Planning a trip to Madrid? Discover six ways to enhance your visit, from finding treasures at El Rastro flea market to navigating the city’s incredible art museums and tapas scene.
The capital of Spain is an unmistakably exciting city to hang out in. But these six tips should make your visit even better.
Why visit Madrid?
The Spanish capital presents an odd mix of grand Habsburg architecture, top drawer cultural institutions and free-wheeling fun. Grand people-watching parks combine with football fanaticism and swankily fashionable districts like well-heeled Salamanca. But Madrid comes into its element when the sun goes down, as people hop between thousands of tiny bars, all of which have their own distinct personality.
Throw yourself into Madrid’s art museums
Madrid’s trio of world class art museums – The Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia – make a rough triangle in the city centre. The Prado is heaviest on old masters, with plenty of Goya and Velázquez works, while the Reina Sofia has a strong Dali collection and Picasso’s masterpiece Guernica.
Eat at the world’s oldest restaurant
Guinness World Records reckons El Botín is the oldest restaurant in the world – and it has been serving up traditional hearty dishes such as juicy suckling pig since 1725. It’s touristy, but for a good reason, and the walls covered in rather pretty tile paintings make for an atmospheric backdrop.
Find treasures at El Rastro
The Rastro flea market, which sets out along the Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores between 9am and 3pm every Sunday and public holiday, is a sprawling shambles. But that’s a large part of the appeal. Only a fraction of the 3,000-odd stalls might have anything worth selling, but it’s hunting the treasures amongst the tat that makes the experience.
Go tapas hopping
Madrid has a decent hand of daytime attractions, but it is overwhelmingly a nighttime city. Hopping between tapas bars is the absolute best way of exploring the city, especially around the Chueca district or down Calle de Cava Baja. For informed assistance in such noble quests, Devour Madrid Food Tours runs a €99, four hour evening Tapas, Taverns and History tour that grazes at several of the tastiest tapas joints.
Pick the right hotel
There are a lot of hip hotels in Madrid, and the Room Mate Óscar is one of the more affordable examples. There’s a fine rooftop terrace with a small pool, while the rooms themselves have beautifully curvy furniture, lots of backlighting and plenty of design chops.
Make use of the Metro
There are plenty of half day tours that end up taking you things that are easier to reach by public transport and do independently. Those going to Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium are classic examples. Just hop on the Metro rather than sitting on the tour bus, then show your prebooked ticket.
Madrid hotel recommendations
I’ve inspected a lot of hotels in Madrid, and these are three of my favourites.
- Hotel Urban:: Bold design elements from all over the world, make for a swaggering, fun vibe. The rooftop pool is a bonus.
- Room Mate Oscar: Also lots of fun, also with daring design and a rooftop pool. But considerably cheaper (well, usually).
- Villa Real: Embracing heritage, this classy five star is part archaeological museum – it has pieced together more than 100 mosaics from around the Mediterranean.
