Gran Via gives 5th Avenue & Champ De Elysees vibes to those that enjoy luxury shopping and…read moreexperiences. Here are iconic buildings, luxurious hotels, like the H10 Villa de la Reina, restaurants, & stylish people at every turn. There are luscious, green parks, easy access to public transportation, and beautiful roundabouts in this part of the Madrid. Restaurant workers desperately tried to entice us to enjoy the menu of the day. Their reputations are overpriced & underwhelming, to say the least. Instead we supported local eateries on quieter streets for a better experience. Our hotel is in this section of Madrid near Rolex, Four Seasons, Cartier, Valentino ...

I was staying right off Gran Via during my time in Madrid. This is basically like the equivalent of…read moreTimes Square, except you'll also see locals here. Plenty of people during the weekdays and weeknights... especially in the spring when the days are longer. Lots of touristy restaurants and shops. Imagine most of the relevant American fast food joints are here + the clothing stores. The main attraction here is the convenience to other parts of Madrid so this is a good central point. Very lively location and right in the heat of the activity.