One Identity UNITE 2023 | Madrid will be here before you know it! There are plenty of professional reasons to attend UNITE:
- Accelerating your organization’s identity security
- Strengthening your cybersecurity
- Providing input on how One Identity can enhance our products
- Networking with identity security product and technical experts
But let’s be honest; no one is going to stay in the hotel for the entirely of the conference when Madrid is right outside. And with the venue, Hotel Riu Plaza España, located just 20 metres away from the Plaza España underground station, which links to all points of the city, you’ll be in a prime spot for exploration. Here are just a few experiences you can take advantage of.
Come Early and Stay Late with Our Reduced Room Rate
There's no better time to visit a place than when you can do so at a discounted rate. For One Identity UNITE 2023 | Madrid, we're offering a special room rate of 199€ per night (based on single occupancy) and all applicable taxes, which are currently 10%. However, this discounted group rate is only available for a limited time and on a first come first serve basis. So, click here to book now to take advantage of this special rate to explore all Madrid has to offer.
Enjoy the Weather
We’ll be in Madrid during the tail-end of summer, which means we won’t be too late to take advantage of the last of the summer heat. In mid-September, the temperature usually still has highs in the low 80°Fs (high 20°Cs) and lows in the mid-50°Fs (mid-teens in °C): The perfect weather for sightseeing! But be sure to bring a jacket, just in case.
Museums
Madrid is a city teeming with history, so of course there are plenty of museums to check out. The Prado Museum is over 200 years old and is home to 8,600 paintings and 700+ sculptures, including masterpieces from Spain, Italy and Belgium. The Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is only a short walk away and features 1,000 pieces of art ranging from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century. There are also museums set up in former mansions where you can step into history, including the home of the 17th Marquis of Cerralbo and the painter Joaquín Sorolla. To see them, just look up which House Museums are in your area.
Palace
The Royal Palace of Madrid is only a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Although it’s the official residence of the royal family, most of the building is still open to the public. Completed in 1755, Charles III was the first monarch to take up residence in the palace with 3,418 rooms. Over the centuries, various monarchs added their personal touches to the palace, including the Painting Gallery, a ceiling painted by Tiepolo in the Throne Hall, an 18th century floral themed room and more. The palace also houses a Royal Armoury that showcases weapons and armor worn by Spain’s various royal families and the Royal Kitchen, the oldest preserved kitchen of any residence in all of Europe. Be sure to get your tickets to tour the palace in advance in order to skip the lines.
Historic Sites
The Royal Palace of Madrid isn’t the only palace in the city. Not by a long shot. To name a few, there’s also the:
- Glass Palace: Located in El Retiro Park, the Glass Palace was originally built in 1887 as a greenhouse. Now, it’s a venue for hosting temporary exhibitions from the Reina Sofía Museum and is a renowned example of cast-iron architecture
- Velázquez Palace: Built in 1883, the palace is topped with iron and glass domes and floored with two-toned brickwork and ceramic tiles (and is also used by the Reina Sofía Museum to house temporary exhibitions)
- Santa Cruz Palace: This 17th century building is the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation
You can also visit historic places of worship, such as Iglesia Parroquial de San Jerónimos el Real, gifted to the monks of the Monastery of Santa Maria del Paso by Queen Isabella in 1502. This gothic church was where the royal family’s Princes and Princesses would pledge their oaths and was once one of the most important monasteries in the entire city.
There’s not just Spanish history to take in in Madrid. The Temple of Debod is a 2nd century Egyptian temple dedicated to the god Amun and goddess Isis that was deconstructed to save it from flood waters, donated to Madrid by the Egyptian government and reconstructed in 1972 in the heart of Madrid.
Parks
If you’d like to take a break from metropolitan views and soak in some nature, there are plenty of parks and gardens to visit in Madrid to satisfy your craving. One must-see is El Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one you don’t even have to go far to see. Nestled in the heart of Madrid, El Retiro Park features a Mexican conifer tree that is about 400 years old, a rose garden and a slew of monuments and other greenery. The Royal Botanic Gardens are also located in the city centre and is home to over 5,000 species of plants, ranging from common to exotic. A lesser-known park outside of the hustle and bustle of the city is Capricho Park, built in 1784, this garden is divided into three sections: the French garden, the English landscape garden and the Italian garden. While exploring this hidden treasure, you’ll also discover a mansion, sculptures, a labyrinth and a lake.
Food
Who goes to a city and doesn’t try the native cuisine? If you want to get REALLY authentic, there are restaurants in Madrid that have been around for centuries. Botín is the oldest restaurant in the entire world, founded in 1725, and is still serving up its specialties of roasted suckling pigs and lambs on all four floors of its building. Or you can grab some traditional Spanish and Madrid home cooking La Taberna Antonio Sánchez, the oldest tavern in Madrid and has never been renovated since its founding in the late 1700s.
Of course, you don’t have to go back in time to get authentic Spanish food. You can grad tapas at a number of restaurants, including Casa Labra, Bodega La Ardosa and La Casa del Abuelo.
For a full guide to eating authentic cuisine in Madrid, click here.
Night Life
No matter what you late-night vice is, you can find it in Madrid. Feel like trying your luck? There are casinos scattered throughout the city, including Casino Gran Via at the heart of the city: A three-story casino filled with roulette, Baccarat, Poker and Black Jack tables, slot machines and roulette wheels. Ever wanted to dust off that high school Spanish or sing your heart out in a language the audience might not understand? Karaoke is big in Madrid, with locations such as Bam Karaoke Box and Central Park in the city center.
Or if you’d like to grab a drink or two with new friends you’ve made at One Identity UNITE, head into the city center. You can grab colorful and fun cocktails at Sambhad Cocktail Bar, cold beers in a chill atmosphere on the La Tita Rivera patio or a glass of sherry from the 1930s at La Venencia.
Flamenco
Nightlife and culture come together with flamenco, and Madrid is its capital. Flamenco is a Spanish music art form that is often accompanied by dancing that can be enjoyed whether or not you understand the language. It’s not difficult to find a flamenco show in Madrid. Corral de la Morería is among the oldest tablaos in the city, with a long history of hosting famous flamenco singers, dancers and guitarists. Stop by for dinner and a show. Get up close and personal with flamenco artists in the vaulted brick cave basement performance space at Calle de la Cruz. The small stage and 50-person capacity allow for the performances to be taken in without the distraction of food and without the need for microphones. Tablao de la Villa is a brand new flamenco meeting place in a 19th century house-palace, offering excellent visibility and unique acoustics.
Play
While we highly encourage you to soak up the culture of Madrid, not all adventures you go on have to fall within standard tourism. Instead, you and up to 12 of your One Identity UNITE buddies can head to the Virtual Arena in the Arganzuela district to play your choice of six virtual reality games in the largest VR free roaming centre in Madrid. Or you can defy gravity at Windobona Indoor Skydiving, spend the day at the largest treetop adventure park in Spain: Aventura Amazonia Cercedilla or do some team building in an escape room at Fox in a Box or ParaPark Madrid.
No matter how you choose to spend your leisure time, Madrid has a place for you, making One Identity UNITE 2023 a fantastic mix of business and pleasure. We hope to see you there this September!
