Beyond visiting the Retiro Park, the Prado Museum, having a calamari sandwich or having a list of alternative cultural plans, Madrid offers many exclusive options that not many guides tell you about. These ideas will complement your visit to Spain's capital. What are you waiting for? Why not discover them all?
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1. Visit an abandoned station
You can find Platform 0 in Plaza de Chamberí, very close to the Sorolla Museum. This is an old metro station, where you can visit what was once the Chamberí stop, the Pacífico Motor Workshop and the entrance hall of the old Pacífico station. Its preservation by Metro de Madrid takes you back to 1919. It has been closed since 1966, but its tiles, posters and adverts, and walls have been restored to look as they did back in the day. You can journey into the past and discover there are still many secrets hidden underground. And, even better, admission is free.
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2. Stroll through a 14-hectare park
The El Capricho park is in the Alameda de Osuna area. It was commissioned by the Duchess of Osuna and built in 1784, and has hosted all kinds of personalities. And now it welcomes you. You can plan a relaxed day, take a picnic and chill out in a very romantic setting. You can marvel at its plants, the ducal palace and its architectural features. The park features three different styles: a parterre, an English landscape and an Italian garden. These are home to the park's iconic features: the ballroom, the Temple of Bacchus and the Labyrinth. It has a secret bunker built during the Civil War, which you can visit by reserving in advance. The park is almost on the outskirts of the city, near the airport, but it is easy to find on public transport. And it offers incredible views of Madrid.
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3. The San Fernando market
This unique market is in the heart of the Lavapiés area. It offers everything from traditional stalls, such as butchers and greengrocers, to stalls offering the highest-quality Spanish and international foods. And it is very close to the El Rastro street market, which you can wander around afterwards.
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4. One of the best views of Madrid
The Cerro del Tío Pío in the Puente de Vallecas area is a group of seven small hills, popularly known as "the seven tits". You can walk and walk until the sun goes down, with the sunset bathing a panoramic view of Madrid.
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5. Discover the city's hidden Arab wall
The wall was built during the emirate of Muhammad ben Abd al Rahman, between 850 and 866, and reinforced by Caliph Abd al Rahman III in the 10th century. There are only a few remains left, but in its day it enclosed an area of about 4 hectares. When you visit the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, take a detour to the Emir Mohamed I park, where you will be rewarded with incredible views of the cathedral's crypt, and discover a 120-metre section of the city's history.
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