Madrid, Spain

Madrid, Spain
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Madrid is the capital and biggest city in Spain. The municipality of Madrid is the third biggest in the European Union after London and Berlin while the metropolitan area is also the third most populous, behind Paris and London. Madrid covers an area of 698 square kilometers (234 square miles) and has a total metropolitan population of 6.3 million people.

Cuatro Torres Business Area (CTBA), Madrid
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Author: Luis Carcía
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Catedral de la Almudena, Madrid
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M-30 Ring Highway, Madrid
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Author: Luis García
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Madrid is situated on the banks of the River Manzanares, almost at the very heart of Spain. Madrid is considered the engine of the Spanish economy. It has a modern intrastructure as well as well preserved historical sights.

The city of Madrid enjoys a continental climate, with hot summers and cold, wet winters. The hottest month is June, when daily mean temperature rises to 24.8°C (77°F) and average high of 31.2°C (88°F). The coldest month is January, with average low of 2.6°C (37°F). November and December are the wettest months, with 56 mm (2.2 inches) of precipitation each.

Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid
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Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid
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Parque de la Montaña, Madrid
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Author: Luis García
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Budget Travel to Madrid

The main international gateway to Madrid is the Madrid Barajas International Airport (MAD). The airport has four terminals, include a newly built low-cost terminal. Ryanair flies to Madrid from London Stansted and London Gatwick.

Upon arriving at Madrid Airport, you can take Metro Line 8 (pink line) to downtown Madrid. The fare is €2.00. Bus 200 and 204 also goes from the airport to downtown Madrid, to Plaza Colón and Avenida de América. The same journey by taxi will set you back €32.

Templo de Debod, Madrid
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Author: Fernando Garcí Redondo
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Puerta de Alcalá, Madrid
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Author: Emilio Garciá
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Fuente de la Cibeles, Madrid
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Author: Manuel Parada López de Corselas
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Budget Travel within Madrid

The most practical way to move about in Madrid is to take the Metro. Madrid has the second largest subway in Europe, second only to London. You should consider getting the tourist passes with allow for unlimited rides. They are available for one day (€5.20), two days (€8.80), 3 days (€11.60), 5 days (€17.60), and 7 days (€23.60). You can buy the passes at the metro stations and at some news stands.

Colegiata de San Isidro, Madrid
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Author: Enrique Cordero
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Museo del Prado, Madrid
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Author: Javier Carro
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Sights in Old Madrid

Campo del Moro
Public park with fine views of the Palacio Real.
Catedral de la Almudena
Cathedral in Neo-Gothic style dedicated to the patron.
Colegiata de San Isidro
Twin-towered church built by the Jesuits in mid-17th century, in the Baroque style.
Gran Via
A major thoroughfare in Madrid.
Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari
The oldest surviving ecclesiastical structure in Madrid, dating to 1202.
Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales
One of the few surviving buildings erected in the 16th century in Madrid.
Monasterio de la Encarnación
Augustinian convent founded in 1611 for Margaret of Austria, the wife of Felipe III, and still inhabited by nuns today.
Palacio Real
The impressive Royal Palace of Madrid built in the 18th century.
Plaza de España
Public square located at one of the busiest traffic intersections in Madrid.
Plaza de la Villa
A plaza in the middle of Madrid surrounded by historic secular buildings.
Plaza de Oriente
Public square where important state meetings took place.
Plaza Mayor
A rectangular public square where many historical events had taken place.
Puerta del Sol
Public public square in the heart of Madrid, and km-0 for distances in Spain.
Real Academia de Bellas Artes
Arts academy housed in an 18th century building by Churriguera.

Sights in Bourbon Madrid

Ateneo de Madrid
Learning association, similar to a gentleman's club, founded in 1835.
Calle de Serrano
Madrid's most trendy shopping street.
Café Gijón
The only intellectual's café still operating in Madrid.
Casa de Lope de Vega
House in which Félix Lope de Vega wrote many of his plays in the 17th century.
Congreso de los Diputados
Mid-19th century building housing the Spanish parliament.
Estación de Atocha
The old Atocha railway station, where the first railway service began in 1851.
Hotel Ritz
One of the most extravagant hotel in Spain.
Iglesia de San Jerónimo el Real
Madrid's royal church built in the 16th century by Queen Isabel.
Museo Arqueológico Nacional
One of the best museums in Madrid, with collections from the prehistoric to the 19th century.
Museo del Prado
Museum with one of the greatest collection of Spanish paintings.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Museum of 20th century art, home to Picasso's Guernica.
Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas
Museum of Decorative Arts housed in a 19th century palace overlooking the Parque del Retiro.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Museum exhibiting the extensive collection of Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his son Hans Heinrich.
Parque del Retiro
Park named after the royal palace comples of King Felipe IV that used to be located there.
Plaza Cánovas del Castillo
Roundabout named after 19th century Spanish statesman Antonio Cánovas del Castillo.
Plaza de Cibeles
One of the best known and most beautiful landmarks in Madrid.
Plaza de Colón
Large public square dedicated to Christopher Columbus.
Puerta de Alcalá
Ceremonial gateway erected by King Carlos III in 1769.
Real Academia de la Historia
The Royal Academy of History housed in an 18th century building by Juan de Villanueva.
Real Jardín Botánico
Royal Botanical Gardens of Madrid designed in 1781 by botanis Gómez Ortega and Juan de Villanueva, architect of the Prado.
Salón de Reinos
One of the two remaining parts of the Palacio del Buen Retiro.
Teatro Español
The oldest and most beautiful theatre in Madrid.

Other Sights in Madrid

Casa de Campo
Former royal hunting ground, today a popular daytime recreational area.
Cuatro Torres Business Area
Business park with some of the tallest skyscrapers in Madrid and Spain.
El Rastro
Madrid's flea market.
Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida
Neo-Classical church building erected during the reign of Carlos IV, with works of art by Goya.
La Latina
A working-class district with steep streets lined with tall, narrow houses.
Malasaña
A district of narrow streets that wears the air of old Madrid.
Museo Cerralbo
19th century mansion housing the art collection of Enrique de Aguilera y Gamboa, the 17th Marques of Cerralbo.
Museo de América
Museum housing the artifacts related to the Spanish colonization of the Americas.
Museo Lázaro Galdiano
Art museum housing the collection of editor and financier José Lázaro Galdiano.
Museo Municipal
Municipal museum with one of the finest doorways in Madrid. The museum is devoted to chronicling the history of Madrid.
Museo Sorolla
Studio-mansion of Valencian Impressionist painter Joaquín Sorolla, preserved as it was when he died in 1923.
Palacio de Liria
Palace built in 1780 and still owned by the Alba family.
Paseo de la Castellana
Busy traffic artery on the eastern part of Madrid.
Plaza de la Paja
An atmospheric public square with many interesting buildings surrounding it.
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
Beautiful building erected in 1929 where bullfighting is still being carried out.
Real Fábrica de Tapices
Royal Tapestry Factory, the only remaining such factory opened by the Bourbons in the 18th century.
Templo de Debod
The ancient Egyptian temple that was a gift to Spain as tribute to Spanish engineers involved in the construction of the Aswan Dam.

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