Visiting Madrid! Things to see, places to go

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It is the third-most populous municipality in the European Union after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the fourth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, and the Ruhr Area.

The city is located on the river Manzanares both in the centre of the country and Community of Madrid (which comprises the city of Madrid, its subsequent conurbation and extended suburbs and villages); this community is bordered by the autonomous communities of Castile and León and Castile-La Mancha. As the capital city of Spain, seat of government, and residence of the Spanish monarch, Madrid is also the political center of Spain.

Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, Madrid is considered the major financial center of the Iberian Peninsula; it hosts the head offices of the vast majority of the major Spanish companies, as well as the headquarters of three of the world's 100 largest companies (Telefónica, Repsol-YPF, Banco Santander).

While Madrid possesses a modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of many of its historic neighborhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre) with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro park, founded in 1631; the imposing 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; an archaeological museum of international reputation; and three superb art museums: Prado Museum, which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, housed in the renovated Villahermosa Palace.

The population of the city is roughly 3.2 million (as of December 2005), while the estimated urban area population is 5.1 million. The entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area (urban area and suburbs) is calculated to be 5.84 million. The city spans a total of 607 km² (234 sq mi).

read more about Madrid in the Wikipedia

1) Vivacity

Bustling, energetic, vibrant... Madrid churns with energy as only a capital city could. From Puerta del Sol and the Gran Vía boulevard to Plaza de España, Malasaña, Chueca and the Real Madrid stadium, it's not sheer multitude that makes the city stir. It's the madrileño attitude -- a zest for socializing, taking to the streets and cheerfully maximizing every hour not spent working.

2) Nightlife

Ninety-nine percent of the time, the Madrid characteristic that most impacts first-time visitors is its nightlife. The Spanish schedule generally runs later than most, but even more so here. Eat dinner at 10pm and your night on the town begins to jump when London pubs are closing and continues 'til the sun comes up. "Salir" - to go out - only counts if you've made it past 4am. Otherwise it's just a "vuelta," or a stroll around the block.

3) Cultural Activities

The problem with Madrid culture & arts is picking and choosing what to do! Besides the fantastic permanent collections of the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum and Thyssen Bornemisza, there are dozens other museums, cultural centers, galleries, theaters, cinemas, music venues, flamenco locales, festivals... you get the picture. Keep your eye on newspapers and leisure guides like Guía del Ocio for the latest happenings.

4) Location

Phillip II chose Madrid as capital for its prime location smack in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. Visit Madrid and see how easy it is to discover the rest of Spain from this jump-off point. On the one hand, you can take day trips from Madrid to rich historical towns like Toledo, Segovia and El Escorial or enjoy nature activities in the Sierra de Guadarrama. On the other hand, Madrid's airport, train and bus stations are the best connected in Spain. No national destination is more than an 8-hour ride from here -- and low cost airlines make it even easier to move around the country.

5) Tradition & Modernity

This is the great time in Madrid history to visit. The cutting-edge center of La Movida in the 80's, it fell behind Barcelona's Olympic shadow in the 90's but currently is on its way back. Traditions like San Isidro and El Rastro flea market prove madrileños value local customs, while the gay neighborhood of Chueca, rocker Malasaña and multiethnic Lavapiés prove that Madrid is fervently embracing modernity as well.

Plane

Madrid is served by Madrid Barajas Airport. It is located in the northeast, 12 kilometres (7 mi) away from the capital. This short distance means that users can save considerable time and money travelling to and from the airport. Madrid Barajas Airport, from which over 100 airline companies from various countries operate, has the highest level of air traffic in Spain and is amongst the top five in Europe.

Several major airlines have regular flights from the United States, and others serve London and other European capitals daily. In February 2006, the culmination of a 10-year project produced a fourth terminal (T-4), almost doubling the airport's capacity to 70 million passengers a year. This terminal handles flights from 32 companies, including Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, and Virgin Express. All other American or British airlines depart from and arrive at Terminal 1. The four terminals are connected by a bus service lanzadera, which departs every three minutes and gets from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 in 10 minutes.

