So what’s the one site or thing you must absolutely see when visiting Madrid? What's the main attraction or the one site to visit? Paris has the Eiffel Tower. Tourists flock to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. You’d be crazy to skip the Colosseum while traveling through Rome. Athens has Acropolis. Rio de Janeiro is Cristo Redentor. New York’s Statue of Liberty. What’s my point? That every city has it’s main attraction! Well, not all, but many do. Now that I’m working at a hostel in Madrid to improve my Spanish, a task I’m deciding my not be possible, it’s a question we get often.
Two tourists stop in front of the reception desk as I sit in a chair opposite them reading Spanish news on the computer. They just arrived from the States, South America, somewhere else in Europe, wherever. They’ve completed their check in and request a map of the city. As I hand it to them, they look at me with anticipation in their eyes and ask, “What would you say is the one thing we must see in Madrid?”
“Well,” I scoff, clearly seen as a Madrid local who knows all the ins and outs of the city, a view of myself I quite like, however untrue it may be. “The one thing you have to see in this city, the thing not be missed if here only a short while, the one sight above all others that will surely make your stay unforgettable is… Err…. Well…. Umm… You see… Well what sort of things do you like?”
Ok. They got me. I have to admit, I don’t know the city as well as I’d like to assert. But I’ve traveled to enough cities and have been in this one long enough to say this, there really isn’t one thing you must see when you visit Madrid. The things to see in Madrid is really just the city itself. Madrid’s culture is found in the locals screaming at the television during a football match, in the patios where people sit and snack on tapas and sip cañas (small beers), in the park where people saunter, jog, skate (especially roller-blading which is comically popular), and sun bathe; in the Spanish style architecture of the buildings that tightly face one another creating the narrow streets of which, just about any is worth strolling down.
Sure there are attractions in Madrid like the Palacio Real, Retiro Park, Museo del Prado, and Plaza Mayor that will help you feel satisfied as a sight seeing tourist. For us, just being in the city and experiencing a walk down the streets, a stop at a tapas bar, and admiring the architecture is what you’re “supposed” to do. It’s exactly why we love the city so much though it may not be the most popular in Spain. For example, once you've looked at apartments in Barcelona and have planned your trip, you have to see La Sagrada Familia (though I found it grotesque) and all Gaudi's other architectures. Truthfully, sights and monuments such as these are wonderful ways to experience the world and learn about culture and history, but some of our favorite destinations have been the ones where you feel like you don’t have to do anything but exist there in order to “see” it.
It was the same for Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires for example. Though they had many places worth checking out, their distinct ways of doing things, building styles, food, and people were the very essence of their culture more than any one sight could represent. It was not the sights for us in these cities that made us feel satisfied but rather being there and embracing day to day life by shopping at the grocery store, ordering at a restaurant and stumbling through the language. It was the peculiar way the Japanese extended their hand to indicate direction, the way everyone in Amsterdam rode a bike over driving a car, how every building in Buenos Aires had to have a balcony. It was these unfamiliar things that made us feel like we were touring the city without having to visit any place in particular as long as we viewed it with a keen eye.
So if you're traveling in Spain and want to know the one sight to visit in Madrid, our answer will be “Go see Madrid. It’ the one thing in Madrid you must see!”
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Great review here. I have never been in Madrid. Hope I can go there next year.
It’s a must visit place!
THE thing to do in Madrid is the Pride in July which is awesome! The whole city just becomes one massive messy street party.
One of the best Prides IMO…and this is coming from a very proud Londoner :)
Museo del Prado sounds very good, my beamish gentlemen! Some day I shall certainly stroll in this agreable area in the company of some dark-eyed lover of my personal taste ! God save us all from the mad man of Sydney :)
I agree with you that Madrid itself is the attraction. I have been there three times and have yet to go to the Prado, the Palace or many of the other attractions. I like just walking around and exploring the city. I love the weekends in Retiro Park and always must visit the Mercado San Miguel.
You got it Jeff! Just being in the city, enjoying the terrazas and tapas is the best!
That’s exactly how I felt… while Madrid lacks a specific landmark that MUST be seen, I was in awe of pretty much the entire city. I don’t think I’ve gone to any other city in which the architecture is so detailed and contains so much sculptural art in the buildings themselves, as Madrid!
The atmosphere in Madrid is also incredible, the vibe of people going about their day, a stroll around Parque del Retiro, drinks at any bar in the evening when the 9-5 workers are leaving their jobs, or shopping down the pedestrian streets of Puerta del Sol. Such an amazing sense of life everywhere.
And then there is the eye candy of course, but I may be biased as I happen to find Spanish men extremely attractive ;)
Glad you agree Claus! And you’re absolutely right – Spanish men are gorgeous!! ;)
I’m sad I missed out on Madrid during my first visit to Spain. I think I’d really enjoy the place!
I think that’s a common thought for a lot of people Sofie. So you’re not alone. Somehow it has captured me though. It does take a second visit sometimes to see what a place has to offer. I think I need to do that for Barcelona. I wasn’t crazy about it like most people are.
I have to say I didn’t particularly like Madrid… I don’t know why. It just missed something to me. Might go back to give it another chance, though
I love Madrid so much. I reckon it is my favourite European city after Berlin. The tapas bars are so awesome. I was so surprised that you get delicious food completely free of charge when you order a drink. I never went out for dinner at night, as I got so many free tapas all the time.
Yes, the tapas can be so filling! There are some great places where they really don’t hold back on them either. It’s hard to say no even after you’re stuffed. But we love love love the food. :)
It’s quite true, to experience Madrid you must live it.
Agreed! Love cities like that. :)
Ive never been to Madrid, but agree that in some cities you just have to ‘be’ and wander round and soak up the culture there rather than seeing sites.
Glad you agree Jennifer. Sometimes those types of cities can be the best and you’re not even sure why. They just are. :)
We did a wonderful free walking tour that gave us a great overview of the city.
Yea, there’s a really good walking tour in Madrid. We just did one last week. It really gave a good run down. But I still didn’t feel like there was one spectacular sight I had to see. It was all just great to be around.