Marvellous Madrid
Madrid makes a great destination for a short break! Getting to Madrid couldn’t be easier with direct flights from many UK airports including Edinburgh. Flight time is around 3 hours, with most flights arriving in time for you to check into your hotel and enjoy some late afternoon tapas and a cerveza or two.
My top three things to do in Madrid
The Art
If, like me, you love art – then Madrid should be on your ‘must visit’ list. The city has several major galleries and museums, so many that it it’s impossible to list them here, never mind visit them on a short break.
The top three galleries are The Prado, Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. It’s possible to pre-purchase a Paseo del Arte Pass that gives admission to all three. I would definitely recommend you do this; the pass gives you a 20% saving on regular ticket prices and means that you avoid lengthy queues at the ticket offices. You can buy ahead of travelling and the Paseo is stored on your phone giving you one year from the date of purchase to visit all three museums.
All three are packed with glorious artworks with masterpieces at almost every turn. If I were to choose, Thyssen-Bornemisza would be my favourite with Van Gogh, Picasso, Cezanne, Bosch and Rubens. Picasso’s Guernica is without doubt the big attraction at Reina Sofía. And the Prado – well, it’s the Prado – the building and collection is massive, so much so that you can’t do it justice in one day. Were I to cherry pick, I’d head for the Rubens and Titans. And the coffee shop on the ground floor – the cakes are works of art in themselves!
(a small PS - If impressionism is your thing – then take a look at Museo Sorolla.)
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The Food and Drink
What can I say? It’s the capital city of Spain, of course the food scene is amazing!
It’s possible to eat both well and cheaply in Madrid. It’s also possible to splurge and enjoy some exquisite fine dining. I usually try to opt for a healthy mixture of both!
Make sure you don’t miss the Mercado de San Miguel, opened over 100 years ago as a food market, Mercado de San Miguel has reinvented itself as a market of good quality tapas stalls. The food (and wine) is delicious and there is sure to be something to suit everyone’s palate. It gets busy, so pick your time carefully!
It somehow wouldn’t be right to visit Madrid and not enjoy some Churros. You’ll find churros available on every street. If you want to do it ‘right’ then head for SAN GINES where they have been making chocolate with churros since 1894. San Gines is open 24 hours over the weekend and 8.30 to 11.30 most other days.
Both San Miguel and San Gines are within easy walking distance of Plaza Major.
If you enjoy a good glass of wine and would like to spend an hour or so learning about Spanish wines and generally enjoying yourself then I heartily recommend Madrid & Darracott at Calle Conde Romanones. These guys know their wine, are passionate about it and they are great company. I attended an hour-long wine tasting session here a couple of years ago and left 2+ hours later having put the world to rights with the multi-national group we had been tasting with. Great fun, and I learnt a few things too!
(If you want to pick my brains about individual restaurant recommendations, then just ask 😊)
Flamenco
There was a time when you could see traditional Flamenco all over Madrid. But Flamenco is a dying art and in the post-covid world, it is becoming ever more endangered. Not so long ago Madrid had dozens of tablaos – traditional flamenco venues named after the wooden platforms upon which performers spin, sing and strum. Now there are only a dozen or so.
If you have never been to a traditional Flamenco performance then you are in for a soul-stirring treat. The music, the dancing, stamping and singing – I dare you to a show and not be moved! Tablao Flamenco 1911 at Plaza Santa Ana is one of the best Madrid venues.
So … there are my top three. Close runners up would be the cathedrals, the parks, the shopping, the royal palace, the ikono gallery … I could go on!
Enjoy!
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