5 Useful Apps for Madrid Visitors: For the Love of Your #Travel

For the love of your #travel and for the love of everyone's inner explorer, we want you to discover Madrid and we are willing to equip you for that. Here is the list of apps, which together will answer most of your quests and questions and will point you in the right direction. Try not to miss on the most fun and fantastic faces of the city!

GuíaPunto: Guide to Madrid's Places

A rather complete and trustworthy guide to the city of Madrid. There is an English version which makes the user friendly interface even more intuitive. The information is complete and includes places that are popular among locals.

The categories are also well though out and you can save the places to your favorites.

The only disadvantage, ironically, is that it can be overwhellming to people not from Madrid and there is no guidenace like user reviewes or expert recommendations.

We strongly recommend to check-out sections Culture and Bars - Food at the Markets. There you will find places with local atmosphere and authentic social life.

Download here

Madrid by MadSnail Travel: Curious and Personal Insights to Madrid from Locals

This app has developed into a personalized guide for the visitors of Madrid with recommendations, coupons, tips and curious facts coming from local guides of Madrid, most of whom are natives to the capital of Spain.

Apart from being able to book your private tour directly, you can order your transfer from the airport, listen to audio guide audios recorded by MadSnail guide, watch videos and photos of Madrid and, most importantly, can check out the very personal, approved by locals, recommendations for interesting and off-the-beaten-track things to do in Madrid and good places to eat and stay in section "We Approve".

The app is constantly updated with new audio guides of the city and new places to visit.

Download here

Metro de Madrid: Your Most Reliable, Safe and Authentic Way to Discover Madrid

Don't be mistaken, Metro of Madrid is visitor friendly even if you don't speak Spanish. We strongly recommend it as your preffered means of transportation, as it provides excellent connection even between the central attractions and is well affordable and fast. Also, you get to see the real life of Madrid and its local people. It is safe, clean, and very predictable. Some stations serve as cultural centers: Moncloa and Linea Zero.

This app is available in English, French, German, Chinese and is though out for visitors, providing the usual maps and routs information, but also, rates, and a map with touristic attractions in relation to Metro stops.

You can calculate how long it will take you and plan the optimal route between point A and point B.

Download here

Museo del Prado: Interactive and Curios Way to See Prado Before and After the Visit

Prado Museum is a must see for anyone visiting Madrid, regardless of his or her interest in art or history. This is a unique experience and one of the best ways to evidence Spanish culture thanks to the richness and vastness of the collection. We guagrantee something will catch your attention and will arise your curiousity and will become a doorway to your closer understanding of spaniards and the country you are visiting.

This app is thought for modern users which like to be able to see, touch, hear and write at the same time. The app features free guide to major works in audio and text format, with contains beyond basic information and interesting features like "related works", which help visitors understand better a certain masterpiece.

The app is free but has additional content for very reasonable price below 1 EUR. It will help to decide if you are still doubting about the visit, as well as will give you interesting content and inspiration for your visit. The app is called "Second Canvas Museo del Prado".  Download here

Trip Advisor Madrid City Guide

Of course you know about it, but if in dobut about the quality, we can say "go for it". It is free and it works offline, including the map, which is not a common thing for a tourist app.

It will be helpful and most of the times you can trust the ratings and user reviewes. The guide is rather complete and you create your own travel journal, find your location and learn some basic facts about the city with self-guided tours.


Download here for Android and for Apple




Author: Natalia Gorobisnaka
Madrid Enthusiast
MadSnail Travel

Hot Summer Afternoon Formula for Madrid

Eureka! We found it! We found the perfect formula for the hot Summer afternoon in Madrid for locals and visitors! This magic formula will snatch you out of the afternoon laze, will paint a smile on your face, will fill your lungs with laughter and fresh air and will expand your horizons without having to go to remote corners of the world. As every genious discovery it is simple and a lot of madriders will exclaim the traditional "how come it has never occured to me!". Well here it is, finally uncovered.

