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Madrid is the largest city and the capital of Spain. It is the third most populated city in the European Union after London and Berlin. It is suitably located in the middle of Spain, as it is the political capital of Spain and home of the Spanish Monarch. It is also commonly referred to as the financial capital of the Iberian Peninsula.
Although Madrid’s infrastructure has been modernized for political purposes, its rich past is still apparent through historical buildings and monuments such as the Teatro Real, the Royal Palace of Madrid, and many of its cathedrals. When touring Madrid, I suggest for students to focus on visiting the older parts of the city as that is where its beauty lies. Although the official language is Spanish, salespeople are generally fluent in English. Also, for tourist information, I suggest students to visit Tourist Kiosks, such as that near the City Hall and the Royal Palace. This is a nice place to go to practice Spanish, as its people are accepting of tourists. The Euro is also used in Spain, and ATM machines are abundant throughout Madrid.
I travelled with one other person over Thanksgiving break (November 14 and 15). As two girls travelling by ourselves, it was safe to tour Madrid during the day but we were reluctant to venture into the nightlife. If you are interested in Madrid’s nightlife, I suggest travelling with a large group of students and to research popular spots in advance.
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Transportation
Madrid was our second stop in our tour of Spain. We travelled to Madrid from Barcelona by train, and bought our train tickets at the Estacio Sants station in Barcelona for 100 Euro (train leaves every hour). The train ride was 2 ½ hours long and well worth the money, as the train was high-speed, clean, comfortable and quiet.
During our stay in Madrid, we used the metro. The metro was very clean and easy to use (the more subway systems you use in different cities, the easier it will be to use). A lot of historical sites were within walking distance of each other.
We flew home from Madrid using Air Europa and purchased it through SkyScanner.com. We bought the tickets for 150 Euro. Although it was the cheapest flight available, there was a lot of turbulence, and overhead capartment doors repeatedly opened, making for an uncomfortable flight.
Where to Stay
We booked a hotel room in Hotel Praga for 90 Euro a night. Although it was rated as a four-star hotel, it was comparable to a two or three star hotel in American Standards. Beware of hotel ratings, as hotels tend to over exaggerate the quality of their establishments.
In Madrid
Visiting the City
Day One: European fashions can be found for a small price in Madrid. On the first day there, we shopped along the metropolitan streets of Madrid. Most of the shops were located near the metro station “Opera.” We also explored Madrid Cuisine, such as Paella.
Day Two: We spent the second day visiting the architecture of the city (around the metro stop “Retiro”). A must-see attraction is Retiro Park, where the landscaped grounds provide a breathtaking view. A highlight was the Glass House, with a 15-foot fountain in front of it.