A fantastic way to start you ELT journey is to take the CELTA in Madrid! The capital of Spain, located right in the centre of the country, Madrid offers so much when it comes to a buzzing cultural scene, picturesque parks and nightlife. Like Spain in general, Madrid is an ELT hub, so it’s a brilliant place to get stuck in and start English language teaching. Don’t forget that there are also other excellent Spanish CELTA course locations to choose from!
Madrid offers a number of face-to-face full-time and part-time as well as Mixed Mode CELTA options, so with this in mind, we decided to take a closer look at this lively capital city, to highlight some of the top sights and things to do. Obviously, theses are best explored/visited before or after you have finished your CELTA, to help inspire you or get some much-needed rest after the course. Without further ado, here’s our CELTA guide to some of the best things to see and do in Madrid!
The Royal Palace
The official home of the Spanish Royal Family is one of the main attractions to see and is quite spectacular! The Royal Palace is home to centuries worth of history, paintings, armour and furniture. Open to tourists, it is mainly used for official ceremonies, as the royal family principally reside in Zarzuela Palace on the outskirts of Madrid.
El Retiro Park
One of Madrid’s many beautiful parks, El Retiro Park is a highly pleasant way to spend an afternoon. In the heart of the park is a large lake, which is popular amongst locals to go and sunbathe or a hire a rowing boat. The park was built in the mid-seventeenth century, with the lake originally created to host water shows for royal events. The huge monument of Alfonso XII, erected at the start of the 20th century, is one of the outstanding features too.
Rooftop bars
Madrid has an exceptional skyline, especially around the famous Gran Via street. One recommendation for enjoying this is the modern, multilevel rooftop bar 360 with its fantastic panoramic views. There are a number of rooftop bars (such as Azotea del Circulo) in the centre of Madrid, which are a great place to enjoy fantastic Spanish and Mediterranean food throughout the day as well as classic drinks.
Plaza Mayor
This grand arcaded square in the centre of Madrid has a long and varied history, over time being the site of markets, bullfights, football matches and executions. Today, it’s a buzzing spot filled with cafes, restaurants, and street performers, perfect for soaking up the local atmosphere. After enjoying this be sure to take a stroll down to Cine Dore, an venerable (over a century old) and opulent cinema with a superb façade which offers a range of classic and modern films. It is a must for any cinema buff, with delicious food and cocktails on offer too.
Prado Museum
One of the most important art museums in Spain, Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) gives you a chance to discover masterpieces varying from classical to renaissance. You can spend hours here but it is a must to visit before or after your CELTA in Madrid. Be sure to check out the other two museums that make up Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museo Nacional.
Vallehermoso Market
One of Spain’s iconic food markets, Vallehermoso Market takes you on a culinary experience around the world, one bite at a time. Still offering a wide range of traditional Spanish and Mediterranean food as a market, Vallehermoso now also offers bars and restaurants so you can sit and eat some delicious local food, artisan offerings and world food from places like Japan, Thailand and Argentina!
CELTA in other Spanish locations
Aside from Madrid, we can offer you a wide number of other outstanding locations in this beautifully varied country. Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia in the north-east of Spain, is a world renowned city, with a distinct culture and vibe and plenty of CELTA courses to choose from. Valencia is sun-drenched seaside location on the east coast, the third biggest city in Spain and home of paella. The two centres of Seville and Malaga in Spain’s largest region of Andalucía offer CELTA courses in the home of flamenco. With Malaga the buzzing jewel of the Costa del Sol and Seville perhaps the city that best encapsulates the traditional spirit of Spain. For those who want the joy of island life in the land of permanent sunshine, there is the Gran Canaria CELTA centre. In the cooler, yet still warm north of Spain, there are three excellent and highly distinct options. In Galicia in the north-west, there is Santiago de Compostela, a beautiful city, and final destination for the world famous Camino de Santiago. In Asturias, Oviedo is a beautiful history-laden city surrounded by mountains, while in the Basque Country there is the chic and stylish option of San Sebastian, with an iconic coastline and world-famous film festival. In short, there are plenty of great Spain CELTA course options to choose from!
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Apply to take the CELTA via Madrid, Spain today!
If you are looking to start an exciting career where you can teach around the world, the CELTA course via Madrid, Spain is a great place to start! You can apply for the CELTA through our online form. There are no application fees and the form usually takes five to 15 minutes to complete.
Do you have any questions about taking the CELTA? Get in touch with a member of our team today!