A tour around Madrid’s city is essential for any tourist who wants to experience the great feeling of touring like a local. Madrid is widely known for its unique places to visit, interesting architecture, and tasty local food. Exploring places like Chueca, Huertas, or Malasaña neighborhoods can be fun due to the interesting sceneries and activities, but you need to plan your trip accordingly for the best experience. Here are 10 fascinating streets in Madrid that will make your stay in Spain unforgettable.
Fuencarral Street
From Gran Vía neighborhood, you can easily locate Fuencarral Street as it is nearby. A tree lined Calle Fuencarral separates funky Malasaña and gay-friendly Chueca. This is one of the most fashionable streets in Madrid as it is full of shops. Don’t miss having a taste of the delicious indoor food from Mercado de San Ildefonso, where you get to experience a Basque-style eatery.
Calle Mayor
This street begins at Puerta del Sol and ends at Almudena Cathedral. Walking some few yards through it, you can stop in the beautiful Mayor square. The San Miguel market, where you can have a drink and have some delicious gourmet food, is also located along the street. Other attractions on the street include restaurants or coffee shops.
Calle Alcalá
Calle Alcalá starts in the kilometer zero of Puerta del Sol and travels more than 10 kilometers. It is the longest street in Madrid. Like the Gran Via, this street is made up of magnificent architecture. The old Puerta de Alcalá can easily help you locate Buen Retiro Park’s entrance, which is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and wooded areas. In our article about best parks in Madrid, we talked about this park and other ones. The park also has a human-made lake and fun activities that will cheer up your day.
Huertas Street
Walking through the neighborhood, you can easily locate the Calle de las Huertas. This street has a cool atmosphere throughout. There are also several bars where you can experience the city’s nightlife and also get a chance to enjoy some tasty tapas. If you are a music fan, you can also visit Café Jazz Popular to enjoy free live music.
Gran Vía
Start your touring journey down Gran Vía to experience one of the amazing streets of Madrid. Gran Via street offers some of the best architecture in the city, plus you will experience the big city buzz. Gran Vía street is well known as the theatre avenue in Madrid so you could enjoy different shows every day. As you start your walk, do not forget to look up as you stroll down the Gran Vía as it is the best location to view the great iconic angel on top of the metropolis building. You can find Círculo de Bellas Artes, known for its best rooftop views. Also identified as the best spot for having a drink while listening to music, this spot gives you the best opportunity to view and experience the best city center views.
Paseo del Prado
Have a stroll along Paseo del Prado, where you can view some amazing sculptures of very famous Spanish artists such as Francisco de Goya, Velázquez o Murillo and many more. Along this boulevard are situated some of the most important art museums in Spain such as Reina Sofía National Museum, Prado National Museum, and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. It is an enjoyable moment to enjoy world-class art.
Calle del Espíritu Santo
This street is one of the most attractive places in Madrid. The street borders San Bernardo Street and Corredera Alta de San Pablo Street. Fashion lovers can shop some clothes from the various clothing shops, both new and second hand, lined along the street. If you feel like having coffee, this street has some classic coffee shops that serve the best coffee brands.
Calle Bailén
Calle Bailén is a walking distance of the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral. This place offers the most spectacular views of Madrid. The area of Jardines Sabatini or Campo del Moro has a romantic backdrop for a picnic and some entertaining street musicians. The place also offers visitors a perfect background for photographing landscapes and monuments.
Calle Argumosa
Calle Argumosa Street is located a few meters from Lavapies neighborhood. The street is where you can find restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. This street also has a lively terrace and is the perfect option for daytime strolls as they serve great food. This street is worth checking out if you are in Madrid.
Calle Serrano
Calle Serrano is located in the Salamanca neighborhood. Shopping lovers can have a great time in this street and buy something unique if they are willing to splurge on quality products. The street is one of the best for shopping thanks to its high-end art boutiques and designer shops. There are also other luxurious shops where you can do some window shopping or buy souvenirs.
If you are a visitor in Madrid, one way of ensuring that you experience the city like a local and get to know the main facts about Madrid is adding the above streets to your ‘to-visit places’. You can book a hotel in the city center where most of these streets are located. Every street has its unique charm that will help create exciting and memorable experiences during your visit. When you are in Madrid you can stay in one of the Catalonia Hotels that are close to the most beautiful streets of Madrid like the Hotel Catalonia Gran Via Madrid or Hotel Catalonia Plaza Mayor.
Enjoy your trip!
