Crystal Palace in autumn

Madrid: What makes the Spanish capital unique?

For this question, I think I cannot give you a precise answer. Madrid may lack the fame of Paris, the charm of Amsterdam, or even Berlin’s urban grittiness. But Spain’s crowning capital is simply beautiful and it has nothing to be envious of.

Located right at the center of the Iberian peninsula, Madrid had been shuffled by empires and dynasties throughout most of its history. The city was first an Arab bastion, named Mayrit, before being conquested by Christians in the 11th century. Yet the Spanish capital was a mere rural town at the time, with nothing to offer except its strategic position. Even by the 16th and 17th centuries, when Madrid was the epicenter of a vast empire, there were no buildings or landmarks that can truly reflect its grand status.

During the reign of the Bourbon kings, the city had undergone a massive makeover. Plazas, gardens, and the Royal Palace were built, which, in turn, enhanced the city’s overall appearance. Since then, Madrid has grown into a city of elegant boulevards, gorgeous mansions, and expansive parks. It has also become a gourmet temple where traditions and revolutionary ideas are embraced. It was nearly impossible to do everything the Spanish capital city had to offer for a few days. But here are some highlights of my trip.

1. Plaza Mayor

While buzzing Puerta del Sol is the heart of today’s Madrid, the center of old Madrid lies at the portico-lined Plaza Mayor. Constructed in the 16th century during the reign of Philip III, this plaza was the venue for public ceremonies and events. For instance, markets, tournaments, symphonies, and occasional auto-da-fé (execution in the name of faith). These days, the square is the first stop of many visitors to Madrid. It works well as a navigation point because many streets in Madrid’s old quarter intersect here.

Graceful in design, this Herrerian-style plaza has nine archways and is surrounded by five-story buildings. All feature vivid red facades and balconies facing the square. The main structure is elaborately decorated with angel paintings and topped with steeples. In the middle of the square stands the statue of King Philip III on horseback, one of the most valuable artworks to be found on the street of Madrid.

The beautiful facade of Plaza Mayor
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2. Royal Palace of Madrid

Not far from Plaza Mayor is the stunning Royal Palace (Palacio Real), the official residence of the Spanish royals in the city of Madrid. The construction started in the 18th century under the reign of Phillip V who wanted to build a new palace on the location of a 9th-century Alcázar (Arab fortress). With more than 3400 lavishly furnished rooms, Palacio Real is the largest royal palace in Europe by room area. It is often seen as the Spanish rival of Château de Versailles.

Despite its elaborate design and colossal size, King Felipe VI and the current royal family do not reside here. In fact, the palace is only used for state ceremonies. Several rooms in the palace are opened to the public, and thus visiting is possible. The admission fee costs 10€, but it is free for EU citizens or students of EU universities. Directly opposite the palace is the beautiful Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Almudena, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid.

Palacio Real de Madrid
Catedral de Nuestra Senora de la Almudena

3. Calle de Acalá

My second day began at Calle de Acalá – Madrid’s longest and probably most prestigious boulevard. It runs from Puerta del Sol to the northeastern outskirts of Madrid, passing by a wide range of magnificent buildings. For examples, the beautiful Metrópolis, the Banco de España (Bank of Spain), and the iconic Plaza de Cibeles. Completed in the 1910s, this neo-classical complex comprises the Fountain of Cibeles, which portrays the Roman goddess of fertility, and the spectacular Palacio de Cibeles – the current seat of the City Council.

The boulevard also runs through a triumphal arch, the Puerta de Acalá. This 19.5-meter tall gate was erected in 1778 to celebrate the arrival of King Carlos III at the capital. Despite its size, the granite monument features delightful sculptures, ornaments, and reliefs. Nevertheless, my favorite building on this boulevard is the Círculo de Bellas Artes. On the seventh floor of the so-called “Circle of Beautiful Art”, I found myself standing atop Madrid as the entire city stretches out under my feet.

