Rick Steves: Madrid's car-free streets help preserve city's charm Simply walking these streets seems to be the way the Madrileños spend their evenings. Rick Steves Jul 27, 2024 4:15 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Car-free streets in Madrid, such as the Calle del Arenal, helped turn worn-out areas into trendy zones. RICK STEVES Listen to this article 00:05:02 Spain’s capital, like its population, is relatively young.
In medieval times, Madrid was just another village, but under several successive kings it transformed to a European capital. Today the country’s hub is the upbeat, vibrant home of more than three million people. As the city grew, it made room for its newcomers with a sprawl of modern districts surrounding its fascinating, easy-to-navigate historic core.
Today, Madrid feels orderly and welcoming. Massive urban-improvement projects — new parks, pedestrianized streets, and revamped transit — continue to make the city increasingly livable. You’ll find wonderful car-free areas crossing the city from the Prado Museum to the Royal Palace.
Strolling along the pedestrianized Calle de las Huertas or Calle del Arenal, you can see how the investment turned once-ramshackle zones into trendy ones. Posts were installed to keep cars off sidewalks, making the streets safer after dark, and old buildings were restored, helping to preserve the city’s grandeur and intimate charm. Simply walking these car-free.