Puerta del Sol is the "center" of Spain, both geographically and in its ability to attract every…read moresingle tourist with a camera and zero spatial awareness. If you've ever dreamed of standing in a crowd so dense you become part of a human gazpacho, this is your spot. Historically, it used to be a literal gate to the city hence "Puerta" and now it's just the gateway to dodging pickpockets and street performers. The clock tower at the Real Casa de Correos is iconic so go to see that. There's a statue of a bear eating from a strawberry tree (El Oso y el Madrono), which is the official symbol of Madrid. Why a bear and a berry bush? No one knows exactly, but it's been repping the city since the Middle Ages.

Being back in puerta del sol feels like home. Here's the deal- sol is like the central hub. From…read moresol, any direction you go, you'll find what you need! The metro station is sol connects to three lines making it one of the most accessible stops. The plaza area itself is always overrun with tourist and scammers, so beware and watch those pockets. But, the magic of sol is in the side streets that connect to it. Go north and you're in gran via or chueca. Take a step towards the irish pubs and grab a pint! Go north west in search of some churros at san gines. Sol is the connecting point to many notable places to visit! While I don't consider it a stop in itself, it is a great meeting point among groups to start your journey!

When I traveled to Madrid, I stayed in this neighborhood, and loved it! It is very centrally…read morelocated, close to Plaza Mayor, the Palacio de Real and much more, and has a lot of colorful local flavor. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and winding tiny streets branching out from the main roads. There always seems to be something going on, but it still feels very quiet in many areas. As a female solo traveler, I am always very concerned with the safety of the neighborhoods that I stay in. I always felt safe here. I walked around at night every evening that I was in the city, and never had any problems of felt unsafe - that being said, of course you must take precautions and always use common sense. But in general, I felt quite safe. Great area!

this is a vibrant, colourful neighborhood in the southwestern part of madrid's city centre. as…read moresoon as i stepped out of the underground station, i immediately saw many colourful murals, painted on the sides of various buildings. there are plenty of plazas here to relax, play, stroll, jog, or play ball. just be careful in the evenings, as there are some questionable streets and alleys that aren't very well lit. personally, my favourite thing to do here was to eat! the street called "calle cava baja" is well known for their restaurants, cafes, and tapas bars, and you could actually go "tapas bar" hopping by having the "house tapas" and a drink at one bar, and moving on to a second, and a third, so on and so forth until your belly is full! most of the tapas bars are very reasonably priced and open quite late. accessible via the la latina and tirso de molina underground stations.

Didn't even know this place existed. A friend and I were traveling in Madrid and it was Sunday…read morewhich was a perfect time to visit this area because of 'Las Ramblas'. We sort of got lost and took a different way back... I was glad we did because we ran into this gem. We just sat on a makeshift chair and looked around at people playing soccer, building, studying, planting or just lounging. Its unlike any park I have ever seen. It doesn't feel like a public part as as much of a community project. Its is out of this world and just strait cool. Spent an hour just lounging and eating breakfast while a few people jammed on acoustic guitar.

This place took me completely by surprise. A construction site that has been turned from an ignored…read morederelict site into a community space, this is a great example of how people have responded to the recession. There is a cafe, a stage for concerts, a basketball/football court and regular film screenings. All provided by people who saw a failed property development and decided to use it for something better. An excellent example of community spirit.

Honestly, what a surprise! Did not realize that this beautiful garden existed in the middle of the…read moreAtocha Renfe station. As you walk in, it's gorgeous and right front and center in the station! Train stations can be a mega waiting game, so it's nice to have something to do there.

An amazing use of otherwise empty space, the tropical garden of the Atocha Station is a destination…read moreby itself. Beautiful landscaping regardless of weather. There are a few paths through the "jungle" and several benches where you can sit and appreciate the trees as you wait for your train to board. There were a number of people painting today. Very cool. [Review 12545 overall, 2335 of 2019.]

The multiethnic and multicultural Barrio de Lavapies is located south of the Puerta del Sol. The…read morehistory tells it was the old Jewish quarter once they were expelled outside the city walls here. Its streets are narrow and steep, but, however, is a neighborhood full of life both day and night. In recent years it has been filled with restaurants of many nationalities: Indian, Senegalese and Lebanese in particular. It is also a neighborhood where you breathe counterculture in its many neighborhood and cultural centers and theaters where many have also opened. However, it is not a very safe neighborhood, so keep an eye out.

