The nearest airport Barajas (IATA: MAD) is about 20 km away.
Things to do in Madrid
1. Teatro Real
The Teatro Real (literally Royal Theatre) or simply El Real (as it is known colloquially), is a major opera house located in Madrid, Spain.
2. Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is a museum and art gallery located in Madrid, the capital of Spain. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection.
3. Palacio de Cristal
The Palacio de Cristal (" Crystal Palace" ) is a glass and metal structure located in Madrid's Buen Retiro Park. It was built in 1887 to exhibit flora and fauna from the Philippines. The architect was Ricardo Velázquez Bosco.
4. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, or in Spanish Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, is an art gallery near the Prado Museum in Madrid. It is known as a part of the " Golden Triangle of Art" which also includes the Prado and the Reina Sofia galleries. The Thyssen-Bornemisza fills the historical gaps in its counterparts' collections: in the Prado's case this includes Italian primitives and works from the English, Dutch and German schools, while in the case of the Reina Sofia the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection,
5. Matadero Madrid
Matadero Madrid is a former slaughterhouse in the Arganzuela district of Madrid, which has been converted to an arts centre. Matadero Madrid is a lively, constantly changing space at the service of creative processes, participatory artistic training and dialogue between the arts. It was set up to help reflect on the contemporary sociocultural environment and support processes to build the culture of today and tomorrow. A lab for experimentation and promoting new cross-disciplinary formulae.
6. Temple of Debod
The Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple which was rebuilt in Madrid, Spain.
7. Royal Palace of Madrid
The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the King of Spain, located in Madrid. King Juan Carlos and the royal family do not reside in this palace, instead choosing the smaller Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. However, the Palacio Real de Madrid is still used for state occasions.
8. National Archaeological Museum of Spain
The National Museum of Archaeology (Spanish: Museo Nacional de Arqueología) of Spain (officially known as National Archaeological Museum before 2009) is in Madrid, beside the Plaza de Colón (Columbus Square), sharing its building with the National Library.
If you have already seen Madrid, there are still plenty of things to do on the outskirts of the city. If you are around, try one of the following places:
- Estatua del Oso y el Madroño
- Puerta del Sol
- Kilómetro Cero, Madrid
- Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
If you're interested in some photographs of Madrid - take a look at our gallery
