Why you will definitely fall for Madrid!

Well, Madrid! I don’t know where to start! You know, sometimes you visit a place in which you spend so many wonderful moments that you are afraid of forgetting to mention any of them.

This is exactly how I feel about Madrid! For me it was the first time ever visiting this extraordinary city. Alex has been there before so he was waiting with a smile on his face to walk around Madrid’s beautiful streets once again.

And it was something like a sign, that we would create unforgettable memories there, the fact that we arrived in Madrid on the New Year’s Eve! Oh yeah 😉 As you can imagine, it was such an amazing timing!

We arrived a few hours before the end of 2017! Everyone was gathered at the biggest squaires like Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Oriente, Plaza de Santa Ana etc. The whole vibe running through the air was so possitive and you could see people hugging each other and talking while they were feeling a little bit emotional about the end of the year, but yet smilling.

Madrid was lovely in those Christmas lights and I was feeling so blessed about being there. And then the New Year came and it was like a big party at the streets!

We spent a lot of days there actually, so we had the chance of seeing all of the most important sightseeings of Spain’s capital.

Here is our bucket list!!

1. Visit Museo del Prado

Quite honestly, even if you are not a fan or arts, you should GO TO PRADO!

Seeing in front of you paintings of some of the most iconic artists worlwide, it will leave you speachless. For us it was like a dream having the opportunity to see Goya’s paintings, or standing in front of an original piece of art by Velázquez.

Personally, I felt extremely proud of being Greek, when I admired El Greco’s collection. It gave me goosebumps!

Admission: General admission is €15, over 65/youth card/members of large families are €7.50, and free admission for children under 18, students between 18 and 25, and the disabled.

Website: https://www.museodelprado.es/en

2. Go to Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor is a must see for any Madrid bucket list! It is like city’s landmark and it has an architectural significance too as you will discover.

3. Centro de Arte Reina Sofia

We desperately wanted to see Picasso’s work once in our lives and we had this moment in Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Guernica captivates for sure everyone’s attention, but there are so many other things to see in this Museum of Art.

I should mention that this particular Museum focuses primarily on contemporary art, so Picasso, Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and many others, are in the centre of attention.

Admission: General admission is € 10.00 and includes a visit to the temporary and permanent museum collections (every Friday the Follow the Gallery Conversation is also included in the ticket price). Admission to temporary exhibitions only is € 4,00. There are also free and half price ticket options with proper accreditation.

Website: http://www.museoreinasofia.es/en

4. Parque de Buen Retiro

We should say that this is more than just a park. It’s huge actually and it’s like an oasis in the middle of the city, waiting for the visitors to relax there or have a picnic day maybe.

You can also visit Palacio de Cristal which is located inside this park.

5. Palacio de Real

It is a living history I guess! I really like visiting palaces so I enjoyed walking in the Palace of Madrid so much. As a building it is astonishing fo sure!

6. Stadio Santiago Bernabeu

I am not a football fan (I cannot thought say the same for Alex), but I strongly believe that such Stadiums are parts of sports’ history, so I suggest you to spent some time there.

7. Mercado San Miguel

Mercado de San Miguel is the food capital of Madrid! It is the last standing iron market hall in the city with it’s own story. It’s not just a market place full of food choices and nice smells, it so much more. Don’t hesitate to ask the locals about it.

Our Favorite street : Gran Via
Favorite Spanish food/snack: paella / bocadillo de calamares / hammon
Favorite Spanish sweet snack: churros
an interesting urban story –> Km 0

You can find this plaque at Puerta del Sol, one of the most famous squares of the city. It symbolizes the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads.