16 Jul 2024 You're probably desperate to get to the Spanish capital and start getting to know it. No doubt you already know what the most important places and monuments in Madrid are, but do you know the best places away from the tourists?
There is no doubt that you have to see the most emblematic places and eat the most traditional food, such as the best restaurants to try cocido madrileño, but surely you also want to see what only locals enjoy.
To get around like a local you need to know the city as well as they do. But if you don't have time to learn, here's a list of the best things to do and places to visit if you want to go against the grain of the other tourists and enjoy what seems to be reserved for only a few.
In our list we are going to review places that are in the hearts of the people of Madrid, who visit them frequently or which, despite their beauty, are overshadowed by other more well-known and visited monuments.
Non-tourist activities are what the real Madrileños do. And if you want to be one of them, you have to move like they move, in their favourite spots.
One of the best atmospheres in the city is around Latroupe Prado. They never stop organising plans and they have the Madrid late night and nightlife in full swing.
Stop by Latroupe Prado to attend one of its many events, such as concerts, group activities and even art exhibitions by young talents, with works of art scattered throughout the lobby. You have to live it to understand it.
We carry on with a well-known landmark. Its advantage is, at the same time, its disadvantage, its proximity to other emblematic monuments of Madrid. These monuments are none other than the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral.
The gardens are very well kept, and are considered one of the most beautiful corners of the city. It boasts spectacular ornamental and architectural design, as well as extensive flora and numerous statues by the sculptor after whom the garden is named.
It may not be given the credit it deserves and fewer visitors discover it than it should. It would be a completely secret and enchanting corner if it were not the garden of the Royal Palace, although no one can take away the magic of watching a sunset by its pond.
Close by, don't forget to visit the Campo del Moro, an elegant and beautiful place from where you can enjoy incredible views of the Royal Palace. Queen María Cristina ordered its creation in the 19th century.
It was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in the 1930s and you can't leave without seeing the Palacio de las Conchas and the Tritones fountain.
Paseo del General Martínez Campos, 37
Overshadowed by the great museums of Madrid, mainly the Art Triangle formed by the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía, the smaller museums often go unnoticed.
In any other city, these museums would get all the attention, but in a major European capital like Madrid, they are sometimes unfairly relegated to the background.
But that is what we are here for. Although born in Valencia and in love with the sea until his last days, Joaquín Sorolla lived most of his life in Madrid, where he died in 1923. The people of Madrid feel the Impressionist painter as their own, and it is not surprising to see the museum full of locals and children on excursions.
The museum's complete collection has more than 1,200 works, including paintings and the numerous engravings he left behind, as well as original documents about his life, which will delight fans of the painter and art in general.
By the way, if you are a true art lover, another little corner you will fall in love with is the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, in Calle de Serrano, 122. Lázaro Galdiano, a very successful financier and businessman with a great fortune, was also a great art lover and collector.
Visit this museum to discover some of the more than 9,000 treasures he left behind in his private collection, which ranges from canvases, sculptures and engravings to jewellery, coins and even armour.
In addition to the building itself being a true work of art, period furniture and works by artists of the stature of Goya, Velázquez, Zurbarán and Murillo await you inside.
After so much walking and seeing so much art, aren't you a little hungry? As well as sampling some of the best squid sandwich bars, we have a unique proposition that Madrileños are very proud of; visit the oldest restaurant in the world.
Open and in operation since 1725, Restaurante Botín has been so important in the daily life of the people of Madrid that it has even been an important part of the life and work of authors such as Gómez de la Serna, Hemingway or Benito Pérez Galdós.
In the Restaurante Sobrino de Botín, as it was also known, you will enjoy true Castilian food of the highest quality, from garlic soup to suckling pig. Stop by the city centre, at Calle Cuchilleros, 17, to savour a piece of Madrid's history.
After having talked about the Jardines de Sabatini, it is very difficult to draw your attention back to a park. But the charm of this square with green areas is not the ornamentation of its hedges or its water fountain.
The real interest of this place is, firstly, its history, which you can learn about through photos from the 1930s to the present day in one of the bars that guard it, and secondly, its atmosphere.
Plaza de Olavide is surrounded by cocktail bars and cafés with great terraces and a totally spectacular atmosphere. Let yourself be carried away by its good vibes and start an afternoon stroll from Plaza de Olavide.
Now we are really going to a park, although this one has everything a great park should have, and much more. Almost 100 hectares of trees and green areas that provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of Madrid.
But not only that, the Parque del Oeste hides, in addition to beautiful paths and trails covered by centenary trees, three big surprises.
The first is one of the world's favourite tourist attractions: the Temple of Debod. An Egyptian temple from the 2nd century B.C., a gift from the Egyptian government, surrounded by water that always attracts stares, photos and curious onlookers.
The second surprise is the 15,000 square metres of rose bushes, which you can see from the cable car. There is even an annual rose flower arranging competition here.
The third surprise is not technically inside the park, although neither is the Temple of Debod, but they are so close, we count them as one. The final surprise is the breathtaking views from the Mirador de la Montaña de Príncipe Pío. It's a real treat to see a sunset here.
Whether or not you are religious, whether or not you like architecture or even painting, you have to come here. More than advice, it is almost an order. The reason? Francisco de Goya.
You don't need to go far, if you've followed our directions, you'll now be in the Parque del Oeste, so you're just a few steps away from this hermitage and its parish church, right next door.
Here is the impressive late 18th century religious building decorated with frescoes by the famous international Spanish painter Goya. It was declared a National Monument in 1905, and since 1919, the painter's remains have rested here. There is also a small museum inside.
In the heart of the cosmopolitan and always lively neighbourhood of Lavapiés, you'll find this old church that will leave you open-mouthed. Now converted into a library, this former holy place has a special charm, mixing sepulchral silence with exposed brick and the smell of books.
You can round off the experience by visiting the San Fernando Market for a snack and, of course, don't forget to get lost in the Lavapiés neighbourhood. It's one of our favourite things to do, you'll fall in love with a neighbourhood that offers as much entertainment as it does good vibes. And, of course, you can´t forget about Malasaña, more than just an area or neighborhood.
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04 Sept 2024 