The fastest transfer way is the subway line number 8 (Línea 8). The metro runs every few minutes (daily from 6:30 AM to 1 AM) between Nuevos Ministerios (where you can check your luggage) and Barajas Airport; it costs EUR 1 and takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

For a mere EUR 1 there's a convenient bus to Avenida de América, where you can catch the subway or a taxi to your hotel. From Avenida de América you can also take Bus 204, which takes you straight to T-4, and Bus 200, which takes you to the other three terminals. Buses leave every 15 minutes between 5:20 AM and 11:30 PM (slightly less often very early or late in the day).

In bad traffic, the 15-minute taxi ride to Madrid can take the better part of an hour, but it makes sense if you have a lot of luggage. Taxis normally wait outside the airport terminal near the clearly marked bus stop; expect to pay up to EUR 22, more in heavy traffic (and more from Terminal 4, which is farther out), including a surcharge that goes up each year. Make sure the driver is on the meter-off-the-meter "deals" will surely cost you more. Finally, some hotels offer shuttle service in vans; check with yours when you reserve.

Train

Spain's railway system, the Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE) operates the vast majority of Spain's railways. In Madrid, the main rail terminals are Atocha in the south and Chamartín in the north.

Traveling by train is comfortable and safe, but for some lines, especially the regional ones, it's sometimes better to take the bus. This holds true for Segovia (the train runs half as frequently and takes twice the time, and the train station is farther from the city center than the bus station) and Toledo (buses run every 30 minutes, but trains leave only every two hours). If you're planning to reach Barcelona, be sure to check air rates being offered by Iberia, Air Europa, and Spanair.

The crown jewel of Spain's next decade of infrastructure construction is the Spanish high speed rail network, Alta Velocidad Española AVE. Currently, an ambitious plan includes the construction of a 7,000 kilometre (4,350 mi) network, centered on Madrid. The overall goal is to have all important provincial cities be no more than 4 hours away from Madrid, and no more than 6 hours away from Barcelona. As of 2008, AVE high-speed trains link Atocha station to Seville, Málaga and Toledo in the south and to Zaragoza, Lleida, Tarragona and Barcelona in the east. AVE trains also arrive to Valladolid and Segovia.

For train schedules and reservations, go to any of Madrid's major train stations, visit a travel agent, go to the RENFE office on Alcalá 44 across from the Círculo de Bellas Artes, or call the RENFE number-they will transfer you to an English-speaking representative who can guide you through the procedure. If you use the phone to reserve a ticket, RENFE will hold your ticket for the next 72 hours, providing you go buy your ticket at least one day before departure-otherwise your reservation will be canceled. You can get the ticket from an automated machine at the station, if you pay with credit card, or at the service counter-you will have to take a number and stand in line.

The best option however, is the RENFE Web site (www.renfe.es), which has an English-language section. Click on TIKNET, RENFE's online ticket sales service. You can buy regional destination tickets up to 15 days before departure, but long-distance and the fast-speed train tickets can be bought up to two months in advance.

Bus

Madrid has no central bus station; buses are generally less popular than trains (though they can be faster). Most of southern and eastern Spain (including Toledo) is served by the Estación del Sur. From the Estación de Avenida de América two companies, Continental Auto and Alsa (which also has buses departing from the south station), serve mostly the north and the east, respectively. Alsa, for instance, runs two buses to Barcelona daily from Estación del Sur, and almost 20 from Avenida de América. Buses for much of the rest of the peninsula, including Cuenca, Extremadura, Salamanca, and Valencia, depart from the Auto Res station.

Estación de Avenida de América and Estación del Sur have subway stops (Avenida de América and Méndez Álvaro) that leave you right at the station. The Auto Res station is within a two-minute walk of the closer subway stop. If you intend to go to Segovia, take the subway to the Príncipe Pío stop, get the Paseo de la Florida exit and walk on the left-hand side of the street until you get to La Sepulvedana. There are several smaller stations, however, so inquire at travel agencies for the one serving your destination.