Summer + Retiro + Karts + FrEEky Guide = Perfect Summer Afternoon in Madrid

It might look freaky, but rather from the word "free", that is free to explore and run wild like a kid in the welcoming shades of the Retiro park following and racing with your friends (or strangers) and our fascinating guide who challenges you to paddle like you never did before and to dare taking crazy turns and slopes. In between the action time he shares the stories and curiosities of the park. I am not going to brag about how many curious facts there are, as it seems that there is one hidden behind every leaf, but I can tell you one thing, you will feel like in an adventure park with sets and scenarios changing in a kaleidoscope mode. Our karts-riding tour covered most of the vast 350 sq. acres of the park, which is impossible to do by walking in one day or even in two. Well, in my case, I never managed to do it in five years of living in Madrid, as I always gave in to the laze and ended up laying down somewhere in a sunny quite corner, doing anything else but exploring.

Added bonus: jealous gazes of the kids and the passerbys wishing to be part of the craze! Doubles the fun!

We are up for it every Saturday and Sunday and tt is easy to join here or contact us for the private tour.
PS: The tour ends with one of those classic ice-creams in the park. :)

Author
Natalia
Madrid Enthusiast
www.madsnailtravel.com

Things To See In One Day

That’s it, finally we are in the season when travelling is in the air!  One day, while doing the city and beach hopping you find yourself in Madrid and you only have one day! Of course you´ve heard stories, saw pictures and are anxious to fit in as much as possible from museums to rooftops and flamenco shows. But the real question is how to do it in the most effective manner.
I’m an immigrant madrider and I have made my way from meeting Madrid for the first time to feeling myself like home here. That, plus the experience of the infinite number of foreign guest that we had, lets me suggest the following plan.
First and foremost get a general idea of the city, get the feel of the arquitecture and make your personal mental map of the things to see. Your best bet for this the Madrid City Bus Tour, the double-decker. Take the tour of the old quarters, don´t bother with the modern part, and just ride it from start to end without getting off, it´ll take your around 2 hours. You´ll see that Madrid is curious, fun and very easy to walk.
After the ride get off at the stop Puerta del Sol and take it easy, don´t get contaminated with the tourist rush, relax and have you’re your beer or “tinto de verano” with a delicious and well-sized toast at the tavern “En Busqueda del Tiempo”. It´ll take you a short walk from the Puerta del Sol.
Once recharged walk around till lunch and remember that Spaniards have lunch at 14:30 – 15:30, after 17:00 most of the authentic restaurants close till dinner, which starts around 21:00. So, do walk around, Madrid is made for walking and if you have one day to see Madrid, don´t go to museums. And not because they are not worth it, but rather because each of them is worth at least 3 hours, and you are on the time budget. So enjoy the historical heritage of the city from outside.
Starting from Sol, head towards the Plaza Mayor, cross it exiting on Calle Toledo. From here you should go down to one of the most emblematic neighborhoods La Latina, entering it through Calle Cava Baja. Brows that area, look for Calle Almendro and return to Plaza de San Andres. Take a brief look and cool down in the Church of Sant Andres if it is open, and if not pop into the Museom of the Origins for just a quick look. Next, follow to the Plaza de la Paja, right behind the church, check out the gardens at the opposite side of the square, follow down to Calle Segovia. You will see the bridge on your left, go to it and take the stairs up. This will take you to this street Calle Ballen, which you should follow (to the right), crossing the famous Viaducto and heading towards the Royal Palace. Here take a breath, rest a little bit in the gardens in front of the Palace, then walk around the Royal Theater (Opera) and find yourself in the Plaza of Isabel II. Marvel. Now you can head to Gran Vía, taking Cuesta Santo Domingo all the way up till the Square of Santo Domingo and turning left on Calle San Bernardo till you reach Gran Vía. Here you can go for a quick window or real shopping, going in the direction opposite from Plaza España until you reach big McDonalds “living” in a gorgeously decorated building. Don´t forget to look up while on Gran Vía. If you want some more fun and modern shopping cross the road from the McDonnalds and take Calle Fuencarral. Here you´d probably like to stop by at Hakel, Campers, Hoss, Gans and a cute Japanese store among handful of others.
Just FYI you will be between neighborhoods Chueca and Malasaña.
Seems like it´s lunch time already! Do eat in a traditional Spanish tavern, the traditional “menu del día” which comes with 2 courses and a drink. Don´t be repulsed by taverns that have used napkins on the floor around the bar, those are the most traditional, and they are not filthy. Most likely you will eat one of your best meals in one of those taverns. If you have thought up a place you really want to go, but it´s a bit far, take a taxi, it will save you some energy and it won´t be expensive.
After lunch it is strongly recommended to have a coffee or an afternoon drink on one of the rooftops of Madrid, which could be Circulo de Bellas Artes, Bar of the Hotel ME or another one which you might find yourself.
In the evening you can plan to go for the flamenco show. If haven´t seen it, it´ll be interesting. I can recommend Casa Patas, Café Chinitas or Corral de la Moreria.
Enjoy Madrid, and remember that it is extremely safe, even late at night, that it really never sleeps, especially in the summer, you will be always surrounded by friendly and happy people. Not too many speak good English, but they will always try to help you!