Lavapies is my neighborhood. The Plaza de Lavapies is a hot mess of immigrants and locals, and…read morelocal immigrants. One thing is for sure: Lavapies is the most ALIVE place in the center of Madrid. There is more sheer weight in LIFE in Lavapies than most of the other central neighborhoods combined. This is the place where you can find exotic spices, eat well, have a nice bar night on Calle Argumosa, or simply sit on a bench and watch the people pass by. If you are coming to Madrid, let Lavapies color your experience.

A neat spot to hang out and people watch that isn't nearly as crowded as the nearby Puerta del Sol…read moreor Calle de Huertas. This small square has a monument to Spanish Golden Age writer Pedro Calderón de la Barca and the Granadian poet Federico García Lorca. There are a few restaurants, cafes and tapas bars. Most of the plaza is surrounded by terraces. There are also two small playgrounds for the little ones as well as Teatro Español, the oldest theater in Madrid, the plaza's east side. The plaza dates back to Joseph I, who in 1810 demolished the old Camelite monastery and adjoining houses. The plaza began to take its current appearance, which was almost completed in 1880 when buildings that obstructed the view of the Teatro Español was demolished. [Review 12558 overall, 2348 of 2019.]

I absolutely love la Plaza de Santa Ana. It's such a beautiful area with so many fun restaurants,…read moreand even a small playground for the little ones. We were staying in the area and spent a lot of time here. Our son loved the playground so much. We dined at various restaurants and really enjoyed the food! Can't wait to get back here again soon.

An unknown treasure, even by Madrid inhabitants, in the middle of the historical center of Madrid…read more This small garden, which is part of the Anglona Prince Palace, was was built around 1530 as the residence of one counselor of the Catholic Monarchs and Carlos I, although its present aspect corresponds to a reform in 1802. It is a very quiet, although it has lost a lot of charm and the abandonment of the city council has seriously deteriorated, but still a lovely place to escape the noise and bustle.

This chocolateria has been in business for over 130 years, so it was probably safe to assume they…read moreknow how to make chocolate and just as essentially, the churros upon which their chocolate clings. Based on the definitive opinions of travel vloggers, this appeared to be the place to get the fabled chocolate con churros. Jamie W and I made our way here through the labyrinth of streets near Puerta del Sol. It was early evening so no surprise there was a queue, but it moved quickly because this historic place was a model of efficiency. It's the type of place where you need to be ready to order the moment you're in front of the hostess. Luckily, we had made mental notes of what to order from one particular vlogger, so we were ready. It only took a minute to secure one of their marble cafe tables. Our order arrived fairly quickly. It consisted of a 2,5€ plate of Churros, six long sticks of chewy, delicious dough. Unlike the Mexican version, it wasn't dusted with sugar because the 3,7€ cup of Hot Chocolate was more than enough (Photo 8). Incredibly rich and only lightly sweetened. The churros might've been enough for a neophyte, but we double-downed with a 2,5€ order of two Porros (Photo 7). Porras are a thicker, doughier version of churros, so of course, they were our favorites because they really held the chocolate with assurance. Even though we went through two cups of hot chocolate, we still had 2,4€ cups of Cafes con Leche to wash it all down (Photo 10). It was an ideal dessert experience because who doesn't love awesome doughnuts? Definitely a must-gorge when in Madrid. FOOD - 5 stars...the motherlode when it comes to chocolate con churros...get the porros AMBIANCE - 4 stars...crowded but historically atmospheric with enough elbow room SERVICE - 4 stars...speedy TOTAL - 5 stars...pretty essential Madrid experience RELATED - Exploring Madrid? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/RH4DbI4Fwc

Churros con Chocolate -- 10/10: literally who am i to judge a churro recipe/spot that has been…read moreserving the same recipe 24/7 since 1894 loool ofc it was phenomenal!!! i fear i will never find another churro as good as this. the chocolate dipping sauce was also so good i wanted to drink it Tucked into an alley in Puerta de Sol is this vintage chocolateria. Stepping into the alley feels like you're entering a vintage postcard. The workers were nice and I had a very pleasant time enjoying my churros and admiring the history and decor inside.

Due to political changes in Madrid the grandmother of rock now have her typical heavy fingers back…read more Everybody should come and pay their respects...