The La Sepulvedana bus company serves Segovia, Ávila (the Larrea bus company, with buses that depart from the Estación del Sur, also serves this destination), and La Granja. Herranz goes to El Escorial (it leaves from the Intercambiador de Moncloa; that is, the Moncloa bus station) and from there to the Valle de los Caídos. La Veloz has service to Chinchón, and Aisa goes to Aranjuez and from there to Chinchón.

Once in Madrid, there are four main ways to get around the city: subway (metro), bus (autobuses), taxi (taxis), and suburban train (cercanías). You'll be pleasantly surprised to find that nearly everywhere in the proper centro can we reached in less than 45 minutes on foot. Taxis are ubiquitous and relatively inexpensive, but there's little reason to hop in a cab with such an efficient public transport system at your disposal. You'll most likely resort to taxis between 2am and 6am, when the metro is closed and you can't stomach the thought of trekking to the nearest night bus stop.

The subway and city buses operate under the same fare and ticket system. Most travelers prefer the metro, which is faster and more reliable. Buses, on the other hand, reach more points in the city. Cercanías trains run on a different ticket and fare system; you'll depend on them if you need to get to the afueras, or outer parts of Madrid.

Metro

The underground (Metro) is fastest, most efficient and most affordable way to move around in Madrid. The city has a vast metropolitan network, one of the most comprehensive in Europe, and covers almost all the points in the capital and many of the neighbouring cities.

Currently, there are twelve metro lines, three metro ligero (tramway) lines and the branch line connecting Ópera to Principe Pío. Out of all these, line 8 (Nuevos Ministerios - Airport T4) is particularly noteworthy. This modern line connects the capital to Barajas international airport, arriving in T4 in less than 20 minutes and in only 12 minutes to the rest of terminals, and to Madrid's Trade Fair grounds (Ifema). Also notable are the lines connecting the city to the new urban developments, such as line 11 to the PAU (Urban Development Plan) in Carabanchel and metro ligero line 1 to Sanchinarro and Las Tablas.

A single ticket costs 1 euro and a ten journey ticket (called metrobús), which can also be used on buses, costs 9 euros (updated jan 2010). It's free for children under 4 years old. Note that the ticket to/from the airport needs a supplement of 1 euro.

You may check the complete and up to date Metro fares here

City bus

Madrid has an extensive city bus network, run by the company Empresa Municipal de Transporte (EMT), which covers practically the whole city. Certain areas are not served by the Metro, although the buses do go there. In the main streets there are bus lanes, though we should bear in mind that in moments of heavy traffic the buses can also be affected by the traffic jams, which means they can be slower than the Metro.

Most lines operate everyday between 6 am and 11.30 pm, with buses leaving at intervals between 4 and 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. The buses are less frequent during weekends. There is also a bus line (200) connecting every day the Barajas Airport with Avenida de América (T1, T2 and T3) and another one, the 204, connecting Avenida de América with the T4, at the same price as a single bus ticket (1 %u20AC). On the other hand, the Line 201 links Barajas to the T4 and the Line 101 connects Canillejas to T1, T2 and T3.

There are also night buses, known as "búhos" (owls), which run along twenty different routes, although all of them go through Plaza de la Cibeles. The cost is the same as for the day buses, though they are less frequent. From Sunday to Thursday and on public holidays, the night buses ("búhos") leave their starting point every 35 minutes, from 11.55 pm to 4 am. Then there is another bus at 5:10 am. On Fridays, Saturdays and the night before public holidays, the "búhos" start out from Cibeles every 15 to 20 minutes, between 11:45 pm and 5:30 am.

Suburban trains (Cercanías)

The 'Cercanías' suburban trains are cheap and fast, so they are one of the best options for getting to towns near the capital. In fact, they are ideal for making excursions to the environs, to the Guadarrama mountains and nearby towns such as Aranjuez or El Escorial. It is also possible to take 'Cercanías' trains within the city between the various stations. For example, the line between Chamartín and Atocha connects these two stations much faster than the Metro.

The 'Cercanías' trains start running every day between 5am and 6am and stop at around midnight. Trains normally run every 10 to 30 minutes. The price varies according to the distance covered. There is the possibility of buying a single ticket or a bonotren, which includes ten trips

Taxi

Taxis in Madrid are white with a diagonal red band on their front door bearing the emblem of the city. They have a green light that is on when they are free. To hail a taxi all you only need to do is to raise your hand.

