| Madrid, the Spanish capital is a rare combination of | | | | and nightclub. |
| tradition and modernism, art and entertainment. Ten | | | | 6. Santiago Bernabeu - A must visit for soccer fans, |
| places that should be a priority while visiting this | | | | this stadium has seen the likes of Brazil's Ronaldinho |
| cosmopolitan center are: | | | | and Britain's Beckham play here. Madrid's largest |
| 1. The Royal Palace (Palacio Real) - Italy's pride, the | | | | stadium, it has a capacity of 75,000 spectators. |
| Royal Palace is used for state occasions. Some | | | | 7. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Museo |
| must-sees in this palace are the Reception Room, the | | | | Thyssen-Bornemisza) - With a chronologically |
| State Apartments, the Armory, and the Royal | | | | arranged collection representative of each major art |
| Pharmacy which still retains royal art treasures and | | | | movement, it is value is estimated to be between $1 |
| antiques like the diamond clock and King Juan Carlos' | | | | billion and $3 billion and is the world's most extensive |
| throne. | | | | privately owned collection of paintings equivalent only |
| 2. Wax Museum (Museo de Cera de Madrid) - Though | | | | to the legendary holdings of Queen Elizabeth II. |
| not as popular as Madame Tussauds', Spain's very | | | | 8.Sunday Bullfights - A must see in Madrid, these |
| own wax museum has a collection of almost 450 | | | | popular bullfights take place at Madrid's premier bullring, |
| lifelike wax figures including those of Columbus, and Bill | | | | the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas on Sundays. Bull |
| and Hillary Clinton. | | | | fighting is a sport that has raised many controversies |
| 3. The Zoo Aquarium - This is a favourite among kids | | | | but is a unique part of the 'Spanishness' of the city. |
| and adults with its dolphinarium, walk-through shark | | | | 9. Goya's Tomb (Ermita San Antonio de la Florida and |
| tank, 520,000-gallon tropical marine aquarium and a | | | | the Panteón de Goya) - Close to River |
| parrot club. It also has over 3,000 animals in simulated | | | | Manzanares, Goya's Tomb had created fury in the |
| natural habitats from around the world. | | | | noble circles with Goya's outrageous paintings until it |
| 4. Prado Museum (Museo del Prado) - While paintings | | | | was approved by the monarch, Carlos IV. A domed |
| from the Spanish school are the highlight of this world | | | | hermitage, it was built between 1792 and 1798. |
| famous art museum, it has a collection of over 7,000 | | | | 10. Parque de Retiro - Testament to the fact that |
| paintings by the crème de la crème of | | | | Madrid is one of the greenest cities in the world, the |
| the art world. | | | | park covers over 350 acres of land and boasts of |
| 5. Casino Gran Madrid - Fun is essential in any trip. | | | | beautiful fountains and statues along with its huge |
| Madrid's largest gambling ground, the Casino Gran | | | | pristine rowing lake and the lakeside monument |
| Madrid is appealing even for non-gamblers with its | | | | erected in 1922. |
| electric ambience and multi cuisine restaurants, bars | | | | |