PS: You can also book one of our Walking and Gstronomical Tours below

Author: 

Natalia Gorobinskaya

MadSnail Travel

Gastronomy in Madrid is Not Just A Fancy Word

The thing that amazed when I just moved to Madrid was the amount of time Spaniards can spend talking about food. The same way as I realized why English can dedicate a lengthy conversation to weather, I discovered why Spaniards can spend hours talking about food. In England the weather is a continuous disaster, it interferes with your life, it determines your energy levels, it is the major factor in planning your free time and most of the time it is not pleasant, so it is necessary to vent and to seek consolation. In Spain, and even more so in Madrid, food and gastronomy is also your life's determining factor, but in a positive way.

Continue reading here

Author: 

Natalia Gorobinskaya
Madrid Enthusiast

MadSnail Travel

Art Goes Well with Tapas

Restaurant that holds the Art & Tapas conferences

Who could have guessed that in Madrid, one of its most traditional residential neighborhoods boasting primarily a decent selection of supermarkets, local shoe repair stores and pharmacies, at one of the most typical Spanish bars around the corner (La Pitanza), on the second floor in a cozy improvised setting, every Friday gathers a solid group of people to listen, see and learn about art.

Lives and works of artist from different parts of the world are exposed exclusively for them by an outstandingly well-rounded, expressive and enthusiastic young men, who aims to fill every second with his desire to share and transmit.

Nothing fancy: 30 chairs, dining tables put aside, a portable projection screen and Jesus, the speaker, hardly fitting in the small space between the table, his laptop and the screen.

Paseo a orillas del mar, J. Sorolla

I came late, entered quietly and the only sound I heard was the voice of the lecturer. No one was making a sound, very few people even noticed my arrival, and nobody cared to give me the curious look,  so consumed they were with the life and the story of Juaquin Sorolla, a legendary Spanish painter. The quality of slides didn´t matter, as the works were so well arranged and presented with exactly necessary amount of details and intrigue that you knew you´ll go to see them life anyways, and will follow each and every recommendation of Jesus regarding videos and books about the subject.

The time is up and we are transitioning smoothly to the second part of the experience – drinks and tapas. That´s when we´ll share our new inspirations and will continue talking long into the night, jumping from subject to subject and living the true Spanish Friday night in Madrid.

Related links:
Museum of Sorolla in Madrid here
Bloggers about Museum of Sorolla in Madrid here

Author: 

Natalia Gorobinskaya
MadSnail Travel

Curious peek into "Eight and a Half"

Browsing sometimes brings you to inspiring places, and virtual inspiration takes you to the brick-and-mortar ones - perfect and productive synergy. This time it happened thanks to Cat Bethune's post in Spotted by Locals about "Ocho y medio". Cat "spotted" a place which I have actually seen and past by several times while going to see a movie in one of the theaters on the same street, but never have adventured to enter. After seeing it spotted, I can't wait. I am sitting on my couch, some 500 meters away from the spot, writting this post and can't wait for Saturday afternoon to come, to go and check it out. They have food, which is an unbeatable attraction, an atmosphere to make you feel all cool and vanguard, they issue their own books about movies and people from the film industry, a shop so you can touch and feel all that creative atmosphere, and they have internet, so you can safely sink for hours in the world of cinema, fotos, objects and illusions with an excuse of a laptop on your table. Apart from being people with a distinct and personal feel of elegance and beauty, Ocho y medio is a community, a welcoming comunity inviting everyone to come and participate in this movie related event, slash English classed. Interesting. Will see it tomorrow for an afternoon coffee.

Useful details from Cat's post:
(Show on map)
Ocho y medio  | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks 
c/Martin de los Heros, 11 | +34915590628
Sun – Mon 16:00 – 22:00, Tue – Wed 10:00 – 22:00, Thu – Sat 11:00 – 23:00

Author: 

Natalia Gorobinskaya

MadSnail Travel
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