Didn't even know this place existed. A friend and I were traveling in Madrid and it was Sunday…read morewhich was a perfect time to visit this area because of 'Las Ramblas'. We sort of got lost and took a different way back... I was glad we did because we ran into this gem. We just sat on a makeshift chair and looked around at people playing soccer, building, studying, planting or just lounging. Its unlike any park I have ever seen. It doesn't feel like a public part as as much of a community project. Its is out of this world and just strait cool. Spent an hour just lounging and eating breakfast while a few people jammed on acoustic guitar.

This place took me completely by surprise. A construction site that has been turned from an ignored…read morederelict site into a community space, this is a great example of how people have responded to the recession. There is a cafe, a stage for concerts, a basketball/football court and regular film screenings. All provided by people who saw a failed property development and decided to use it for something better. An excellent example of community spirit.

When I traveled to Madrid, I stayed in this neighborhood, and loved it! It is very centrally…read morelocated, close to Plaza Mayor, the Palacio de Real and much more, and has a lot of colorful local flavor. There are plenty of shops, cafes, and winding tiny streets branching out from the main roads. There always seems to be something going on, but it still feels very quiet in many areas. As a female solo traveler, I am always very concerned with the safety of the neighborhoods that I stay in. I always felt safe here. I walked around at night every evening that I was in the city, and never had any problems of felt unsafe - that being said, of course you must take precautions and always use common sense. But in general, I felt quite safe. Great area!

this is a vibrant, colourful neighborhood in the southwestern part of madrid's city centre. as…read moresoon as i stepped out of the underground station, i immediately saw many colourful murals, painted on the sides of various buildings. there are plenty of plazas here to relax, play, stroll, jog, or play ball. just be careful in the evenings, as there are some questionable streets and alleys that aren't very well lit. personally, my favourite thing to do here was to eat! the street called "calle cava baja" is well known for their restaurants, cafes, and tapas bars, and you could actually go "tapas bar" hopping by having the "house tapas" and a drink at one bar, and moving on to a second, and a third, so on and so forth until your belly is full! most of the tapas bars are very reasonably priced and open quite late. accessible via the la latina and tirso de molina underground stations.

Alcázar de Toledo is an excellent museum and absolutely worth visiting. Entry was only 5 euros and…read morethey have a basic security check where selfie sticks and drones are not allowed. They also provide lockers to store your items which makes walking around much more comfortable. No one really spoke English during our visit, but everyone was very helpful and made the experience easy. All of the exhibits were interesting and well maintained, and there is even a listening tour available in both English and Spanish which helps you understand the history behind what you are seeing. The third floor is the highest point in Toledo and offers incredible views of the city. It is definitely a highlight of the visit and a great spot for pictures. Overall, I would recommend this museum if you are visiting Toledo and have about two hours to look around. It is a well curated and memorable experience.

Toledo's massive Alcázar, one of the city's most magnificent buildings, is an imposing citadel that…read moresits atop one of the city's most historic sites. The Romans built the first palace here in the 3rd Century, and its ancient foundations can been seen in the massive foyer of the military museum that now calls the Alcázar home. Those foundations, now displayed as part of one of the largest archeological excavations in Spain, are the most interesting part of the massive complex, much of which was reconstructed following the palace's destruction in the 1930s, after a two-month siege by Franco's Nationalist forces. The Alcázar's fascinating role in the Spanish Civil War (it's basically Spain's version of the Alamo) isn't given the attention it deserves in the present museum, which focuses on Spain's military history from the Visigoths to World War II. The exhibits are interesting (particularly the collection of medieval armor and swords), but they seem random and disconnected, and the lack of detail on the history of the palace itself feels like a missed opportunity. Worth maybe an hour of your time, unless you're a military history buff, in which case it's probably worth two.

Puerta del Sol is the "center" of Spain, both geographically and in its ability to attract every…read moresingle tourist with a camera and zero spatial awareness. If you've ever dreamed of standing in a crowd so dense you become part of a human gazpacho, this is your spot. Historically, it used to be a literal gate to the city hence "Puerta" and now it's just the gateway to dodging pickpockets and street performers. The clock tower at the Real Casa de Correos is iconic so go to see that. There's a statue of a bear eating from a strawberry tree (El Oso y el Madrono), which is the official symbol of Madrid. Why a bear and a berry bush? No one knows exactly, but it's been repping the city since the Middle Ages.

