Buen Retiro Park
Buen Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in the center of Madrid that is a great place to walk, sunbathe, take photos, and ride paddleboats. Retiro Park is definitely a must see when you come to Madrid and is a beautiful place to go on a sunny day. It’s full of trees, cafés, fountains, and people. There is even a metro station, Retiro that leads you right into the park.
Parque del Retiro Madrid
Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is one of the biggest plazas to see in Madrid, and is surrounded by many shops and right around the corner is the world famous Chocolatería San Ginés, which is famous for their churros and chocolate. In this plaza, you can also find the Zero Kilometer Origin of Spain, which is very cool to see because this is the location from which distances were traditionally measured.
Plaza Mayor
Another one of Spain’s biggest plazas is Plaza Mayor. Plaza Mayor is in the center of Madrid and is one of the big tourist attractions in the capital. The plaza is rectangular shaped and contains 237 balconies facing the Plaza. In the center there is a bronze statue of King Philip III. The architecture of the plaza is very distinct and vintage, and it is a beautiful place to see and we promise you’ll get those likes!
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is definitely “insta worthy.” From the outside, it almost mimics Buckingham Palace with its gate and big front entrance. Behind the palace is the royal gardens, which is another must see. The inside of the palace is full of color and chandeliers and is everything you would want to see in a palace.
San Miguel Market
San Miguel Market is located a few blocks from Plaza Mayor and is a great place to try Iberian food. They offer food from a variety of fish, to meats, to olives, to tapas, to cups of Espresso, to Spanish desserts; they have it all and they have something for everyone. This market is definitely something you don’t want to miss!
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace is located in Buen Retiro Park and is surrounded by glass windows. It was designed in the shape of a Greek cross, and is used as an art exhibition now. It is visited by thousands of tourists each year, and the signs ask that the visitors do not speak when they are in the palace because when it is silent you can hear a clicking sound that echoes through the building, although a lot of times no one is quiet.
Puerta de Alcalá
Puerta de Alcalá is a big arch that is in the center of Madrid and is very similar to the infamous Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Puerta de Alcalá is very close to the entrance of Buen Retiro Park and makes for a perfect Instagram photo. It is a beautiful archway that is in the center of a traffic circle and is surrounded by a patch of flowers. When you see this monument in person, you’ll understand why it makes for a great Instagram photo.