There are also several taxi ranks around the city, indicated by a blue sign with a white letter 'T'. At railway and bus stations and at the airport taxis must be taken from the corresponding ranks. Throughout the rest of the city they can easily be stopped in the street.

There are more than 15,600 taxis in Madrid, so it is not usually difficult to find one available in the city's main thoroughfares. Journeys are usually paid for in cash, though more and more taxis accept credit cards.

Tourist travel pass

The Tourist Travel Pass is the most economical and practical way to get to know Madrid. It can be used on all public transport in the Region as many times as necessary within the valid dates. There are five passes valid for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days.

The card can be purchased at all stations in the Metro network, at the Centro de Atención al Viajero (Passenger Assistance Centre) at both airport stations (line 8), at Tourist Offices, Offices of the Regional Transport Consortium, tourist attractions and over the interne; it's also on sale at some tobacconists and newspaper stands. Children under 11 years old get a 50 per cent discount.

Users can choose between two areas: A, comprising the services of Metro, EMT de Madrid (buses) and Cercanías-Renfe (local train system); and T, which includes the aforementioned services plus the intercity buses in the Region of Madrid and the towns of Guadalajara and Toledo, Metro Sur, TFM (Puerta de Arganda- Arganda del Rey), Metro Ligero (light rail train) ML2 and ML3, and Parla's tramway.

Fares table:

1 day 2 days 3 days 5 days 7 days

A Area 5.20 8.80 11.60 17.60 23.60

T Area 10.40 17.60 23.20 35.20 47.20

You just cannot leave Madrid without having visited all of them...

Puerta de Sol

This busy crossroads is Madrid's main meeting place and crowds always loiter around the statue of the bear and the madroño ("strawberry tree") at the bottom of C/Carmen. It is also officially the geographical official heart of Madrid and therefore Spain; it holds the kilómetro cero (a plaque on the pavement outside the Casa de Correus, under the clock): the point from which all distances from the city are measured. Here thousands of revelers gather at midnight on New Year's Eve to eat their grapes, one for each chime of the clock, and drink champagne. The Puerta del Sol is also where Napoleon's Egyptian cavalry charged locals on 2 May 1808, as depicted in one of Goya's most famous paintings, El Dos de Mayo. Metro: Sol

Plaza Mayor

Madrid's most famous and picturesque square, the Plaza Mayor (main square) is the focus of major city festivities, such as the Veranos de Villa and San Isidro festivals. At Christmas, a traditional fair bustles and every Sunday morning there's a coin and stamp market. It's packed with pavement cafes and all manner of street entertainers ply their trade to the terraces after dark. The square started life in the 15th century as a farmer's market, then outside the city walls. In the 1560s, when Madrid became the capital, master architect Juan de Herrera drew up plans for the plaza's renovation, though only the Casa de Panadería dates from this period (the gaudy murals were added in the 1990s). The central statue is of Philip III on horseback and was moved here in the 19th century from the Casa del Campo. Metro: Sol