Being back in puerta del sol feels like home. Here's the deal- sol is like the central hub. From…read moresol, any direction you go, you'll find what you need! The metro station is sol connects to three lines making it one of the most accessible stops. The plaza area itself is always overrun with tourist and scammers, so beware and watch those pockets. But, the magic of sol is in the side streets that connect to it. Go north and you're in gran via or chueca. Take a step towards the irish pubs and grab a pint! Go north west in search of some churros at san gines. Sol is the connecting point to many notable places to visit! While I don't consider it a stop in itself, it is a great meeting point among groups to start your journey!

An unknown treasure, even by Madrid inhabitants, in the middle of the historical center of Madrid…read more This small garden, which is part of the Anglona Prince Palace, was was built around 1530 as the residence of one counselor of the Catholic Monarchs and Carlos I, although its present aspect corresponds to a reform in 1802. It is a very quiet, although it has lost a lot of charm and the abandonment of the city council has seriously deteriorated, but still a lovely place to escape the noise and bustle.

Due to political changes in Madrid the grandmother of rock now have her typical heavy fingers back…read more Everybody should come and pay their respects...

The multiethnic and multicultural Barrio de Lavapies is located south of the Puerta del Sol. The…read morehistory tells it was the old Jewish quarter once they were expelled outside the city walls here. Its streets are narrow and steep, but, however, is a neighborhood full of life both day and night. In recent years it has been filled with restaurants of many nationalities: Indian, Senegalese and Lebanese in particular. It is also a neighborhood where you breathe counterculture in its many neighborhood and cultural centers and theaters where many have also opened. However, it is not a very safe neighborhood, so keep an eye out.

Lavapies is my neighborhood. The Plaza de Lavapies is a hot mess of immigrants and locals, and…read morelocal immigrants. One thing is for sure: Lavapies is the most ALIVE place in the center of Madrid. There is more sheer weight in LIFE in Lavapies than most of the other central neighborhoods combined. This is the place where you can find exotic spices, eat well, have a nice bar night on Calle Argumosa, or simply sit on a bench and watch the people pass by. If you are coming to Madrid, let Lavapies color your experience.

stumbled upon the place when walking through the labyrinth consist of cobble stone…read more Make sure your shoes have tick soles. Saw a lot of people were coming inside, so we also went inside.

NUN BAKED GOODNESS…read more Toledo's famous almond-fruity-sweet mazapan is sold all over Town. As we wandered, we kept a lookout for Convents advertising their Artesano version. Our first opportunity was at Convento de San Antonio de Padua and for only 5 Euros, we bought a box that came in really handy as a snack when we were later driving through Northern Spain. The good (and elderly) Sisters were friendly, kind, and a pleasure to support.

Holy Toledo!…read more Historically, Holy Toledo was the Kingdom of Toledo, the juridical definition of a Christian medieval kingdom in what is now central Spain. However, I probably heard it first as something the Boy Wonder (Robin) exclaimed on the old Batman TV Show. Gayle and I spent a wonderful time in Toledo as a day trip from Madrid. It's a UNESCO Heritage Site for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Spanish Empire. It was a place of coexistence of Christian, Jewish and Muslim cultures, as well as the place where harsh religious persecutions were held against the Jews. Many famous people and artists were born or lived in Toledo, including Al-Zarqali, Garcilaso de la Vega, Eleanor of Toledo, Alfonso X and El Greco. It was also the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. Sitting on a large hill, "Old Toledo" is encircled on three sides by the Tagus River and 2 Medieval Walls on the 4th. This old city retains its medieval road plan and the best thing about walking around here is getting lost. That's easy due to the twisting streets and irregular terrain. However, the old city is relatively small and can be crossed in 45 minutes, so you are never too far from the center. When you want to head back, just head uphill and you are virtually guaranteed to end up at the main plaza, Plaza de Zocodover. Highlights of our time in Toledo included touring the Cathedral, the Santa Cruz Museum, the Alcazar, El Greco's House, the Sinagoga del Transito, and the Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca. Walking around was also fun, as was snacking on Nun-Baked Dulces Artesanos and eating lunch out on the patio looking out over one of the narrow streets. We also found a few sharp Toledo knives to take home. P.S. - The Toledo Tourist Office was very helpful to us in our initial orientation. That included a good map.

A very beautiful city. Toledo is an old city from Roman times. It's high up over the Tagus River…read more Easy day trip from Madrid. This was the home of El Greco, and you can see how he was inspired by it. So beautiful! You can se his paintings at the museum but also at the Catedral. The medieval streets are lovely.