Madrid Hotels and City Guide : Guide Home Page

Time Off

The Spanish capital Madrid is situated in the centre of the Iberian peninsula at a lofty altitude more than 600 metres above sea level. It is one of the great European cities with a wealth of treasures awaiting discovery in its labyrinthine streets. By day, the city is a cultural centre, offering museums, art galleries as well as a fascinating central old quarter dating back to the Hapsburg Empire. By night it's a playground of lively activity with a mass of discotheques, bars, and concert halls. Like many Mediterranean cities, Madrid considers four in the morning to be a reasonable closing time for many clubs and nightspots, so be prepared to party!

Madrid Attractions

Museo del Prado
Paseo del Prado s/n, Madrid 28014
Tel: +34 91 429 0770

The Prado Museum is considered internationally to be one of the world's most significant art institutions. Housed here is the majority of the work by both Goya and Velasquez, also many and notable works by El Greco, Murillo and Zurbaran. The galleries are similarly home to a substantial collection of Flemish paintings including work by, Rubens, Van Dyck and Rembrandt.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Calle Santa Isabel 52, Madrid 28012
Tel: +34 91 467 5062

This world famous gallery houses what could be described as the vanguard of the early twentieth century art. Work of Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Juan Gris, Salvador Dalí is on display. The collection also shows artistic trends from the 1940's to the early 80's with works by artists such as Eduardo Chillida and Antonio Saura.

Palacio Real
Calle Bailén s/n, Madrid
Tel: +34 91 248 7404

With 3000 rooms the Royal Palace contains a larger amount of rooms than any other palace in Europe. Until 1931, the royal family inhabited the building; now, the royal family come here only for state occasions. The huge palace is decorated with frescoes by Tiepolo and Giaquinto, paintings by Goya, Rubens, Valezquez, and El Greco, dozens of Flemish and Spanish tapestries, and endless dazzling rococo decorations.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
Palacio de Villahermosa, Paseo del Prado 8, Madrid 28014
Tel: +34 91 369 0151

The collection of this museum perfectly complements the classical paintings of the Prado Museum and the modern paintings of the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia National Museum. With more than 50 pieces that are considered masterpieces of the world, and works from Italian and Dutch Primitives, German Renaissance, 17th-century Dutch Painting, Impressionism, German Expressionism, Geometric Abstraction, and Pop Art, this museum has an amazingly impressive display of paintings.

Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor, Madrid

The extremely grand 17th-century arcaded square is in the heart of Madrid. Once the sight of bullfights, great festivals, and ceremonies, plays, public burnings of heretics, and the crowning of kings, Plaza Mayor has played a vital role in Spanish history. Now the beautiful square is decorated with eye-catching, kaleidoscopic-coloured murals and is surrounded by baroque architecture. One can visit the many plaza shops and cafes of the square and enjoy the calm mornings, the busy afternoons, or perhaps dinner at some of the liveliest tapas bars in the city.

Parque del Retiro
Parque del Retiro, behind the Prado Museum, Madrid

Madrid's best-known park the Retiro consists of 120 hectares in the very centre of the city. It began life as private garden of the Palace of the Buen Retiro and was opened to the public by decree of the First Spanish Republic in 1868. Attractions include the 'rosaleda' (a rose garden) and a boating lake, and here you'll find a large variety of shows and street theatre during the weekends.

El Rastro
Ribera de Curtidores, Madrid

Madrid's premier open-air flea market sells all kinds of paraphanalia and antiques.

Teatro Real
Next to the Plaza de Oriente and across from the Royal Palace at Plaza de Isabel II, Madrid
Tel: +34 91 558 8787 Fax: +34 91 516 0651

Teatro Real is a wonderful concert venue both acoustically and visually and is home of Spanish Opera. As Madrid's most prestigious theatre, the Teatro Real is immensely successful and fashionable. The theatre has recently been renovated.

Museo de la Real Academia de Bella Artes
Calcografia Nacional, Alcala 13 (Puerta del Sol), Madrid
Tel: +34 91 532 1543

Designed in the early 18th century, this museum has one of the most important art collections in the country. Its treasures include works by Goya, El Greco, Murillo, Velazquez, Correggio, Rubens, and Tiepolo. Within the building is the Instituto de Calcografia where one can buy limited edition prints from the original plates engraved by great Spanish artists including Goya and Picasso.

Café de Chinitas
Torija 7, Madrid
Tel: +34 91 547 1502

An impressive display of Spain's most singular cultural art form, flamenco, is performed here. The show is quite popular and does sell out quickly so reservations are recommended. At one time the Café de Chinitas was just a café, but now it is the best location in Madrid to enjoy authentic flamenco music and dance.

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
Alcal 237, Metro: Ventas, Madrid
Tel: +34 91 356 2200

The bravery and skill of the matador enraptures the crowd as the battle between man and bull takes place. A performance of primal intensity, the bullfight is part of Spanish culture.

La Casa de Campo
Avenida de Portugal s/n, Madrid
Tel: Zoo : +34 91 711 9950

This large terrain with thickly wooded areas, a large lake with boats, a swimming pool and tennis courts is also home to the Zoo of Madrid and the Parque de Atracciones. Once the hunting grounds for Felipe II and a royal park, Casa de Campo is now an area for public entertainment. The zoo contains nearly 3000 animals and has several shows performed by the dolphins and parrots daily, while the amusement park provides rides, restaurants, and bars.

Museo Arquelogico Nacional
C. Serrano 13, Madrid
Tel: +34 91 577 7912

The history of human culture from prehistoric times to the 15th century is traced at the archeological museum. The collection includes artefacts from the Iberian, Celtic, Greek, Egyptian, Punic, Roman, Paleolithic, Carthaginian, and Moslem cultures, the majority of which were excavated in Spain.

Casino Gran Madrid
Autovia, A6 28250, Torrelodones, Madrid
Tel: +34 91 856 1100

The casino contains games rooms, a nightclub, three restaurants, and four bars. Men are required to wear jackets and ties.

Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol, Madrid

Marking the heart of the country in the centre of Madrid, this is the starting point for any tour and the most popular meeting place in Madrid. To mark the centre of the nation, there is a stone slab that states 'kilometro zero'.

Arab Wall
Cuesta de la Vega s/n, Madrid

Madrid's ancient city walls are well worth a visit and the remains of the old Arab walls can still be seen. They originally surrounded the settlement of Magerit, later to become Madrid. There are Islamic remains from the 9th and 10th centuries and later Christian relics from the 12th and 13th centuries.