No one is going to force you to try tapas, watch bullfighters flash their fiercely red rags, wear your throat out cheering Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, or hunt down bargains at el Rastro, although they are an inseparable part of the Madridian identity. But when you're in the Spanish capital and miss the following ten, you'll simply leave out the tastiest morsels that may not be served again. Bon appetite.
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Photo by van Ort
A sparkling jewel in the Bourbon crown, this artistic trio consists of 3 most significant Spanish museums, or at least ones that cannot be missed on any account. The world-famous Museo del Prado, among its numerous treasures, glorifies the likes of Velázquez, Goya, and Rubens. The Museo Nacional...
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Photo by IgnisFatuus
Whether seen from afar or up close, the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial makes its royal connotations immediately obvious. The ideally symmetrical square, with four towers marking its corners, is home to a monastery, two palaces and a library that boasts as many as 40,000 volumes founded b...
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Photo by Esetena
When Jean Botin founded his modest inn at the beginning of the 18th century, little did he imagine that after nearly 300 years he will end up in The Guinness Book of Records. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the oldest restaurant in the world. Located just off Madrid's Plaza Mayor in a charming h...
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Photo by Hitchhicker
Bordered on the east by the Campo del Moro and glued to the frontal Plaza Oriente, the Palace makes you go 'wow' even before you enter its lavish interior decorated to the sophisticated tastes of Charles III. Inside you will be served a royal feast of splendor in a 400-meter square dining hall, f...
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Photo by Marrovi
They say a historic square is always a beating heart of a city, and if this holds truth, then Madrid has its blood pumped by at least 5 of them. The grand arcaded Plaza Mayor is perhaps the one that gets the whole system going, and since it was built during the Habsburg period, it has been the ce...
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Photo by Markus Wirkner
A sweeping oasis of peace and greenery, Retiro Park is where the monarchs used to look for retiro (rest) and muse over the state's weighty matters. Today it is a favorite Sunday afternoon hang-out spot for Madrileños and tourists alike, and the vicinity of the Prado Museum means you can combine...
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Photo by Michael.chlistalla
When something is unconditionally beautiful, it doesn't need any make-up or special setting to be appreciated. Yet we do recommend visiting the site after dark, when it's fantastically illuminated and its image reflects in shimmering water. Sitting on a hilltop in Parque del Oeste, the 2nd centur...
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Photo by icyFrance
If you're in for a night of gaudy entertainment, laugh your head off and yield to the animated ambiance of the truly artistic madhouse - The Bourbon Cafe. Everything you see or experience here will haunt your imagination long after you come back home, from the fiercely tangerine walls, an extensi...
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Photo by prevostmazp
One thing is to give Madrid a due time roaming its sassy grounds; quite another is to watch it buzz from up high. Located in picturesque Casa de Campo , Madrid's outstanding park, El Teleferico whisks you 40m above Plaza de España, the Royal Palace, the Aeronautical Museum, and the Atletico Madr...
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Gran Via
Photo by Emmenis
This is where you can buy the best pair of designer jeans ever, see the latest theater productions, take part in a gay parade, or just delight in the sweet urban clamor. In other words, Gran Via oozes the essence of modern Madrid, serves as a favorite meeting point, and a splendid example of a pl...
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