Madrid - capital of Spain

Though it is the capital city of Spain, it does not feel as nice and beautiful as other cities like Barcelona or Valencia. Regardless, if you are flying to Spain, you are likely to arrive at Madrid first, so it does not hurt to spend a day here, but in my honest opinion it is ok to skip it unless you are interested in football (soccer) or bullfighting or the nightlife.



Tips

  • You are not expected to pay tips at restaurants.
  • You can get by with English in most areas and restaurants.
  • Some places closes early afternoon (~2-4pm) so make sure to check.
  • Spanish people eat late dinners, so restaurants are usually open till midnight.

Transportation

  • Good metro system
  • Economical train (2.6 euros) from aiport to main train station (Atocha)
  • The train company "Renfe" offers high speed trains to other Spanish cities, and as well local trains within Madrid.
    • If you are taking trains to other cities, I recommend buying tickets online ahead of time to get cheaper prices (you might have to call your credit card ahead of time to let them know you are traveling)

    Where to stay

    • near Atocha train station: easy access from/to airport, and it has a metro station to access other attractions, this is the main station to take trains to other important cities, like Barcelona.

    Things to do

    Bullfighting Museum

    The museum is free, and you can pay 10 euros to go inside the arena. Ideally, go on the right season to catch actual bullfighting!




    Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

     Real Madrid is one of the most important football clubs in the world. If you are slightly interested in football, it is worth visiting this historic stadium. It costs 24 euros to go inside the tour, which includes access to the trophy room, locker room, part of the stadium, and some other fan stuff.




    "El Rastro" Flea Market

     It opens on Sunday mornings, and it is a large market to buy stuff like souvenirs, leather goods, crafts.



    Various plazas

    You can check out nice squares or plazas like "Plaza Mayor", "Puerta del Sol" (which is near the shopping area).

    Various museums

     One of the most important museums is Prado, and it is free after certain time in the afternoon.

    What to eat

    • Eat seafood at Mercado San Miguel (food market), there is a place that offers razor clams, scallops, sea urchins
    • Eat the "jamon Iberico" (famous Spanish ham)

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