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Madrid

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Real Casa de la Panaderia, Madrid

Introducing Madrid

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Madrid is an ex-convent schoolgirl, a rebellious teenager who pushed the boundaries of hedonism and then grew up and got sophisticated without ever forgetting how to have fun. That’s why this is a city as at home in the nightclubs and bars that give the streets their soundtrack as it is in the hallowed halls of high culture.

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It’s true that Spain’s capital doesn’t have the immediate cachet of Rome, Paris or even that other city up the road, Barcelona. Its architecture is beautiful, but there’s no Colosseum, no Eiffel Tower, no Gaudí-inspired zaniness to photograph and then tell your friends back home, ‘this is Madrid’. But this city is an idea, a way of living for the moment that can be hard to resist.

Madrid’s calling cards are many: astonishing art galleries, relentless nightlife, its transformation into Spain’s premier style city, an exceptional live music scene, a feast of fine restaurants and tapas bars, and a population that’s mastered the art of living the good life. It’s not that other cities don’t have some of these things. It’s just that Madrid has all of them in bucketloads.

It’s often said that this is the most Spanish of Spain’s cities and it is indeed Europe’s most passionate city writ large. Very few Madrileños come from here originally, possibly making this Europe’s most open and welcoming capital. If this can be summed up in a single phrase, it’s the oft-heard, ‘If you’re in Madrid, you’re from Madrid’. It’s not that they’ll knock you over with the warmth of their welcome. Rather, you’ll find yourself in a bar or lost somewhere and in need of directions, and you’ll suddenly be made to feel like one of their own. Just as quickly, without knowing when it happened, you’ll realise that you never want to leave.

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Tips & articles

  1. A guide to the eateries of Spain

    27 February 2011

    Restaurants have been a part of Spanish culture for centuries. Indeed Spain is home to the oldest surviving restaurant in...

    Read more

  2. Madrid and the art of tapas

    4 November 2010

    It is often said that Madrid is the most Spanish of Spain’s cities. And in no sense is this truer...

    Read more

  3. Spain: travel books to read before you go

    1 October 2010

    This excerpt from Lonely Planet’s Spain guide provides a selection of travel literature to get you in the mood for...

    Read more

See all tips & articles for Madrid

Thorn Tree forum discussion

Recent posts

  1. anillos_de_saturno avatar
    RE: Help with Spain itinerary

    by anillos_de_saturno 27 May 2012

    What are your interests? What are you looking for? Your itinerary seems rushed with short time in Madrid, Seville... but, it'll depend…
  2. QaiLove avatar
    NIGHTLIFE LAYOVER 9 hours ***

    by QaiLove 27 May 2012

    Hello world family, I have a few questions about an upcoming trip to Mallorca that lands me at Madrid Barajas terminal 2 for 9 hours on…
  3. QaiLove avatar
    Re: Madrid Barajas Airport Layover

    by QaiLove 27 May 2012

    Hello world family, I have a few questions about an upcoming trip to Mallorca that lands me at Madrid Barajas terminal 2 for 9 hours on…

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