Madrid Travel Guide

General

Spain's capital is a lively city - nobody is exactly sure when the Madrilenos sleep. It may be the afternoon siesta that gives them the endurance to keep things going well into the night. Try it.

The city is by European standards relatively new -it became capital only in 1561- but today Madrid spreads out all over the place. Fortunately, much of interest lies within the area that can be seen on foot. Check out Calle and Plaza Mayor (medieval Madrid) which is lined by beautiful buildings and the city's oldest church San Nicolas de los Servitas (plan several hours for this section). Then go shopping at Calle Serrano and the Gran Via. Visit the Victory Arch the Palacio Real (the royal palace with its own art treasures and crown jewels) the Rastro Flea Market and the Plaza de las Cibeles and Puerta del Sol (the last two are major intersections with fountains monuments and shops).

Madrid is a museum-goer's paradise. Including the Royal Palace, it has 15 important museums, dozens of galleries and several private collections. See the section on the art walk for more details about the three famous museums in Madrid: the Prado, the Thyssen Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia museum. You might end up spending more than one day just seeing museums. Actually, days could be spent in the halls of the Prado alone.

It's actually quite possible to get tired of all these museums in Madrid; if this happens sit down at a terrazas (outdoor cafe) and watch the world go by or visit one of the many beautiful parks and lakes in the city. One of the nicest parks we've seen anywhere is Retiro Park near the Prado. Note the Victorian greenhouse and the Crystal Palace with its small lake and swans lazily swimming about. You can rent a rowboat to get in the relaxed festive mood that suffuses the park. For a panoramic view of Madrid take the elevator to the bar on the 26th floor of the Edificio de Espana which faces the Plaza de Espana.

Madrid is a city that never seems to close down-bars and restaurants are open very late and the city's Santa Ana district never closes down. Dinner doesn't usually begin until after 10 pm and after that revelers head off to their favorite disco show, jazz club or late-night cafe to play until dawn. For a concentrated area of late-night activity head to Huertas Street after midnight and you're sure to find something to match your tastes. Hemingway fans may want to check out the Museo Chicote bar described in many of his Spanish Civil War stories (and a very trendy spot). Those who love traditional performing arts will want to go to the Teatro Real for Spanish light opera known as zarzuela. You can also find good flamenco shows in several nightclubs including Cafe Chinitas.

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Accomodation

There are only a few youth hostels in Madrid. If you want to have a reasonably cheap place to spend the night, check out the hostels run by host families and often located quite centrally. In all cases, it is better to visit the hostel in advance. Prices are round and about 3.000 Pts for a single room and 5.000 Pts for a double one. If you have some more money to spend, check out the mid range and first class accommodation section.

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Sights

Maybe you're still in the supposition that Barcelona is the place to be when it comes down to impressive cultural sights. Well, you're wrong then. It will take you at least several days to see all landmarks, museums, galleries and parks in Madrid.When wandering through the old centre, check out Calle and Plaza Mayor (medieval Madrid) which is lined by beautiful buildings and various old (impressively ornamented) churches. Relax at one of the many terraces on the old plazas. The city has several green spots, so there will always be a park or garden where you can relax a bit and watch the world go by. The Retiro Park is worth checking out with its rose gardens and Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace is only one of the many palaces in Madrid. The Palacio Real, the Palace of the Royal Family, takes the second place on the list of most visited sights in Madrid.

The undeniable number one attraction still is a visit to the three museums centred around Paseo del Prado. First, there is the Prado with its impressive and extensive both Spanish and international collection. Besides that, you can see the work of the famous Spanish masters, such as Picasso, Miro and Dali, in the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia. Last but certainly not least is the equally impressive Thyyssen Bornemisza Museum, located in the Villahermosa Palace. These three museums are probably the most popular ones, but only a small section of what Madrid has to offer when it comes down to museums.

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