10 reasons to visit Madrid: world-class tourism is often overlooked

Besides its world-class museums, good climate and arguably Europe’s best nightlife, Spain’s capital, located right in the center of the country Spain, is often overlooked in favor of Spain’s beach

Besides its world-class museums, good climate and arguably Europe’s best nightlife, Spain’s capital, located right in the center of the country Spain, is often overlooked in favor of Spain’s beachside resorts.

Madrid is not without reason home of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization).

Here are among the 10 best reasons to sightsee in Spain’s capital.

1. Zip through the streets of the city and see the sights the easy way on a Segway. Rides are organized for groups of up to 10 people who go off together around central Madrid. www.madsegs.com

2. Admire the Baroque grandeur of the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) built by Felipe V. It’s one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe with over 2,800 rooms, including a throne room and the hall of mirrors. Today the current royals live elsewhere, though official receptions are still held here. www.esmadrid.com/en/royal-palace-madrid

3. Be moved by Picasso’s most famous (and huge!) black and white painting, Guernica, at the Reina Sofia Museum. He created it to bring attention to the horrors of the bombing of Guernica town in Basque Country by German and Italian planes in 1937. www.museoreinasofia.es/en

4. Worship top football stars (including former Real Madrid player David Beckham) on the Stadium tour Real Madrid.

5. Cruise through the famous Plaza de Espana where you will see a statue of Spanish writer, Cervantes. At the writer’s feet is a bronze of his most well-known characters, Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. It’s a popular tourist square and near to the Royal Palace.

6. Stop for coffee in the Plaza Mayor, one of the grand squares in the heart of Madrid. Originally used as a venue bull fighting, it burned down in 1790. Now it’s full of cafes and shops. Stop for coffee in the Plaza Mayor, one of the grand squares in the heart of Madrid.

7. Climb on board an open-top ‘hop-on/hop-off’ bus tour to discover the city’s sites: Two routes cover both ancient and modern attractions and the one or two-day pass is valid on both.

8. Go behind the scenes and discover how a dictator lived. You can tour Generalísimo Franco’s private rooms in the Real Palacio de El Pardo, a palace just outside the center, where Franco lived after the Civil War in Spain.

9. Take to the skies and get the best aerial view of Madrid from the Teleferico Madrid cable car. It takes you on a 2.5km trip over the Casa de Campo. www.teleferico.com/en/tour

10. Dine out at famous roast dishes at El Sobrino de Botin, which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is said to be the world’s oldest restaurant at more than 300 years old. One of the most popular dishes is cochinillo (suckling pig).

For more information on Madrid, see: http://www.esmadrid.com/en/portal.do

About the author

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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