Introducing Madrid
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.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Kick off your 'Best of Spain' tour in Madrid
- Experience the grandeur of El Escorial monastery
- Discover the rich history and culture of Madrid with a Madrid Card
- Take a day trip to beautiful Toledo
Last updated: Jan 17, 2013
Tips & articles
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Insider’s guide to Madrid: the lesser-known art of Spain’s crowning capital
31 October 2012
When it comes to art, Madrid knows few rivals. The Museo Del Prado justifiably attracts more visitors than any other...
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Madrid and the art of tapas
3 August 2012
It is often said that Madrid is the most Spanish of Spain’s cities. And in no sense is this truer...
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Europe’s top 10 football stadiums
31 July 2012
Football (soccer) is Europe’s unofficial religion. And when summer turns to autumn, all over the continent cathedrals to the beautiful...
Madrid
Things to do
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Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Madrid
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1 Plaza Mayor
Watching the passing parade in this buzzing plaza, for centuries the centrepiece of Madrid life
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2 El Rastro Market
If you can drag yourself out of bed on a Sunday morning after a big Saturday night in Madrid, head to El Rastro, one of Europe's most famous, fascinating flea markets
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3 Museo del Prado
Be overwhelmed by Goya and Velázquez at this masterpiece-packed museum
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4 Plaza de Oriente
Rub shoulders with royalty in the Plaza de Oriente
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5 Centro de Arte de Reina Sofía
Be awe-struck by the power and fury of Picasso's Guernica