The Palacio Real de Madrid is the largest functioning royal palace by floor area in Europe. Though the current Spanish royal family do not reside there for political and personal reasons, this Baroque palace remains the official residency of the Spanish monarchy and therefore holds a huge importance to the people of Spain and the culture of Madrid. Built on the original site of a Moorish Alcázar, the original palace that stood on this site from the 14^th  century was severely burned during a fire in 1734 and was therefore replaced by the spectacular edifice and surrounding complex that stands to this day.

Culture and museum enthusiasts definitely should reserve a full day in their schedule just for this location. The Prado Musuem, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía National Art Center are all located between 10-15 minutes’ walk from each other and collectively contain arguably Europe’s most fabulous yet diverse art collection. The Prado specializes in renaissance-era Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools, the Thyssen-Bornemisza boasts an incredibly varied collection of works from many global movements, while the Reina Sofia houses some of Spain’s greatest contemporary art works, including Pablo Picasso’s Guernica.

The 125 hectares of green space immediately stand out when you take a look at a map of Madrid. What isn’t so immediately obvious however is the amount of curious and varied sculptures, monuments, venues and edifices hidden among the 15,000 trees that are commonly known as the lungs of the city. El Retiro Park is extremely popular with locals and visitors alike, be it either for striking photography opportunities in front of the Alfonso XII monument, a summer stroll in front of the Palacio de Velázquez or a casual sporting activity along the park’s many pathways.

A more central spot in Madrid, and indeed the whole country, does not exist. Always bustling with crowds of locals both young and old, “Kilometer Zero” is the single point from where all of Spain’s radial roads begin. The semi-circular Puerta del Sol is where you shall find one of Madrid’s most recognizable images; the famous “Oso y Madroña” statue of a bear nibbling at the fruits of a strawberry tree. And as the clock ticks on New Year’s Eve, thousands of Madrileños gathered in the square begin one of Spain’s most popular traditions of eating 12 grapes before the clock of the iconic Casa de Correos building chimes 12 times.

One of the most curious landmarks of Madrid is the Templo de Debod. The great stone structure was presented as a gift to the city by the Egyptian government in 1972, but the masonry itself is far more ancient. Dating back to the 2^nd century BC, the temple dedicated to the god Amun and the goddess Isis was originally constructed in Upper Egypt, yet as the mid-20th century Egyptian government prepared to create a dam nearby, it was decided that the temple should be transported to a safer location. It was transported and then built piece by piece in the center of Madrid, where it has become an extremely popular landmark, particularly during early evening.