Calle de Acalá
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4. Buen Retiro Park: Madrid’s Oasis

Still mesmerized by the beautiful cityscape, I set foot in Buen Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro). Meaning “Park of the Pleasant Retreat”, this place resembles an oasis in the heart of bustling Madrid. The park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy until 1868 when it became a public park and a recreational area for the Madrileños, as well as the venue for a variety of events. With over 125 hectares, it is one of the largest parks in Madrid. And together with the adjacent Paseo del Prado, the park has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July.

Aside from enormous green spaces, Buen Retiro Park is filled with beautiful sculptures, monuments, and galleries. Yet the park’s most extraordinary architectural element must be the Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal). Designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Velázquez Bosco in 1887, this building is an outstanding example of cast-iron architecture in Spain. It housed a collection of exotic plants from the Philipines, then a Spanish colony. Today, the building was mainly used for temporary exhibitions.

Lake in Buen Retiro Park
Palacio di Cristal
Insdie Palacio di Cristal

5. Dining in Madrid

When it comes to food, Madrid is the crowning capital. This city treasures both the old and the new, resulting in an infinite variety of Spanish dishes. From sleek gourmet halls to old-fashioned chocolatiers, dining in the city is simply a guilty pleasure.

Mercado de San Miguel

Situated in the center of Madrid, Mercado de San Miguel does exceed the usual definition of a food market. Originally built in the 1910s and reopened in 2009 after several years of construction, it is one of the city’s oldest and most beautiful markets. The market is not a traditional grocery market but rather a gourmet hall. Inside the fancy glass wall, tourists mingle with Madrileños to enjoy delicacies from every corner of Spain. For example, tapas, jamón, seafood, and paella, to name a few. Beer, champagne, and sweets are also available.

Chocolateria San Gines

Elsewhere, churros might be an ordinary snack. But at Chocolatería San Ginés, it is a gourmet experience. Opened in 1894, Chocolatería San Ginés is counted as one of the oldest cáfes in Madrid. It is small, yet easy to be recognized thanks to the queue of customers who eagerly try their signature dish: chocolate con churros – unsweetened deep-fried dough dipped in hot dark chocolate. An incredibly good match…

Mercado de San Miguel
Chocolatería de San Gínes
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49 thoughts on “Madrid: What makes the Spanish capital unique?”

  1. Calum Labrador – Quezon City – Hello! I'm Calum, 20 years old, and soon to be a slave to the corporate environment. This blog will chronicle my quest for a life of travel, in hopes that through my stories, you will be inspired to pursue your next big adventure. I'm excited to see the world with you all!
    Calum Labrador says:

    Love the post, Len! It really gets you wanting to go to Madrid someday. Good job!

    1. You will love it, dear 😉 Especially the food. So delicious and affordable. If you intend to visit many museums, choose Sunday. They are mostly free.

  2. pedmar10 – Morbihan ,France – I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 45 yrs with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.
    pedmar10 says:

    Good photos praise writing, of my old town/ Have you heard: From Madrid to Heaven and a hole in the sky to look down on it everyday ::)

  3. Fede – Human, temple and culture lovers and travelaholic. I attend university in Siena where I study languages but as soon as I have enough money and free time, I organize trips around. Trying to get the best out of my travels and getting to know better the world ;)
    Fede says:

    Nice article! Everyone tells me Madrid is nothing special and a normal european city so I gave up on the idea but your article convinced me to go one day 😋

    1. Before my trip, I also heard the same thing. But things turned out differently. I even felt safer in Madrid than Barcelona, and the churros alone are already worth a trip 🙂

  4. jmacindoe – Toronto, Ontario – New blogger writing about travel, photography and whatever else peaks my interest. http://macindoe.ca/
    jmacindoe says:

    Lovely post and collection of shots. Thanks for sharing!

  5. Bama – Jakarta, Indonesia – Based in Jakarta, always curious about the world, always fascinated by ancient temples, easily pleased by food.
    Bama says:

    My best friend who lived in Spain for nine months said to me that he loved Madrid more than Barcelona. Judging from your photos I guess he’s right. Your photos are so sublime, but that image of Palacio de Crystal with the autumn foliage is really special.

