Must see places in Madrid

Here is a list of my favorite spots in Madrid. I balanced between learning history in Madrid's most famous museum, eating some really yummy food, shopping, and relaxing.

Museo Nacional Del Prado:

This is a three story museum filled with some amazing artwork. I had learned about a few of the artists in school so I was very excited to see their work in person. The museum has a wide variety of artists and provides lots of information on the paintings.

Parque de El Retro:

This is the largest park in Madrid, filled with beautiful plants, water, benches, statues, and spots to play tennis and soccer. We barely scratched the surface of the park and we were blown away by its beauty. We lounged in the grass and listened to the birds chirp. It is the perfect spot to have a picnic, read a book, or to just relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Palacio Real:

This is the royal palace, where the king and queen live. We went inside and walked around to see all the rooms they have available for viewing. My favorites were the throne room and the dining room. They are all truly breathtaking, very unique and the ceilings are covered in the most beautiful artwork.

Catedral De La Almudena:

This Cathedral is right across from the palace, so we admired it from a far. It is very large and covered with intricate statues. It is most beautiful from inside the palace, where you can get a full view of the front doors.

Puerta Del Sol:

This is a beautiful public square in Madrid, filled with some amazing stores and restaurants. It is very beautiful and fun to visit, but it can get very touristy.

Plaza Mayor:

This is another public square with even more stores and restaurants. We loved walking around and shopping in both of these squares and just enjoying the beautiful sun in Madrid.

Oven Gran Via:

BEST ITALIAN FOOD EVER! I know it sounds odd- Italian food while in Spain, but just trust me. I have eaten at many Italian restaurants, but I have never had such amazing pasta or pizza. I recommend the margarita pizza and the gnocchi. For dessert our server recommended the biscotti, which wasn't at all what we were expecting! It was a gooey, warm, soft biscotti cookie, topped with vanilla ice cream. It was amazing and I wish I could eat that meal every day.

Iberostar:

This was our hotel in Madrid and I thought I would mention it on here because it was the best hotel I have ever been to. So clean and the employees were the sweetest people. They gave us amazing recommendations on places to eat and visit, and they were always so warm and welcoming. 100% recommend staying at an Iberostar (they are located all around the world) if you have the chance.

These are my favorite spots in Madrid, which caused me to decide to stay an extra day. Many people say that Madrid is not worth visiting while in Spain, but I completely disagree. If you ever have the chance to go to Madrid, do it!