Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.3 million inhabitants but the entire metropolitan area gets to a population of approximately 6.5 million. It is a vibrant city, where art and fun co-exist. In this Madrid city guide you will find ideas to plan your trip and make the most out of it.
Local madrileños have a expression. ¡De Madrid al cielo! (from Madrid to the sky! which a way to invite people to get to know… and fall in love with it.
Madrid is a very welcoming city. You will find how easy it is to move around Madrid and enjoy its many treasures
World class attractions. The Royal Palace of Madrid and the Bernabeu Stadium are amongst Madrid top attractions, but there are many more attractions that will make you love Madrid
Art Galleries. Few cities in the world offer so much art in a few miles: The Prado Museum, The Reina Sofía, The Thyssen and other fantastic smaller art Galleries. if you love art, you are lucky in Madrid!
5 Unesco sites at less than 1 hour. If you have extra time on top of your visit to Madrid you will be able to enjoy some of Spain´s most impressive cities: Segovia. Toledo, El Escorial, Aranjuez, Avila… These superb attractions can be accessed by train from Madrid and can be reached in less than 1 hour. If these were not enough you will be seduced also by the beauty of Salamanca, Cuenca or the smaller beautiful villages near Madrid where madrileños love to spend their weekends.
Great night life: The spirit of La Movida (the 80s) is not dead and Madrid is a good example of aCity that never sleeps
Tapas & fine dining: Madrid is a true tapas heaven.Districts like Huertas, La Latina, Ponzano or the streets near The Retiro Park (Menorca, Ibiza….) are full of bars and restaurants that specialise in traditional or modern tapas and wines. But if you are more into fine dining you will not be dissapointed by the many options Madrid has to offer.
Our favorite months to visit Madrid are March, April, May, first half of June, September and October.
Bear in mind that most restaurants will be close on Sunday nights. Also bear in mind that many attractions close on Mondays.
Madrid is located at the heart of Spain and it boosts pure Continental weather. If you would like to enjoy Madrid by yourself you may want to consider August, when most Madrileños leave the city for holiday, but temperatures in both July and August reach averages close to 90F. July is, at a matter of fact, the warmest month since temperatures during the second half of August drop a lot.
The probability of rain is rather low, with 15% chance from September to June and almost none in summer. April is the rainiest month, with between 20 to 25% of probability that you get a rainy day.
Madrid in 2 days. A complete itinerary to enjoy a short city break in Spain´s capital. Stay in Madrid with a plan that includes daily maps, budget and a list of hotels, restaurants and recommended things to do. Adapt the plan to your budget and your travel style and get the most out of 2 days in Spain´s Capital. A simple guide to find all you need to know to enjoy a city break in Madrid.
Spain´s capital is a fascinating city that offers a wide range of tourist attractions. You can find all our favorite Madrid attractions here. From the world-class art galleries, the lively tapas bars, or icons such as the Royal Palace, the Bernabeu Stadium or the Retiro Park, you will be able to enjoy no matter what you look for.
Puerta del Sol La Puerta del Sol is located in the heart of Madrid, and in the heart of the country in fact. La Puerta del Sol is Madrid’s main square and the geographical center of the country. It is located just a few minutes from the Plaza Mayor and
The Plaza Mayor of Madrid is the heart of the capital city of Spain. Learn more about this historic square.
Overview The Santiago Bernabeu soccer stadium in Madrid is the home of one of the top sports teams in the world: Real Madrid. This imposing coliseum is located in the modern heart of the city, right on the Castellana, Madrid’s main artery. The Stadium is named after Real Madrid’s first
Retiro Park, the best park in Madrid The Retiro park is probably Spain´s most famous park. Enjoying a boat ride in the Retiro lake is one of the top things to enjoy in Madrid with children. Among the many interesting things you will be able to enjoy in El Retiro
Museo del Prado, one of the world´s finest art galleries The Museo Del Prado is one of the main tourist sites of the city of Madrid and you should not pass it up. You can see masterpieces of the Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools. Average customer review Score for Museo
Madrid Royal palace – history, tickets and tours The Royal Palace of Madrid was built after a fire that occurred on the 24th of December 1734 in the Real Alcazar. The first Wednesday of every month (except in summer) at 11 am, you can watch the change of guards. You
There are many hotels in Madrid. Depending on your budget, the style of hotels you enjoy and where you will prefer to be located the options are many. We have put together a complete guide with our recommended hotels in Madrid. You will find there recommended hotels at each district, and also our top picks based on your travel style. We include below 3 of our favorite hotels in Madrid adapted to different travel budget.
Hotel Apartosuites Jardines de Sabatini – Review These designer suits are located right in front of the Royal Palace of Madrid and enjoy a rooftop solarium with spectacular views of the city. Rooms Rooms are very spacious. There are two different studio types, with a difference in size. In both
Hotel Urban – Review The Urban is a boutique hotel at the heart of Madrid. It serves as home to a permanent art collection from Papua New Guinea. The hotel also features a small rooftop pool with a terrace and cocktail bar and a full gym. Services The hotel is
Hotel Room Mate Alba – Review The Room Mate Alba is a perfect hotel to enjoy Madrid. The hotel is located at a beautiful building, which connects with the district of the city in which it is located. The decoration is chic, stylish and well-thought to ensure you feel comfortable,
Hotel Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid – Review The Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid is located in the center of Madrid, 600 meters from La Puerta del Sol, and features a seasonal outdoor pool and a complete fitness center. The hotel occupies two buildings in Plaza Mayor. One of these buildings used
Hotel VP Jardin de Recoletos – Review The hotel is located in one of the most looked-after areas in Madrid. The hotel offers studio-style rooms with modern design and excellent service. This is a mid-sized hotel, with 43 rooms and in a beautiful building. Location The hotel is located 200
The Pavilions Madrid Hotel – Review The Hotel offers elegant and modern rooms just 50 meters from Colón square in the center of Madrid. The hotel features a small private garden and a relaxing bar and terrace. Rooms The hotel boasts 25 spacious rooms and three suites with fantastic terraces
In Madrid you will find an excellent sample of all sorts of Spanish cousine: Basque, Galician, Mediterranean… Madrileños love to go out and that means there is a restaurant to please every taste. No matter if you are looking for a romantic restaurant in Madrid, a place to enjoy the best paella as if you were in Valencia, or a good option to enjoy a family dinner, where are sure you will not be dissapointed. We have put together a complete guide with our selection of recommended restaurants in Madrid.
Overview Located right next to the Plaza Mayor of Madrid, on Cuchilleros street is Sobrino de Botín, the world’s oldest restaurant. Sobrino de Botín has been in business, in one form or another since 1725. The name “Botín” pops up in numerous texts of several famous Spanish authors over the
Viridiana in Madrid This is a mythical restaurant in Madrid. A gastronomic temple in which the soul and personality of his chef, Abraham Garcia, is felt everywhere. The name Viridiana was chosen after a film from Buñuel, whom Abraham got to know in Madrid. Viridiana does not follow trends or
Garcia de la Navarra restaurant in Madrid Garcia de la Navarra is a family-owned bar and restaurant located in between the Retiro Park and Cibeles square. You may enjoy their exquisite tapas in the wine bar area or opt for fine dining in the restaurant. With over 700 wine references
Ático by Ramon Freixa – The Principal Madrid Hotel? You might miss the penthouse restaurant of Ramón Freixa if you aren’t paying attention. The Catalonian chef, the owner of 2 Michelin stars, is responsible for the excellent food served in this amazing restaurant situated on the second to last floor
Rosi La Loca Taberna in Madrid Hablar de Rosi La Loca Taberna puts a modern twist on traditional Spanish cuisine. This quaint and cute little restaurant is located right in the center of town and their menu offers a wide variety of dishes that highlight the quality of ingredients: fresh
Arce restaurant in Chueca – Review A staple of the Chueca neighborhood, Arce never disappoints. When Arce opended in Chueca the nights in the district were wild and influenced by the spirit of La Movida. But during the daytime the streets recovered their traditional spirit and locals visited the San
Our team of local experts thought that it makes all sense in this Madrid city guide to ensure you find alternatives and things to do no matter what your travel style is. They have put together a selection of best things to enjoy in the city to suit all tastes. You can find our full list with top things to do in Madrid here.
Madrid offers lots of interesting attractions. Fnid the best 12 guided tours in Madrid to enjoy its top highlights, history, culture and more. Tours in Madrid to please everyone. From guided tours to the top art galleries in the city, gastronomy tours to enjoy local tapas and wines, or tours to discover some of the legends and stories that shaped the city
Madrid and its “Paseo del Arte” (The local name given to the distance between the top 3 art galleries in Madrid (The Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemiza and the Reina Sofía museum) set Madrid amongst the top art destinations in the world.
Besides this 3 top museums, there are other smaller art galleries which would stand out at most cities in the world: The Real Academis de San Fernando, the Lazaro Galdiano museum he Casa Sorolla museum and the Cerralbo Museum.
Madrid is one of the few cities in the world, if not the only one, that can claim to enjoy so many Unesco heritage sites at less than 1 hour drive from the Capital.
Fascinating medieval villages where local gastronomy remains unspoilt, top palaces and gardens (El Escorial, Aranjuez, La Granja) or one of the world´s most impressive medieval walls in Avila. Add the famous hanging houses of Cuenca, the wines of Ribera del Duero, the windmills of Don Quixote, or the elegance and beauty of Salamanca and you will start to consider Madrid as a perfect base from where to enjoy day after day amazing destinations.
We have left to the end of this list Segovia and Toledo, 2 of the World´s bes preserved medieval cities and, in both cases, ancient capitals of Spain.
El Escorial and its fascinating monastery where Spanish Kings are buried, the beautiful marvel of La Granja de San Ildefonso located 10 kilometers from Segovia, The Aranjuez palace and its gardens (declared Unesco heritage site) and the Royal Palace in Madrid are all proof of a way of live, but also of inmense wealth and beauty. Some of th ebest tours to enjoy from Madrid include visits to these fantastic locations
Each 15th of May in Madrid is the festival of San Isidro, the patron of Madrid. For a period of five days, locals take to the streets to celebrate their pilgrimage in the Pradera of San Isidro and also to enjoy music, dancing and Madrid cuisine in the gardens of the Vistillas.
The day before the party, in the streets of downtown Madrid, you can hear the excitement from the Parade of Giants, announcing the arrival of the Proclamation that occurs on the afternoon of the 14th on Plaza de la Villa.
Flamenco shows in Seville – Guide to decide the best show for you This shows offers great value for money and it is a perfect way to be introduced to the passion and art of Flamenco in Spain. More than just a dance, flamenco was born as a state of
The Prado museum is one of Spain´s top attractions and for sure a must-see things in Madrid. Since the Prado is located near other top attractions, it makes sense to stay at a hotel near the Prado museum
The Prado museum is one of the city´s´s top attractions. Masterpieces such as Las Meninas by Velazquez or Goya´s best paintings can be enjoyed at this famous museum.
Good news for the visitor: The Prado is located near the 2 other top art galleries in Madrid, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen . Not a bad idea to enjoy a hotel near the Prado museum to enjoy not just the art museums, but also the Retiro park, the most famous park in the city of Madrid
Here you will find our experts top hotel picks near the historic Plaza Mayor of Madrid
Couples that arrive to Madrid to enjoy a romantic break or to celebrate an anniversary or special occasion will find it easy to discover some hidden treasures and ideas that can bring that extra magic to their stay. We recommend you to visit our guide with romantic things to do and ideas in Madrid.
From parks to go hand in hand during romantic strolls, to restaurants that offer that perfect atmosphere to end the day… Our team of local experts have hand-picked the following restaurants.
The area of present-day Madrid was settled during prehistoric times, as numerous finds from the Stone Age bear witness. The Moors gave the then insignificant town the name ‘Magerit’,
from which the name Madrid is derived.
For centuries Madrid stood in the shadow of Toledo. In 1083 Madrid was captured
by Alfonso VI and absorbed into the Christian kingdom. Under Henry II the town
was totally destroyed by fire. It was later rebuilt by Henry III who had himself
crowned in Madrid in 1390.
Henry IV turned the Moorish alcázar into his favourite residence and granted the town market rights. In 1474 Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile had the walls of Madrid destroyed.
Nevertheless, the royal couple made their ceremonial entry here in 1477.
In 1561 Philip II declared Madrid capital of the empire. Under Philip III monasteries, churches and hospitals were built and during the reign of Philip IV new buildings were constantly being constructed.
The Borbons demanded the further extension of the city. When they arrived to Madrid they did not like all they saw. The Royal Palace did not exist as we know it today, and the kingdom did not enjoy at the time the summer houses like La Granja. his was continued under Charles III in particular. From 1860 the outer suburbs were developed and were constantly being enlarged.
Madrid is today the city in Europe with more trees. Madrid parks are found everywhere: from the fantastic Retiro Park, to smaller parks, tourists find it easy to enjoy fresh air in Spain´s capital city.
Among the many attractions, you may be surprised to discover that Madrid soccer stadiums are amongst the favorites by locals and foreign visitors alike.
Bilbao city guide with recommended list of hotels, restaurants, places to visit, weather, prices, monuments, things to see and do, and much more. Bilbao is Spain´s 4 largest city. Its industrial history is being “shadowed” by architectural inspiration, art galleries, and a plethora of cultural and gastronomical activity.
Valencia, which is the capital of the province of the same name and the third largest city in Spain, is situated on the Río Turia in the middle of an extensive and fertile plain, the Huerta of Valencia. It is a university town and the seat of an archbishop. Various annual festivals are held in this cheerful, lively city. Of these, the Fallas deserves particular mention. Valencia is the homeland of paella, one of Spain´s top national dishes
The variety and quality of the artistic heritage in the city of Seville, the mixture of styles, eras and civilizations, and the special color of this city makes it an unforgettable place. White streets and squares, flamenco dancing, the river Guadalquivir and the Cathedral and Giralda are just a few of the reasons why Seville should be in your list!
Barcelona is Spain´s second largest city and the capital of Catalonia. The city has something from everyone. Its Mediterranean character contrasts its gothic roots, which also contrast with its wide avenues and beautiful modern buildings.
Barcelona is a place where architecture and art melt together. The influence of Gaudi has been profound and exceeds his masterpieces.
