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| Madrid, Spain |
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Visit Madrid for Excitement, Culture and Entertainment
Madrid is an exciting, vibrant vacation destination with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Everything about Madrid is thrilling, from the unique and flavorful cuisine to the cultural attractions, nightclubs and diverse entertainment options. Families with children of all ages, couples looking for romance and daring individuals traveling alone will all enjoy fascinating attractions and fun excursions in Madrid. If you are bored in Madrid, perhaps you failed to get off the plane!
Hotels in Madrid
There are many choices for accommodations in Madrid, and budget, mid-range and luxury hotels are all available. One way to choose your hotel is to consider how you wish to spend your time. The Gran Via is a popular street that features many hotels tourists will find conveniently located in the center of Madrid. From here, you can enjoy easy access to Madrid's shops, Tapas Bars, restaurants and theaters, but it can be a rather boisterous place to stay for those traveling with children. The beautiful Tryp Hotel Gran Via Madrid is a terrific option for modern accommodations with full amenities.
A somewhat quieter option for convenient hotel accommodations is the Paseo del Prado area of Madrid. You will be close to the famous Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum, the Astral Observatory and several other major attractions. Hotel Mora is a beautifully furnished, modern hotel that overlooks the Royal Botanical Garden and is within easy access of Madrid's public transportation system. If you are seeking a central location with a lively nightlife, consider one of the many new hotels in the Las Huertas area near
Plaza Santa Ana.
Enjoying Tapas in Madrid
Your hotel in Madrid may feature its own restaurant and bar, but you will probably find you are too full to eat, aside from a light breakfast. One of the best attractions in Madrid is its Tapas Bars, and they are located everywhere throughout the city. As you explore Tapas Bars, you will come to love this unique type of meal that is enjoyed at bars during the late morning, evening and throughout the night.
Tapas are small servings of delicious foods featuring seafood, fish, smoked meats, cheese, fruits and vegetables. Practically every type of food is used in creating these delectable mini-meals that are meant to be sampled and are often shared. Tapas may consist of salads, olives, batter-dipped prawns or unique dishes with special sauces. Tapas are usually enjoyed with beer or wine, and it is common to order several tapas during a leisurely evening at a Tapas Bar.
Although you can enjoy tapas all over Madrid, a visit to well-known tapas neighborhoods and bars in the city is worthwhile. Cava Baja and La Latina are two Madrid streets where you can enjoy tapas with an extra special local flavor.
Madrid Attractions
Next to Tapas, Madrid is probably most famous for its museums. Madrid is rich in both art and culture, and there are 73 museums in the city. Whether you visit ten or only one of Madrid's museums, do not miss the Prado Museum on Paseo del Prado. The Prado is the largest art gallery in the world, and its exhibits feature sculptures, paintings, drawings and other art forms. Of the Prado's more than 8,600 paintings, only 2,000 are exhibited at any time due to lack of space.
An outdoor attraction you won't want to miss is El Rastro, the gigantic market on Ribera de Curtidores and its surrounding streets. This is a colorful, vibrant market that features seemingly endless stalls of CDs, books, clothes, accessories and more. Patient shoppers can enjoy some terrific values on a tremendous variety of items at El Rastro.
Madrid Nightlife
With so many museums and attractions to enjoy, you may opt to bypass the traditional Spanish siesta while visiting Madrid. Yet even a short nap in the afternoon can give you the boost you will need to carry you into Madrid's exciting nightlife.
If you're a night owl, you will love Madrid, as it is teeming with excitement at all hours of the night. You can eat tapas and enjoy beer or wine at a variety of taverns and bars in Madrid, go night clubbing or enjoy live flamenco, jazz, rock or pop concerts. Disco until dawn with a DJ or if you prefer, relax with a pint in an authentic Irish pub. There is no end to the possibilities for enjoying a night out in Madrid.
Transportation in Madrid
One of the nicest things about Madrid is how easy it is to take advantage of the public transportation system. The Metro is modern, fast, on time and affordable, and the bus and short-distance railway trains are also easy to access and use. Madrid's cable car is a unique form of transportation you may also find useful. Travel cards are easily available for Madrid's public transportation system. |
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