Travel Tips

Contents:

 

Introduction

Madrid has the highest altitude of any European capital. Therefore, it tends to be very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. By day, Madrid offers more hours of sunshine per year than any other European capital. Any stay in Madrid should include spending as many of the hours of darkness on the streets as possible - soaking up the culture, hopping from tapas bar to tapas bar or from one outdoor terrace to another.

If you have one day . . . Seeing the following in one day will provide you with a good example of Spanish culture, from art to religion and the Royal Family.

If you have more than one day . . .

Other good attractions: Depending on your personal interests, here is a listing of other good attractions in Madrid:

Kids attractions:

Good restaurants: Dining times are typically from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. for lunch, and no earlier than 9:30 p.m. for dinner. Reservations are recommended at all of the following restaurants.

For tapas: Good tapas can be found all over Madrid, but some of the most notable areas for tapa-hopping are: La Latina, Sol / Plaza Mayor, and Santa Ana.

Afternoon "merienda" (snack, coffee, or tea):

Hotel recommendations:

Expensive:

Moderate:

Shopping recommendations: For upscale shopping, we recommend heading to Barrio Salamanca, to the zone bordered by the following streets: Serrano / José Ortega y Gasset / Velazquez / Jorge Juan. There are many tourist shops, including leather goods, shoes, clothing, souvenirs, etc. on the streets around Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor. There is a large bookstore called FNAC near the Plaza de Callao, with a selection of English language books. And don't forget the huge department store chain, El Corte Ingles. Bargains abound on Sunday mornings at the large flea market at El Rastro, in the La Latina neighborhood. Beware, though, because pickpockets are in abundance here. Watch your wallet.

Favorite walks / Areas of town: Old Madrid is not to be missed. Some of the sights you'll catch when wandering through this neighborhood are the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real (Opera House), Plaza Mayor, and the Puerta del Sol. A walk through Retiro Park is also not to be missed.

Day trips from Madrid: There are many fascinating towns accessible from Madrid by train or bus. Our personal favorites include San Lorenzo de El Escorial, with a side trip to the Valley of the Fallen; Toledo; Segovia; Avila; Cuenca; and La Granja.

Night Life: Nightlife doesn't generally get started until 11:00 p.m., because of the late dinner hour, and can extend into the wee hours of the morning. In fact, there are bars and clubs that don't open until 5:00 a.m. to catch the crowds leaving other establishments! The La Latina and Santa Ana areas are good for tapa hopping, dancing, and mingling. Flamenco can be seen in many locations throughout the city, one of our favorites is La Corrala. There are movie theaters that play movies in their original version (called V.O. theaters, for "version original"). This means you can catch up on all those American movies you missed when they were playing in the States, or you can find a good French film to watch. Beware: V.O. movies are played in their original language with Spanish subtitles. For more information on what to do in Madrid, pick up a copy of the weekly Guia del Ocio. The Guia is written in Spanish, but it is pretty easy to understand. Tickets for many events are available at El Corte Ingles and FNAC.