Hostal Prim

Paseo de Recoletos

One of the main sites of the city of Madrid, where many events take place like different celebrations, parades, processions, craft fairs and book fairs.

Plaza Cibeles

Situated between Calle de Alcala, Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo del Prado, it is one of the most emblematic places in Madrid. Many locals and tourists pass through this square every day. It is one of the symbols of Madrid along with Puerta de Alcala and Puerta del Sol. It is also well-known for the football celebrations that take place around it after big matches.

The square takes its name from the statue that stands in its centre, the goddess Cybele. It is also well-known for its beautiful architecture, expressed in buildings such as the Palacio de Buenavista, la Casa de America, the Banco de España and the Palacio de Cibeles that is home to the council of Madrid, the symbol par excellence of the city.

National Library

It is in Paseo de Recoletos, the building and the neighbouring museums were built in 1896 and in its many rooms it holds about 26 million works published in Spain. The National Archaeological Museum is also in the same museum.

Retiro Park

Created during the reign of Philip IV it occupies 118 hectares in the centre of Madrid and it is one of the largest Spanish urban parks. It is a symbol of Madrid and it is ideal for those who like relaxing in nature in the centre of a big city. Important features of the park are the lake, were you can rent a rowing boat, the monument to Alfonso XII, Cecilio Rodriguez’s gardens, the rose garden and the Crystal Palace. There are also events that take place in this park like open air theatre and music. It is one of the favourite areas for those who like relaxing.

The cultural area. The Madrid of museums

The capital of Spain has quite an important list of museums that are at the same level as the museums of other European cities. Some of them are situated in Paseo del Prado, which is also called “Paseo del Arte” or Walk of Art.

Prado Museum

It is one of the most important and most visited museums in the world. It is home to a great collection of paintings from different ages, mainly by European artists from 16th-19th centuries, with special areas for Spanish painters like Goya, Velazquez, Murillo and El Greco.

• Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 8pm. (including public holidays) Closed: every Monday (including public holidays) and days 25th December, 1st January, Easter Friday and 1st of May. Days with shorter opening hours 9am-2pm: 24th December, 21st December and 6th January.
• Prices: General: 8 Euros. Reduced: 4 Euros
• Address: Paseo del Prado S/N. Tel.: 91 330 280

Thyssen Museum

It is home to the extensive private collection of Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza that has grown through the years with interesting temporal exhibitions brought from all over the world.

• Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 7pm. Closed on Mondays. On 24th and 31st of December it opens between 10am and 3 pm. The museum closes on 1st of January, 1st of May and 25th December.
• Prices: General: 8 Euros, concessions 5.50 Euros (only at the ticket office) Over 65s, pensioners, students and families (at least one adult and three children or two if one of them is disabled) with the official Spanish certificate of large family.
• Free: Under 12s accompanied by adults.
• Address: Palacio de Villahermosa, Paseo del Prado 8. (+34) 91 369 01 51

Reina Sofía Museum

It measures 84.048 m2 and thanks to the works carried out in the past few years, it has become one of the largest and most important museums in the world. It is home to all types of Spanish art pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries.

• Opening times: Monday to Saturday: from 10am to 9pm, Sunday from 10am to 2.30pm, Tuesdays closed.
• Prices: General 6 Euros. Temporal exhibitions: 3 Euros
• Address: C/ Santa Isabel, 52. Telephone: 91 774 10 00

Old town

Madrid’s old town has many different streets, squares and shopping areas. In the old town we will find well-known sites like Puerta del Sol, the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor with all its terraces and emblematic bars or the Puerta de Alcala.

Gran Vía and Alcalá

This is the leisure area of the city, with many cinemas, theatres, boutiques and historical shops, as well as a large selection of eateries where you can enjoy the wonderful Castilian cuisine.