Madrid, the capital of Spain

The capital of Spain, Madrid, is not as well known as some of the other iconic cities of mainland Europe like Paris, Rome and Berlin. But Madrid packs a great deal of charm with its elegant boulevards, beautiful buildings and thoughtfully designed public places.

Airport to city centre

Bajaras international airport is located 18kms from Madrid city center. There are plenty of options to get to the city.

Metro is a great and a cheap option provided you are carrying limited luggage. Do note Metro does not operate for a few hours in the night.

Taxis too are very convenient and charge a flat Euros 30 to the city center. Takes about 30 minutes.

Buses have limited stops and though cheap, may not be suitable for all.

Welcome pickups will have a driver wait for you at the gate, can be booked in advance and costs Euros 35 to the city center. Good option and not much expensive compared to a normal taxi.

Other options include private taxis with meet and greet as well renting a car. There is also a commuter train service from Terminal 4.

Commuting in the city

Buying a pass valid on Metro as well as buses is the best option, combined with select taxi trips where necessary. But be prepared to walk as that that will be required a fair bit and it is a pleasure to walk around Madrid.

What to see and do

Madrid has its share of steel and glass skyscrapers but the city center is full of old classical buildings, something I am very fond of. Places of attraction include…

Prado Museum rated as one of best art museums in the world with one of the finest collections of European art.

Royal palace; the Royal family does not live here anymore but is used for State ceremonies. Very impressive edifice. I did not go in but if you are keen, a guided tour can be completed in under an hour.

Retiro park; very popular with the locals. It is filled with monuments, a metal and glass Crystal palace, a boating lake and hosts variety of events. I went there on the evening on the day of my arrival and I thought it was a nice place to beat the jetlag.

Gran via which is full of shops and restaurants and it is Madrid’s most famous street.

Puerta de sol which is full of statues and monuments.

Templo de Debod-the Egyptian temple located very close to the Royal palace.

Neighbourhoods like Barrio de Las Letras(Literary Quarter) and Malasana.

Flamenco show and Tapas – Plenty of places to enjoy Flamenco show and Tapas but I chose to do this in Seville where it is said to have originated.

Bull fighting is not for all but head to Las Ventas if you are keen. Click the button to read more.

Bull fighting in Madrid..

Santiago Bernabeu stadium is a must visit for football fans. I could not get in as there was a 3 hours waiting time.

Atocha railway station is also a very beautiful building and a tropical forest has been created inside the big dome. I have not seen anything like this in any other train station.

I chose hotel locations in a way so I could walk to many of the attractions. Else Metro is a good option. Hop on Hop off may not be very useful or necessary.

Check out the illuminations in the night

It is also nice to step out after dark and check out the buildings that are illuminated. Getting dark could mean after 10pm! Helps if you are in the city centre.

Options for day trips

There are few good options for a day trips out of Madrid – Toledo, a UNESCO heritage site, Segovia, Wine region, Cordoba, Royal palace of Aranjuez, Cuenca and Valencia. Technically, even Seville and Barcelona can be covered in a day as the high speed train takes ~2.45hours one way. If you take the early morning train, you can get a good 8 hours to go around. But both these cities require more time.