Palacio Real

At the place of today's Palacio Real (Royal Palace) was originally an Arab castle, which was temporarily inhabited by the Spanish kings since the 11th century. When the Habsburg monarch Philip II declared Madrid the new Spanish capital in 1561, the Alcázar became the seat of the government and was therefore substantially enlarged by Juan Bautista de Toledo and later by Juan de Herrera and Francisco de Mora. Soon after coming to power, the Bourbons began to build the Royal Palace on the ruins of the Alcázar-Palacio, which was destroyed in a fire on Christmas Day, 1734. It took the new kings some seventeen years, from 1738 to 1755, to complete the palace in the late Baroque style with façades of granite and limestone. Initially, the Italian architect Filippo Juvara (1678-1736) was charged with the mission to plan the new palace. After his sudden death, his collaborator Giovanni Battista Sacchetti (1700-1764) took over and carried it out, under Charles III. Sacchetti simplified the palace's design to a square and executed the façades after the sketches for the Louvre in Paris by Lorenzo Bernini. Sachetti built the grand stairway in the Imperial style and added the palace wing on Calle Bailén. The Palacio Real used to be the residence of Charles III, Charles IV, Ferdinand VII, Isabel II, Alfonso XII and Alfonso XIII. Since 1950 the palace is partially open to the public because the Spanish king, Juan Carlos I, resides at La Zarzuela. The Palacio Real is used for official receptions and ceremonies today. The Royal Palace houses works by Gian Battista Tiepolo and his son Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Matías Gasparini Saleta de Gasparini, Anton Raphael Mengs, Corrado Giaquinto, Mariano Salvador Maella, etc. Since 1962, in the north-western wing of Palacio Real, in the former private rooms of Isabel de Bourbon, you can find the Nuevos Museos with works by Goya, El Greco, Velázquez, Hieronymus Bosch, Roger van der Weyden, Caravaggio and others. In the Museo de Tapices, in the former private rooms of Charles IV and his wife Maria Luisa in the east-wing, the royal collection of French, Flemish and Spanish gobelins awaits the visitor. The Royal library on the ground floor has a collection of some 300,000 books, 4000 manuscripts, 2000 graphics, 3500 maps, 3000 notes of sheet music as well as coins and Stradivari violins. The Real Armería with its weapons and the Real Oficina de Farmacia with its chemist tools of the 17th to the 19th centuries are some of the other attractions of the Royal Palace.

Campo del Moro

This hidden gem of a park, named after a medieval Muslim chief who camped there in 1109, is located directly below the Palacio Real. Formerly used for jousting tournaments, it's now a peaceful area of statues, flowers, lawns and woodlands where you can wander and relax. Just great. Metro: Ópera

Catedral de la Almudena

Plans for the construction of a new cathedral for Madrid dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena began in the 16th century, but the slow construction did not begin until 1879. Francisco de Cubas, the Marquis of Cubas, was the architect who designed and directed the construction in a Gothic revival style. Construction ceased completely during the Spanish Civil War. The project was abandoned until 1950, when Fernando Chueca Goitia adapted the plans of de Cubas to a neoclassical style exterior to match the grey and white façade of the Palacio Real, which stands directly opposite. and was not completed until 1993, when the cathedral was consecrated by Pope John Paul II. On May 22, 2004, the marriage of Felipe, Prince of Asturias to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (who was thereafter known as Letizia, Princess of Asturias) took place at the cathedral. The Neo-Gothic interior is uniquely modern, with chapels and statues of contemporary artists, in heretogeneous styles, from historical revivals to "pop-art" decor. The Neo-Romanesque crypt houses a 16th century image of the Virgen de la Almudena. Further along, the Calle Mayor is the site of excavations which have unearthed remains of Moorish and medieval city walls. Metro: Ópera

Puerta de Alcalá

The granite Puerta de Alcalá was designed and built from 1764-78 under the direction of Francisco Sabatini with the collaboration of Roberto Michel and Francisco Gutiérrez, who carried out the arch's Baroque limestone sculptures. The columns and capitals were built after the model of the gate that Michelangelo designed for the Capitol in Rome. The symbol of the era of Charles III, the Neo-Classical Puerta de Alcalá, was the gate through which European travelers reached Spain's capital. Today, the structure is one Madrid's most emblematic monuments.
Metro: Retiro

Plaza de la Cibeles

The Plaza de la Cibeles is named after the Greek goddess of fertility and love, Cybele. She is the mother of Jupiter, the king of the gods. Cybele is seated in a chariot drawn by two lions, in the middle of the monumental fountain which dominates the square. Fuente de Cibeles was built by Francisco Gutiérrez and Robert Michel in 1782 after a plan by the architect Ventura Rodríguez. Initially, the fountain situated at the beginning of Paseo de Recoletos was viewing in the direction of Paseo del Prado. In the early 20th century, it was moved by 90 degrees in the direction of Puerta de Sol. Whenever the Real Madrid soccer club wins a title, its supporters and players gather at Fuente de Cibeles to celebrate. Metro: Banco de España

