| Spain's modern bustling capital Madrid, is | | | | |
| smack bang in the middle of the country. The | | | | The Calle de Alcalá, runs into the main |
| heart of Madrid is open with grand | | | | shopping street, the Gran Via. What a sight |
| architecture and wide avenues. Being | | | | and what a shoppers' paradise! The large and |
| relatively compact it is easy to explore and | | | | famous department stores, fashion houses, |
| enjoy the ambiance in all its glory. | | | | shoe shops mix with the artisans and craft |
| | | | shops on this long avenue. With its |
| When visiting you would be well advised to be | | | | surrounding streets and side alleys combined |
| aware of the weather in Madrid. Sitting on a | | | | with long opening hours, Gran Via is the |
| high plateau with low mountains to the | | | | shoppers dream. In Madrid there is nowhere to |
| northwest it does not enjoy the best of | | | | go but the Grand Via. Look no further. |
| climates. Locally they claim to have three | | | | |
| months of bad weather and the other nine | | | | The great "Plaza de Toros Monumental de Las |
| months are awful. This can be taken with a | | | | Ventas.", the bullfighting ring, is the |
| pinch of salt, particularly if you are from | | | | largest in Spain. Recently, live transmission |
| colder regions but the winters are cold with | | | | of bullfighting has been withdrawn from |
| biting winds while the heat of summer is best | | | | television but "afficianados" (fans) can |
| avoided. Typically most "Madrileños" head | | | | enjoy their art from May to October. |
| for the coasts or mountains. Check your | | | | |
| Madrid travel guide but spring and autumn are | | | | Another great passion of the "Madrileños" |
| the best times to visit. | | | | is of course their beloved Real Madrid |
| | | | football club and a visit to the gigantic |
| Whatever the weather there is always | | | | Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is a mecca for many |
| somewhere to get away from it. With so many | | | | fans. Madrid caters for all tastes and |
| fine cafes, bars and restaurants to choose | | | | younger visitors often prefer the Warner |
| from, catering for all tastes and times of | | | | Bros-Madrid Theme Park, the famous |
| day you will have to plan your time well. | | | | Zoo-Aquarium, Faunia Theme Park, and the Wax |
| Madrid being cosmopolitan, is not famous for | | | | Museum. |
| any particular regional dish but this does | | | | |
| not detract from the quality of what is on | | | | While walking Madrid is the best way to see |
| offer and it certainly adds to the variety. | | | | it, a city pass and the open top bus will |
| Restaurants in Madrid set a very good | | | | save your legs for the nights out. Should you |
| standard so visit the side streets and | | | | find yourself too far from your hotel and a |
| uncover small specialist tapas bars or hidden | | | | little weary the metro system is very user |
| restaurants offering gastronomic delights. | | | | friendly even for a foreigner. |
| | | | |
| The famous Prado Museum, housing Spain's | | | | Hotels in Madrid offer the whole range of |
| finest art works is complemented by the The | | | | accommodation as you would expect. From the |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the "Museo | | | | luxurious five star hotels to the more modest |
| Nacional Centro de Arte Reina SofÃa", The | | | | "hostals" or the simple private rooms: |
| Queen Sophia Museum of Modern Art. | | | | everyone's budget is catered for. Note that |
| | | | "hostal" in Madrid is in fact a denomination |
| The 18th century Prado built during the reign | | | | of an hotel. Don't expect peace and quiet |
| of Charles III, is considered to be the best | | | | though except perhaps in the very early hours |
| neoclassical building in Madrid. Its | | | | or during siesta if you are lucky! Spain is a |
| collection of paintings is one of the best in | | | | noisy country and Madrid never sleeps. |
| the world, housing the works of the great | | | | |
| Velazquez, Goya, El Greco, Murillo, Zurbaran, | | | | Do not be surprised either that evenings |
| Rafael and Rubens amongst others. | | | | start later than in many places and a night |
| | | | out is just that. With that said Madrid is a |
| Behind the Prado is the huge expanse of the | | | | great city to be out on the town. Flamenco, |
| Parque de Retiro; perfect to stroll and relax | | | | blues, salsa and jazz compete with disco, rap |
| away from the heat and the traffic. This is | | | | and techno as music emanates from every bar, |
| adjoined to the Royal Botanical Gardens. | | | | restaurant, club and street corner. This is a |
| Close by, those travelling by train to or | | | | city full of people enjoying themselves. |
| from the Atocha Station have the added | | | | |
| pleasure of the indoor botanical gardens to | | | | Flights to Madrid are through Barajas |
| enjoy. | | | | International Airport which lies 15km to the |
| | | | east of the city. Transport to the centre of |
| The Royal Palace, "El Palacio Real", and the | | | | Madrid is by hire car (take A-2 Barcelona |
| wonderful Sabatini Gardens are a must for | | | | route to the M-30 highway) taxi, route 89 bus |
| many visitors, while the Plaza de la Cibeles | | | | or the metro subway train service which takes |
| is considered as the heart of Madrid. It is a | | | | you to the very heart of this wonderful city |
| good point from which to orientate yourself. | | | | by changing at Mar del Cristal. |
| Between the two, seek out the Plaza Major | | | | |
| with its statue of Felipe III on horseback in | | | | You may leave Madrid exhausted, wondering |
| the centre. It is off the Calle Major close | | | | when and if the "Madrileños" ever sleep |
| to the Puerta del Sol and though large, it is | | | | but you will certainly remember your visit. |
| mysteriously missed by some. | | | | |