Things To Do In Madrid
There's an allure about Spanish culture that seemingly never fails to draw in admirers the world over. At the heart of this European phenomenon is Madrid, the vibrant centre of Castilian Spain. From a nightlife of scarcely matched diversity, to art and history, there's no shortage of things to do in this bustling Iberian capital.
At CityXplora we like to kick things off with amazing sightseeing. The Madrid City Tour is an open-top sightseeing bus tour that ferries visitors around all of the city's top landmarks and attractions. Hop-on hop-off at numerous stops across two routes and get easy transport between the famous plazas, cathedrals and parks.
Things to do in Madrid don't come much better than the renowned art museums of the 'Golden Triangle' in the centre of the city. Three institutions comprise this exclusive club: The Museo Nacional Del Prado, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The Prado Museum is the most visited of the three, but you can skip its queue by booking a guided exhibition tour.
To the west of the art museum district stretches the wondrous and ornate Gran Via shopping street. Gran Via is Madrid's best known nightlife area, with an upscale succession of bars, restaurants, clubs and theatres. There's some great Flamenco venues located in and around Gran Via, these include Torres Bermejas, a spectacular building whose interior represents that of the Granada Alhambra. You'll be able to enjoy a show by professional guitarists, singers and dancers while eating dinner.
When it comes to shopping in Madrid you're by no means limited to Gran Via. The Las Rozas Village Shopping Experience is a full day's coach trip to the Las Rozas retail outlet, a place containing over 100 top band stores and kids playgrounds. Las Rozas is tax free and unmatched in terms of variety.
Travel north of the city centre and you can do a tour of Bernabeu Stadium, home to Real Madrid F.C. The Bernabeu tour is self-guided, but a number of history/sightseeing tours can take you amazing places just a short drive outside the city. Things to do in Madrid needn't be limited to Madrid itself, as you set out by coach towards cultural wonders such as medieval Toledo, the Walls of Avila and Roman Segovia [save 10% on this tour], and the Monastery of El Escorial and Basilica of the Valley of the Fallen.