The Drifty Guide To Madrid, Spain

By Carlos Penalba, Local

Madrid is fun. Madrid is passion. Madrid is lively day and night. Few cities can offer as much enjoyment to the senses as Spain’s capital. Overshadowed by Barcelona in the number of international visitors it gets, Madrid is quickly catching up with its main rival.

I’ve always felt Madrid was very underrated in the city-breaks market, but the world is waking up and getting to Madrid in big numbers. Located right in the center of Spain, Madrid has always been an open city, a crossroad where everyone feels welcome.

Madrid is the heart of Spain, both geographically, and above all, emotionally.

Wander Through Coffee Shops

Traditional Spanish cafeterias can sometimes look uninviting, but in recent years cute coffee shops have mushroomed all over the city. HanSo Café, offers great breakfast, cakes, tasty coffee and a huge selection of teas.

La Ciudad Invisible is a perfect place for reading or for catching up with a friend over a delicious coffee. If you are looking for a traditional European style coffee shop, Café Gijón is Madrid’s most famous literary café, where writers, artists and intellectuals used to meet to talk about life.

Eat Tapas

Spain leads Europe in the number of bars per capita, and tapas are one of the great Spanish inventions. In most traditional bars is customary to get a free small bite called tapa with your drink. Madrid is full of them.

It’s all about the croquettes at Casa Julio, probably the best you can have in the city. Considered by many one of the top places to drink a proper caña (beer on tap), El Cangrejero is a classic old bar from the 60s in a former seafood shop. La Ardosa, in Malasaña, is one of Madrid's oldest taverns.

Founded in 1892, get a cold beer with a tortilla to feel you are in the heart of Spain.

Visit Museums

Known as Paseo del Arte, this art route will take you through the city’s main museums: El Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofia. Madrid claims that nowhere else in the world there are as many masterpieces in such a small area. Visiting all three museums will take you on a complete tour of the history and evolution of painting.

But these three are not the only worthwhile museums in Madrid. Museo America gathers some of the most impressive pre-Columbian American art. The small and delightful Museo Sorolla will open your eyes to the work of Joaquin Sorolla, one of the best masters of light.

Check Out The Art Scene

Madrid’s museums are some of the world’s best, but the city’s art scene is much broader than them. Check the exhibitions on display at CaixaForum, Fundacion Mapfre, and Canal de Isabel II, as they are usually superb.

Tabacalera (the old tobacco factory) and Matadero (previously an slaughtering house) have been converted into wonderful contemporary art spaces where artist create and exhibit their latest works.

Finally, Madrid has a vibrant theater and music scene that attracts many visitors all year around.

Read More: Madrid Art and Culture

Shop Thrift & Vintage

El Rastro is by far the most famous flea market in all Spain. Every Sunday morning (9am-3pm) hundreds of stalls put up for sale new and second hand items, from clothing to furniture. Located in the popular La Latina area, take a break from the shopping at some of the best traditional tapas bars in the city.

For some vintage shopping, Malasaña borough offers the best choices. Alphaville is one of the top shops in Madrid, particularly of retro fashion. El Tocador Vintage has wedding dresses and suits for all kind of celebrations and events.

Explore Neighborhoods

What madrileños called El Centro is an almond-shaped area where Madrid was founded. It’s here where you’ll find the most interesting and vibrant areas to explore.

Malasaña became the center of the city’s nightlife during La Movida, the cultural movement that celebrated the arrival of democracy to Spain after Franco’s death. It has changed a lot since then without losing its vibrancy. Art, restaurants and shops make Malasaña Madrid’s most popular neighborhood.

Barrio de las Letras is where some of Spain’s most notorious writers lived, including Cervantes. Head to Plaza de Santa Ana and sit at one of the terraces for lunch or for evening drinks.

Chueca is the gay area of Madrid, an old neighborhood that has become one of the most cosmopolitan areas of the city full of trendy shops, bars, and restaurants.

Lavapies is the most multiethnic borough in the city’s center. It’s where you’ll find African and Hindu restaurants next to each other. Immigrants live there amongst old madrileños.

Hike, Bike And Be Outside

Madrid is noisy and its traffic can be overwhelming in some areas. Luckily, you can get a break form the busting city in El Retiro, a stunning park at walking distance from Madrid’s center district.

Casa de Campo, reachable by metro, is a vast natural area where to hike or bike with great views of Madrid’s skyline.

Finally, La Sierra, the mountain range to the northwest of Madrid is ideal for a full day away from the city. You can also ski there during the winter months.

Work At A Co-Working Space

Co-working has boomed in Madrid recently and the city’s offering is huge. La Piscine is a cute little space ideal for those looking for a quiet and yet cozy place where to work enjoying a fabulous coffee.

Impact Hub offers five different locations in Madrid as part of its large international network of co-working spaces. Nueva Carolina is a gorgeous multidisciplinary space where to run meetings, photo sessions, exhibitions, presentations, and fashion collections.

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