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Madrid
A must-visit destination for lovers of culture, fine art or exclusive shopping, the Spanish capital is also famed for its frenetic, 24-hour nightlife, its delectable tapas and fine regional wines. Amid all the grandeur, you'll also find an array of buzzing yet intimate neighbourhoods, each with its own distinct charm. And although there's much more to Madrid than flamenco, bullfighting and football, you'll also find those things here in abundance. Whether you're visiting Spain's largest city for pleasure or business – or a blend of both – you'll find accommodation perfectly tailored to your individual needs from the portfolio of Accor hotels in Madrid.
Exploring Madrid
We suggest beginning your exploration of Madrid's attractions at the city's pulsating heart, Plaza Mayor, the regal square at the centre of Austrias, the oldest part of the city. Its harmonious ensemble of red-hued, arcaded buildings surround an equestrian statue of Philip III, under whose auspices the plaza was laid out in the early 17th century. Stop for a café con leche at one of the lively café terraces, watch the buskers and admire edifices including the ornate, twin-spired Casa de la Panadería, now home to the Madrid tourism office. Plaza Mayor is the city's meeting place and setting for a host of events including the colourful tamborrada drum parade at Easter, or the delightful Christmas market.
Exit via the monumental Arco de Cuchilleros arch and stroll via narrow streets lined with veteran tapas bars to Puerta del Sol Madrid, a bustling, semi-circular plaza at the intersection of several major thoroughfares. A stone slab marks Kilometre 0 for Spain's main roads, and the clock atop the Casa de Correos is used to count in every new year. The "Oso y Madroño*"* statue of a bear nuzzling a strawberry tree, representing the city's emblem, is a favourite rendezvous spot for Madrileños. Maybe the best rooftop in Madrid for views stretching far over the city is atop the nearby Círculo de Bellas Artes, a buzzing cultural complex with a multidisciplinary repertoire including concerts, theatre and exhibitions.
Madrid's iconic boulevard, the Gran Via, laid out in the early 20th century during the modernisation of the city and inspired by the avenues of Manhattan, is lined with grand buildings in an eclectic array of styles, from the neo-Renaissance of the Edificio Metrópolis or Madrid Casino's neo-Baroque to the art deco Edificio Capitol with its landmark neon sign. Today the boulevard is lined with theatres, cinemas and restaurants, and is a hub of Madrid nightlife. Recently widened sidewalks make bar-hopping or browsing its jewellers and flagship fashion stores a pleasure. At the end of the Gran Via, expansive Plaza de España centres on a grandiose monument to writer Miguel de Cervantes, featuring a bronze sculpture of Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza.
Standing on a hill, the vast Palacio Real (Royal Palace of Madrid), the official residence of the Spanish royal family although no longer their actual home, is one of Europe's largest palaces and dates from the mid-18th century. You can visit several of its over 3,000 lavishly decorated rooms, including the apartments of Charles III, the throne room or the royal armoury, and admire works by Caravaggio, Velázquez and Goya in the Painting Gallery. From Plaza de la Armería, the broad square in front of the palace, you can feast your eyes on panoramic views across Madrid's rooftops, while the formal Campo del Moro gardens are a verdant spot for a break from sightseeing.
Not far from the palace, the Temple of Debod, dedicated to Amun and Isis, dates back to 2nd-century BC Egypt, and was rebuilt stone by stone in Cuartel de la Montaña Park – sunset vistas from the pond-ringed temple are breathtaking.
Madrid can lay claim to some of Europe's finest museums, many of them clustered on or near the broad, tree-lined boulevard Paseo del Prado. The crown jewel is the Museo Nacional del Prado, an immense, neoclassical edifice whose walls are lined with countless masterworks from the Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools, among them "Las Meninas" by Velázquez, Goya's haunting "Third of May, 1808" and the enigmatic, otherworldly "Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch. Nearby, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía presents an exhaustive survey of Spanish modern and contemporary art, with works by Dalí, Miró and Juan Gris, as well as Picasso's ever-relevant masterpiece, "Guernica". The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum traces the story of European painting from the Middle Ages to the late 20th century in a diverse collection ranging from Dürer via Van Gogh to Chagall. The convenient Paseo del Arte Pass gives you discounted admission to all three of these remarkable galleries.