Parque del Retiro

The most central and popular park in Madrid, Retiro Park is a delightful mix of formal gardens and wide-open spaces. Inaugurated as a royal retreat in 1632, the grounds suffered damage during the Napoleonic invasion in the early 1800s and later became public property. Today, the park includes 330 acres/135 hectares of gardens, trees, monuments and fountains. Jog or stroll through the park or row a boat across the lake. Some small stands and cafes sell drinks and sandwiches. On summer evenings, free films are shown in the area known as La Chopera. On Sunday morning, the entertainment includes street artists, musicians, fortune-tellers and puppet shows. The city council organizes ferias (fairs) in the park: The biggest is Feria del Libro, or Book Fair, in early June. Art exhibits are staged in the beautiful Palacio de Velazquez and Palacio de Cristal, both within the park
One of the more popular parks with Madrid residents because of its outdoor offerings and tranquil beauty. Take a rowboat on the pond and later stroll amid the calm, natural surroundings. Biking, chess matches or pickup games of bocciball are common occurrences. Metro: Retiro

Plaza de las Ventas

This bullring was designed by an architect called Espeliú. Its style is Neo-Mudéjar (Moorish) with pottery incrustations. The seats are situated in 10 "tendidos". The price of the seats depends upon how close they are to the "arena" and whether they are in the sun or the shade (the latter being more expensive). The bullfighting season starts in March and ends in December; bullfights are held every day during the San Isidro Fiesta, and every Sunday or holiday during the season. Bullfights start at 6 or 7pm and last for two to three hours. Metro: Las Ventas

El Rastro

The most popular of Madrid's flea markets, El Rastro is five centuries old and comparable to Portobello in London. It's a delight for shoppers, but watch out for pickpockets. You'll find everything from paintings, birds and antiques to secondhand furniture, clothes, wicker, music, books and crafts. Most selling takes place on Sunday and holiday mornings, but there are many offerings on Saturday as well, and the place is not as crowded then. You can bargain at El Rastro, but don't expect huge savings. When you tire, seek out one of the famed tapas bars in the area. The market extends across a few streets in the southwestern sector of El Centro, in a triangle formed by the Basilica de San Isidro, Puerta de Toledo and Glorieta de Embajadores. Avoid the rush by getting there at 9 am when it starts. Metro: Tirso de Molina / La Latina

It would be hard to find another city with more inaugurations and expansions of museums. Madrid's 70 museums include three jewels:

Museo del Prado

Madrid's most famous museum is the Prado. It opened in 1818 and contains the world's best collection of Spanish painting of the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries with works by Francisco de Goya, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, José Ribera, Diego Velázquez, Francisco de Zurbarán and others. The Prado is a museum where one can understand the influence of the painting of Spain's Siglo de Oro (Golden Age, the 17th century) on the great European artists of the times such as Pieter Paul Rubens (influenced by Velázquez). Other Flemish artists on display are Hieronymus Bosch, Van Dyck, Van Eyck and Van der Weyden. Dutch art, which strove hard to distinguish itself from the Flemish style in the 16th century, is also represented with works of art, e.g. by Rembrandt. Metro: Banco de España

Museo Thyssen

The Prado however lacked representative masterworks of the 19th century. This void was filled with the arrival of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection in 1992. Two years later, the Spanish government bought the collection from Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, who died in 2002. Previously on display in the Baron's Villa Favorita in Lugano, Switzerland, the collection presents over 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries form the Middle Ages to the present. The museum is located in the Villahermosa Palace, a noble palace built in the first half of the 19th century and situated at Paseo del Prado, not far from the Prado Museum. Metro: Banco de España

Museo Reina Sofía

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) also inaugurated its permanent collection in 1992. However, its activity as a center of temporary exhibitions began six years earlier. The Reina Sofía Art Centre, situated in the former Hospital General de San Carlos, is devoted to contemporary art. It holds of course an important collection of 20th century Spanish artists including Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró (article in German), Juan Gris, Antoni Tàpies and others. Foreign artists are of course also represented. In the hall dedicated to Surrealism, you can find works by Dalí, Óscar Domínguez, Max Ernst (article in German), René Magritte and Man Ray. The museum's most famous exhibit is Pablo Picasso's anti-war painting Guernica, which formerly was on display at Casón del Buen Retiro. Metro: Atocha

If you're get the itch to escape the big city for a day or two, the region around Madrid holds a handful of lovely destinations just waiting to be discovered.

