Things to do in Madrid

A Must-See For Football Fans

The Santiago Bernabeu stadium is home to the Real Madrid football club, one of the biggest and best teams in the world, and the stadium is one of the top tourist attractions in the city. The iconic stadium is held in the highest regard by fans, and a visit to the venue is a must. The stadium has hosted some of the best top tier football matches, including a Champions League final, four European Cup finals and a World Cup final. Real's matches against its biggest rivals, Barcelona, are considered the best of the best in the Spanish La Liga.

See How The Monarchy Lived

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest royal palace in Europe, and was home to the Spanish royal family for hundreds of years, however these days it is only used for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace contains many artefacts of cultural and historical significance. There you can see paintings by famous artists such as Caravaggio and Francisco de Goya, and includes the Royal Armoury and the world's only complete Stradivarius string quintet.

Exploring The City's Nightlife

As many locals eat their evening meal at 9 or 10pm, this is when the streets come alive. There are hundreds of little cafes and bars throughout the city where light meals and snacks can be bought, and also some fine restaurants if something more substantial is desired. The La Latina neighbourhood, to the south of the Plaza Mayor, is a great area to find traditional food and has both good restaurants and shops selling food to eat in and take away.

Plenty Of Museums For Art Lovers

Madrid has some spectacular art museums containing some of the finest works from Spanish artists. Visit the Golden Triangle of Art, which comprises of three of the best art museums in Madrid - the Prado Museum, the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum. The Prado is the most distinguished, and one of the most frequented galleries in the world. See 20th century Spanish art in the Reina Sofía, and in the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum witness what was once the second largest private collection in the world. In the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, which is also is also the headquarters of the Academy of Art, you can see art from the 15th to the 20th century.

A Night Out For Opera Fans

The Teatro Real hosts about seventeen operas throughout the year and is home to the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. It also stages ballets and recitals, and is truly one of the best theatres for opera, with appearances from famous international stars and orchestras. Guided tours are also available.