    1. Thank you very much, Bama! 🙂
      I agree with your friend. Madrid is somehow more lovable than Barcelona. Additionally, the chance that your wallet or bag got stolen in Madrid is lower than in Barcelona. You can see it very clearly through the way locals wearing their bags 🙂

  6. The article says everything….place, people, and especially if you are on a road trip you feel hungry so crunch your hunger from delicious breakfast, tasty lunch, and mouth licking dinner.
    .

  7. vinneve – I believe in this quote "Life is a JOURNEY, travel it well." Wherever we may end up so long as there is LOVE we will be happy!
    vinneve says:

    Beautiful photos that I feel like going there now haha!

      1. vinneve – I believe in this quote "Life is a JOURNEY, travel it well." Wherever we may end up so long as there is LOVE we will be happy!
        vinneve says:

        Hope you can check my blog too. Cheers 🙂

  8. Lovely captures & highlights of Madrid – thank you for this glimpse into a beautiful city I’ve never been to.

  9. lifeintrips – India – I like to capture moments in words just to relive them again, love to travel, try different kind of foods, enjoy life to fullest, writing is my passion. Indian, compelled by the culture to diversify and explore the whole world and pen it down.
    lifeintrips says:

    Beautiful pictures…

  10. The Snow Melts Somewhere – As I wait for the snow to melt, up here in the far North, I daydream of palm trees and join my kids for adventures in our living room. Come join me! You can call me Snow. thesnowmeltssomewhere.wordpress.com
    The Snow Melts Somewhere says:

    Nice post, Len, and a beautiful selection of images! When we were last in Madrid, we enjoyed a pleasant retreat in Parque del Buen Retiro. We didn’t try churros though – gourmet churros sound intriguing! I don’t think I’ve actually ever tried them: when we were in Argentina, we tried to, but accidentally ordered something else 😀 hahah. The perils of traveling! (In Finland, you can’t get churros, as far as I know)

  11. Laleh Chini – Author of “Climbing Over Grit” - Winner of “Canada Book Award”-Member of Authors Without Borders-lalehchini.com
    Laleh Chini says:

    I want Churros, LOL

      1. Laleh Chini – Author of “Climbing Over Grit” - Winner of “Canada Book Award”-Member of Authors Without Borders-lalehchini.com
        Laleh Chini says:

        I know, very high in calories too, LOL.

  12. It’s always nice to see your own city through the eyes of someone who sees it for the first time! Glad you liked Madrid! I wouldn’t compare it with Barcelona, for me, they are completely different cities!! It somehow reminds me to Paris, but Madrid is not as grandiose… and still, it’s very welcoming! 🙂

    1. Indeed. The Metro in Madrid is nicer and shop-keepers are friendlier than in Paris 🙂 I also like the fact that I can explore the city without much concern about the touts sticking to me like glue. There are some in Plaza Mayor, but they are not so intrusive.

  13. bigworldawaits – Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! My name is Sarah. My boyfriend Wes and I are currently traveling full-time. We went from a full house and sold/donated everything in mid 2020. We got down to 2 suitcases. We used to live in Las Vegas for 8 and a half years. I was working full time there as a Sr. Loan Processor. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administrations from UNC Charlotte where I have lived for 17 years. We enjoy traveling slow to get to know the locals, their culture and food. I am a world traveler with a passion for writing, photography and a thirst for adventure. I also have a number of other hobbies including hiking, painting, photography, reading and learning my sixth language. This blog is where I share my travel experiences, food and culture around the world. I like to write about countries to visit, things to see and do at different cities around the world, how to travel on a budget and travel tips and advice. If you enjoy reading about these, you are in the right place! Come and join me as we explore the world one plane, train and automobile at a time!
    bigworldawaits says:

    I enjoyed reading your post!
    – Sarah
    http://bigworldawaits.travel.blog

  14. Leya – Sweden – Love my family, photography, art, literature, architecture, flowers, trees and dogs, but most of all Nature itself. I also keep on travelling...
    Leya says:

    Great post on one of my absolute favourite cities! And churros!

