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Best known for its heritage of culture and art, Madrid is the largest city and capital of Spain. Get your student flight to this adorable city that boasts of a vibrant cosmopolitan life mingled with great religious and royal history. During the day, you can visit the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), El Prado Museum, grand Puerta del Sol, impressive Plaza Mayor and lively El Retiro in Madrid’s historic center. Enjoy pleasure boating in the lake and see the Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) or view the tropical plants in the indoor garden of Atocha Railway Station. You may want to see the works of Diego Velazquez, Francisco de Goya or Pablo Picasso in the Golden Museum Triangle. Later, enjoy its nightlife renowned for being the liveliest in the world. You have so many museums to visit, masterpieces to see, and plazas or parks to relax in while the sun is up. At night, you can savor Madrileño delicacies in the early evening, then go to a pub for drinks and dance until morning in popular clubs. Madrid becomes quite hot in summer and too cold and rainy in winter, so spring is the best time for you to visit and have a roaring time in this lively city.

Madrid Pictures

Things to do in Madrid

Aim to see the world’s greatest art and classical collections at the Museo del Prado, the Reina Sofia National and the Thysenn Bornemisza Museums then view the artistic collections, medieval weapons and armors in Palacio Real;stroll in Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol; see the palm garden inside Atocha Renfe; and take a boat ride on the lake of El Retiro Park. You can attend cultural events in the Circulo de Bellas Artes or visit Corral de la Moreria to enjoy a Spanish meal while watching renowned flamenco dancers. Round these off with witnessing bullfights and a round of the gay nightlife and your stay in Madrid will be an experience of a lifetime.

Nightlife in Madrid

Be sure to experience the Madrid nightlife in its popular pubs and clubs. But first, go with friends for an early Spanish dinner of tortilla de patatas, calamares, tapas, patatas bravas, jamon, or seafoods and attend cultural events. Then dance and drink at Plaza de Santa ana, La Latina, Tribunal, Gran Via, Chueca, Alonso Martinez, Torre Europa and Moncloa. The most cosmopolitan and posh places are in Chueca, Gran Via, and Torre Europa. End your night of dancing and drinking with a breakfast of delicious chocolate con churros (thick melted chocolate with fried sweet fritters).

Dining in Madrid

Madrid has a rich and distinctive culinary tradition and boasts its Callos a la Madrileña (spicy beef tripe), Cocido (chickpea and beef stew), Oreja de Cerdo (fried pig’s ear and garlic), and sopa de ajo (rich garlic soup) as well as other Spanish dishes such as Tortilla de patata (potato omellete) Patatas bravas (fried potatoes with sauce), and Paella Valenciana (rice-dish) to name a few. You must taste the pride of Spain, their Jamon Iberico and quality seafood and visit some of their famous restaurants such as the landmark La Casa del Abuelo; La Zapateria; the classy Casa Lucio; Estay, and la Trainera.

Shopping in Madrid

If you’re into shopping, Madrid has a lot to offer. You can easily step into the sol and Salamanca district with its department stores and classy designer shops. The chueca and Fuencarral Street area and the fuencarral market are also sites of the most avant-garde and coolest shopping places. You must also try El Rastro, Madrid’s largest flea market and the El Carte Ingles department.

Madrid travel tips

• Madrileños in larger hotels or tourism sites and younger people may know English, but a few common Spanish words and phrases should come in handy.
• Madrid is famous for its bullfights in Las Ventas held from March to October and on Sundays and public holidays and for flamenco dance and music.
• Madrileños usually take a siesta or break from the midday heat, so small stores are closed at this time.