Many of Spain's most emblematic sights are just a short bus, train or car ride away. Marvel at Segovia's Roman aqueduct, Toledo's medieval cathedral or the immense El Escorial palace if history's your thing.

El Escorial

Construction on El Escorial began just one year after Phillip II moved his court to Madrid, in 1562. The vast complex served as palace, monastery, library and mausoleum, from which Phillip II and his successors ruled the ever-expanding Spanish Empire during the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries.

El Escorial's architecture reflects Phillip II's austere religiosity and the Renaissance fashion of the times. It is a long, rectilinear structure with little-to-no exterior adornment. The principal architects, Juan de Herrera and Juan de Bautista de Toledo, bestowed it grey slate turrets that would come to define Hapsburg-era architecture in Madrid.

El Escorial is divided into many interesting sections: library, palace/residence, basilica, battle hall, royal pantheon, gardens, reliquary... though if you're interested in artwork, the Prado Museum now holds most of El Escorial's former gems. For example, Bosch's masterpiece, "The Garden of Earthly Delights," used to hang in Phillip's bedroom.

El Escorial is located about 45 km (28 miles) northeast of Madrid. By car, take Autovia 1 (A-V1) to M-600.

Train: Take Cercanías line C-8 from the Atocha train station approx. 1 hour to the El Escorial stop.

Bus: With the company "Autocares Herranz," # 664 or 661 from the "Intercambiador de Moncloa"

read more about El Escorial in the Wikipedia

Valle de los Caídos

El Valle de los Caídos draws thousands of tourists yearly despite its controversial character.

Francisco Franco, Spain's dictator from 1939-1975, conceived "The Valley of the Fallen" to honor casualties of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Franco claimed to have conceived the monument in remembrance of both sides -- the Republicans (a mix of communists, anarchists and others who supported democracy) & the General's own fascist party. The fact that Republican POW's built the Valley under gruesome circumstances, however, along with the complex's undeniably fascist style, makes it difficult to believe the dictator's bipartisan claims. Furthermore, even though Franco did not specify that he wanted to be buried at El Valle de los Caídos, there he lies nonetheless next to José Antonio Primo de Rivera, the founder of Spain's fascist party, the Falange.

The monument consists of 2 main attractions: a large Basilica carved into the face of the mountain and a ginormous granite cross perched atop which you can reach by funicular. Enter the Basilica and you'll find yourself surrounded by stark religious and nationalistic sculptures alongside engravings like "Fallen for God and for Spain." Continue to the main altar to see Franco and José Antonio's tombstones.

The easiest way to get to El Valle de los Caídos is visit El Escorial first, then take bus 660 (Autocares Herranz) from Plaza de la Virgen de Gracia. From the town of San Lorenzo del Escorial in car, take M-600 to "El Valle de los Caídos."

read more about Valle de los Caídos in the Wikipedia

Toledo

The city of Toledo, Spain is a treasure trove of architectural, artistic and artisanal attractions best explored in a full day or overnight trip. Protected in its entirety as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, just amble along the winding streets of the historic quarter and you'll see why Toledo enchanted the rulers of all Spain's great civilizations.

Though increasingly swamped by and catered to tourists who want to see the legendary "City of Three Cultures," Toledo remains well worth the visit. Everything of interest is located in the historic quarter, radiating out from the centric, soaring gothic cathedral. The narrow old streets can be confusing; however the core of the city is so small that you should quickly get your bearings.

Toledo is about 70 km (43 miles) south of Madrid. The quickest way to get there is by high speed train from the Atocha train station. If you have a car, get on A-42 towards Ciudad Real; take exit 69 to TO-20 towards Toledo; exit 1 to N-403A will take you to the center of town.

Train: Take an AVANT train to Toledo from Madrid's Estación de Atocha. 30 minutes each way. 8.30%u20AC per way. 1 train leaves every hour starting at 6:50am.

