Five free things to enjoy while in Madrid

Spain has for decades been among the world's top tourist destinations, mainly thanks to sun-seekers who flock each year to Mediterranean beaches or the Canary Islands. Madrid, with its vast array of bars, restaurants, rocket-propelled nightlife, also harbors a rich history and culture. While top-end hotels and restaurants are expensive, some of Madrid's best features can be enjoyed for free.

Few museums boast a permanent collection as rich and historically important as that of Madrid's El Prado.

Many of the Prado's works were collected or commissioned by Spain's art-loving royalty in centuries past when the country was a fabulously wealthy global empire. Then, in 1819, King Ferdinand VII opened the doors of his private collection to the public. The collection was later boosted by the contents of two major museums.