Curator’s statement
Madrid, the polished and sophisticated Spanish capital, is home to world-class hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, and some of the best art museums in Europe. Strolling through the ‘Golden Triangle of Art’ or relaxing in the lush Retiro Park feels a world away from the winding, historic alleys of La Latina or the grand shopping avenues of Salamanca. The city is elegant and full of charm, amazing food, and a rich history.
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Things to do in Madrid
Visit the Prado museum, one of the most important museums in Europe. Make sure that you allocate enough time to see the special exhibits. They often have incredible rotating pieces (most recently, they had works from Caravaggio and El Greco). Highly recommend getting your tickets in advance, which will allow you to skip the (often long!) lines and go right inside. You can also buy combination tickets with the other museums in Madrid. Reina Sofia is a favorite. Or there are free visiting hours (usually two hours before closing).
After a visit to the Prado, stroll through Retiro Park and see the incredible Palacio de Cristal and watch the boats on the lake. After you've gotten your fill of nature, wander north to Salamanca and grab lunch at El Paraguas and do a little shopping on Calle de Serrano.
Madrid is filled with history and is a great city for a walking tour that will take you through Plaza Mayor, La Latina neighborhood, and by the Royal Palace. After a tour is a great time to visit the Royal Palace, the largest in Europe, and then visit Mercado San Miguel for a snack or glass of wine! Madrid is a city filled with incredible food — there are fine-dining restaurants. Try two-starred Deessa or an unusual meal at two-starred DStage or eat more traditionally at . Eat your way around the city - try tortillas, vermouth and churros!
Places to eat & drink in Madrid
Mercado San Miguel: The famous market with food stands, but get there early for a seat as it can get crowded.
DStage: This is a two-Michelin-starred restaurant. It's a gastronomic experience and features unusual preparations that may push you out of your comfort zone and surprise you.
Fismuler and Las Tortillas de Gabino: These are two restaurants run by former El Bulli chefs. They are both serving excellent food in a more relaxed atmosphere. Las Tortillas specializes in, you guessed it, tortillas, but has much more than just that.
Ten Con Ten: This is a Madrid institution that gets livelier as the night goes on with Spanish classics. The bar has a great scene, especially after 11 pm.
Casa Lucio: This is a Spanish classic near the La Latina neighborhood where you must try jamon iberico.
Need to know
Madrid is an easy direct flight from the US and a great stop to add to a Spanish or European itinerary. It's an easy city to navigate, even if you don't speak Spanish. It's clean, elegant, and full of nooks and hidden streets where you can find a great jamon sandwich, a tiny vermouth bar or a local boutique.
Travel Advisor
Melissa Zimm
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For more inspiration and travel recommendations, check out our Madrid page.