Madrid is one of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world. The capital of Phillip II, recipient of the wealth from the new world, center of Spanish art and literature--Madrid has been the center of Spanish culture for centuries. Recently, Madrid has cemented its place as one of the elite cities of the modern world. This raises the question, is it possible to truly experience Madrid in one weekend?
Get lost. You arrived in the morning, so start in the Puerta del Sol and spend the afternoon wandering around the city center. Work your back to the center and then head off in a different direction. Learn the streets and discover how the city works. Mark the different spots that you want to visit over the next two days. Take a moment to stop in an outdoor café and watch the Madrileños, residents of Madrid, walk by.
Visit the Royal Palace, which doesn't close until 6 pm during the summer. Located across from the Royal Theater, only a short walk west from the Puerta del Sol, the palace is the official residence of the King of Spain. In addition to the impressive facade, architecture and the lush interior; the palace contains works of art by Velasquez, Mengs, Caravaggio and Goya.
Dine in any one of the small Spanish restaurants located around the Puerta del Sol and then finish your day sipping Sangria in an outdoor cafe in the Plaza Mayor. Begun during the reign of Phillip II, the Plaza Mayor wasn't finished until 1619. Once the site of bullfights, executions and auto de fe, today the plaza is a center of nightlife featuring outdoor cafés and intrepid street performers doing everything from performing Beethoven to juggling fire.
Spend your morning like a local. Treat yourself to either a Spanish tortilla or chocolate con churros, two Spanish specialties. Thus prepared, make Saturday your day for Spanish museums. Madrid is famous for its museums and three--El Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum--are must-sees that are fortuitously close together.
Drink like a local or like a writer. After a day of culture and sophistication, hit the Gran Via where writers like Hemingway used to be regulars during their time in Spain. Afterwards follow the crowds to any of the small or large clubs located around the Puerta del Sol. The citizens of Madrid seem to love going out until the late hours of the night. While in Spain, do as the Spaniards do.
Wake up early (as early as possible, anyway) and head to El Rastro, the largest open air flea market in Spain. Located a short distance south of the Plaza Mayor, El Rastro is a world into itself. It's busiest around 11 a.m., so try to get there early if you want to haggle.
Attend a Real Madrid match on Sunday afternoon. Real Madrid is one of the premier soccer (fútbol) clubs in the world. They've won the Spanish league 30 times and the European championship nine times-a record. The stadium, Santiago Bernabéu, holds over 80,000 people and was built in 1944. In many ways, attending a Real Madrid game is like attending a Yankees game in Yankee Stadium.
