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 Madrid is heart of this country a bustling metropolis in the center of Spain. Visitors can feel the beat in the streets, the varied restaurants, and the bars and clubs pulsating until dawn, Spain is changing. Madrid manages to keep one foot in the future while retaining its old-world charm, marveling at the futuristic Puerta de Europa skyscrapers or admiring modernist architecture among the throngs of people on bustling Gran Via, travelers are sure to be entertained in this city full of fashion and industry.
| In Madrid | | 1. | Museo del Prado The Prado is an essential stop for anyone interested in European art with a collection of Spanish artists, and Italian, Flemish, German, French and Dutch masterpieces as well. Browse collections by Velasquez, Bosch, El Greco, Goya, Botticelli, Caravaggio, and Rafael, among many others. The museum can be reached by walking 500 meters on Paseo del Prado from either the Atocha (south of the museum) or the Banco de España (north of the museum) metro stop. « hide | | 2. | Parque Buen Retiro Originally created as a park for the royals by King Philip IV in 1632, this expansive park opened to the public in 1868 and has been a magnet for Madrileños (locals) ever since. Visitors can walk through the combination of manicured and natural gardens, visit the beautiful Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), or watch the varied street performers while sipping a drink by the lake. Probably the park’s most famous statue is that of a fallen angel – El Ángel Caído. This is a great daytime activity and a quick walk from either the Retiro or the Atocha metro station. « hide | | 3. | Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor A trip to Madrid is not complete without a stop at these two famous plazas in the heart of the city. Puerta del Sol is also the metro stop Sol, and is literally bursting with people, shopping, cafés and street entertainment. Just two blocks to the south of Puerta del Sol via Calle Mayor, Plaza Mayor has been an integral part of Madrid’s history for nearly four centuries. Site of executions and judgment of heretics in the past, the plaza is now primarily home to restaurants, cafes, street vendors and artists. « hide | | 4. | El Rastro Travelers can find everything from an exotic pet to rare antiques at this lively Sunday flea market, but perhaps most entertaining is the range of characters who come to sell and buy products and the street performers who add their unique craft to the mix. Beware of pickpockets and camera thieves. Market begins at Plaza de Cascorro and goes southward down Calle Ribera de Curtidores. Travelers can take the metro to the La Latina station and walk south, or go from the Sol metro stop and walk south through Plaza Mayor to Calle Toledo, which crosses Plaza de Cascorro. « hide | | 5. | Teleférico Traversing Madrid’s largest park - Casa de Campo - and the Parque de Atracciones (amusement park), the Teleférico allows travelers to see some of the best views of Madrid. With the surrounding mountains as the backdrop, the ride over the park is said to be beautiful and serene, and offers great views of the Manzanares River, Palacio Real, and Parque del Oeste along the way. Great activity for kids. « hide | | 6. | Templo de Debod Given to Spain by Egypt as a gift for its contribution to saving other historic monuments, this 2000-year-old temple was moved to the Cuartel de la Montaña Park in Madrid in 1972. With Spectacular views of Casa de Campo Park and the Palacio Real in the background, this monument to the Egyptian gods Ammon and Isis is a unique taste of Africa in Spain. While in the neighborhood, travelers can also visit nearby San Isidro Museum and Parque del Oeste Park. Note: URL doesn't work in firefox. « hide | | 7. | Palacio Real Wander through ornately detailed rooms and view works of art by the likes of Velasquez, Caravaggio, and Goya. Completed in 1755, after the previous palace burnt to the ground, no luxury was spared in the re-building of the Royal Palace in Madrid. Don’t miss the royal armory collection that dates back to the 13th century or the beautifully sculpted bronze doors of the neighboring Almudena Cathedral that contain detailed scenes from the bible. To get there, walk past the Teatro Real through Plaza del Oriente and you will see the palace entrance on the left. « hide | | View more Madrid attractions » « View less Madrid attractions |
