Madrid

Real Madrid is a professional football club based at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. Real Madrid is considered one of the best football clubs in the world, and they have won an impressive number of titles, both in Spain and abroad. Santiago Bernabeu stadium was inaugurated in 1947 and has a capacity of more than 85,000 spectators. Three times the European Cup final has been held here.

Madrid is a city renowned all over the world for its excellent Flamenco performances, and the popular dance can be seen in several taverns and bars around the city. Enjoy a three course meal and after dinner, take in a magical show. Flamenco is not only a dance, but also the music to which the dance is performed. It originated in Andalusia and is known mostly for songs accompanied by guitar and complex techniques of foot stomping and hand clapping and the use of castanets. The best place to go for a breathtaking exhibit of Flamenco is "Corral de la Moreria".

El Rastro is said to be the largest flea market in Europe with some 3,500 stalls covering the winding streets of the oldest residential part of Madrid. Remember that the real finds are mostly located on one of the side streets and always keep a close eye on your belongings, as it is a popular area for pick-pockets.

Madrid’s three major art galleries are all within a short walk of each other, and together they make up a magnificent display illuminating the history of Western art. Each one of the galleries is so large, that the Paseo del Arte triple ticket may seem like an invitation to exhaustion. However, once you have visited one, you have the rest of the year to visit in the other two.

The Prado is deservedly one of the most famous museums in the world. Since the gallery first opened almost two hundred years ago, its collections have grown to include over 7000 paintings (although around 1500 are currently on display). The collection includes Spanish art from Velázquez and some dark works of Goya, as well as some works by a number of Flemish masters: Peter Paul Rubens, Pieter Bruegel and Anton Van Dyck.

The eclectic Thyssen-Bornemisza complements the Thyssen Prado and the Reina Sofia with works representing 17th-century Dutch painting, Impressionism, Russian Constructivism, and pop art, amongst other styles.

The third gallery in the trio is housed in an enormous former hospital. The building dates from the mid-18th century, and has since added striking glass and steel external lifts. The collection consists mainly of Spanish works from the 20th century—the most famous of which is without doubt Picasso’s ’Guernica.’

The biggest royal palace in Europe, the Palacio Real de Madrid, has a whopping surface of 135,000 m2 and 3418 rooms. Not only is the building itself a beautiful attraction but it also offers glorious gardens outside and beautiful frescoes, furniture and paintings inside. This magnificent creation dating from 1764 was built to replace the Alcázar castle that had burned down thirty years before. Visitors are given access to almost the entire palace, including the Armoury and Pharmacy.

Lágrimas Negras, located in Hotel Silken Puerta América, fuses high-cuisine with avant-garde design in a modern and sleek yet cosy atmosphere. They offer fantastic set-menu lunches, as well as a la carte dining and seasonal specialities, all of which can be paired with a selection from their award-winning wine list of over 800 vintages.

Delicious food is served at this establishment run by Oscar Velasco, apprentice to one of the giants of Catalonian cuisine, Santi Santamaria. His influence can be seen in dishes such as shrimp ravioli stuffed with ceps.

Restaurante Botín is a restaurant that really does live up to the epithet “classic.” With a history going back almost 300 years, this must surely be one of the world’s oldest working restaurant. The food is also classical Spanish: lamb steak and suckling-pig, for example.

Chef Pedro Roncero has joined forces with Ferrán Adrià, the legendary creator of Catalonia’s nouvelle cuisine, in order to teach the residents of Madrid to eat mousse, parmesan ice lollys, liquid tortilla, and other molecular delights.

"Mariscos" is Spanish for seafood, and it is absolutely essential to try it when you’re in Spain. Marisquería Ribeira do Miño is a great place to visit for some authentic Galician seafood. Specialities include Galician octopus and ham with Galician turnip. Pair your meal with some of Galicia's best wine: Albariño or Ribeiro.

This is a very cosy restaurant with a rustic and inviting interior. With meat imported from Cantabria, Galicia and Sanabria, as well as the freshest seafood from around the country, expertly prepared meals are artistically presented.

El Club Allard was initially a private club, and it wasn't until 2007 that it opened to the public. Two Michelin stars it has been awarded suggest that the culinary delights in this restaurant are nothing short of fantastic.

Taberna Gastromaquia serves authentic Spanish cuisine. It is located in an alley and could be a bit tricky to find, but it is definitely worth the effort once your palate gets hold of the delicious gourmet flavours.

Just a few steps away from Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel offers some of the city's best gourmet foods and delicacies, including wine, cheese, ham and cured meats, and is a great place to stop for afternoon tapas and a glass of wine.

Objetos de Arte Toledano is a fine boutique specialising in art, decorations and interesting and unique items of all types. Their selection ranges from decorative fans and ceramic to medieval weapons suits of armor.

El Rastro is said to be the largest flea market in Europe with some 3,500 stalls covering the winding streets of the oldest residential part of Madrid. Remember that the real finds are mostly located on one of the side streets and always keep a close eye on your belongings, as it is a popular area for pick-pockets.

Finish off your shopping trip at ABC Serrano in Salamanca, an eight-floor shopping centre with four floors devoted just to fashion. Here hot new designers such as Amaya Arzuaga rub shoulders with reliable brands like Zara. There are also cafés, restaurants and a gym.

Mercado de La Paz is Madrid’s most mouth-watering fresh produce market. The best-selling stalls are the ones with Serrano ham and amazing local cheese varieties, but there is plenty more to choose from.

LaVinia is the self-proclaimed 'biggest wine shop in Europe'. They are true connoisseurs of their craft and offer a bewildering selection of wines and distilled drinks from around Spain and the world.

Madrid’s airport, Barajas (MAD), lies a little over ten kilometres northeast of the city. The cheapest way to get to Madrid is by metro: line 8 goes to Nuevos Ministerios (the journey takes about 30 minutes). A taxi ride costs more at night and on Sundays, and takes about 30-60 minutes, depending on traffic. Numerous car rental companies are also available at the airport.

Madrid’s metro system consists of 16 lines that serve both the city and its suburbs. The metro is also the most efficient way of getting around, and runs from 6am to 2am daily. The EMT bus network is made up of about a hundred lines, including a useful “circle route” (the buses are marked with a C). Buses run from 6am to 11:30pm daily, with some night buses running later.

When taxis are available for hire, this is indicated by a “Libre” sign in the front windshield and a green light on the roof. Radio-Taxi Asociación Gremial +34 914 475 180 www.radiotaxigremial.com Radio-Taxi Independiente +34 914 051213 www.radiotaxiindependiente.com/rti/ Teletaxi +34 913 712131 www.tele-taxi.es

Most post offices are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 8:30pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30am to 1pm. The main post office on Plaza de Cibeles, stays open until 9:30am on weekdays and from 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.

All chemists’ have a list or a sign in the window with details of the pharmacies on duty each night, with the nearest one highlighted. There are two chemists’ that are open at all times: Farmacia Central Paseo de Santa Maria de la Cabeza 64, Madrid +34 914 730 672 Farmacia Lastra Calle del Conde de Peñalver 27, Madrid +34 914 024 272

Country code: +34 Area code: 91

220 volt (125 volt in some older buildings)