Top Ten Attractions
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The Prado
One of the world’s greatest art museums with works by the likes of El Greco, Velazquez, Raphael, Rubens and Van Dyck. http://www.museoprado.es
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Palacio Real
The Royal Palace, with a magnificent interior and 3,000 rooms. Now used for ceremonial occasions.
http://www.patrimonionacional.es/en/preal/preal -
Plaza Mayor
The impressive 17th century arcaded square that’s played a vital role in Spanish history.
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Puerta del Sol
The geographical heart of Spain. Madrid’s version of Times Square, with the giant Tio Pepe sign a famous landmark.
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Temple of Debod
An Egyptian temple given to Spain to thank its engineers for rescuing ancient monuments from the floodwaters of the Aswan Dam on the Nile.
http://www.munimadrid.es/templodebod -
Plaza de Castilla
The site of Madrid’s most unusual contemporary buildings – twin towers that lean towards each other at an alarming angle.
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La Casa de Campo
A large park with a lake, swimming pool, amusements and zoo. http://www.gomadrid.com/activity/madrid-parks
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Real Fábrica de Tapices
Fascinating workshops where tapestries are painstakingly made using 18th century looms. Guided visits only. http://www.realfabricadetapices.com/web/index
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Plaza de Cibeles
One of the most beautiful of Madrid’s grand squares. Particularly stunning at night.
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Café de Chinitas
Regarded as the best location in Madrid to enjoy authentic flamenco music and dance. Reserving a table is essential. http://www.chinitas.com
Eating and Drinking
As you’d expect from a major European capital, Madrid offers a huge choice of restaurants, serving regional dishes from all over Spain, as well as everything from Argentine steaks to Japanese sushi. Tapas are the traditional Spanish savoury snack and the tapas bars and restaurants in each of Madrid’s neighbourhoods reflect the distinct atmosphere of the area. The streets around the Plaza Santa Ana – just five minutes walk from the Prado – are densely packed with all kinds of bars and restaurants. There are a lot of traditional eating-places around the Plaza Mayor, although it’s best to avoid the touristy ones on the square itself. Salamanca is very chic and is where Madrid’s very best restaurants are tucked away. If you’ve got a little money to lavish on dinner, that’s the place to go. Many of the bars in Madrid are cafes, tapas bars and drinking bars rolled into one. Madrid is also known for its pastries, so look out for specialty shops selling an array of sweet delights, including Roscon de Reyes (orange or almond-flavoured brioche topped with candied fruit), Panecillos del santo (round biscuits) or Churros (long, ridged doughnuts often eaten at breakfast dunked in chocolate sauce.)
Shopping
Madrid has something for all tastes and budgets. There are excellent fresh food markets like the splendid Mercado de San Miguel, tiny old-fashioned shops that haven’t changed in decades and glitzy shopping malls where you can get everything you need under one roof. You’ll naturally find the big fashion names, but also a multitude of local designers and manufacturers who experiment with fabrics - Madrid fashion is constantly changing and evolving. Shoe-lovers will discover a fantastic choice of footwear. There are three main shopping areas in Madrid. If you’re keen on luxury goods, ready-to-wear clothes and pricey interior decoration, head for the Salamanca district. If you like trendier styles and creative fashion by young designers, head for Calle Almirante and Calle Conde de Xiquena in the Chueca district. If you want to take home souvenirs of Spain, the area around the Puerta del Sol is the place to go. There are food and wine markets throughout the city and don’t miss the Rastro – one of the best fleamarkets in Europe. It’s held every Sunday morning at Calle Ribera de Curtidores and sells everything from clothes and souvenirs to leather goods and arts and crafts.
Shops in Madrid are generally open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 2pm and from 5-8 and on Saturday mornings, but there are always variations. Markets tend to be open in the mornings only. There are two main sales periods – from the second week of January to the start of February and through July.
Night Life
Madrid is like one big festival at night and you’ll find good bars in most of the districts. The club scene is raging, with international DJs as well as plenty of home-grown ones. Over the past few years, the City Council has been attempting to stamp out the ‘after hours’ clubs, which carried on when the regular clubs were closing their doors at dawn, but it’s still possible to start dancing on Friday night and not stop until Monday morning. A large number of popular bars, pubs, fast food restaurants and ice cream parlours are concentrated in the vicinity of the Plaza de Santa Bárbara, the Glorieta de Bilbao and Alonso Martínez. University students and a younger crowd generally frequent the bars in the districts of Arguelles and Moncloa. Malasaña, in the vicinity of the Plaza de Dos de Mayo, has countless cafés and bars with live music, in addition to moderately priced restaurants. The streets of Paseo de la Castellana, Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo del Prado boast quality restaurants, cafés and popular nightspots. In the summer months and especially at night, open-air terraces abound in the areas of the Paseo de la Castellana and the Parque del Oeste.
Discothèques might charge an entrance fee and it’s often difficult to get in if you don't look cool or trendy enough. A dress code exists at many discos, although it is perhaps wisest to ask a regular before getting out the top hat and tails. The most famous ones in Madrid include Joy Eslava, (www.joy-eslava.com); Palacio Gaviria (www.palaciogaviria.com); Kapital (www.grupo-kapital.com/webinicio/webwin/indexwin) and Pacha. Bear in mind that the Spanish tend to dine late and that clubs and discos don’t get going until well after midnight.
