Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Madrid has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- The Faro de Moncloa is a 100-metre-high transmission tower with an observation deck at the Plaza de Moncloa, offering fine views over the city. A daytime trip on the cable car above the green parkland of Casa de Campo, starting at Paseo del Pintor Rosales, also has some wonderful vistas.
- Arts and culture
- The area around the Paseo del Prado is home to Madrid’s three greatest museums: the Prado (museoprado.mcu.es), the Reina Sofia (www.museoreinasofia.es) and the Thyssen-Bornemisza (www.museothyssen.org). The range and scope of these museums is breathtaking and together they constitute one of the greatest collections of artistic treasures in the world. The Prado is famous for its works by El Greco, Velázquez and Goya, while the Reina Sofia museum showcases a predominantly Spanish collection of modern masterpieces.
- Something for nothing
- Join the locals for a stroll in Retiro park. The tree-lined avenues are thronged with performers and hawkers on a Sunday afternoon when the park is at its busiest.
- Shopping
- Salamanca is the main district for boutiques and labels. Head for Calle Serrano and Lagasca as well as exploring all the smaller roads off these for high-end fashion finds. In Chueca, Calle Fuencarral and surrounding streets are the place to look for Spanish designers and familiar brands at much lower prices than the UK. Great high street buys here include Zara, Mango, Massimi Dutti and Homeless. If you’re after some fine Spanish wine, Lavinia on Claudio Coello 76 (91 4356 917; www.lavinia.es) has more than 1,500 varieties and many different types of spirits with a good price range for every pocket. Credited as Europe’s largest market, no trip to Madrid is complete without a visit to the sprawling Sunday market of El Rastro in La Latina. Filled with bargains, rip-offs, junk and treasures, it’s a lively place for a stroll with one eye on the countless stalls and the other on your wallet.
- Daytripper
- There’s a dazzling choice of daytrips from Madrid including the historic towns of Toledo, Segovia, Ávila and Aranjuez. Spain’s fast train network even make Seville (2.5 hours) and Cordoba (1.5 hours) within easy reach if you catch an AVE high-speed train. The surrounding countryside also contains some magnificent of royal residences. The palace and monastery complex of El Escorial is 30 miles west of Madrid and was built as the country retreat of Felipe II in the 16th century. Just north of the city is the palace of El Pardo, built in the 15th century and surrounded by beautiful gardens, popular with Madrileños at the weekends.
- Activities
- Hire a boat on the ornamental lake in the Retiro Park for a romantic paddle, but be careful of the strong sunlight in summer if you don’t want to spend your evening applying after-sun lotion to each other. In winter it’s possible to ski at Navacerrada about 40 miles north of Madrid in the Sierra de Guadarrama (www.puertonavacerrada.com). The ski area is very limited but fun for a day out, and the area is popular with mountain bikers and hikers in the summer.
Diary
- February The Caja Madrid Flamenco Festival is held during the first week of the month at Casa Encendida (www.lacasaencendida.com). Mid February Arco is Spain’s foremost contemporary art fairs attracting renown galleries from around the world as well as showcasing leading Spanish talent. March Madrid’s Gay Pride is a riotously colourful parade from Puerta de Alcalá to Puerta del Sol followed by all-night partying in Chueca. 15 May The Festival of San Isidro sees concerts in the Plaza Mayor and daily bullfights at the city’s gargantuan arena. Mid October to mid November The Festival de Otoño fills the city with a wide range of music and dance events.
