had your fill of the square, head out via Arco de Cuchilleros (Arch of the Knifemakers) in the bottom left corner of the square and continue straight down Calle de Cuchilleros to Sobrino de Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world. Have a gawk outside at the little model of the restaurant in the window and then wander back up the way you came. Follow the road up to the Mercado San Miguel, a traditional indoor food market, where you can browse the stalls and pick up a snack if you’re hungry.
When you’re ready, rejoin Calle Mayor from the market and continue down the hill to your left. Soon, you’ll pass the old town hall which has cute little gardens in front of it, which can make a nice photo. But don’t spend too long there, and head further down the hill to the huge Cathedral at the end of the road.
4. The Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena is the most important church in the city, and though work started in the 1880s on the cathedral, it was only finished in 1993, leaving it with quite modern artwork. It is only a €1 donation to enter and is well worth it. You can also visit the balcony which gives you views of the enormous Casa de Campo park and also the crypt below the cathedral, but I have only ever been inside the Cathedral.
5. When you have all said a prayer for good weather, turn left outside the cathedral and walk less than 100m to the Royal Palace of Madrid. This magnificent building is the ceremonial seat of the Spanish monarchy, as they no longer live there and only use the palace for special events. Peer through the gates or if you’re intrigued by how the other half “lives”, you can visit the inside. Tickets are €13 (discounts are available), but you can also visit for free during the last two hours of the timetable, Monday to Thursday. If you want to get in for free, I’d recommend getting in the queue at least an hour before the free session starts to ensure you get to visit it. They stop letting people in 1 hour before closing and the queue moves slowly.
6. If you’re done with the palace, walk along the street side of this enormous building and then up through the gardens in front of the Opera house. The Opera house is a beautiful building in its own right, built in 1850, and is a key part of this royal section of Madrid. Walk along the side of the Opera house, past a little square and up Calle Arenal.
At this stage, you must be hungry and it’s time for a trip to the most important Churrería in all of Madrid. Chocolatería San Ginés is a 24-hour café which specialises in churros and porras. Churros you might be familiar with, though they taste the best in Spain, and porras are their much fatter cousin. You get 6 churros or 2 fat porras in a portion, which easily feeds 2 along with one cup of chocolate. Now the chocolate is no ordinary chocolate, it is thick and delicious (and for me at least), far too rich to drink. Take a look at the walls and try and spot some celebrities you might recognise, San Ginés is a landmark even the famous can’t resist!
7. Take your little break, then continue up Calle Arenal and you’re back at Sol again! I told you you would! Walk directly across to a funny little statue of a bear with a strawberry tree. Don’t argue with me, it is a strawberry tree, or at least a fruit tree with something very close to a strawberry. This is the symbol of the city, reminiscent of a time when Madrid was a hovel on a hill. Take a picture and join the Madrileños in their disappointment that the statue is so small.
8. From the statue, turn up one of the streets to the north of the square, like Calle de la Montera. Wander through this busy shopping street until you reach a McDonald’s on the corner. You are now on Gran Vía, the iconic central street of Madrid. To your left, spot the Telefónica and Schweppes buildings and the buildings of Plaza España in the distance. To your right, the road bends a bit, so go wander that way and see what you can spot. Gran Vía is a wonderful mix of old and new, of more classical and modern architecture, and is always packed with people, so mind your stuff!
9. Soon you’ll meet a fork in the road, take a look back at Gran Vía and spot the Metropolis building. It really is beautiful when you see it all together. Then continue in the same direction and watch out for the pearly white Palacio de Cibeles, which these days is maybe the most stunning Post Office in the world. Though there are restaurants and offices, it’s funny to think the main function of this palace is to get you your post. In front of the palace, you have the Fuente (fountain) of Cibeles (a greek goddess) which is also known as the fountain which the Real Madrid supporters jump in if their team wins big (if you’re an Atlético fan, you jump in the Fuente de Neptuno down the road). The image of the palace and the fountain together is one of the most famous of Madrid, so make sure you take a good picture and then follow Calle de Alcalá up towards what looks like the Arc de Triomphe.
10. This, in fact, is the Puerta (gate) de Alcalá, which is not a memorial arch and simply marks a point of entry to the city. The arch is actually the perfect monument to show one of the biggest entrances to the Retiro Park, our final stop (Stop 11). A real gem in this city, El Buen Retiro is the perfect place to relax after a busy day. Stroll up to one of the terraces and enjoy a coffee, or even a wine – you deserve it. Maybe park yourself beside the lake in the middle of the park and watch as others exert themselves in the sun as they row around in the little boats, or join in yourself. (€8 on the weekends for 45 minutes).
It is here I’ll leave you to enjoy the rest of your time in Madrid. I hope this walking tour will help introduce you to what is one of my favourite cities. It, of course, doesn’t cover everything, but it shows off all the important sights. It is manageable enough to do in an afternoon, leaving the rest of your time to explore the things you enjoy yourselves.
If you’ve enjoyed this tour plan, please like the post! I’m considering writing a few more posts on visiting Madrid as a tourist, and I’d love to see if people are actually interested in them! Let me know too if there is anything you feel I’ve forgotten or anything else that made your trip to Madrid special.
And most of all, I hope you love Madrid as much as I do.
From Meath to Madrid 