The Top 10 Things To See And Do In Madrid's Gran Vía

Since the Gran Vía is one of the main thoroughfares in Madrid and one of the top attractions, it is not surprising that there are many great restaurants in the area. Visitors can eat strawberry gazpacho, delight in Spanish ham and potato omelet, try the traditional cocido madrileño, watch chefs prepare meals from the bar of a department store restaurant, and much more. The Gran Vía has a lot to offer when it comes to eating.

Shop till you drop, and then head to one of the many excellent bars in the area to have a drink and recover. The Gran Vía is a very lively street and there are plenty of bars where tourists can go for tapas or for cocktails. Spaniards start leaving their houses and heading for breezy terraces at around 10pm, or even later during the summer, and they party hard, staying out until 6am. Particularly recommended is starting the night at a cool rooftop terrace for gorgeous views over Madrid.

This street used to be known for the fifteen cinemas it had; it was the point of reference in the capital for films, but nowadays there are only three left. If you are up for watching a movie in Spanish go to Cines Capitol, or the art deco Cines Callao. Those who are still not fluent enough in Spanish can go to Cine Renoir Princesa to watch movies in their original languages, located a few minutes away from the Plaza de España part of the Gran Vía.
Cines Callao, Plaza Callao 3, Madrid, Spain, +34 915 22 58 01

Cines Renoir Princesa, Calle Princesa 3, Madrid, Spain, +34 915 41 41 00

Cines Capitol, Calle Gran Vía 41, Madrid, Spain, +34 915 22 22 29

The buildings on this street are truly magnificent; it is no wonder that tourists flock to this part of Madrid to admire the sights and the 20th century style that is so characteristic of this neighborhood. The Metropolis Building is one of the major highlights of this street: it is an office building famous because it has become the symbol of the Gran Vía, with its beautiful facade and the awe-inspiring statue on its cupola. The Telefonica Building is also one of the most famous buildings on this street, and it was inspired by American style architecture, built with some of Manhattan’s skyscrapers in mind.

These two churches are worth a visit when in the Gran Vía area. The Iglesia de San José was founded in 1745 and built in the Baroque style. Parts of the church were designed by Roberto Michel, the artist behind the creation of the Cibeles fountain. The Parroquia de San Marcos is slightly lesser known, but equally beautiful.
Iglesia de San José, Calle de Alcalá 43, Madrid, Spain

Parroquia San Marcos, Calle de San Leonardo 10, Madrid, Spain