Along the stretch of road, you will find numerous shops, bars, restaurants and more to entertain you. However, this is much more than a shopping district.
Along Gran Vía you will also find:
Plaza del Callao - is the "movie mecca" of Madrid, with 7 theatres here. Here you will also find the El Corte de Ingles - Spain's largest department store (in case you forgot anything) and the Callao metro station.
Telefónica - insipred by Manhattan skyscrapers, the building houses the Spanish telephone company.
Edificio Grassy - currently housed on the street level shop is a Rolex store. However, below this is a museum dedicated to timepieces. Open Monday to Friday 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and then 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Walk down Gran Vía to Plaza de Cibeles, a roundabout, a gorgeous center fountain to head towards the museum district.
Museo del Prado is renowned for its collection of Goya and Velazquez collections, however, many other painters have found their work in Madrid's largest art museum as well.
Currently on exhibition is Velazquez's Las Meninas.
From there, if you are not museumed out - travel to Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, which completes the "Golden Triangle" of Madrid's art museums.
However, that is NOT what we wound up doing. Instead, walk down to La Taperia for tapas, lunch and drinks and relax your feet and cool off. (They also make a delicious, and sweet, sangria.)
After lunch, walk across the street to Real Jardín Botánico, the royal gardens, and enjoy walking through the immense gardens full of Arab and exotic flora. There is also an indoor exhibit of flora and photographs that is interesting (and air conditioned).
The gardens are in a grid layout, so this one is much easier to navigate without missing too much of the gardens themselves.
Within walking distance is the main Metro station in Madrid, Estación de Atocha. Here you can catch the metro back to your hotel for siesta. However, before you leave, somewhere there is a memorial to those who were killed during the 2004 terrorist attacks on the Madrid Metro (we couldn't find it).
In the early evening is the perfect time to enjoy the Teleférico - a skyline ride of Casa de Campo. The park is very large and is great for bikers and hikers. There are also fields used for children's soccer matches.
The Teleférico does a back and forth sky view of the former royal hunting grounds. You can also see the skyline of Madrid from the ride.
However, a warning, there is a narrative that goes with the ride, but it is 100 percent in Spanish (no English option here!).
Have dinner along Calle Princesa, another stretch of shopping and dining options. Calle Princesa connects to Gran Vía, so I promise, you'll find something to eat and stuff to do to finish off your night.
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