Touring Madrid I
This is the perfect tour for lovers of tapas and good atmosphere, with a cultural touch, as we will cross from east to west the trendiest neighborhoods of the city.
Throughout these weeks we propose a series of routes to make the most of the cultural and leisure offer of the capital. We start with a route between the neighborhoods of Ibiza to Conde Duque, with an approximate length of 5km.
Neighborhood of Ibiza
We start the tour from the neighborhood of Ibiza, where we can have a perfect aperitif in the sun in some of its many terraces; Menéndez Pelayo Avenue is crowded!
Retiro Park
After getting our strength back, we will go directly to the Retiro Park. If you still need to get more energy on a terrace, or eat directly, the Florida Park is a sure hit.
Once inside the park we will let ourselves be carried along its paths until we reach the Estanque Grande, the Monument to Alfonso XII is the ideal place to forget for a few minutes that we are in the center of the capital, and if you’re lucky you can listen to live music from a singer-songwriter.
Velazquez Palace
Continuing with the tour we go to the “Palacio de Velázquez”, where we can see some temporary exhibitions. Find out in the weekly agenda of @sparker.io the expositions of that moment.
Crystal Palace
An essential stop in the park is undoubtedly the “Palacio de Cristal”, where we can also enjoy some of the exhibitions that it houses during those days.
Palacio de Cibeles – CentroCentro
After the bucolic walk among flowerbeds we leave the park towards the Palacio de Cibeles. We can do it through the main avenues, but we recommend you to walk through the majestic neighborhood of Jerónimos, where you can find the “Real Academia Española”, the “Salón de Reinos” or the Madrid Stock Exchange.
Already in the “Palacio de Cibeles” we recommend you to go up to its upper terrace and visit the Crystal Gallery. And if you still want to visit an exhibition you can find it in “CentroCentro”.
Fine Arts Circle
Continuing the tour along Calle de Alcalá we will arrive at the mythical Círculo de Bellas Artes, a temple of culture that has one of the most emblematic rooftops in the city. You can find out more about it in the article about the best terraces in Madrid: From the asphalt to the sky of Madrid
Chueca
Leaving behind the big avenues we enter the neighborhood of Chueca. We will walk through its fun narrow streets, with its different bars and locals, until we reach the historic Plaza de Chueca.
San Anton Market
Within the neighborhood you can make a stop at the Mercado de San Antón. It has been recently restored, giving a more contemporary look to its food stalls. At the same time it has given a new look to the gastronomic offer, offering a great variety of options and improving the quality.
Official College of Architects of Madrid
In addition to the architectural quality of the building, the COAM hides inside a beautiful courtyard where you can escape from the buzz of the streets. On one side is the Bosco de Lobos, a place where you can both eat and have a coffee. A “secret” of this complex is that at the top of the side building is a municipal swimming pool, a jewel in the center of Madrid.
Malasaña
This tour could not avoid crossing what is possibly the most famous neighborhood in Spain. Malasaña is the place where all the young and not so young people gather to have a drink, enjoy the most alternative pubs, or have a vermouth on Sunday. A neighborhood where mythical places like El Penta or La Vía Lactea remain, as well as very nice cafes like La Manuela, where you can play one of its many games while drinking a hot chocolate.
Neighborhood of Conde Duque
And if you have not entertained yourself enough in any terrace or bar in Malasaña and you still have energy left, we finish the tour in the neighborhood of Conde Duque. We could say that the streets and buildings are very similar to Malasaña, however the atmosphere is different; calmer pace, with charming shops and designer clothing stores.
Condeduque Center for Contemporary Culture
The building that nourishes the neighborhood with culture and activities is the “Centro de Cultura Contemporánea Condeduque”, an immense complex that hosts multiple weekly activities that you can find out in our weekly agenda of @sparker.io
