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Welcome to the heart of it all! Often a great starting point for a tour of Madrid, from the central Puerta del Sol you can find wonderful 19th-century buildings, shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and crowds at this busy central intersection. Tons to do and see, museums, shops, lively bars and fantastic nightlife. This area is so packed full of great places, the best thing to do is to grab a copy of the Guía del Ocio (leisure guide) and check out the listings.
Location:
Right in the centre of Madrid, most of the city centre's sights are within walking distance. Often crowded but never boring, you will discover lots of new things to see and do around every corner. Parking is available but limited, so it is advisable to travel on foot.
Places to visit:
The Plaza Mayor is a huge square constructed in 1617. It has been pedestrianised and can be entered by any one of nine arches. Always a popular meeting place, especially on Sundays and there are plenty of bars and restaurants around the square.
Museums:
El Prado is one of Madrid's most famous art galleries and houses many masterpieces by international artists such as El Greco, Veláquez, Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, Van Dyck and Rembrandt. There is a variety of works to see including sculptures, drawings, engravings, coins and medals and also decorative arts. Tuesday-Sunday and public holidays, 09:00 - 20:00, 24 and 31 December, and 6th January, 09:00 - 14:30. Closed: Mondays, 1 January, Good Friday, 1 May and 25 December.
Nightlife:
Looking for a hot spot where you can dance the night away? Come join in the fun at one of the most popular clubs in town! Joy Eslava is frequented by models and musicians alike. The cover charge may be a little expensive, but you can dance until dawn to the newest and hippest music. Nearest Metro station is: Puerto del Sol.
Touché may not be the prettiest club but it's a great place for dancing and loud conversation. There are occasional live shows and valet parking is available. Located on Avenida General Perón.
Speakeasy has three floors, with a variety of amenities such as pool table, dance floor and great latin music. The ground floor is by far the busiest, and on Fridays and Saturdays there is a cover charge of 4.20 which includes one drink. Fernando VI, 6.
Gastronomy:
Around every corner you will find a café or restaurant to suit your tastes and pocket. Las Reses is a distinguished upmarket restaurant catering to a wealthy clientele looking for their favourite Spanish dishes, such as callos a la madrileña (tripe stew in a slightly spicy sauce). Reses means cattle and, not surprisingly, the house specialties are grilled red meats of all kinds, so not one for vegetarians! There is an excellent selection of fine wines to choose from and valet parking is available.
Finnegan’s is a friendly and laidback Irish restaurant with attractive décor, its simple menu of snacks, lunch and dinner draw a large crowd. Hamburgers, sarnies, jacket potatoes, nachos, and a scrummy chilli con carne. Plaza de las Salesas, 9.
The brightly painted, Mexican-style dining room at Entre Suspiro y Suspiro is part of a tastefully restored palace and it's run by a family of painters. Forget your usual tacky Tex Mex, it's the perfect place for a romantic dinner. Caños del Peral, 3.
As its name suggests, Thai Gardens is like dining in a lush Thai garden amidst a forest of plants and tasteful decoration. Always busy, the restaurant attracts tourists, locals and business men on their lunch breaks. Jorge Juan, 5.
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