Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

12  INTRODUCING SP AIN

2 Days in Madrid

Tapas, flamenco, art,
monuments and museums –
the capital has the lot.
• Arriving Barajas Airport is
13 km (8 miles) from the city
centre, linked by metro, bus
(local and express) and taxi.

Day 1
Morning Begin at the Plaza
Mayor, the huge arcaded square
in Madrid’s historic heart (p277),
then take a stroll around the
surrounding cobbled streets. Playa Mayor, Madrid’s grand arcaded square
Head into the pretty 19th-
century Mercado de San Miguel Day 2 2 Days in Barcelona
(located just off the square) for a Morning Stroll along the
gourmet lunch at one of the Gran Vía (pp284–5), Madrid’s
many chic tapas bars. glittering answer to New York’s Be enchanted by the
Broadway, admiring the turn- city’s medieval quarter,
Afternoon Visit the Prado of-the-20th-century theatres, Modernista monuments,
(pp296–9), Spain’s biggest as well as some of the city’s gourmet cuisine and city
museum. Highlights include first skyscrapers. The street is beaches.
the superlative Las Meninas by now a shopping mecca, packed • Arriving El Prat Airport is
Velázquez, and a host of his with flagship stores. Relax at
works for the Spanish Habsburg one of the arty restaurants in 18 km (11 miles) south of
the city centre, with regular
monarchs. The charming gardens Malasaña (p308).
at the sumptuous Hotel Ritz by train and bus connections.
Belmond just next door are ideal Afternoon Head to the Museo
for a post-museum cocktail. Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Day 1
Sofía (pp302–3), a superb Morning Get lost in the
To extend your trip… contemporary art museum, beautiful stone labyrinth of
Head into the Guadarrama to admire Picasso’s powerful Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter
mountains north of Madrid, Guernica and works by Gaudí, (Barri Gòtic, pp148–9). Visit the
visiting ancient Segovia Miró and Dalí, among others. remarkable ruins of the ancient
(pp368–9) and the walled In the evening, take a tour of Roman colony of Barcino, still
city of Ávila (pp366–7). the lively tapas bars around visible beneath the MUHBA
the Plaza de Santa Ana. Plaça del Rei (home to the
Barcelona History Museum,
pp150–51). Then explore the
magnificent Barcelona
Cathedral (pp152–3), especially
its enchanting cloister. There are
dozens of excellent places in
the area for a quick bite to eat.
Afternoon Wander down
the city’s most famous
promenade, Las Ramblas
(pp154–5), to the Port Vell
(p160), now a marina full of
yachts and pleasure boats.
Then head to the traditional
fishermen’s neighbourhood
of Barceloneta (p160), strolling
through the unbelievably
narrow streets packed with
old-fashioned tapas bars.
If you’re feeling tired take a
Barcelona’s busy, tree-lined pedestrian thoroughfare, Las Ramblas late-afternoon siesta on the
For practical information on travelling around Spain, see pp626–35

012-017_EW_Spain.indd 12 26/09/17 11:00 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Country itinerary template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1)
Date 15th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm