Peninsula and Baleares

Madrid

Diverse in every sense

Madrid is art and culture. It is history, leisure and gastronomy. Traditional as ever, vibrant and modern as never before, Madrid is a capital in every sense of the word.

If you’re planning a diverse getaway, here are some ideas for discovering the most traditional and cosmopolitan Madrid.

Plaza Mayor: Situated in the heart of the historic centre, the Plaza Mayor is one of the city’s most famous squares and a meeting place. It is the perfect place to recharge your batteries while discovering Madrid, where you can also try one of the capital’s gastronomic symbols: the popular calamari baguette (bocata de calamares).

Puerta del Sol: Kilometre zero of all national roads, from its iconic clock, where thousands of Madrilenians and visitors from all over the world and Spain welcome in the New Year every 31 December. The statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (El Oso y el Madroño) -depicting two of Madrid’s most famous neighbours- is the perfect starting point to explore another of the city’s most popular places: La Gran Vía.

La Gran Vía: Madrid’s Gran Vía is the busiest street in the Spanish capital. Its wide avenue, a symbol of the city’s modernisation, is lined with restaurants, theatres, cinemas and hotels. Here you will find emblematic buildings such as the Metrópolis, the Casino, the Callao Cinema and the Capitol Building.

Royal Palace (Palacio Real): Although it is no longer the residence of the Monarchs, it is still used for official functions. You can visit several of its rooms, such as the Throne Room, the room of King Carlos III -known as the Madrid’s best Mayor-, the Royal Armoury and the Campo del Moro Gardens.

El Retiro Park: With a landscape recognised by UNESCO, it is a must when visiting the city. Strolling through its extensive green spaces, taking a boat trip on its lake, or visiting emblematic monuments such as the Glass Palace (Palacio de Cristal) are just some of the things you can do in one of Madrid’s most emblematic places.”

Madrid's cuisine has a mixed, cosmopolitan character. A blend of the different traditions and flavours of the different cultures found in the capital, its typical gastronomy, where tradition and avant-garde reinvention coexist in all its corners.

If you visit Madrid, especially in winter, you must try the typical one-pot meat, chickpeas and vegetable stew (cocido madrileño) or the Madrid-style tripe in sauce (callos a la madrileña) to fend off the chilly temperatures. If you go to places like the Rastro or the Cuesta de Moyano, a few long fritters (made with flour and water and with a sprinkling of sugar) and hot chocolate (churros con chocolate) will help you cope with the cold. And if tapas are your thing, many of Madrid’s traditional bars and taverns will serve you some of their most emblematic tapas, such as potato pieces in a spicy sauce (papas bravas), omelette (tortilla), pig’s ear (oreja), prawns with garlic (gambas al ajillo), deep-fried bacon (torreznos) or snails (caracoles), along with a cold beer.

Tradition and the avant-garde coexist in the streets of Madrid. From the historic old centre of Madrid (Madrid de los Austrias) and the Literary Quarter (Barrio de las Letras), to the vibrant cultural activity and nightlife of Gran Vía, the bohemian and underground atmosphere of Malasaña, the exclusive neighbourhood of Salamanca or the diversity and air of freedom of Chueca, you will find everything you could dream of in Madrid.

Strolling through its streets and discovering the capital’s most traditional gastronomy or the innovative proposals of its various Michelin-starred restaurants is a sure-fire plan in Madrid.

If you are a passionate football fan, you can watch some of the biggest stars on the planet at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium or the Civitas Metropolitano, stroll around the Getafe Coliseum or visit the Vallecas stadium. If you’re a lover of culture, don’t miss the Art Walk (El Paseo orTriángulo del Arte) home to the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums, three of the most important in the world. And if musicals are your thing, don’t miss iconic works such as The Lion King, Mamma Mia! or Chicago on Gran Vía.

If you have more days in Madrid, head to the outskirts and discover Alcalá de Henares and El Escorial, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as the emblematic Palacio de Aranjuez or even Salamanca.