Travel Spain: A Sightseeing Tour of Madrid

I rose early on the morning of June 1, 2010 to leave for my drive to Madrid from Salamanca. I had lucked out with another gorgeous day and drove eastwards through the Spanish Meseta and over the Sierra de Guadarama Mountains into the capital Madrid. After a fairly easy search I was able to locate the airport and return my rental car shortly before noon.

At the airport tourist information booth I asked about how to get to my hotel on the Gran Via and was given the explanation that I just had to catch the subway, change once at the Nuevos Ministerios subway stop and then exit at Plaza de Espana, one of Madrid's most important squares.

I was able to find my hotel quite easily: the Alcazar Regis is a simple 2-star property right on the Gran Via, Madrid's most impressive grand boulevard. What surprised me is that the hotel was located on the fifth floor of a building as part of a former apartment. It features 14 bedrooms and mine was a simple, single room with ensuite bathroom, a perfect base for me two days in Madrid.

After I had gotten settled I headed back out into the city and to get a lay of the land I embarked on one of the popular hop-on / hop-off double-decker bus tours called Madrid Vision. I figured this was one of the best ways of getting an overview of the city. Sure enough, our tour covered all of Madrid's major sites: Plaza Espana, Palacio Real, Plaza Mayor, Puerto del Sol, Calle de Alcala, Gran Via, Paseo del Prado, Museum Row (Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Museo Reina Sofia), the Atocha Train Station and the Salamanca neighbourhood. Then we returned on the Gran Via where I exited to walk down to the Puerta del Sol, Madrid's liveliest square. I walked along Calle de Alcala, which features astounding early 20th century architecture and admired a colourful photo exhibit by an African photographer.

From here I walked over on the pedestrian Calle Arenal to the Royal Palace and the Opera House. I also admired the recently completed Cathedral La Almudena before I started walking back east again on the Calle Miguel. By accident I stumbled upon the Mercado San Miguel, a beautiful early 20th century market building that is a popular gathering spot. Then I hopped back on the sightseeing bus, stopped off at the historic Atocha Train Station and made my way into the Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid's scenic urban park. I admired the Palacio de Cristal and the action around the Estanque, the big pond that is the heart of this park.

In the evening I enjoyed a delicious vegetarian dinner at a place called Salad and Co. before I embarked on a sunset walk through the Puerta del Sol area which was thriving with locals, tourists and street performers. As night fell I headed back to my hotel on the grandly illuminated Gran Via for another day of explorations in Madrid.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Travel
• Europe
• Spain
• Madrid
• Plaza de España
• Gran Via
• Palacio Real
• Plaza Mayor
• Puerta del Sol
• Calle de Alcala
• Paseo del Prado
• Prado Museum
• Thyssen-Bornemisza
• Museo Reina Sofia
• Atocha Train Station
• Retiro Park
• Parque del Buen Retiro
• Palacio de Cristal
• Crystal Palace

[tisay87]

I want to visit different cities in Spain next year. Just curious because my homeland was colonized by Spain for more than 300 years.

[travelandtransitions]

@tisay87: Spain is indeed a fascinating country.

[CarmelaBianchi]

To the creator if this video- thank you. The idea of the Gran Via tour bus sounds great. I will be traveling there soon and your experience will prove useful. A little shaky on the camera but other than that good. Thanks!

I wish the other commenters would either stay on subject or leave. This is not a forum for racial disputes! Idiots!!! Idiotas!!!

[travelandtransitions]

@CarmelaBianchi: Thank you so much for your kind response. I am glad you found the information helpful. Have a great day....

[AnonymousNKY]

@travelandtransitions

I spent 3 incredible weeks in Madrid. It is the most vibrant, friendly, unique, and fun city that I've ever been to. Aside from the amazing food and architecture, the incomparable history, and the very gracious and warm Madrilenos, the nightlife is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Though you only traveled a very, very, VERY small way in this video, you certainly did the city and culture more justice than those overdone videos of discos and/or museums! Good job!

[travelandtransitions]

@AnonymousNKY: Thank you for your kind comments - I really appreciate them. It is indeed my goal to present the destinations I visit in an honest and authentic way. You won't find an overdone video of a disco or museum on my profile...:-)

Yes, Madrid is indeed a phenomenal city - accessible, friendly, vibrant - a great destination overall. Have a great day...

[HunterOfDulIards]

@av0159 I thought so too, I thought he was Brazilian because of his very suspicious connection with the Italo-Brazilian clown, "Bruno" (Browno), but after he stupidly recorded his voice trying to sound like Jeff Foxworthy it became very obvious that he's a Negro gangbanger from the Bronx. Notice he quickly realized his blunder, after several of us started pointing it out to other people, and has now taken down the self-exposing audio clip and replaced it with some music:

/watch?v=uyIm03iSnWY

[irishmckiddo]

@av0159 im irish and there a gypsies here too

[BoyChibi]

wow. this one country took over all of Latin America, and had the best navy at the time. its amazing to research my last name that originated form Spain ( Torres or Towers in Spanish) Now I want to know more about my ancestors and visit The country they came from!

[TheMat789]

such nice video ....you`re spanish is really good let me tell that.....thanks

[TheKoster1978]

@av0159

And about Italy too... I think is the guy called Thorin0

[captSEAsianT]

@tisay87 You and I have the same reasons for wanting to go to Spain! I'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels that way! I just find myself so curious because the Spanish influence in my mother country is still VERY evident and tightly embedded into the culture..

[TheReolus]

@Joesdreamgirl9 Did you like your stay in Madrid?

[TheReolus]

@tisay87 If you want to know really beautiful cities to visit and not just Madrid (which is extremly beautiful also) send me a message.

[LibertarianEurope]

@tisay87 I live in Madrid and I recommend you to visit Barcelona, Madrid and Sevilla.