Puerta del Sol Metro: Sol

Puerta del Sol
Located at the geographical heart of Spain, near to the Plaza Mayor, the Puerta del Sol is Madrid's consummate public plaza. The crescent shaped plaza opens onto 9 major roads, and buzzes with bus traffic, cars and taxis; the metro beneath ensures that its wide sidewalks are always packed with people. The graceful buildings framing the plaza demonstrate the architectural pursuits of the architects working under Carlos III, and with their creamy golden and red façades, still evoke a sense of bygone elegance and civic pride.

Palacio Real
The Royal Palace is thought to be the quintessence of Madrid's neoclassical building boom, and is replete with incomparable artwork, exemplary sculpture, Rococo furniture and fine implements for royal feasts. The complex is vast and awe-inspiring, beyond anything we postmoderns could imagine (or justify) as a residence.

Museo del Prado
The Prado museum is thought by some to be the best in the world. Other museums are known for the sheer quantity and variety of works in stock, but the Prado provides access to an incredible concentration of masterpieces from specific masters. For Bosch, Velázquez, Murillo, Goya, or El Greco, even Rubens, this is the one place that must be seen.

Reina Sofía
Madrid's modern art museum, located within sight of the Atocha train station, is home to the works of Miró and Dalí, as well as Picasso's famed Guernica, the mural that depicted a massacre of civilians committed by fascists during the Spanish Civil War. The painting often appears simple to those who see it in tiny reprints, but it is common to see captivated visitors standing or sitting in front of the huge canvas for prolonged periods of time.

Parque del Buen Retiro
Right in the heart of Madrid, near the Prado Museum and Atocha train station, the Parque del Buen Retiro was the country resort for Spain's ruling monarchs, but now is a favorite sojourn for the city-dweller tired of the traffic and the noise.

El Rastro
An open-air marketplace, often compared to a flea market, the Rastro has become a traveler's rite of passage. Many will claim to have obtained cherished or even valuable items there for unbelievable bargains, but others warn to watch for the pickpockets, fortunetellers and shell-gamers who target the inattentive.

Av. Ciudad de Barcelona Metro: Atocha-RENFE

Atocha Station
The Atocha train station is a Madrid landmark, despite or perhaps due to its proximity to the Prado and Reina Sofía museums, and its use as one of the key transportation hubs of the capital. Its striking architecture is complemented by a rich interior ambience and the service of high-speed AVE trains to Andalucía.