Guest blogger Isabelle from Isabelle`s Travel Guide

I`ve been a few times to Madrid and I`ve most enjoyed this walk, because of the sights that cross your path.

You start at Puerta del Sol, which is the heart of Madrid. This is the spot to meet friends or hang out, go shopping,.. Or start your tour to see the city. It`s famous for its new year’s celebrations with the Twelve Grapes when the clock strikes 12 times. It`s also the center of the radial network of Spanish roads, with a plaque on the ground “Kilómetro cero” indicating the symbolic center of Spain.

Walk towards Calle de Alcalá. If you walk down this street your end stop will be the Parque del Retiro with several highlights along the way. You`ll walk by the Iglesias de las Calatravas and the Edificio Metrópolis, which is a beautiful office building.

You`ll see the lovely Plaza de Cibeles with on one corner the Banco de España and the other corner the beautiful Palacio de Comunicaciones.

Just before you see the main entry to Parque del Retiro, you`ll pass Puerta de Alcalá. The Alcalá Gate is a monument in the Plaza de la Independencia.

When you`ve passed this monument, you`ll see the entrance to Retiro Park. It`s a big park that offers peace and quiet in the vivid capital of Spain. The locals like to come here on Sundays to relax, walk around, picnic or make a boat ride. It`s a lovely place to experience the city in a different way!

Extra Tip: When you`ve ended your tour around the park, you`re also close to Museo del Prado and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Isabelle is a passionate traveler who built her own website, Isabelle`s Travel Guide, that’s filled with personal experiences, travel tips and information to help others create their own memorable vacation. There’s nothing more Isabelle loves than traveling the world, experiencing new adventures and discovering new destinations. With her website, Isabelle hopes to be an inspiration and help others in their ventures to explore the world. Follow  IsabellesTravel on Twitter.