      1. Leya – Sweden – Love my family, photography, art, literature, architecture, flowers, trees and dogs, but most of all Nature itself. I also keep on travelling...
        Leya says:

  15. Alison and Don – Occupation: being/living/experiencing/travelling In our sixties, with apparently no other authentic option, my husband Don and I sold our apartment and car, sold or gave away all our stuff and set off to discover the world. And ourselves. We started in Italy in 2011 and from there have travelled to Spain, India, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South America, Egypt, Japan, etc. - you can see the blog archive. We travelled full-time for nearly six years, and now travel 2-3 months per year. We are interested in how the world works, how life works, how the creation of experience works, how the mind works. As we travel and both "choose" our course, and at the same time just let it unfold, we discover the "mechanics" of life, the astounding creativity of life, and a continual need to return to trust and presence. Opening the heart, and acceptance of what is, as it is, are keystones for us both. Interests: In no particular order: travel, photography, figure skating (as a fan), acceptance, authenticity, walking/hiking, joy, creativity, being human, adventure, presence, NOW. Same for Don except replace figure skating with Formula One motor racing.
    Alison and Don says:

    I’ve never been to Madrid, so this post was a wonderful introduction. I’ve never forgotten one of the best breakfasts I’ve ever had while travelling – fresh squeezed orange juice, and churros with dipping chocolate sauce, in Barcelona. heaven.
    Alison

    1. I’m surprised that our favourite Spanish breakfasts were identical, Alison 🙂 The only difference was location. Who could have thought that churros match so well with chocolate sauce. Much better than the savoury version.

      1. Alison and Don – Occupation: being/living/experiencing/travelling In our sixties, with apparently no other authentic option, my husband Don and I sold our apartment and car, sold or gave away all our stuff and set off to discover the world. And ourselves. We started in Italy in 2011 and from there have travelled to Spain, India, Bali, Australia, New Zealand, SE Asia, South America, Egypt, Japan, etc. - you can see the blog archive. We travelled full-time for nearly six years, and now travel 2-3 months per year. We are interested in how the world works, how life works, how the creation of experience works, how the mind works. As we travel and both "choose" our course, and at the same time just let it unfold, we discover the "mechanics" of life, the astounding creativity of life, and a continual need to return to trust and presence. Opening the heart, and acceptance of what is, as it is, are keystones for us both. Interests: In no particular order: travel, photography, figure skating (as a fan), acceptance, authenticity, walking/hiking, joy, creativity, being human, adventure, presence, NOW. Same for Don except replace figure skating with Formula One motor racing.
        Alison and Don says:

        I’ve never tried the savoy version, but just the sound of it is unappealing.

  16. I simply adore Madrid, and I miss this city so much. Thanks for sharing your amazing photos. I studied here for 6 months and to this day this time counts amongst one of the best times of my life. I often feel the city is underrated, with the south of Spain being a huge attraction for tourists seeking sun bathing and Barcelona stealing the thunder with Gaudi 🙂

    1. Totally agree. I don’t know why Madrid is less known than other Spanish cities. Its museums, architecture, park are just extraordinary. No Gaudi, no sunny beaches, but it doesn’t matter 🙂

  17. Mabel Kwong – Melbourne, Australia – Writer and multicultural blogger based in Melbourne. Writing to help you navigate cultural identities and confidently pursue creative passions.
    Mabel Kwong says:

    Wonderful you got to visit Madrid, Len. Enjoyed walking along with you in this post. It does seem like Madrid is a walkable city for some part. It has stunning architecture as you showed through your photos and explained through your words. Interesting to read that the Royal Palace is only used for state ceremonies and not a place of residence, and perhaps it’s to preserve the palace as it is. Very luck you got the have churros and chocolate at one of the oldest cafes in Madrid. What a treat 😊

    1. It tastes heavenly! The bitter sweet chocolate matches so well with the crunchy churro. Even now I can recall its taste 😛 It was so good that I came here everyday during my trip. Btw, thank you for sharing 🙂

      1. Mabel Kwong – Melbourne, Australia – Writer and multicultural blogger based in Melbourne. Writing to help you navigate cultural identities and confidently pursue creative passions.
        Mabel Kwong says:

        Happy to share, Len. Great photography and writing 🙂 Now you make me want to try the churros in Spain. A perfect churro with the perfect balance of flavours and texture of dipping chocolate is hard to come by 😄

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