Madrid Travel Guide

There are two main types of dining out in Madrid: having tapas (small portions generally between €1,50-4 a dish) or heading to a more traditional restaurant for a meal. Now, you can visit any city in the world and go for a meal, but only in Spain can you get the best selection of tapas there is available. This doesn’t mean you can’t order a plate of food in many tapas bars: you will see crowds of diners sharing a ración (plate) or media ración (half-plate) of the same dishes. As you will see, these two types of dining out in Madrid tend to blend together and you will find most restaurants offer a tapas option.

Although the sheer number of combinations available means it is impossible to list all of them here are some of the most popular types you can find in Madrid:

• Revuelto – (literally translates to Stirred)
  This is one of the more elaborate tapas which consists of fried eggs, bacon and potatoes all mixed together. Ham and onion are also common ingredients people add to this dish to make it tastier.
• Jamon – (Ham)
  Thin slices of Spanish dry cured ham cut directly from the pig’s leg that you will find hanging in the bar. It can be served in a variety of forms; by itself, with bread, in bread/rolls, with olive oil, with tomatoes and many more.
• Gambas – (Shrimps)
  These get cooked before hand and are then served cold. Don’t be surprised if you find the floors of these bars scattered with the discarded heads.
• Salchicha – (Sausage)
  Salchicha means sausagein spainish however sausages in Spain come in many different types. There is the famous dried dark red spicy chorizo, the white salchichon, the blood sausage morcilla or small cocktail sausages that are served wrapped in bacon. Typically a thin slice of baguette will have thick or thin slices of the sausage on top of it secured with a toothpick.
• Tortilla de patata – (Potatoe Omlettes)
  A straightforward bite made with nothing more than eggs and potatoes this is sure to eradicate any hunger pangs you may have as it is a very filling dish. Served in a whole host of ways; Slices, squares, on bread, in bread, with or without ham / cheese / asparagus / onion the varity is so vast this list could go on for a while.

In most of the traditional restaurants in and around the city centre of Madrid, you can order drinks at the bar and expect to receive a small tapas dish. This is a great way to sample some excellent food on offer without having to pay the price of a sit down dinner or lunch. There has been a noticeable change in the offering of tapas over the last 10 years or so in Madrid. You will now find more vegetarian and international dishes appearing on menus.

You’ve probably heard that Spain is an impossible place to eat out if you are a vegetarian and that’s simply not true. If you get to know the right places and dishes you’ll see there is plenty to eat no matter what your dietary requirements. That’s not to say vegetarian dishes are everywhere, but they’re much easier to find now.

If you get it right, you can find that a little of everything can be more fulfilling than a single meal and you will only have to pay for drinks all evening. Here is a quick guide to free tapas in Madrid. After all, if there is one part of Spanish culture that you must sample, it has to be tapas and why not sample it for free.

Tapas are the small snacks given to customers when ordering a drink in a bar. Sometimes restaurants will also offer a free Tapas dish but don’t expect this everywhere you go. This tends to be the exception rather than the rule!

Due to its huge size and the migration to it of Spaniards form other parts of Spain, Some of the best taps can be found in Madrid. This refers to the quality as well as the variety on offer. But don’t forget you will be paying Madrid prices.

At any bar the ordering of a round of drinks, with the exception of coffees, you should look forward to being presented with a small tapas dish. Depending on the bar and time of day this can be anything from olives (aceitunas) to a mini, yet elaborate sandwiches. It can be either hot or cold and, as always, some bars provide more than others.

If you stay in one bar and it is of reasonable quality you should find the tapas change and get better the longer you stay there.

For the international traveller, the Spanish city of Madrid often falls in the shadow of the fancier and more fashionable Barcelona. Of course, Barcelona is home to some unique amazing architecture that other cities cannot compete with. And while the atmosphere in Barcelona has been likened to Paris and Milano, aka a little bit snobbish, Madrid is Spain at its best and the people have more fun smiling and flirting. Not surprisingly Madrid has developed a vibrant gay scene of recent years and has an ever-growing number of Gay Bars.

There are plenty of them around, some more risqué than others but all known for the liveliness and the welcoming attitude of everyone involved. Madrid is no exception. The main gay area is called Chueca (Pronounced Choo-aye-ka). Here you will find a wide range of Gay Bars. Some have music while others have live entertainment, dancing, karaoke and there are also a few quiet spots for drinks and conversation.

A popular place is The Black and White. A bar that’s open from Thursday – Sunday; it includes two dance floors and the atmosphere is comparable to that of a cruise ship. The place has live entertainment and that includes DJ’s for dance music. Weekends bring in the crowds of both locals and holiday-makers to the city.

There is also a great place called Corason Loco, this place is incredibly popular with the local gay community and that is always a good sign. They often have camp cabaret acts alongside and other live entertainment can be found on weekends and certain nights of the week.

The Eagle Madrid is another fashionable gay bar that is always draws in the crowd. It has a mysterious flavour to its atmosphere and one that you should not experience alone. This place a full cocktail list and it’s far more fun when going accompanied by friends or a partner.

These are just a sample of the bars that can be found in and around the Chueca. If you are looking for a night out with a bit of difference, make sure you take a trip to the Madrid gay scene. These Madrid bars offer a full line of cocktails and many of the local favourites even offer a great range of light meals too.

