Madrid is a city so large with so many things to do, even a lifetime may not be enough to see everything . However, even if you have only a day, Madrid gives enough to make you want to came back again soon.
If you have the option to spend a weekend, we'll recommend you a route to see the emblematic part of Madrid in one day. The are tohusands of place too visit, for us, this is the basics:
• A good place to start seeing in Madrid Atocha (around involves not only the local trains, Middle Distance and High Speed, but the Metro and Express Bus coming from Barajas Airport). Inside the station, an area known as the Puerta de Atocha where you'll find an interesting "jungle". Walk out the door, you'll spend the Emperor Carlos V roundabout (with a bronze replica of the Fountain of the Artichoke) and then up the hill to the Retreat.
• The Retiro Park is quite large, and there is plenty to see, but to try to put a more or less logical, would make the journey as follows: the statue of the Fallen Angel, the Crystal Palace, the Pond with the Monument to Alfonso XII, to finish out the door northwest to the street Alcala.
• Through this door, we arrive to the legendary Puerta de Alcala, surrounded by a newly renovated space (no one has to do with its historical past) and down the street is the Fountain of Cibeles and the beginning of the Great Vía.
• Now climb the Gran Vía, walking by this avenue you will find some of the most spectacular buildings of the city. Walking by Granvia will reach the Plaza de Callao (and the poster for Schweppes famous for a handful of movies). From here, we go down one of the busiest streets in all Spain, Preciados, before reaching Puerta del Sol Now would be a good time to eat something.
We recommend to go to Plaza Santana, its near by, and there lots of restaurants en bar to have a meal.
• With renewed strength after eating, go back to Puerta del Sol, it is time to take the Main Street, pausing to see the Plaza Mayor and former City Hall of Madrid (located in the Plaza de la Villa). This whole area is known as the Madrid de los Austrias, and ends at the Almudena Cathedral, the Palacio Real and Plaza de Oriente, and the Jardines de Sabatini.
• To end a perfect day in Madrid, would climb to the viewpoint of Debod Temple (where you see the skyline of Madrid and one of the most beautiful sunsets in the city). Now relaxed, you can go to see the Plaza of Spain, to finish again in Plaza de Callao and Granvia, where one of the most famous shopping streets of Madrid you can find, Fuencarral.
We hope you enjoyed this little tour that we have prepared to spend a day in Madrid. If you have think is a bit short, we recommend that you take a look at 101 Things to Do in Madrid before Dying, where you'll find many more ideas for things to do in Madrid.
