According to Paulo Coelho, “a city is like a capricious woman: she takes time to be seduced and to reveal herself completely,” which is an apt springboard of thought for Spain’s capital city – and magnificent matriarch - Madrid. As far as European cities go – Madrid arguably has it all. Cosmopolitan, cultured and swimming in a sea of history unaltered by the tides of time, Madrid is a myriad of ... Read Full Article
A Visit to Lavapies, Madrid’s Most Diverse and Revolutionary Neighbourhood
While the rest of her country huddled around television sets to watch their national football team become the most successful of all time, Montserrat was sitting in a dark room in Madrid, with a 53-year old ex-Flamenco dancer, smoking hash. “Damn football,” she said. “It’s just another way to make us forget how screwed up our country is.”I met Montse last year in Colombia, where we were ... Read Full Article
A Weekend in Madrid
While there is so much to see and do in Spain's dynamic capital city of Madrid, lets get focused on just a few suggestions for spending a relaxing, sunny weekend in this city of 3.3 million people (6.5 mil. metro Madrid.) Parque del Buen RetiroMadrid, with one of the best urban park systems in Europe, takes great pride in its largest park, Parque del Buen Retiro, which spans 350 acres of ... Read Full Article
Where to Stay in Madrid: Editor’s Picks
Madrid, the capital of and largest city in Spain, offers travelers a myriad of hotel options when choosing where to stay. Organized by star rankings, our hotel recommendations are handpicked from five-star hotels to budget hotels and B&Bs. We chose hotels that are close to the most important sights and have given special attention to hotels offering modern amenities, such as high speed WiFi. ... Read Full Article
Real Madrid Stadium and Tour
Real Madrid is arguably the most famous football club in the world. With nine European Cups and thirty-one domestic championships, the club is among the most decorated in Europe. At its 85,000-seat ground, the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid have an entire museum devoted to the awards, trophies and heroes of the club.Given the dramatic history associated with the club, particularly from ... Read Full Article
Getting Around Madrid on the Cheap
Though wandering around the streets of Madrid is a great way to see the city, be sure to take advantage of the fantastic public transportation system in the capital.Getting to Madrid From the Airport Madrid Barajas International Airport connects to the city by Metro line 8 and by Cercanias commuter train line C-1. The fastest, and least expensive way, to access the city center from the ... Read Full Article
Munching Your Way Through Madrid’s Vibrant Food Scene
Any trip to Madrid could quickly become food-centric, as one visits Madrid's vibrant food scene at the markets, taverns, restaurants, and bars; sampling the best that Spain’s capital city has to offer.One might as well begin with the Mercado de San Miguel , the city’s main market, located near the Plaza Mayor. Declared a Spanish Property of Cultural Interest, the market is frequented by ... Read Full Article
Dormirdcine: a Cinematic Hotel in Madrid’s Salamanca District
Newly opened in June 2010, Dormirdcine is a unique, designer boutique hotel that doesn't come with a designer price. Considering its location in the posh area of Salamanca, Madrid as well as the unique room décor and the overall cool ambiance, rates are very reasonable - starting as low as 79 euro a night. The hotel is an easy five minute walk from the Diego de Leon metro stop, which links the ... Read Full Article
The Thyssen Bornemisza and Reina Sofia Museums in Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art
Earlier, I wrote about the Prado Museum in Madrid's Golden Triangle of Art. The Thyssen Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia Museums complete the triangle. Thyssen Bornemisza Museum Across the Paseo del Prado from the Prado Museum, a short walk past colorful flower beds takes you to the Thyssen Bornemisza, a museum that opened in 1992 in a former palace. The spacious, light-filled galleries hold ... Read Full Article
A Tapas Tour of Northern Spain
Tapas. Pinxtos. Or less formally, little bites of Spanish goodness. There are plenty of reasons to go to Spain; tapas just happen to be the tastiest. In northern Spain, typical tapas styles and the dishes that represent them can vary widely, as can the protocol for ordering and eating them in different regions. Here’s a primer on enjoying these small bites in three northern ... Read Full Article