Welcome to Madrid
No city on earth is more alive than Madrid, a beguiling place whose sheer energy carries a simple message: this is one city that knows how to live. Madrids calling cards are many: astonishing art galleries, stunning architecture, relentless nightlife, fine restaurants and tapas bars. Other cities have some of these things. Madrid has them all in bucketloads.
The marks the southern end of Gran Va. | LucVi/Shutterstock
MadridTop Sights
Among the worlds finest galleries.
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Madrid Top Sights
Picasso, Dal and Mir.
JOAQUN CORTS/ROMAN LORES. IMAGE COURTESY OF MUSEO NACIONAL CENTRO DE ARTE REINA SOFIA
Madrid Top Sights
Magnificent monumental parklands.
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Madrid Top Sights
Fabulous collection of European art.
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Madrid Top Sights
Palatial royal architectural showpiece.
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Madrid Top Sights
The splendour of Goyas frescoes.
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Madrid Top Sights
Salamancas noblest art-filled mansion.
MUSEO LZARO GALDIANO JAMES TYE
Madrid Top Sights
Madrids grandest public square.
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Madrid Top Sights
An architecturally splendid bullring.
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Madrid Top Sights
Unesco-listed royal extravagance.
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Restaurants
Its not that the Madrids culinary traditions are anything special. Rather, everything that is exciting about Spanish cooking finds expression in the capital, from Basque tapas bars to avant garde Catalan chefs, from the best in Galician seafood to Andalucas Mediterranean catch. Travel from one Spanish village to the next and youll learn that each has its own speciality. Travel to Madrid and youll find them all.
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Madrid Specialties
The citys traditional local cuisine is dominated by hearty stews, particularly in winter, and there are none more hearty than cocido a la madrilea, a hotpot or stew that starts with a noodle broth and is followed by, or combined with, carrots, chickpeas, chicken, morcilla (blood sausage), beef, lard and possibly other sausage meats, too. Other popular staples include cordero asado (roast lamb), croquetas (croquettes), patatas con huevos fritos (baked potatoes with eggs, also known as huevos rotos), tortilla de patatas (a thick potato omelette) and endless variations on bacalao (cod).
Regional Specialties
Madrids local cuisine is only half the story. The city has also wholeheartedly embraced dishes and the innovations that accompany them from across the country. Most notably, every day tonnes of fish and seafood are trucked in from Mediterranean and Atlantic ports to satisfy the madrileo (a resident of Madrid) taste for the sea to the extent that, remarkably for a city so far inland, Madrid is home to the worlds second-largest fish market (after Tokyo).
Best for Local Cooking
One of the best places in town to try cocido a la madrilea and other local favourites such as callos (tripe).
A tiled bar where the cocido can be tried as a tapas or the more authentic all-you-can-eat version.
The worlds oldest restaurant and a hugely atmospheric place to sample roasted meats.
The great and the good of Madrid, from royalty to A-list celebrities, have all eaten in this bastion of traditional cooking. (Pictured)
Another historical converted inn where the roasted meats have acquired legendary status across the city.