Madrid Vacation

There is always something new to discover in Madrid. Home to centuries of kings, varied architecture, delicious cuisine, and world-class shopping, Madrid is also generally more affordable than her European neighbors. This city of over five million inhabitants is a vital, exciting, fascinating, and fun place to visit.

Merry Madrid

Some of the world's most important museums are in Madrid. The Prado, filled with works from Spanish painters El Greco, Goya, and Velazquez, as well as a large collection of Flemish art, was built in 1819 and has delighted visitors ever since. The Queen Sofia Art Center is Madrid's modern art museum, concentrating on 20th century art. The Thyssen-Bornemisza museum boasts a large collection of works by Picasso, as well as by other 19th and 20th European painters.

Architecture is varied and interesting in Madrid. The decades of Bourbon and Hapsburg kings and queens have left their mark with landmarks such as the Royal Palace, the 2000-room edifice used today for state functions. The Plaza Mayor, in the heart of old Madrid, is, today, a pedestrian square lined with cafés, and a great place to sit and watch the world walk by. The surrounding neighborhoods of Chueca and Malsana are made up of restored, old-world buildings now alive with funky art galleries, bohemian boutiques, and varied ethnic restaurants.

Traveling to Madrid is easy. Iberia, the state-owned Spanish airline operates nonstop flights from New York, Chicago, and Miami. Connections through these cities can be made from hundreds of cities throughout the United States. Airfare starts at under $500 per person plus taxes and fees.