Anyone planning a trip to Madrid knows in advance that they must-visit places like La Puerta del Sol, La Gran Vía de Madrid, the Retiro Park or the Prado Museum, among many other well-known tourist attractions. This is because these places appear in all the guides that exist on tourism in Madrid. However, there are many other sites quite unknown to tourists, which are worth seeing in this cosmopolitan city. Travelling to Madrid with a different approach will allow you to discover unexpected places that will surprise you and make your trip unique.
Whether you are travelling to study in a Spanish school in Madrid, you are passing through the city, or you are spending your vacations there, you can take some time to visit certain places that, for some reason or another, have not become so famous and therefore are omitted by most tourists.
The thing is, these little known places don’t always deserve to be. Most of them have an unparalleled charm and it is a pity that they are not admired by the thousands of tourists that the city receives every year. As for example, the Plaza de la Villa de Paris; a beautiful but unknown place located in the center of Madrid.
Of course, by saying this we do not mean that you should not see the most typical and historical places in Madrid; we are recommending you to make some space to visit some other places that are worth seeing, but that you will not find in the tourist guide of the city. If you have already visited the most famous attractions in Madrid, we invite you to visit these unknown places that we will detail below.
The Best Unknown Places in Madrid
The Neomudejar
La Neomudejar is a former railway building at Atocha station that houses an avant-garde art centre, where disciplines such as urban art, video art, parkour and highly original performances are promoted. If you enjoy art and visiting museums, you cannot miss the Neomudejar where you can see a very different type of art than that offered by the best-known museums in Madrid, such as El Prado, the Thyssen or the Reina Sofia Museum. This space is very visited by young people due to its avant-garde approach, in fact, there is usually an important student and multicultural atmosphere, as it is a place that is often recommended to foreign students who are attending a Spanish school in Madrid.
The ghost station of Chamberí
In the neighbourhood of Chamberí there is a Madrid subway station that is in disuse. This station was operational from 1919 to 1966, and remained abandoned until 2008 when it was converted into a kind of museum that reflects the history of Madrid decades ago. It is like stepping into the city in the early twentieth century. Today it is restored so you can get closer to see how the metro stations were before, and one of the main attractions are the advertising posters dating from the 20s.
El Capricho Park
In Madrid, there are many parks and green areas to visit, but one of the most unknown hides an unparalleled beauty. It is El Capricho Park, which dates back to the eighteenth century and is home to an incredible botanical and artistic wealth. In this park, with more than two centuries old, you can also see wonderful fountains and statues, but one of the most amazing things to see is a bunker that is preserved from the Civil War. This bunker is unique in Europe and can be visited by appointment. It is important to note that the number of visitors to the park is limited and it is only open on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
The oldest restaurant in the world
Madrid is home to the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. We are talking about the restaurant called Botín, which was founded in 1725 and is still in operation, serving delicious dishes of traditional food. This historic restaurant appears in works by Graham Green, Ernest Hemingway and Pérez Galdós.
Prince of Anglona Gardens
This is another of Madrid’s lesser-known parks. The Prince of Anglona Gardens is a small haven with a neoclassical design, where you can breathe absolute peace, being a place little travelled thanks to the high walls that surround it. It is located in the center of Madrid at the foot of the Plaza de la Paja. It is one of the few eighteenth-century noble gardens that are still preserved. In the center of the garden there is a small stone fountain into which several cobblestone paths lead. It also has a pergola, which is covered with roses in the spring, and a gazebo.
The Hemingway Bar
This bar is another non-touristy place that we recommend you to visit if you want to give a little excitement to your visit. It is a speakeasy of the Madrid nightlife, which is inspired by the bars that operated during Prohibition in the 20’s. Its art deco style will leave you fascinated; wrapped in red velvet, animal print and gold details everywhere. Sitting at the bar and sipping one of their amazing cocktails should be a must for all tourists! The entrance to this bar has always been secret, it’s only known to those interested, but we share with you the location; it’s located in the NH Collection Sweden.
Quinta de los Molinos
La Quinta de los Molinos is another unknown green space that holds immense beauty. It is a Mediterranean garden, overflowing with trees, especially almond trees, which when in bloom generate an unparalleled spectacle for all the senses. That is why the best time to visit this place is in February and March, when the trees bloom showing all their splendour.
Pantheon of Illustrious Men
This neo-Byzantine style building is located in the neighbourhood of Pacifico and houses the remains of some very important people in the history of Spain. However, beyond its historical burden, this place is nice to visit because of its very unique mausoleum, the beauty of the building itself, and the marble monuments signed by renowned sculptors.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
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