Madrid has always been known as one of the most vibrant capitals of Europe, with a buzzing nightlife and a huge cultural offer for anyone visiting to enjoy. World-famous for its museums and parks, there are a lot of things that visitors coming after lockdown can still do to enjoy it.
Let’s explore the top 4 activities in Madrid to do during the times of Covid:
1. Museums in the Art Triangle
Madrid just wouldn’t be the same without it’s three main museums: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza, all of which are located in a very small area known as the Art Triangle. All three centers have opened their doors to the general public, operating with restrictions in the floor space available to visitors and also instating the mandatory use of masks and the social distance measures of 2 meters separation.
With minimal precautions one can still go inside and enjoy some of the world’s best paintings and sculptures, covering Spain’s most famous artists, from Velazquez to Picasso and Dali, not forgetting Goya and many others, as well as key international artists of both modern and classic art periods.
Our recommendation is to start with el Prado, then move on to the Reina Sofía and end up in Thyssen-Bornemisza, as this way you make sure you cover the area from largest to smallest museum, and it also allows you to be more flexible with your time if your stay is short.
2. Watch the sunset at Templo de Debod
Perhaps one of the most beautiful images that Madrid has to offer, the Debod Temple close to Plaza de España is one of the strangest places the city has to offer: being over 2,200 years old, the Temple was gifted to Spain by Egypt in 1968 as a sign of gratitude for the help Spain provided in preserving the Abu Simbel temples during the 1960s. As such, it represents a very curious image for a city that has been shaped to its current form in the past 500 years.
Our recommendation is that you head over around 8:30 pm during the summer months and wait for the sun to go down; it is one of the most romantic images the city has to offer, and it makes for great photos to remember your trip. Also, the Temple is surrounded by both the Western Park and the area of Argüelles, which are great if you want to have a quiet walk around the park or find one of the great terraces Madrid has to offer to those looking for great food and drinks.
3. Rent a bike and discover Madrid’s great parks
For those of you that like to travel and relax but don’t want to stay too relaxed during your time away, riding a bicycle is not only a great way to cover a lot more ground that you would on foot, but it also embodies one of the safest activities when it comes to enjoying your holidays despite having restrictions in place!
If you are a bit clueless on where to go, we would recommend two key places: first and foremost, the Retiro park, as it is the most famous green space in the whole of Spain, located right in the center of the city. When you visit it, make sure to go to the “Palacio de Cristal”, one of the key sites in Madrid for those travelers who are always looking for the best photo to take. If, on the other hand, you are a bit more experienced on the bike and want to cover more ground, we recommend the Juan Carlos I park, which is one of the hidden gems of the city, covering almost 400 acres of ground. In it there are multiple bike paths and lanes that will surely make for a great time for those interested.
4. Take a Free Tour!
In another of our posts we already explained the usefulness and convenience of discovering a new city using a Free Tour, but even during the uncertain times we are living through, this is reinforced. Free Tours are probably the most convenient way to travel during the times of the Covid restrictions, mainly due to the following reasons:
a) It takes place outdoors: Following the advice of one of the key government agencies dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the Robert Koch institute, activities that take place outdoors in groups of a controlled size and with an ensured safety distance are a great way to minimise the potential spread of the disease. As such, SANDEMANs NEW Europe’s Free Tour is the best way to discover any new city, even during these times.
b) Safety measures: Us at SANDEMANs NEW Europe have always kept your safety at the top of our priority list and, as such, we have adopted a series of measures to ensure that taking part of any of our tours is not only fun, but also perfectly safe. We have reduced the sizes of our groups, we have sanitizer gel available at all times, and we have made sure that, wherever required, we are equipped with face masks and any other equipment recommended to avoid the spread of the virus.
c) A Free Tour is a great option for those cities where some of the key attractions are closed down to the public due to the restrictions, as we can ensure that you still get all the information without being exposed to any risk and also regardless of whether or not that attraction is open to the public.
d) Information: Finally, taking a Free Tour at the beginning of your holiday is a great way to stay up to speed with the latest developments in terms of restrictions and reopenings, and plan your stay according to the latest regulations passed about Covid-19 taking advantage of the great tips our fantastic guides will offer for you to responsibly enjoy your holidays. As we all know, the situation changes really quickly, and sometimes it’s very difficult to keep up with the latest news, especially if you’re traveling. So if you’re on holidays and want to know if you can visit your favorite museum or park, but are hesitant due to the restrictions, ask your guide, they’d be happy to help!
As we have seen, these times we are going through do mean that we need to take as many precautions as possible to stop the spread of this virus, but they don’t necessarily mean that we cannot enjoy our holidays in Madrid. As such, from SANDEMANs NEW Europe we want to invite you to come visit Madrid, but do so responsibly. As you see, there are many options available!
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