Getting to Know Madrid

After living in the center of Spain for over a year, I have found many of my favorite spots to read a book, dishes to enjoy, and activities to try in Madrid. It's an ongoing process of discovery that I love- whether it be finding a new restaurant, a hidden street, a tiny cafe, dish, or a neat place to watch the sunset! Below are some compilations of my favorite spots and things to do in Madrid, including some recommendations that are off the beaten path- and that you may not find in travel books. Even if you may not make it to Madrid someday, this can give you an idea of what I like to do here and where I spend my time in Spain's capital. I hope you find this helpful, and enjoy!

View of the Royal Palace and Cathedral from a park near my house!

Places to visit

Puerta del Sol

  The actual center of Madrid and the entire country of Spain, as you can find a physical marker in the ground, in front of the clock-tower building, that marks that geographical center of Spain! This is the first place any tourist goes in Madrid, and it's worth a stroll if for nothing but enjoy the pedestrian center and escaping the busy Gran Via nearby. Buy a pastry at La Mallorquina and test out the sweet tooth of the royalty (the bakery became famous after the King began to order his pastries there!). If you want to try a typical Spanish baked good, buy a naepolitana de chocolate for me... I've heard it's delicious! This is also one of the centers of nightlife, as Spaniards and internationals alike meet at the "broccoli bear" statue in Sol before going out to nearby bars in Huertas.

Plaza Mayor

  While not the true center of Madrid, compared to Sol this plaza definitely has more character. Make sure to get a calamari bocadillo there (hailed by many as one of the best spots to buy one in Madrid!), but feel free to skip the other restaurants on the plaza, as they are the overpriced tourist traps you would expect to find there. You're also bound to see a host of knock-off theme-park like costumes, like Dora the Explorer to Minnie Mouse, or very creative street performers - some of the most creative I've ever seen (for good or for bad). 

Spongebob and Mickey vying for entertaining space in Plaza Mayor. Wait, and elvis too?!...

Museo La Reina Sofia
 A must-see in Madrid! It hosts an excellent collection of Spanish modern art, including Picasso's famous and controversial La Guernica (it literally takes up the whole room!). Don't miss the Dalí room either, and make sure to take a ride on the glass exterior elevator to get an incredible view of the city from above!

El Prado

Parque del Buen Retiro 

El Rastro

El Palacio Real

Best places to watch the sunset 

Templo de Debod

This area is actually a few minutes walking distance from my house, and is a great place to run and watch the sunset! Everyday at sunset Spaniards and a handful of tourists come to see the sky turn pink and orange, and there's almost always a guitarist playing soothing tunes to accompany the brilliant, peaceful sky and complete the setting. 

Parque del Cerro del Tío Pío en Vallecas (aka Parque de 7 tetas)

Best places to people watch

Plaza del Oriente


How to speak to Madrileños

Every country and city has it's own slang and words. After studying abroad in South America and learning Spanish in California, it was a bit of a challenge. Spaniards are very direct- they use commands  and imperative a lot, and will rarely use the conditional (which is much more common, and seen as polite, in Mexico and Latin America). For example, in Argentina, when my host mom answered the phone, a series of questions and inquiries would proceed as such:

"Hola mi amor! Cómo estas? Me alegro escucharte. Que tal las niñas?" And then 5 minutes later "Bueno, que pasa?" to inquire as to why their friend or acquaintance they've called.

In Spain, when someone answers the phone this is usually how it goes. "Díme."(Tell me)
Perhaps an "Hola tío. Cuéntame". It is much more forward, direct, and to the point.

If you walk into a bar or restaurant to order something, and want to seem remotely like you're meant to be there, you would not use the conditional.

You would not say "Hola, me podrías dar una cerveza, por favor" (Would you please give me a beer?)

Instead, you would say "Buenas, me das una cerveza?" (Hello, give me a beer?).

If you said that in Argentina you would get a stink eye and would probably not get service! It would be very rude. But here it's the norm. When in Rome, right?

Okay, now on to the fun stuff. The slang words. When I first got here I was very confused as to why people kept other people tío (uncle) that were clearly not their uncles. What was that about?! Turns out "tío" is used like "dude" here. There's one thing they don't teach you in class!

Here's a list of slang words I've picked up by talking and listening to Spaniards here (including my students):

vale - okay
     Essentially, our "okay". One of the first slang words you will learn here, and the most important you could learn. Often used in repetition, as in "Vale, vale, vale". Can use it almost anytime and anywhere- a fool-proof way to seem Spanish!

tío/tía- dude.
     Used when speaking directly with someone. Gender doesn't matter- you can call your girlfriend tío and it's perfectly okay.

típo- dude
     Only used in third person when referring to another "dude".

chulo- cool (when referring to an object, event or place); punk (when referring to a person)
     Common expression: "Que chulo!" Very very common here in Spain.

___ mola (v) - used to denote something as being cool. "Esa mola!"

___ es la leche - to say something is awesome.
         For example: "Esta película es la leche!

pavos- another word for cash, like "bucks"- literally means turkey!

pasta- another slang word for money. Also used for toothpaste (pasta dental), the food pasta, and cookies!