Spain is one of my favourite countries to visit in Europe, and Madrid, the capital, is an essential must visit destination. Though often seen as the sensible older sister of hip Barcelona, Madrid has its own brand of cool – from art and boutiques to giant gins and 24-hour churros.
Madrid, the Spanish capital, situated in the heart of the Iberian Peninsula, is an elegant city of broad avenues, magestic architecture and pristine gardens and parks. Although this is a complete contrast to Barcelona or the historic cities of Andalucìa, Madrid has so much to offer to backpackers.
Madrid is all about balmy evenings, vibrant energy, and gastronomic revolution. Dance til dawn, eat your body weight in Spanish cuisine, explore the historical architecture, and marvel at the masterpieces of Picasso, Dalí and Miró. It’s a cultural discovery, times 1000.
This city of over four million is home to the renowned Museo del Prado which is ranked as one of Europe’s top art museums featuring the works of many of Spain’s and Europe’s top Rennaissance artists. Other attractions include the impressive Parque del Retiro and the huge El Rastro flea market. And let’s not forget one of European football’s superpowers – Real Madrid, of course!
Madrid is not a city which grabs you straight away, as I discovered when I first visited, but it is somewhere which you grow to love over time. Spend a couple of days here and you’ll discover that Madrid is a vibrant city with fantastic bars, restaurants, clubs, parties and an atmosphere that draws you closer to the heart of Spain. Just don’t expect to sleep!
I can honestly say that Madrid is one of the funnest cities in the world. This is truly the city that never sleeps, the people are among the friendliest in the world and from the minute you arrive till the moment you have to leave you are made to feel like one of the locals.
The nightlife is mind-blowing and you almost feel like it is against the law to go to bed at an early hour. If propping up bars and dancing till the early hours of the morning are what your soul is yearning for then Madrid is the place to unleash the party animal in you.
Viva Madrid!
When to Go
Any time of year but if you like the idea of having the city to yourself and don’t mind the heat, August is the time when the locals leave the city en-masse.
Madrid Airport
Madrid airport is 13 km northeast of the city. There are bus and underground services departing regularly to get you to the city. Taxi’s are also available at a cost of around €20 and take about 30 minutes.
Where to Stay
Hotels in Madrid are so much better than compared to a few years back when the choice was between classic expensive luxury (The Ritz, The Palace Hotel), three-star mediocrity and really basic hostels.
Now places like the ME Melia Hotel, overlooking vibrant Plaza Santa Ana, offer slick, modern getaways for visitors who want to treat themselves.
On my last visit my room on the sixth floor had superb views over the square, the biggest bath I’ve ever soaked in and a vast, comfortable bed. Its rooftop is also home to one of Madrid’s most popular summer bars – bathed in soft purple light the open-air deck is perfect for a cocktail or a large gin and tonic (the drink of choice in Madrid at the moment).
If you like a celeb hang-out, the renovated Hotel Villa Magna in Salamanca has played host to Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp – and even if you’re not staying here, stop for a G&T, one of the bar’s specialities. Mine was infused with ginger and unfeasibly large – a potent start to the evening.
If you are on a backpackers budget, check out Cat’s Chill Out Hostel. This is right in the centre of Madrid with a beautiful Arab-Andalusian style patio. It even has its own ‘cave’ – chill out in the day, party at night!
Get the best deals on accommodation in Madrid on Booking.com.
Getting Around
The quickest and cheapest way to get around Madrid is the subway. It was created by King Alfonso XIII in 1919. Today it has more than 200 stations and reaches almost all corners of Madrid. There are also a lot of inexpensive taxis, so you might want to think twice about whether to take to bring your own car.
An alternative to the latter can be a hired car. Some car hire companies allow you to rent a car in one city and return it in another.
For the best city sightseeing tours check out GetYourGuide or Viator.
Sightseeing
Madrid’s pride in its traditions and history is one of the things that makes the city great.
Its grand architecture has visitors reaching for their cameras – the dusky pink expanse of the Hapsburg-era Plaza Mayor; the dome and turrets of the Almudena Cathedral; the clean lines of the Opera House and the warm, meandering lanes of the old city.
