Dinner doesn’t happen until 9pm or 10pm and the partying doesn’t kick off until several hours after that. It’s a city for night owls; the early bird doesn’t get the worm in Madrid. With such a huge choice, narrowing down the best places restaurants in Madrid is a tough job. For those who travel to eat, finding a balance of healthy/indulgent meals can be tricky.
If you’re visiting over Easter, you’ll be treated to the townsfolk’s own enactment of the Passion of Christ, though be aware that the small town becomes packed with visitors at this time. Every year in mid-April, the town holds the Fiesta del AnÃs y del Vino, an orgy of anÃs- and wine-tasting. An older annual tradition takes place on July 25, when the feast of St James is celebrated with a bullfight in the Plaza Mayor, with further corridas in the August fiestas (usually Aug 13–18). There are dozens of fiestas in Madrid, some of which involve the whole city, others just an individual barrio.
March is the driest month in spring with temperatures ranging in the low 40s to 60s. April and May have similar rain amounts to November, so pack your umbrella. Weather in May becomes quite pleasant for enjoying the outdoors with temperatures in the low 70s. You’ll enjoy seeing the city flock to patios and parks as locals appreciate the longer days and warmer temperatures.
From unraveling the intricacies of the siesta to finding the best tapas in town, these travel tips for Madrid will help you experience the Spanish capital in all its glory. We heard that this is the most beautiful church in Madrid, and it was definitely stunning. They do hourly guided tours in Spanish and English, where they explain some of the frescoes and you can explore some of the back rooms. There’s also a famous Goya fresco (look for the one with the man in yellow looking up—Goya painted himself into the painting). Madrid Barajas Airport has direct connections with North American cities like Philadelphia, Dallas, and New York, and is located around eight miles northeast of the city center. To reach downtown Madrid, you can take an express bus that costs EUR5, the CercanÃas suburban train system (EUR2.60), or the subway, which costs EUR5 - take the pink line .
Apart from the obvious non-food related shopping (yeap, Zara is indeed a bit cheaper over there!) there are tons of foodie temptations around. You know how much I love food markets anyhow but the Mercado de San Miguel stole my heart. The building is beautiful, the atmosphere lively and it’s open until late in the evening. The biggest range of stores is along the Gran VÃa and the streets running north out of Puerta del Sol, which is where the department stores – such as El Corte Inglés – have their main branches.
Option 3).
Don’t miss the beautiful wrought-iron work of the Mercado de San Miguel before finishing up with a circuit of the arcaded madrid spain splendour of the Plaza Mayor. Staff at establishments catering specifically to visitors, such as hotels and tourist attractions, will usually speak English. At shops and restaurants, you may encounter an English-speaking member of staff, but it’s not a given. People tend to be out and about in central areas even well into the night, and many streets are well lit.
If you’re traveling on a budget, then buses are a great way to get around in Spain as they’re cheaper than trains and just as comfortable. On our last trip, we visited Madrid in late April and the weather was perfect. It wasn’t warm yet but we were fine getting around in just light jackets. People looking for culture will have much to look forward to in Madrid.