One of the most famous spots in Madrid is the historical Plaza Mayor. It is located in the old city and was built during the Habsburg period. There are nine grand entranceways and it features the Casa de la Panaderia, which serves municipal functions. The Plaza underwent 4 different name changes before it was finally determined to be Plaza Mayor at the end of the Spanish Civil War.

Botin Restaurant, a famous eatery in Madrid, claims to be the "oldest restaurant in the world." The famous painter Goya is said to have worked here as a dishwasher in his younger days and the place was also a favorite of Hemingway. It became more popular after Hemingway's regular visits, and is said to be the place for the setting of the last scene of his novel "The Sun Also Rises." The restaurant is known for its excellent cuisine and great staff.

Cerveceria Alemana is located in central Madrid's Plaza Ana, well known for hosting many cafes and eateries and for being a popular night spot for Madrid's youth. It is also the place where Hemingway had his daily haunt- the Cerveceria Alemana (German Bierkeller). His regular table still stands in the near right-hand corner and this tavern is noted in his novel "The Sun Also Rises."

Hotel Florida had the pleasure of hosting Hemingway during the Spanish Civil War. Hemingway had been a correspondent during the war and stayed in one of the cheaper rooms of the hotel at the time. Today, the bar on the first floor is named in honor of Hemingway and also holds a permanent photo exhibition in his honor.

When you are looking at your list of museums to visit in Madrid, don’t be misled by the Museo Chicote on the Gran Via – it is not a museum, it is the most famous cocktail bar in Madrid. During the Spanish Civil War the bar was a favorite meeting place for the Foreign Press and Hemingway was one of its most regular patrons. It has kept its nineteen thirties Retro style, but has added modern lighting, modern acoustics, a dance floor and some of the top Spanish DJ’s to entertain you into the small hours. The walls are festooned with the great and famous who have (perhaps) sipped refreshing cocktails in the heat of the Spanish summer nights. Here you can see – apart from the famous Ernest – photos of Dali, Sophia Loren, Frank Sinatra and Orson Welles, among others. If Ava Gardener ever frequented the place, you would have a hard time proving she didn’t – a well positioned photo suggests that she did; but in these days of airbrushing software, who really knows? Only the bar-tenders and they are keeping mum! The cocktails aren’t very cheap, around 7 Euros a glass, and a lot of people don’t find them up to the high standard the fame of the bar requires they should be, but you should visit the place to form your own opinion. You should know, however, that at night the cocktail bar is a favorite haunt for gays, the music is very loud and the place is often over-crowded. If you want to have fun, then it’s a great place to spend the evening; if you want a bit of peace and quiet, it would be better if you chose another bar – or spent the evening at your hotel with a good book!

Círculo de Bellas Artes is one of the most important cultural centers in Europe and has been an important venue of Madrid since 1880. Hemingway was a frequent guest at the Hotel Suecia, which was just around the corner, and often visited the Circulo de Bellas Artes. Several famous artists passed through the doors of this educational center that is a must see for any arts lover.

Hotel Suecia was the place Hemingway stayed on his last visit to Madrid. He had stayed at the end of the 50s, leaving the hotel a stamp of historical importance before its closure. Today, a wall plaque reminds tourists of the visit of the writer before his presumed suicide.

The Museo del Prado is one of the greatest and finest art museums in Madrid. Althoug Ernest Hemingway was not a usual lover of museums, Prado was an exception for him. He recognized this cultural site as a treasure, with its exhibited works by Picasso, Velazquez, Goya, El Greco and many other international artists. The writer was especially fascinated by Goya, whom he considered a genius.

The Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid was once known as the Plaza de Torros (Bullring Square). It had been Madrid's main bullring when Hemingway first visited Spain and the events he witnessed here later influenced some of his novel plots.

Today's main bullring in Madrid is Las Ventas, located northeast of the former Plaza de Torros. It was inaugurated in 1934 and became an important cultural site for locals and for Hemingway, as he set several scenes of the novel "The Sun Also Rises" here. The structure is one of the finest architectural pieces in Madrid, built in a neo-mudejar style, with oriental decoration, massive gates and a pale red color.