Madrid City Breaks

Culturally and historically exciting, Madrid boasts superb art collections, splendid architecture, a fantastic foodie culture plus a buzzing nightlife. And, unusually for a capital city, there’s a considerable amount of delightful relaxing parkland and green space.

Numerous distinctly characterful neighbourhoods include exclusive Barrio de Salamanca with its beautiful 19th century architecture, upmarket boutiques, Michelin-star dining, stylish nightlife and art galleries, whilst predominantly residential Retiro, enveloping Madrid’s beloved park, features neoclassical Puerta de Alcala Gate. Traditional tapas bars abound in the oldest neighbourhood,

Austrias, which also houses the Royal Palace, Teatro Real Opera House, Sabatini Gardens and Plaza Mayor. The famed 2km long Golden Triangle of Art, Paseo del Arte, boasts three acclaimed art museums, and popular La Latina houses a famous flea market. The financial district, Castellana, features impressive skyscrapers plus Real Madrid’s famed Bernabeu stadium.

Travelling around the city

Madrid’s centre is easy to walk around, however, there’s excellent public transport available and a Tourist Pass gives unlimited metro, bus and train travel for less than €10 for one day. Transport passes may be combined with a Madrid Card; a sightseeing pass with complimentary entry to more than 50 museums, it allows priority admission to many, and also entitles the holder to many restaurant and shop discounts. From €47 per day, these are especially good value for multiple days. Details from www.esmadrid. com or Classic concierge.

Food & drink

As the food capital of Spain, Madrid boasts a vast array of culinary options including gourmet food markets, tapas bars, centuries-old establishments proffering traditional fare, and Michelin-star restaurants for avant-garde sophistication. Enjoy a fried squid sandwich in Plaza Mayor, savour delightful churros, fried dough sticks dipped in creamy hot chocolate, sample the city’s signature dish, cocido madrileño, a hearty meat stew, or dine at the world’s oldest restaurant, Sobrino de Botin; and definitely don’t miss the fabulous tapas served in the traditional La Latina neighbourhood.

When to go

An exceptional year round destination, Madrid’s calendar is filled with festivals and celebrations. In springtime, the city’s parks and gardens burst with flowers, and summers are hot and dry especially during July and August. Early autumn is a lovely time to visit, and although the last two months of the year tend to be damper and cooler, the cold, bright sunny winter days showcase the intense blue skies for which Madrid is famous.

World Famous Art

Three museums vie for attention in Madrid’s Golden Art Triangle, Paseo del Arte. The Prado showcases fine Spanish Masters: Goya, Velázquez and El Greco, and, together with European Old Masters, the vast collection ranges from the 12th to the 19th century. Reina Sofia houses contemporary art from the late 19th century to the present, with works by Dali and Miro and includes Picasso’s most famed Guernica. In Villahermosa Palace, privately-owned Thyssen Bornemisza boasts an extraordinary collection of predominantly European art spanning eight centuries from the early thirteenth, with a breadth of style from Gothic to pop.

Art Museums

Few cities boast a wealth of art to rival that of Madrid and, along Paseo del Arte, there are three of the world’s finest museums including the outstanding, privately-owned Thyssen Bornemisza, the ubiquitous Prado, and the delightfully contemporary Reina Sofia.

Parks

There’s much green space for all to enjoy; 17th century El Retiro Park is a favourite with the Madrileños, Madrid Rio, perfect for strolling and cycling, plus numerous delightful gardens including Sabatini Gardens, the Royal Botanical Gardens, and Oeste Park.

Royal Palace

The largest royal palace in Western Europe, majestic 18th century Palacio Real, comprises 3,000 rooms and boasts an astounding collection of outstanding paintings, sculptures, tapestries, antiques, and an opulent Throne Room with a ceiling painted by Tiepolo.

City view terraces

For the best panoramic views and great restaurants, head for the rooftop terrace of Circulo de Bellas Artes, the viewpoint on the eight floor of Cibeles Palace, and the terrace at Thyssen Bornemisza.

Flamenco & Opera

As the world’s flamenco capital, Madrid boasts a plethora of tablaos, flamenco bars, where the raw emotion of this sensational art form can be enjoyed. At Teatro Real Opera House, productions including firstclass opera and classical music concerts are held throughout the year.

Madrid in 3 days

Day 1

Walk through Austrias’ maze of narrow streets to reach Teatro Real, Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace which surround historic Plaza de Oriente. Visit the Palace’s opulent Throne Room and pharmacy before strolling through Sabatini Gardens. Lunch in a gastrobar around Calle de Santiago and head for the buzzing streets around stately Plaza Mayor, enjoying a churro and hot chocolate at Chocolatieria de San Giné. At Puerta del Sol, the official centre, pose by the famous landmark statue of the city’s coat of arms, and in the evening enjoy opera at Teatro Real or sunset at the ancient Egyptian Debod Temple.

Day 2

Enjoy The Prado by choosing the one, two or three hour route through its vast collection. Take a quick church tour of lovely San Jeronimo del Real, just behind The Prado, followed by a lunch with spectacular city views on the eight floor of Cibeles Palace. In the afternoon, wander along Alcala to see the imposing Puerta de Alcala and on to spectacular Gran Via for shopping, or see the priceless artwork, Picasso’s Guernica at Reina Sofia. In the evening, book an authentic flamenco experience at a tablao, or visit the area between Paseo de Recoletos and Serrano for an unrivalled gourmet experience.

Day 3

Stroll through magnificent art history at outstanding Thyssen Bornemisza housed in the wonderful neo-classical Villahermosa Palace. Delight in gourmet tapas at Mercado San Anton in Chueca before an afternoon walk through the grand avenues of elegant El Retiro Park to visit the exhibitions at the sparkling Glass and Velázquez Palaces. Hire a boat on the lake, or simply enjoy a coffee and some people watching. In the evening, dine at Platea Madrid, a new gastronomic space housed in a former cinema where internationally acclaimed chefs serve gourmet flavours from around the world accompanied by live music, cabaret and performing arts.