Bus: Continental Auto serves buses between Madrid and Toledo from the Estación Sur de Autobuses (metro Méndez Álvaro). They run on the half hour from 6am to 11:30pm. 1 hour, 15 minutes each way.

read more about Toledo in the Wikipedia

Segovia

Segovia is a fantastic destination for a day or overnight trip from Madrid. It's jam-packed with historical attractions - all of which you can discover on foot - and restaurants offering the famous regional "cochinillo" (suckling pig), among other Castilian delicacies.

Most impressive of all Segovian sights is the Roman aqueduct (circa 50 A.D.) which stretches over 800 meters (about 1/2 mile) long. This two-tiered structure of 168 granite arches seems even more remarkable when you consider that no mortar at all was used to hold the blocks together.

Climb the hill behind the aqueduct and enter the old town's maze of streets to find Segovia's huge cathedral just off the Plaza Mayor. This massive structure is a feat in determination: construction started in 1525 and lasted 200 years, wholeheartedly dedicated to creating a gothic enormity a few centuries past the fashion.

From the cathedral it's a short walk to the Alcázar. If the turrets and towers seem strangely familiar, it might be because Disneyland purportedly modeled its Rapunzel castle after this one. Be aware that the building is actually a reconstruction; the original burned to the ground in 1862. Nevertheless, you can easily see why the Moors first chose to build a fortress here. Perched atop a rock between two rivers, this medieval castle is nothing if not fanciful.

read more about Segovia in the Wikipedia

In the world of fútbol, Real Madrid CF is Spain's counterpart to the New York Yankees, with a history dating back to March, 1902, when it was founded.

Over the last century, Real Madrid has won 31 Spanish League championships and nine European Cup/Champions League trophies, and it boasts of being the only club to hold a permanent European Cup trophy after winning the cup five consecutive times.

Sportswriters have called Real Madrid "the best football team in the world," and whether or one accepts that judgment, it's hard not to be impressed by the club's statistics--and by the chance to visit its 80,000-seat Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, which is open for self-guided tours year-round. Your ticket includes a visit to the club's museum of photos, trophies, and other club memorabilia.

When to visit: Bernabéu's opening hours vary with the season--usually 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturday or 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Some parts of the stadium are off-limits on match days, so we'd suggest visiting on a day when no play is scheduled.

Where to go: The stadium is on the Paseo de la Castellana, north of Madrid's historic center. It's easy to reach by Metro Line 10 (Santiago Bernabéu station), by public bus, or on the "Modern Madrid" route of the MadridVision sightseeing buses.

What you'll pay: EUR 15 for adults and EUR 10 for children, but if you have the Madrid Card or Madrid Card Cultura, your ticket should be free.

For more information and even buying tickets online visit Real Madrid's English-language Stadium Tour page.

Hotels in Madrid

I would like to help, but living in Madrid I have no real experience with hotels in the city. Anyway, as a frequent traveller I sincerely recommend you to read the Trip Advisor's Madrid Hotel's Review.

Interesting: check the Show TripAdvisor Top Values first option to get the top price-value ones.

Visiting Madrid for families or groups: Renting

When travelling with the family or with a bunch of friends, renting an apartment can be a very interesting alternative to a hotel, both in terms of cost and comfort.

Some sites you may visit while looking for short term rental apartments in Madrid:

apartments2book

MadridApart

Homes For Travellers

rent4days

Madrid has a really pleasant climate for tourism. Madrid weather is dry with an average rainfall of 35mm a month, which is about 1.5 inch. The winters can get really cold in the city although it is not a bad time to visit; most days there still is a blue sky and a little sunshine.

During June, July and August the temperature can reach tropical heights. Especially August is the month when most Madrileños leave the capital to find quiet suburban areas with swimming pools. Temperatures around and above 35 ºC are common in August. These temperatures might sound like an unpleasant climate to visit a big city, but due to the lack of humidity in the air it doesn't feels as hot as it is.

If you are coming for sight seeing, May and September are the ideal months to visit. The average temperature is around 23 ºC and most days are completely dry. Plan your arrival month according to the purpose of your visit.

check the weather today in Madrid