Puerta del Sol is undoubtedly the best starting point to visit Madrid. This busy square can be considered the very heart of the city and dotted and from it originates the Spanish road network. Several landmarks such as monuments, statues and historical buildings are found all over the square.

A visit to Madrid is not complete without having been at Prado Museum. The Spanish national museum, established in 1819, exhibits an impressive collection including 7600 paintings, 1000 sculptures and other types of work spanning over 8 centuries. The museum features world-famous art pieces by Goya and Velasquez.

Nicknamed ‘The Spanish Broadway’, Gran Via is the place to go at any time of the day. An impressive number of shopping malls, cinemas, theaters, clubs and hotels are located on this upscale street, constantly bustling with people.

Madrid is full of surprises, and the Temple of Debod is surely one of them. This ancient Egyptian temple was endangered by the construction of the Dam of Aswam, thus it was decided to dismantle it and then rebuild it in Madrid, as a sign of gratitude to Spain, which had helped Egypt preserving the famous Abu Simblel temples.

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest palace in Europe, reflecting the glory of Spain during its colonization era and featuring more than 3000 rooms filled with over-the-top decorations such as paintings by Caravaggio, Goya and Velasquez.

Teleferico is a cableway connecting Madrid with Casa de Campo, the largest park in the city that will give you spectacular views over Madrid and its main attractions. The whole trip takes just one hour or two, so this is a great attraction for the ones who will not be staying for a long time in the Spanish capital.

Not far from Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor (Main Square in English) is another fine example of great Spanish taste for architecture. This square is surrounded by an enormous three-story residential building and it boosts several picturesque cafes and street artists, which contribute to create a unique atmosphere.

Sometimes less-known and smaller museum can be as fascinating as the most important ones. This seems to apply to Sorolla Museum, which features an impressive exhibition without the hassle of queues. Originally, the building was Sorolla’s house, thus giving visitors the intimate feeling of enjoying a private collection, in contrast to other overwhelming museums.

Open flea markets can often be elected to picturesque and charming attractions of cities rather than just being the place where to buy interesting goods at cheap price. El Rastro can be easily considered among this category, and surely is a unique experience. It is held during Sundays and public holidays.

Formerly belonging to the Spanish monarchy, this park became public in the late 19th century and has since been a haven of tranquility in Madrid for visitors and Madrilenos alike. Among the highlights of the park there are several sculptures, a monument dedicated to Alfonso XII, a large artificial pond and a rose garden.