| 1. | Botin Established in 1725, Botin is the oldest continually operating restaurant in the world, and boasts a distinguished list of former guests and employees, including Hemingway and Goya. Serving a list of classic Spanish dishes, it is very popular, so be sure to make reservations. « hide | 6. | Casa Lucas Casa Lucas wine bar, on the popular Cava Baja strip of bars and restaurants between Plaza Mayor and La Latina, is famed for its rich and delicious tapas. Like every place in this hip and popular area, it can get quite noisy and crowded. « hide | | 2. | Cañas y Barro Valencian restaurant Cañas y Barro is known for its paella and rice dishes. Locals say you have never tried paella until you’ve tried it in Spain, and this highly recommended restaurant has a history of satisfied diners. « hide | 7. | Bazaar Bazaar is known for fresh and creative Middle Eastern takes on traditional Spanish dishes as well as classic international fare. They do not take reservations, so you may want to come early to beat the rush. « hide | | 3. | Las Bravas Las Bravas claims to have invented the sauce for Patatas Bravas, a Spanish potato dish akin to home fries with spicy sauce. In addition to the tasty potatoes, diners can get many other classic Spanish dishes here for a good price. « hide | 8. | Laydown Laydown brings the lounge dining experiment to Madrid with good international fusion cuisine, varied entertainment, and a convivial atmosphere. A great meeting place for a group, look for the descending stairs near the iron gate once you reach Plaza Mostenses. « hide | | 4. | Sidrería El Tigre In trendy Chueca, Sidrería El Tigre cider bar is one of the cheaper and more generous of the tapas bars in Madrid, so it is usually very crowded. Get free tapas like Tortilla (potato omelet) or Albondigas (Spanish meatballs) with every drink ordered. « hide | 9. | Memento A recent addition to the Madrid culinary scene is Memento, a California fusion cuisine with a Spanish twist. Locals say that the food is immaculate in its presentation, and the wine list from Spain, Italy, and California perfectly accents the fresh ingredients. « hide | | 5. | Melos Bar Popular with the locals, the Melos Bar in eclectic Lavapiés serves up some of the best Galician tapas in Madrid. The Zapatilla (pork sandwich) and Croquetas (cheese and meat croquettes) are highly recommended. « hide | | |
| 1. | Pickpockets and Thieves Like in many other European cities, pickpockets and bag thieves are a constant danger in the more touristy areas of Madrid such as Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, and Gran Via, as well as on subways and buses. Travelers should be especially careful with their belongings when sitting at outdoor restaurants and cafes. A good way to avert bag theft is to loop on of the handles around the leg of a table or chair, making it much more difficult to snatch and giving the traveler peace of mind to enjoy their meal. « hide | | 2. | Taxi Advisory Madrid is full of taxis, but travelers should not be lulled into a false sense that one can be caught whenever needed. Late morning into the evening are generally good times to find cab, but it becomes more difficult after 10 p.m. when restaurants and bars are busier. Catching a taxi after 2 a.m. can be nearly impossible, although some hotels, bars and discos will have a line of taxis waiting when you exit. Be sure to ask when you arrive to ensure a safe ride home at the end of the night. « hide | | 3. | Neighborhoods to Avoid The nightlife in Spain is famously entertaining and keeps going throughout the night. Because of the crowds in the streets, the Madrid is generally safer than most U.S. cities, but a word of caution to travelers walking alone at night on side streets around Gran Via and Puerta del Sol. If you find yourself alone on a street with a group of people nearby, walk quickly, act like you know where you’re heading, and don’t make conversation. There’s no reason for undue concern, but travelers should always be alert when walking late at night in this area. « hide |
| In Madrid | | 1. | Kapital In a converted theater, with seven floors, a rooftop terrace, and live performers, this disco is a feast for the senses. DJ’s keep the stylish twenties and thirties crowd moving to House, Salsa and “funky” on 3 different dance floors. Between admiring the crowd and marveling at the go-go dancers, you’re sure to have something to watch at Kapital. « hide | | 2. | Palacio de Gaviria Set in a former palace, this disco, popular with the twenty-something set, is a resplendent place to dance the night away. Choose from a good variety of cocktails and wines, while grooving to the sounds of one of three DJ’s spinning everything from funk to pop nightly. Wednesday’s Latin and Thursday’s international nights both draw a lively crowd. « hide | | 3. | COOL From the moment you walk down the space age entry corridor, you will be hooked on COOL’s 70’s meets the new millennium design and pumping house beats. Catering to a mixed but mostly gay crowd of young fashionistas, club mavens will tell you the €12 entry fee is worth every penny. « hide |
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