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Royal Palace and Gardens -

The official residence of the Spanish royal family is also one of Madrid's most popular tourist attractions. Actually, King Felipe VI chooses to live in and work from the more modest Palace of Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. Which means much of this grand 18th-century abode is accessible to the public.

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Royal Palace interior -

The palace's interior is quite dazzling. Greeting visitors above the grand staircase is Italian painter Corrado Giaquinto's beautiful fresco 'The Triumph of Religion and the Church' (pictured).

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Royal Palace interior -

The King Charles III apartments are among the most beautiful rooms in the palace. There's also the Royal Library to absorb, the exquisite Porcelain Room to admire, and the disarming Royal Armory to ponder, among many other halls and salons.

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Changing of the Guard -

Enjoy a glittering display of pomp and ceremony by timing a visit to the palace with the Changing of the Guard, which is carried out by the Spanish Royal Guard's Honors Group every Wednesday and Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm (July 1 to August 31, due to the heat, from 10 am to noon).

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Prado Museum -

Madrid's world-famous Prado Museum rivals that of the Louvre in Paris for the astonishing collection of rare and priceless artworks held within.

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Treasured works of art -

The museum displays around 2,300 pieces of the collection in more than 100 rooms on three floors. Indeed, you could spend an entire day here and not see half the treasures exhibited.

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Priceless collections -

Among the more than 8,000 paintings and 700 sculptures are masterpieces like 'Las Meninas' (pictured) by Spanish painter Diego Velázquez (1599–1660).

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Parque del Buen Retiro -

Bright and breezy Buen Retiro Park is part of a combined UNESCO World Heritage Site with Paseo del Prado, one of the main boulevards in Madrid. The park's centerpiece is the delightful Palacio de Cristal ("Crystal Palace"). Built in 1887, this cast iron and glass pavilion occasionally houses art exhibitions.

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Escape the heat -

The park offers a retreat from Madrid's often stifling summer heat, and there's no better way to cool off than by taking a row boat for a paddle on the tranquil lake set in front of the Monument to Alfonso XII.

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Plaza Mayor -

Madrid's main square dates back to the 17th century, when it was laid out during the reign of King Felipe III. It once served as the center of the old city. Today the expansive cobblestone plaza is a pedestrian zone fringed by outdoor cafés and inviting restaurants set under shaded arcades.

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Puerta del Sol -

A few blocks away is another famous plaza, Puerta del Sol, or "Gate of the Sun." Considered the heart of the city, not least because this is the point (kilómetro cero) from which all distances on the Spanish national road network are measured, the square is also known for its clock tower and the iconic Tio Pepe neon advertisement set on top of the former Paris Hotel.

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La Violeta -

Just off from Puerta del Sol is La Violeta, known for its violet-flavored confectionary. Opened in 1915, this family-owned business with its traditional wooden facade is one of the most cherished candy stores in the city. It's the perfect place to pick up a truly delicious and fragrant Madrid souvenir.

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Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía -

Named after Spain's Queen Sofia, the wife of King Juan Carlos I, this outstanding contemporary art museum is renowned for its comprehensive representation of Spanish modern art and includes pieces by Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dalí among its collections. The most famous painting is Picasso's 1937 canvas 'Guernica' (pictured).

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Fuente de Cibeles -

You may well notice the Fuente de Cibeles during your moments in Madrid. This is the Fountain of Cybele, a neoclassical landmark considered one of the most emblematic monuments in Madrid. It dates back to 1780–82 and was built with the original purpose of providing water for public use.

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Gran Vía -

Shopping and people-watching in Madrid doesn't come any better than in Gran Vía. This is one of the city's most popular streets and  distinguished by upscale hotels and restaurants, luxury boutiques, and some excellent bars.

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Teatro de la Zarzuela -

Just off the Gran Vía on Calle de Jovellanos stands the famous Teatro de la Zarzuela. Inaugurated in 1856, this is where to appreciate performances of zarzuela—a unique style of Spanish opera that combines a theatrical play with musical acts.