There are a whole host of things to do in Madrid so if you are not planning on staying in the city for a while, it can be hard trying to narrow down the best things to do, this is even harder if you happen to be on a budget. Here are a few recommendations of ways to make the most out of your time in Madrid without breaking the bank.

Getting there

Getting to Madrid is a lot easier than you think, whether its by Plane, Train or Driving. Flights to Madrid generally fly into Madrid Barajas Airport where there are 4 terminals. Terminal 1 is used by carriers such as Easyjet, Ryanair and other low cost operators. There are daily trains operating into Madrid from major cities such as Paris and Marseilles. The slightly slower option is by car, but you are able to really take in the sights and unique Spanish countryside on your way in to the city.

Sightseeing

The best way to see beautiful views Madrid has to offer is to purchase a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus ticket. You can get a 2-day pass for around €22  and you get to geton and off the bus at whatever attractions take your fancy There are two routes to chose from; Historical or Modern. If you are a big fan of football and want to see the stadium, opt for the Modern Route, For everyone else,the historical route offers the best of the sights.

Cultural

For all first time visitors to Madrid, a trip to the Prado museum is a must. It has some of the most significant works of European art, including works by renowned Spanish painters such as Goya and Velázquez. Don’t let the idea of wondering round a museum put you off,  it is said that a trip to the Prado is a more pleasant experience than visiting the Louvre in Paris! As with most European museums, there is often a chance to get free entry. You can expect to pay €6 admittance, however you can get in for free for two hours every night between the times of 6pm-8pm. It’s the perfect way to spend an hour or two before you head out for dinner.

A Picnic in the Park

What better way to enjoy Madrid’s atmosphere and beauty than to take a walk in a park. The perfect place to settle down and have a budget lunch of the picnic variety. Madrid’s Parque Retiro is a charming place to do this. Located a short walk from the Prado museum, the park is home to gardens, lakes, cafes and monuments, it provides a bit of tranquillity after the hustle and bustle of the main streets.

Eating Out

If you do want to eat out but don’t want to blow your budget, have your meal out of the day at lunch time rather than at night. Ost restaurants offer the smae meals for a cheaper price on their lunch time menu.A must try is Museo del Jamón. You will spot these little cafe-restaurants are all over the city and ham is definitely their speciality! You can get a bocadilla here for around €5 euros. It’s always a good idea to sit at the bar amongst the locals rather than at one of the tables, otherwise you get charged ‘tourist prices’ an increase of around 10%.

Where to stay

There are plenty of budget accommodation options available in Madrid and it can be hard to pick the right place to stay, It’s advisable to stay central so you don’t have to worry about a long trek home after you’re day out. You may have to share if you really want to look after the budget. Atocha is a perfect place for both the museum and shopping districts and there are a few nice and cheap places to eat nearby!

Spain’s capitals is one of the most interesting cities in Europe: it lacks the beach of Barcelona and the romantic cache of Paris but makes up for it in spades with the best nightlife in Europe and an unbeatable atmosphere. Here are five facts about this fascinating city that you may not already know:

1. Madrid’s official symbol, a bear eating from a madrone tree, was adopted as a representation of the wood that was so important for the construction and continued growth of Madrid. A statue of this symbol can be found in the Puerta del Sol square.
2. Madrid may not have a beach, but it does have an open air pool for cooling off during the hot summer months. The Aquasur is a large water park containing five huge water slides, a Jacuzzi and wave pools. A free bus to the park can be found from Arunjuez.
3. Surprisingly, Madrid is a great place for animal lovers: the city has a well stocked zoo which has four rare giant pandas from China and that Australian favourite, Koala bears. It also has a safari park that offers daily lion taming displays as well as the usual monkeys, giraffes and zebras.
4. Theme park enthusiasts will not be disappointed with a visit to Madrid: Parque Warner Madrid provides all the thrills and adrenaline rushes you will need for a great day out. There a numerous great roller coasters in the park, one of the best being Superman: The Attraction of Steel which was the first ‘floorless’ roller coaster in Europe and another being ‘Batman: the Escape’ which is an inverted roller coaster. There is also a Hollywood Boulevard section which offers shows and entertainment inspired by Old Hollywood.
5. The population of Madrid has shown considerable growth: from 950,000 in 1900 to over 3million at the last count. It is now the largest city in Spain.

In addition to these facts, Madrid enjoys more cloud free days than any other city in Europe. Combined with consistently high temperatures, this means Madrid is a  perfect place to escape for a city break as well as a great destination for a family holiday.

Top gourmet tour company Iberian Wine Tours offer holidays with a difference in Spain and Portugal. Explore Iberian wine country and taste the delicious wine the region offers!

The 2011 season features a range of 3 and 4 night wine tours across the best and most beautiful Spanish wine regions. Take the chance to meet winemakers in their own vineyards and find out the secrets of winemaking in the sun with a glass of a tasty wine in your hand: Read the rest of this entry →

This week saw the MTV EMA Music awards hit the city of Madrid. As benefits such a star studded night, the evening was filled with gossip. Women artists were in the spotlight with the ubiquitous Lady Gaga winning three awards and host Eva Longoria changing outfits a staggering thirteen times. Other female artists to be awarded include Katy Perry and Kesha.  Rock legends Bon Jovi were awarded the Global Icon award whilst performances came courtesy of Rihanna, Shakira, Bon Jovi and Miley Cyrus.

As with any awards ceremony though, what we really care about is the fashion. Here are the hits and misses of the night: Read the rest of this entry →