Madrid Spain Tourism (2019) Travel Guide Top Places

"Madrid: the cultural capital of Spain"

Madrid Tourism

The capital city of Spain, Madrid is most popular for its cultural and artistic heritage. It also has the liveliest nightlife in the world. It is a cosmopolitan city which is the main centre of business as well as the seat of the government. It is also the political centre of Spain.

Located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, Madrid is the largest city in Spain. With a population of over 3.3 million, the city is best known for its cosmopolitan nature. The city provides too a wide range of things to do, places to eat and it has all the facilities that a tourist needs. The city provides many conference resorts, leisure facilities and some of the best restaurants in Spain. It is also a great place for shopping, theatre, opera, museums, parks and more. The international airport of Madrid has three terminals and is the busiest airport in Spain. It is an amazing place for the children as well as there are numerous theme parks, excursions and zoos to keep them occupied. It is also a place to spend some romantic evenings in the stunning gardens and parks that provides tranquillity.

Places to Visit In Madrid

Puerta del Sol

Plaza Mayor

Plaza de la Villa

Palacio Real

Catedral de la Almudena

Museo del Prado

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Shopping in Madrid

Madrid is considered to be one of the most popular destination for the shopping lovers. There are some of the largest malls, along with small family run shops that sell traditional goods. The major shopping districts are the Sol Salamanca And Chueca and Fuencarral Street areas. There are also many markets like El Rastro, Cuesta de Moyano and El Corte Ingles.

Currency in Madrid

Being a part of the European Union and the Euro Zone, the currency used in Spain is Euro. People from any of the countries under European Union could travel to Spain without worrying about exchanging currency. Notes with denominations of five ten, twenty, hundred. two hundred and five hundred are made available. The coins start with a one cent piece and ends with a two euro one.

Exchanging Money in Madrid

The rate of exchange of currency keeps varying from time to time. Travellers are advised to bring traveller cheques, credit cards and about 2 days worth of Euros. There are Spanish auto banks where anyone with a visa based card can withdraw cash in Euro. One may also withdraw cashing using switch cards. The credit cards are acceptable in most shops and restaurants.

Daily Budget for Madrid

The approximate daily budget of Madrid is 55-60 EUR. One needs to spend about 25 EUR for food on a daily basis. Transportation costa vary from 15 EUR to 30 EUR depending on the places where one is travelling. Apart from these, there are many attractions where you need to get the passes.

Religion of Madrid

The religion of most of the population in Spain is Catholicism but only a quarter among them are regular churchgoers. Islam is the second largest religion here accounting to almost 3 percent of the population.

Madrid Customs

The strict religious customs are now paving way to modern thinking, but there are some traditions that are still maintained in Spain. It is common to acknowledge and greet people when you meet. Common phrases that can be used are "Buenos dias"(Good Morning) or "Hola"(Hello). One should wear proper casual dresses while travelling. It is better if you do not wear swimming costumes outside your resort or the beach. In case of tips, most of the places have service charges. But, if it is not mentioned, one can pay 10 to 15 percent of the entire amount as a tip.

Language of Madrid

The main language of Madrid is Spanish. The younger generation knows English, but the majority know only a few words. It will be better if you know the basic Spanish phrases. Some common phrases are Hola (Hello), Garcia's (Thank you), Adios(Goodbye) and Per done (Sorry).

History of Madrid

There are evidences that say there was a Roman settlement nearby in Madrid dating back to the 4th century. The courtesy for the real founder of Madrid goes to Muhammad I of Cordoba in 9th century who built a castle on the site of today's Palacio Real. Madrid was taken from the Moors by the Christians in 11th century and they turned the mosque into a cathedral. In the 14th century, Ferdinand IV of Castile was the one who started the Spanish Parliament here. Madrid was modernised in the 18th century, with new buildings, bridges, city gates and then the Palacio Real was constructed next to the Plaza de Oriented square. In the 19th century, Napoleon seized control over it, After he was defeated, there was a decline in Spain which led to the formation of First Spanish Republic. The second Spanish Republic came in 1931 and got over with the Civil War in Spain because of which there was heavy damaged in the city of Madrid. General Franco took charge of the country in 1939. After his death in 1975, King Juan Carlos I helped the country to go back to democracy.

Nightlife in Madrid

It is often said that Madrid never sleeps. It is one of the liveliest cities in the world. All the clubs and pubs stay open till the wee hours of the morning all the days. Some of the most happening nightclubs in Madrid include Kapital, Joy Eslava, The Riviera, Serrano 41, Pacha and Bangaloo. There are also many Tapas bars in Madrid like El Tigre, The Sherry corner, etc., where you can get free food with your drinks.

Restaurants and Local Food in Madrid

The major Spanish dishes are served widely in Madrid. There are also a few typical dishes here. Gallinejas and Entresijos are portions from different parts of lamb fried in its fats which is a major traditional dish from the city. Callos a la Madrilena is a hot pot of spicy beef tripe and Cocido Madrileno is a chickpea stew with meat and vegetables. Sopa de Ajo is a rich and oily garlic soup with grated Spanish ham. Every Spanish meal in Madrid starts with a glass of anise port wine. Maques de Riscal Rioja wine is recommended along with the meat dishes. Famous restaurants in Madrid include La Vaca Veronica, Gure Etxea and Botin, which is the oldest restaurant in the world
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