In Bilbao there are not residents, there are txikiteros. Txikiteros are names given to those who drink txikitos, small glasses of wine served in the bars.
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There is nothing like visiting Madrid and enjoying all its culture, thanks to what is known as the "Art Triangle", made up of the best museums in Madrid; the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía.
The best hostel in Madrid, Latroupe Prado Hostel, is located just a two-minute walk from the Reina Sofía Museum. Fantastic facilities, starting with its common areas and rooms and ending with the Café de La Plata, with the best atmosphere in the capital.
We cannot forget its incredible line-up of musicals and plays, as well as the best live music. And how can we forget Madrid's best monuments, its fantastic gastronomy and its beach.
What, you don't think it's right that it has fantastic gastronomy? Well, that's because you haven't even tried the cocido madrileño, stew, yet, nor have you been to one of the best squid sandwich bars.
Well wait, maybe it's the beach that doesn't quite fit, right? Well, let me tell you that the one who is misinformed is you. Let's explain something you might not know, and while I'm telling you about it, let's take a stroll around Madrid Río.
Madrid Río began its journey with the reform of the M-30. The project began to take shape with the burying of the road, leaving a space ready to be made available to all the people of Madrid and its tourists.
What did they think of putting there? Well, one of the most original and fun places in the capital with an immense leisure offer, on a par with one of the best European cities.
Madrid Río Park is a linear park with a surface area of 1,210,881 m2 that runs parallel to the Manzanares River and stretches from the Puente de los Franceses to the Nudo Sur.
Following the course of the river you will find no less than nine dams, more than 33,000 trees, just over 200,000 square metres of meadows, as well as sports and leisure facilities, river parks, bridges, monuments and a beach. I warned you.
In short, Madrid Río is, more than a park, a declaration of intent about the city's stance towards nature, local flora and fauna. An urbanistic turn towards the avant-garde while respecting the environment.
You won't believe all that Madrid Río offers to anyone who wants to walk along its paths, such as the Avenida de Portugal boulevard. From leisurely strolls to three stages for cultural activities, from facilities for an infinite number of sports to plenty of river fun.
If you like it, it's probably in Madrid Río. Here you'll find everything from football pitches, both 7-a-side and 11-a-side, and basketball courts to tennis and paddle tennis courts. But that's not all, they have thought of skateboarding fans with a great track and a total of 33 sports courts for other disciplines on wheels such as skating.
Is that the end of it? Not at all, seven petanque courts, climbing areas with a climbing wall and no less than 30 kilometres of bicycle lanes.
These paths, known as cycle paths, not only allow cyclists to enjoy the new area of Madrid Río, but also connect them to different points in the capital to continue their route.
For example, the northern part of Madrid Río is already connected to the Casa de Campo thanks to a new footbridge over the M-30. In addition, at the junction of Avenida de Valladolid, very close to the Puente de los Franceses, there is the possibility of linking up with the Senda Real, which goes as far as Manzanares el Real.
The southern area is connected to the Parque Tierno Galván and the Parque lineal Manzanares Sur, our next stop.
In the summer of 2022, a section was inaugurated linking Madrid Río with the Parque Lineal del Manzanares, both for pedestrians and cyclists.
Its importance was thought to be great but time has shown that it was vital and very necessary for the city, as, in addition to the aforementioned link, it connects ten districts of the capital; Fuencarral-El Pardo, Moncloa-Aravaca, Centro, Latina, Carabanchel, Arganzuela, Usera, Puente de Vallecas, Villaverde and Villa de Vallecas.
This is an urban beach in the heart of Madrid. Playa Madrid Río is an area of some 6,500 square metres that is home to an oasis of water and fun. And whoever thinks it is only for children should visit it and then think again.
There are three aquatic areas in the Parque de Arganzuela. Each enclosure has a different purpose, and you can see it in the way it is built; the first one is made to lie down and enjoy the water, the second one has numerous water jets capable of reaching great heights and different shapes and effects, and the third one creates clouds of sprayed water.
With a total of 33 overpasses and bridges, Madrid Río is not only a new meeting place, leisure and natural space for everyone, but it is also a real attraction for photo hunters, easily making it onto the list of the most Instagrammable places in Madrid.
Although the Segovia and King's bridges are beautiful and offer great views, they can't compare to the Huerta de la Partida viewpoint, with a monumental Madrid headed by the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace.
Other viewpoints we recommend are the one at Glorieta de San Vicente and the one at the monumental bridge in Arganzuela.
The promenade known as Salón de Pinos is, without a doubt, the green backbone of this great urban development project. It is 30 metres wide and more than six kilometres long and provides access to some of the six large gardens that form the lungs of Madrid Río.
These gardens are: Jardines Aniceto Marinas, Jardines de Virgen del Puerto, Jardines Bajos del Puente de Segovia, Jardines del Puente de Toledo, Parque de la Arganzuela and Matadero. We should also add the Campo del Moro garden, because although it does not belong to Madrid Río, it is right in front of its boundary and is well worth a visit.
If all this were not enough for the kings and queens of the house, Madrid Río offers some corners, many in fact, for the enjoyment of the little ones. For this, it has a total of 17 playgrounds and swings, all the sports area mentioned above including the climbing wall, 12 play tables, a total of 63 fountains and the now famous slides of Madrid Río.
With so much green space, it's no wonder you feel like having a picnic, one of the new family plans in Madrid that we highly recommend. But if your friends or family don't fancy it and you want to enjoy the comfort of a restaurant, don't worry because Madrid Río has a wide range of restaurants, from terraces to bars and cafés.
Like the whole city of Madrid, Madrid Río is very well connected and you have several ways to get there, thanks to its large size and numerous connections.
Madrid Río Underground: Start your visit at Príncipe Pío (Line 6 and Line 10) or Puerta del Ángel (Line 6). You can also opt for Marqués de Vadillo (Line 5), Usera (Line 6), Legazpi (Line 6 and Line 3) and Almendrales (Line 3).
Buses to Madrid Río: 6, 8, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 45, 46, 47, 50, 59, 62, 65, 75, 76, 78, 79, 85, 86, 116, 118, 119, 123, 138, 148, 156, 180, 247, C1, C2, SE730, T32, N12, N14, N15, N16, N18, N19, N20, N26.
Trains to Madrid Río: Príncipe Pío – Pirámides.
Bicimad: Stations 161, 165, 169, 174, 177, 212, 213, 222, 223, 228.
