Gastronomy

Madrid’s gastronomy stands out for its traditional local cuisine and the most cutting-edge propositions. On its streets you’ll find centuries-old restaurants where you can try the most typical dishes, like suckling pig, roast lamb, oxtails and ‘cocido madrileño’, a stew made with chick peas, vegetables and meat, great for those months of the year you need a warming comforting meal.

You’ll also find gastronomic markets, like San Miguel and San Antón, where you can sample the iconic calamari sandwiches and a variety of tapas. If you have a sweet tooth, you can’t leave Madrid without trying the rosquillas, huesos de santo, churros with chocolate, buñuelos de viento and torrijas.

History, Culture and Entertainment in Madrid

There is much to do in the Spanish capital, from cultural visits to museums, theatres to its shopping centres and fantastic gastronomy.

The Puerta del Sol is one you can’t miss, especially because it places you at ‘kilometre zero’, the point from which all the radial highways of Spain depart. You also shouldn’t miss the Gran Vía and its delightful bustle, Plaza Mayor, the majesty of the Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral, and the Puerta de Alcalá, one of the five gates that once provided access to the city.

If you like nature, Retiro Park is the perfect place for you. This 125-hectare park has lovely green areas, several gardens, one of which contains the oldest living tree in Madrid, a large pond where you can take a boat ride, and the Crystal Palace. You can also visit Casa de Campo, the largest public park in the city, to enjoy different leisure options.

The entertainment offer of Madrid is very extensive: theatre, museums, concerts, art galleries... We suggest you go to the Prado National Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Círculo de Bellas Artes. Something you can’t miss are the quotes by Spanish writers engraved on the paving stones of the streets in the Barrio de las Letras, the neighbourhood where great literary artists like Cervantes, Quevedo and Lope de Vega once lived.