Madrid – who said that Movida only begins at sundown?
Madrid nunca duerme (Madrid never sleeps). As we all know, Madrid is the city of Movida, during the day and of course throughout the night. Here life proceeds as if the flow of time has a completely different meaning as for the rest of the world.
But Madrid is not only a city of bars, gossip and late hours. Madrid has a thousand souls, and walking through its streets you cannot but totally agree with us. Let’s see how to spend a full day in Madrid on the…Movida.
Strolling around Madrid in the morning, visit at least one of the big three art museums, the Prado, the Reina Sofia or the Thyssen. The train Museum is the top for children.
For people-watching, romance, rowing, and relative peace and quiet, choose the Plaza de la Villa or the Parque del Buen Retiro, and try not to miss the Malasaña – a very charming barrio centered around Plaza Dos de Mayo. The lazier ones, who want to enjoy the beauties of the city without walking, can take a trip on the Teleférico, out into the depths of the Casa de Campo.
A special, free entertainment is that offered by the many street artists populating Madrid’s roads and squares. Singers, dancers, jugglers, up to the drummers from around the world who meet to play under the monument dedicated to King Alfonso XII in the Retiro Park: some quite impressive, others truly hilarious, but all there because in this city they find their deeper meaning of life, highlighting Madrid with the typical Spanish vitality.
Moreover, Madrid offers a number of truly unmissable places for your purchases, where you can find the essence of the Spanish capital. Do not just limit your shopping in tourist shops, but move on to those places where locals usually go. Markets, exclusive shops, stalls of every type: Madrid has something for all tastes and, above all, for all budgets!
On Sunday mornings you can visit the famous flea market, El Rastro, located in one of the oldest districts of the city, next to La Latina: it has everything from clothes, handbags, classic antiques, to puppies and especially food: here you can indulge in the traditional bocadillo de calamares, or head towards the atmospheric heart of La Latina for lunch in one of the many tapas bars around Plaza de la Cebada and Cava Baja. It is best to reach El Rastro by Metro La Latina – Line 5 (green), heading downhill, as it may be less tiring.
And then, of course, the nightlife in Madrid starts with the sundown, when bars, clubs and restaurants open. People pour into the streets with an irresistible desire to move, laugh and dance until the early morning hours. Malasana, Chueca and Lavapies, but also in the central Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.
Not having attended at least one evening in the Spanish Movida, is like never having been to Madrid.
Photo by felipe_gabaldon
About the Author
Andrea Guerriero Hi, I'm Andrea, a travel blogger, web programmer, seo apprentice and amateur photographer based in Milan. I love reading, I love music. I love to travel but only if I leave on a mission! I've been traveling through most of Europe and I love writing about it. I love photography, especially as a way to document experiences, places, events. My Nikon D300 camera is always with me, and it helps me in sharing my life with the rest of the world. Getting in touch with new people, different life styles and foreign traditions, and write about it, is all I can ask for.
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