Travel Guides > Madrid, Spain

Madrid Travel

Spain's capital city of Madrid has long been considered one of Europe's treasures, though it was never quite mentioned in the same breath as places like London, Rome or Paris. However, that's beginning to change. This high-energy city now boasts a number of great museums, pretty parks that brighten the city, shiny new office buildings, and friendly locals that are eager to party with you until the wee hours of the morning.

One of the best things about Madrid is the number of castles and palaces that dot the city, welcoming visitors to come and explore. A must see is the Royal Palace (Palacio Real) with its 2,000 rooms full of antiques and artwork. Guests can visit a number of rooms, including the royal pharmacy and the Armory, full of old weaponry.

For culture seekers, the Prado has always been considered Madrid's finest attraction. Like France's Louvre and Italy's Vatican Museums, the Prado boasts one of the finest, most extensive collections of art to be found anywhere. Just about all the masters are represented in the 7,000 paintings that are housed here.

The paintings at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, adjacent to the Prado, are also a must see. This collection was recently purchased from Switzerland and contains an additional 700 paintings by the greats of the art world.

When it's time to head outside, take advantage of the many public parks that now line the streets of this ancient city, which was once considered dull and dingy. Many of these parks, like Parque de Retiro, are large enough to contain lakes for fishing or boating and always serve as a great place to let the kids run around between museums or for a family picnic.

Speaking of kids, there's plenty for them to do in Madrid. In the summer months, you'll want to head to Aquópolis-Villanuevas, the city's popular downtown waterpark. Madrid also boasts an excellent planetarium and the Safari Park is home to more than 500 animals, some quite exotic.

The Museo de Cera de Madrid is full of fascinatingly realistic wax figures, ranging from such personalities as Bill Clinton to the villains of World War II and those who defeated them. Figures from Spanish history are also found here.

If you're traveling with children, they'll no doubt beg you to climb aboard the Teleferico, an aerial cable car that provides a bird's-eye view of the city. The ride is perfect for visitors of all ages and the parks located at either end of the cable car are fun to explore.

If you've always wanted to experience a bullfight, Madrid is the place to do it. Visit the Plaza Monumental de Toros de las Ventas, where the best matadors in the country strut their stuff.

For adults, the nightlife in Madrid is wilder than in any other European city. There are more than three-quarters-of-a-million bars and clubs here, many that remain open literally all night long.