Spain's bright capital
On a holiday to Madrid City you can be part of one of the most cosmopolitan places in Europe, experience some of the finest Spanish cuisine and see some of the finest sights. Influenced by many different cultures over the years, including French and Roman, Spain's capital city is a diverse and exciting place.
An added bonus of this city is that it does away with much of the hustle and bustle that other urban areas are built around. You're welcome to relax, even in the city centre. As the third largest city in the European Union, it's home to some of the world’s most famous works of art and architecture, including the baroque Royal Palace and Armory and the Museo del Prado. You can even take rooftop-walking tours on many of Spain’s most famous buildings. Get ready to open your eyes and take in the culture.
Madrid gets really hot in summer and rather cold in winter (although with plenty of blue-sky days). For mild temperatures, consider spring and autumn.
Madrid is a big city with plenty to see. Luckily there's an excellent Metro system that will get everywhere you want to go.
Madrid's cuisine is quite heavy and generally based around potatoes and meat. Try cocido Madrileño slow-cooked stew and a bocadillo de calamares fried squid sandwich.
Start off in Plaza Mayor
This famous square is the heart of Madrid’s historical district. Originally a bustling 15th century marketplace, today it's the headquarters of Madrid’s tourism centre.
See El Oso y el Madroño
Madrid's iconic statue 'the Bear and the Strawberry Tree' is the city's meeting place and a photo hotspot.
Browse at El Rastro
Every Sunday, it seems as though all of Madrid comes to one place. This giant flea market sells almost everything that you could imagine.