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Temple of Debod -

Madrid is perhaps one of the last places you'd expect to stumble across an ancient Egyptian temple. But the Spanish capital has always been full of surprises. The Temple of Debod was donated by Egypt to Spain in 1968 in gratitude for the help provided in saving the Abu Simbel temples during the building of the Aswan Dam. Dating back to the 2nd century BCE, the temple was shipped in pieces to the Iberian Peninsula and carefully reassembled in the city's Parque de la Montaña.

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Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida -

The San Antonio de la Florida Chapel is often overlooked by tourists visiting Madrid. Big mistake! This unassuming sanctuary is a veritable art treasure for the amazing series of frescoes painted by Francisco Goya throughout 1798 that portray the miracles by Saint Anthony of Padua.

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Museo Arqueológico Nacional -

The standout piece in Madrid's Museo Arqueológico Nacional is the remarkable 'Lady of Elche' (pictured), a limestone bust dated to the 4th century BCE and believed to have a direct association with Tanit, the goddess of Carthage.

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Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza -

Art lovers are seriously spoiled for choice in Madrid. The fine arts museum that is the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza includes in its collections this painting, 'Les Vessenots a Auvers' (1890), by Vincent van Gogh.

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Basilica de San Francisco el Grande -

Goya's 'San Bernardino' is one magnificent painting adorning the interior of the 18th-century Basilica de San Francisco el Grande.

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Museo Sorolla -

Joaquín Sorolla (1863–1923) is arguably the most famous Spanish impressionist painter. The wonderfully intimate Museo Sorolla is fashioned out of the artist's house and studio and displays a broad representation of his work.

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Museo Lázaro Galdiano -

This museus houses the private collection of Spanish financier, journalist, publisher, and art collector José Lázaro Galdiano (1862–1947).

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Estadio Santiago Bernabéu -

Madrid is home to one of the biggest and most successful soccer clubs in the world, Real Madrid. The club's home stadium, the Bernabéu, is open for tours, during which a museum, crammed with silverware, can be browsed.

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Puerta de Alcalá -

Every major European city has its grand arch, and in Madrid it's Puerta de Alcalá, a neoclassical triumphal arch erected in 1778 that was once the main entrance to the city.

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Sobrino de Botín -

Madrid is a foodie's paradise, but for something truly unique sit down for a meal in Sobrino de Botín—the  oldest restaurant in world! It was founded in 1725 by a French cook, Jan Botín. The novelist Ernest Hemingway, in his travels to Spain, was a frequent patron and mentioned the restaurant's signature dish, roast suckling pig, in his writings.

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Chamberí ghost station -

Deep under Madrid's streets is a subterranean secret, an abandoned metro station called Chamberí. During the Spanish Civil War, the station provided shelter from the relentless bombing campaigns and artillery assaults of the Nationalist forces (and their Nazi allies). Today, this underground time capsule can be visited, the main attraction being the beautifully preserved original ads lining the walls of the platform.

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Muslim Walls -

Among the oldest structures in the city, the remains of the 9th-century Muslim Walls stand as testimony to a time when a series of defenses were built to fortify the Muslim citadel in the medieval city of Mayrit, as Madrid was then called. A section of the wall is pictured in front of Almudena Cathedral.

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La Pedriza National Park -

Away from the city is the stark and wild La Pedriza National Park. Its proximity to Madrid makes it a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers. But the park is also renowned for being one of the last sanctuaries for the rare Gredos ibex, one of two surviving subspecies of wild goat found in Spain.

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Tapas La Latina -

Spain's national snack is tapa, an appetizer of either cold meats and cheeses, or hot spicy sausage, fried squid, and a host of other delicious ingredients. For the most authentic tapas in Madrid, head for the city's La Latina quarter where the best tapas bars are clustered.

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Cuatro Torres Business Area -

Suffering an art and culture overload? Give history a break by casting your eyes over Madrid's steel and glass financial district, the flashy Cuatro Torres Business Area. The neighborhood contains the tallest skyscrapers in Spain, and some of the highest in the European Union.

Sources: (The New York Times) (History) (CNN Travel)

See also: Enjoy a saunter through Seville

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