During Christmas and Easter you can see markets and parades; in summer there are street parties for local saints. The rhythm and culture of the city remains reassuringly unchanged.
But amid the antiques are flashes of modernity and creativity which mean Madrid is far from stuck in the past. The brilliant Reina Sofia gallery, which houses Picasso’s Guernica, is a power house of contemporary art with a new wing giving it added clout.
Nearby, the Caixa Forum art and performance venue is a revolutionary architectural gem, a concoction of brick and metal which appears to hover above the ground. In the south of the city, the old slaughterhouses at Legazpi have been converted into Matadero – Madrid’s most creative space, hosting everything from art and design shows to film and music festivals. Matadero stands on the River Manzanares, which has recently been regenerated to create a 10km riverside walking and cycle route.
The Royal Palace of Madrid is one of the top Spanish tourist attractions. The palace, which is where the emperors of Spain reside, has 2,800 rooms and an area of about 135,000 square miles. There is a very famous collection of weapons which is one of the main attractions people touring the palace want to see.
The Royal Palace of Madrid has some very well-known rooms that everyone visiting there should see including the Hall of Columns, the Throne Room, the Royal Chapel, the Music Room, the Imperial Ballroom, the Green Porcelain Room, the Blue Porcelain Room, and the Red Reception Room. All of these rooms are an important part in the history of Spain.
The Cibeles Fountain is an attraction that is very important to the people of Madrid. This fountain shows the Roman goddess of fertility inside of a chariot. The chariot is being pulled by two lions. The fountain was originally in a different location but was moved to its current location at the end of the 19th century.
The relatively new Almudena Cathedral has an interesting museum explaining the history of the church. You can see the new mosaics that decorate the Cathedral Sacristy and Chapter Hall and then go through the clerestory and finish off enjoying a spectacular view over Madrid from its dome.( Note: The entrance to the Cathedral is free but not the entrance to the museum).
Shopping
Madrid is a wonderful place to shop for fashionable, funky or stylish European clothing at prices that won’t break the bank.
Just off central Plaza del Sol, Casa Labra (Calle Tetuan, 12), founded in 1860, is now surrounded by chain shops and department stores. But it stands firm amid the modernisation – there are no frills: just plain white tiles, terracotta paint, and a loyal clientele, with smart waiters in jackets and ties bustling through.
Independent creative types are making their mark on the city too. Wandering around the laidback neighbourhoods of Huertas and Malasana, the narrow streets are peppered with small galleries and quirky shops.
You can see people are going away from the big chain stores and want something different, so lots of little shops are popping up – and the best thing is the prices are still reasonable. Dresses her average around 35 euros.
In the stylish Spanish shopping streets around Madrid’s Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, in the heart of the city, you will find an abundance of apparel stores, with some of the newest European designs along Calle de Preciados or Gran Via.
Zara (32 Gran Via 32) is one of Spain’s most popular fashion chains, with men’s and women’s stores, as well as a homeware division. Zara clothing are reasonably priced. Ladies’ designs fall into distinct categories such as Simple Chic (flowing folk skirts with simply cut coats), New Military (double-breasted coats with metallic buttons, wide belts and decorative pockets), British Countryside (woollen jackets, satin trousers, striped blouses and brandy-toned boots) and City Romance (denim, wool and classic cuts).
A range of colourful knitwear in a number of basic designs starts at €12, ladies’ collared T-shirts and tank tops at €8, and shirts and blouses at €14.
Bershka is another chain hawking trendy street fashion for women, selling summer tops from €4.90 and jackets from €35.90.
Meanwhile, at Intimissimi, you can buy men’s and ladies’ underwear. Lacy lingerie sets start at €14.80. Atrezzo is a men’s store with woollen trousers from €39, suits from €100 and jackets from €99.
Herero Piel (7 Calle de Preciados) has soft designer leather jackets for €104 in a range of colours such as black, red, yellow, blue and green. The store also sells well-crafted boots and shoes.
Spanish shoes are recognised for solid workmanship and creative designs, and Bolsos is one shop with a large selection. Its range of suede boots costs from €29 and comes in various shades of brown and grey. Its collection of colourful funky designer rubber boots also retails from €29.
Rival shoe store Tacones has a similar range as well as an extensive choice of embossed leather cowboy boots in black, blue, grey and several shades of brown from €49. Fight your way through the front door at Bronzo, a shop with shelves of colourful slippers, sandals and shoes starting at €6.
For fashionable baubles, belts and beads, there’s Linea 10. Moda Factory, meanwhile, has a wide range of sunglasses from international designers, including Calvin Klein, Escada, Guess? and Christian Dior. Pick up five pairs of colourfully designed socks at Calzedonia for €11.80. If you’re into lace shawls, Artesania Reyes is the place to go to, offering them from €18. It also sells pillow cases from €7.78 and table settings from €13.
Cortefiel (13 Calle de Preciados) is one of the largest Spanish clothing retailers and stocks elegant apparel. This season’s ladies’ lace-embroidered coats cost from €295. El Corte Ingl (1 Calle de Preciados) is ‘s largest department store chain and stocks everything from soft fluffy toys to iPods. Keep your eyes peeled for bargains such as marked-down designer leather jackets for €100.
Eat & Drink
Magnificent and hearty meat stews or humble staples cuch as Sopa de Ajo (garlic soup) and tortilla de patatas (potato omelette). Meander through a menu of tapas, a gastronomic tradition where savoury titbits are served as appetizers, all washed down with a glass of wine or beer. For breakfast order “churros con chocolate”, a type of long doughnut dipped in rich, strong hot chocolate which is a speciality of Madrid.
Nightlife
As a backdrop to all this progress is what the Madrilenos call ‘mucha marcha’ – or lots of energy.
People here love to be out, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, shopping, an early evening stroll or a raucous night. They are enthusiastic about their city. However old and however uncool, it is completely acceptable for you to be partying at 6am. And this, it seems, will never change.
On the Saturday night I was last in Madrid, the bars, streets and squares were full of noisy fun. Bars close between 2am and 3am but clubs stay open until at least 6am, with everything from mega venues like Joy, Kapital and Pacha, to the gay clubs of Chueca and late-night live music at La Solea or Café Central.
La Latina, with its church domes and bar-filled squares, remains one of my favourite neighbourhoods, either for a night out or a lazy Sunday session. On Cava Baja, El Tempranillo is great for Spanish wines and plates of fresh-cut ham, while super-hip Lamiak on the same street serves Basque pintxos and is always packed with beautiful people. Delic in nearby Plaza de la Paza will see you through the afternoon and into the evening with its cake and famous caipirinhas (lime, strawberry or raspberry).
At Casa Labra, the paper napkins are printed with the story of the bar. Neat italicised text tells how, in 1900, there were 1500 tabernas in Madrid for 840,000 inhabitants and reminds us that just 12 from that era remain. These form an important part of Madrid’s identity, it says, before a final flourish: ‘Bienvenido a esta tu casa’ – ‘Welcome Home’.
If you manage to pull an all-nighter, as Madrilenos regularly do, head to the historic Chocolateria San Gines (Pasadizo San Gines, 5) near Sol for a pre-bed breakfast of fresh churros and thick hot chocolate – an institution, it is open almost 24 hours, shutting only between 7am and 9am. And that’s not going to change any time soon.
Safety
Madrid is a very safe city to visit as a tourist and it doesn’t differ from the average characteristic of other large European cities.
Best Day Trips & Places to Visit Near Madrid
There are lots of places to explore around Madrid including the royal palaces, and the greatest of these El Escorial – a monastic retreat Philip II established at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama.
Escorial was called by contemporaries of Philip II, the eighth wonder of the world and architectural barracks at the same time, and it is a combination of the palace, monastery and mausoleum.
Plan a City Break to Madrid
Whether you’re looking for a culture-rich few days, splendid parks and boulevards, some excellent shopping or great food and a lively atmosphere, Madrid is sure to have something to suit you.