As one of Europe’s top cities, Madrid is the perfect place for the wanderlust-afflicted intern. From beautiful architecture and world-class museums to Sunday markets and hidden restaurants, Madrid has something for everyone. We’ve narrowed down the endless tourist attractions to make a list of the best sightseeing opportunities in Madrid.
If you want to experience the culture and history of Spain, Madrid offers a range of amazing museums, each extremely unique. The Museo del Prado is internationally recognized as one of the most notable museums, especially for European art. The Reina Sofia museum houses Picasso’s infamous ‘Guernica’. This moving piece displays the tragedies during the Spanish Civil War when the Basque country was bombed. Madrid’s museums are the best place to get a better sense of your host country.
You couldn’t complete a trip to Madrid without seeing a few places which characterize the country’s culture. Puerta del Sol, a square in the centre of the city, is not only the symbolic heart of the capital but a geographic one as well. Literally translated as ‘Gate of the Sun’, the Puerta del Sol is the meeting point for the 6 main streets in Madrid, making it the hub of the city. It also contains the famous clock tower which Spaniards gather under at New Year. El Palacio Real is another must-see landmaek. It’s the largest royal palace in western Europe and you can take a tour round the gorgeous grounds and discover more about Madrid’s history.
Madrid is famous for tapas, small snacks that can be served at any time of the day and are amazing with a glass of sangria! Chorizo, calamari, manchego cheese, jamón serrano, olives and chopitos all characterize the city’s cuisine. There are hundreds of tapas bars with authentic, fresh food that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Interns can also pay a visit the San Miguel Market, one of the oldest markets in Madrid. With beautiful glass walls and an amazing atmosphere, the market offers gourmet food at an affordable price.
Madrid boasts extensive green areas throughout the city. It has a total of 33 million square meters of parkland distributed between more than 40 parks. Retiro Park is probably Madrid’s most famous park. It has huge green spaces, a rose garden, and the beautiful Palacio de Cristal. Park-goers can even rent a small boat and row on the lake. Weekends find the park full of street performers, shows and theater. Other parks to visit also include la Casa de Campo, Parque Del Oeste (amazing for seeing Madrid’s skyline) and el Jardín Botánico.
For interns who love bargain hunting, el Rastro is the perfect place to spend your Sunday morning. As the most popular open air flea market in Madrid, you can spend hours going from stall to stall finding antiques and trinkets for great prices.
Photos:
1. Madrid, Spain, by Petr Meissner, CC BY 2.0
2. Spain-32, by Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
3. Atardece en el Retiro, by Gregorio Puga Bailon, CC BY-SA 2.0