EMBRACE THE ART
Madrid’s love of art is legendary, with the Paseo del Arte (Art Walk)
being the cultural heart of the city. You’ll need at least a full day to
discover the three museums along this 1.2-mile stretch housed in
buildings constructed in the late 1700s; the Prado, alone, houses
8,600 paintings and 700 sculptures! Be sure to see the incredible Goya
collection there, especially Saturn Devouring His Son, as well as the
Velazquez and El Greco masterpieces in the collection. 2019 marks the
Prado’s 200th anniversary.
Take in Spain’s modern art at the Reina Sofia Museum, where Picasso,
Dali, Miró and other Spanish greats of the 20th Century are featured.
Don’t miss Guernica, Picasso’s massive masterwork, recounting the
tragedy of the Spanish Civil War. At the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum,
you’ll find classic works ranging from Caravaggio to Monet, Degas, Van
Gogh, Chagall, and Hopper. If you download The Essential Art Walk app,
it can help guide you to the 24 essential artworks found in each museum.
If purchasing fine art is on your vacation agenda, find your way to
Barrio de Salamanca, where high-end art galleries define this elegant
district of town. Las Salesas, Conde Duque, and Barrio de Las Letras
boast even more galleries in this art-loving town. And looking is always
free, of course!
AROUND TOWN
To drink up the atmosphere of Madrid, begin at the Plaza Mayor,
which is the heart of the old city. Say hello to the statue of Philip III
and have a coffee in one of the outdoor cafes dotting the square. Start
wandering and you’ll soon discover the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real
Opera House, and numerous massive churches along the way. When
you come across the 200 BC Egyptian Temple of Debod, a gift to Spain
from the Egyptian government, you’ll have to remind yourself that
you’re in Spain, not Egypt. Stop to rest and enjoy the beautiful gardens
there. When you’re ready for more natural beauty, continue to El
Retiro Park, with its extensive greenery, massive fountains, sculptures,
and famed Glass Palace.
No matter where you stroll, there’s plenty to see; and if you decide
you’d rather ride, Madrid offers a guided hop-on, hop-off bus that
takes two routes: one through historical Madrid and another through
modern Madrid. Modern stops include the Real Madrid soccer stadium
and the must-see Plaza de Castilla, with its Torres KIO towers — huge
buildings tilted at a 15-degree angle and a golden obelisk — that marks
the 300th anniversary of Madrid’s existence.
Madrid has an extensive Metro subway, taxis, lots of public buses, and
even the BiciMAD electric bike rental system with 123 docking stations
throughout the city, so alternatives to walking are plenty. Buy a Tourist
Travel Pass at any Metro station for use on all public transport and ride
all day for as many days as you choose.
ENTERTAIN THE KIDS
If your visit to Madrid includes bringing children along for the fun,
there’s entertainment galore for the kiddies. What youngster wouldn’t
like The Robot Museum that features a massive collection of all sorts
of robots, including a humanoid as well as the “Star Wars” androids?
That’s in the Malasana district, while a bit further out of town in San
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Martin de la Vega is the Parque Warner Madrid (Warner Bros. Theme
Park Madrid), which is filled with rollercoasters, superheroes like
Batman and Superman, and much more.
The Madrid Zoo Aquarium in the Casa de Campo area of Madrid will
enthrall the animal lovers in the family, with everything from koalas and
giant pandas to penguins, bull sharks, and sea turtles. Visit Faunia in the
Otros district to see even more critters in a biological park that presents
ecological systems ranging from jungles to polar regions and beyond.
Also in Casa de Campo is the Parque de Atracciones, a perfect-for-kids
amusement park complete with Nickelodeon Land, wild rollercoasters,
and bumper cars. You can even experience the terror installation of
The Walking Dead — there’s fun for children of all ages here. Families
can venture to the Aquopolis de San Fernando, a huge water park right
in town, or venture out of the city to the Aquopolis Villanueva de la