10 Fun and Non-Touristy Things to Do in Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain. This part of the world has been occupied since before history was even written down! With such a long and rich history, Madrid is one of the most diverse and cultural cities in the world. Noted for its amazing architecture and wealth of museums as well as a great night life, Madrid is a place that you definitely want to add to your list. Still, there are so many things about the city that most tourists miss. This list of ten non-touristy spots will fill you in on the secrets of Madrid.

1. Buen Retiro Park - This magnificent 350 acre park is located at the edge of the city center, near the Prado Museum. The park is an excellent place to visit in order to see how real Spanish people relax in the sun. You can rent a boat to explore the lake, check out some of the many exhibitions of the area, or just play a pickup soccer game with some of the locals. There is a lot to do there, even if all you want to do is relax.

2. Caixa Forum - If you are a fan of art, then you will no doubt be visiting the famous Prado Museum and Reino Sofia, but if you'd also like to check out some more toned down museums, consider the Caixa Forum first. This post-modern art gallery features some excellent works that will blow your mind with their post-modern flare. The building itself will pop out at you with its strange and intriguing architecture.

3. La casa encendida - If the Caixa Forum didn't give you enough, you may want to look up la casa encendida, another interesting and little known art museum which supports local unknown artists. Both museums are free to the public so the trip will be a fun one for you and your wallet. The website for la casa is lacasaencendida.es . Click English at the top left to see the website in English.

4. La Latino - On Sunday nights, the barrios plazas are packed with the youth of Madrid making a street party (called a bottelon). Musicians begin jam sessions out of the blue as people have a good time late into the night. Enjoy exploring these barrios bars, which offer amazing tapas food and great Spanish beer. Any night of the week it can be fun, but Sunday nights are especially crazy.

5. Plaza Santa Ana - This great plaza is full of great restaurants to sample during your stay in Madrid. The food is excellent and there are often events there. It is a place where real people of Madrid come to eat every day, so if you want to experience modern Spanish life, check it out.

6. Templo de Debod - This Egyptian temple was actually removed from where it was built in the 4th century and taken to Madrid in 1971. It is an excellent place to relax, eat some street vendor food, and let the day get away from you. Only a few blocks from the Royal Palace, it may be a good spot for you to just rest and enjoy being in Madrid.

7. Calle Malasaña - Calle means "street" in Spanish and this street is a location in itself. Famous for its bars and dance clubs, this is a place you will want to visit if you're into serious partying. The clubs don't actually start rolling until about 1 AM, so keep that in mind when making plans. In Madrid, everything is a little later than you may be used to, but it is well worth the wait.

8. Atocha Train Station - This famous train station is noteworthy because the interior is full of life! I don't mean passengers walking around, but a small ecosystem of plants and animals in the center of the station. Using the natural greenhouse effect of the large open station, designer decided to put a larger garden in the center of the huge room. This is a great place to visit even if you don't have any train to catch, and perhaps especially so because you will be able to enjoy the garden as long as you'd like.

9. Caso de Campo - Known as one of the largest parks in the world at 6.6 sq miles, this amazing park is something that you may want to visit because of its great Madrid Zoo and other fun activities. There are few things more fun than a good zoo and it isn't always something visitors think of going to. Take a relaxing walk through the zoo enjoying the wildlife and then exit and explore the rest of the park. Literally a whole day could be spend enjoying the famous green space.

10. Explore the city - You're on vacation, so get out and walk around! The great thing about an old city like Madrid is every nook and cranny is stuffed with things to do and see. Just walk around, stop at interesting looking shops and cafes, and take all of the architecture in. As a city noted for its excellent architecture, Madrid will offer a lot for you to gaze at as you explore.

Madrid is an amazing place to vacation and there are so many things to do that you can easily avoid those crowded touristy spots and enjoy the real Madrid the way you should.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid