Madrid Tourism

Madrid is a fascinating town to visit. Centuries of history combined with a contemporary vitality make Madrid intoxicating. Museums, unique shopping, beautiful parks, diverse architecture, and delicious cuisine make Madrid an exciting, interesting, and fun place to spend your vacation. Spain is also a value when compared to many of her European neighbors.

Sizzling Spain

No trip to Madrid is complete without sampling the local cuisine. Lunch is usually served here between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Consequently, dinner is served late, with most restaurants not serving until 8:00 pm and many Madrilenos not dining until 10:00 pm or even 11:00 pm. Before that, the Spanish sip Sherry and nibble on tapas, the traditional "small plates" of food--olives, sausage, mussels, or squid, for example. Seafood is delicious and plentiful in Madrid. Shrimp, lobster, and mussels are served in many different preparations. Madrid's, and indeed Spain's, signature dish is paella, a large flat pan filled with saffron rice, chicken, chorizo (Spanish sausage), seafood, and peas. Don't miss it.

The least crowded and most affordable time of year to visit Madrid is between early December and mid-April, with the exclusion of the Christmas and New Year's holidays. Accommodations vary widely in Madrid, from deluxe, five-star hotels like the Ritz, to moderate hotels like the Reina Victoria, and even bed and breakfasts. Madrid is a great base to excursions into the countryside and to the historic towns of Toledo and Avila.

Make your Madrid travel arrangements by calling your travel agent or take advantage of one of the many online tour operators that specialize in travel to Spain. One call or site visit can confirm your airline, accommodations, car rental or transportation between the airport and your hotel, and sometimes even activities, sightseeing tours, or dinner reservations.