subject: Madrid On A Shoestring [print this page] Madrid, located in the centre of the country is a cosmopolitan and historic city with a rich architectural interest. Spain's capital has become a weekend and city break destination over the last years. The increase of cheap flights has made Madrid and other European cities accessible to weekend and business travellers.
As the capital of Spain, Madrid has great things for visitors to discover and enjoy. The centre of Madrid is full of medieval culture and hidden alleys full of shops and bars. A bustling city full of tradition and modernism.
Madrid has an ample artistic and culture range to offer. Spain's capital has over 70 museums. The most important are located in the old quarter of the city, in the Paseo del Arte; the Prado Museum, one of the world's biggest art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum with more than 800 sculptures and paintings and the Reina Sofia National Art Centre Museum, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary art, with works by Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and Juan Gris among others.
The people of Madrid can be seen enjoying and relaxing at the traditional cafes and bars, at the Sunday Rastro flea market, and also late into the night at the many bars and nightclubs. As the lively nightlife from Madrid is another major attraction of the Spanish capital. Its pubs, bars, discos and flamenco clubs have an impressive atmosphere.
The city of Madrid offers a wide variety of children's activities. Madrid's visitors will love the Warner Bros Amusement Park, one of the most spectacular in the world. Animal lovers and those with an interest in science and nature will experience an unforgettable day at the Zoo-Aquarium located at Casa de Campo. During the summer, children can enjoy the public swimming pools, or water parks, like the one in San Fernando de Henares.
Almost the whole of Spanish cuisine is present in the tapas. Iberian ham and sausages, native dishes such as prawns in batter, Madrid-style tripe, smoked meats and fish, excellent cheese and all kind of local wines make Madrid the capital of Spanish tapas.
Spain's capital has abundance open spaces with varied landscape, from the fertile plains of Aranjuez and La Mancha landscape to the Madrid Sierra, a gorgeous mountain range filled with beauty spots, where any winter sport can be practised.
Sailing, windsurfing, horse riding, balloon rides, and hiking are other sports that can be practiced in the mountains of Madrid. The people of Madrid love its numerous parks and urban gardens, which are distributed throughout the different districts of the city and are of great historic importance, as is the case of the Retiro Park.
A little way out of Madrid's centre the visitor will find the home of one of the world's most famous football teams. The Santiago Bernabeu has been home to Real Madrid since 1947. The stadium is an impressive site whether you're a fan of football or not. The stadium houses and excellent museum and is open most days for tours.