Madrid is blessed with a host of lush green spaces that are a tranquil contrast to the city's effervescent urbanity. Near the Prado Museum, the immense El Retiro Park is a leafy oasis beloved of the locals, lined with paths and dotted with gardens, statues and fountains. Rent a bike, go boating on the lake, and look for what is reputedly the world's only monument to the devil, the "Fallen Angel" fountain, sitting – bizarrely – exactly 666 metres above sea level. The Palacio de Cristal, an intricate cast-iron glass house built in 1887 to display flora and fauna, now hosts temporary art exhibitions for the Reina Sofía Museum.
Football is akin to a religion in Spain, and Madrid is home to two of the world's biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Catching a match seated among the passionate fans of either side is an unforgettable experience. You can tour both Real Madrid's mammoth Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and Atleti'sultra-modern Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, and admire decades of trophies and shirts at their respective museums. Join Real Madrid fans celebrating big wins around the Cibeles Fountain, featuring the goddess Cybele aboard a chariot drawn by two lions.
Flamenco, the legendary Spanish music and dance, is famed for its drama and passion, and there's a host of clubs and restaurants in Madrid where you can experience the energy and colour of a performance first-hand, including the Teatro Flamenco Madrid and the Centro Cultural Flamenco de Madrid.
Eating and Drinking in Madrid
Even by Spanish standards, Madrid is renowned for its tapas, and the lively bars serving these bite-sized delights are a focus of the city's nightlife. Standing at the bar, nibbling patatas bravas (spicy potatoes), chopitos cuttlefish or a bocadillo de calamares squid sandwich, washed down by a caña of beer or a local Malvar or Albillo white wine, is a great way to spend an evening. As well as in the streets around Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, you'll find some of the best bars in Madrid for tapas in the hip Malasaña and Chueca neighbourhoods, also packed with cool cafés and off-beat indie shops. If you'd prefer a sit-down meal, look out for robust local favourites that pop up on the best restaurant menus, including cocido madrileño stew with chickpeas and pork, or for seafood lovers, besugo a la madrileña: red bream with garlic and onion. Churros, sugar-sprinkled deep-fried pastries, are a perfect accompaniment to morning coffee.
The Madrid food scene is also richly endowed with vibrant markets, many of them more than a century old, where stalls overflow with Iberian hams, cheeses, pastries, wines and produce. At the stylish Mercado de San Miguel, housed in a striking cast-iron building from 1916, you can savour gastronomic delights from all over Spain, with numerous stalls run by big-name chefs.
Our Hotels in Madrid
Wondering where to stay in Madrid? The Accor selection of the best hotels in Madrid offers a broad range of properties to suit your budget, whether you're visiting for a romantic weekend, a family sightseeing holiday or a high-powered business trip. If you're looking for accommodation in the centre of Madrid, we have a host of options, including two hotels near the Prado Museum. They range from a boutique 4-star property or a newly renovated hotel with a rooftop terrace to bright, contemporary budget hotels not far from Plaza Mayor. If you're on a working break, you'll find meeting facilities and spaces for coworking at several of our city hotels. If you'd like to enjoy a touch of luxury near Madrid airport, close to congresses, trade fairs and concerts at IFEMA Madrid and still under a half hour from the city centre, book a room at our stylish 4-star hotel with a pool. You'll also find several affordable hotels in the suburbs around Madrid, all still within easy reach of the attractions.
Getting Around Madrid
Many of Madrid's big-ticket attractions are concentrated in the centre and are easily walkable, but getting from A to B in a hurry is a breeze thanks to the efficient public transport system. A fast metro network with 15 lines connecting over 300 stations is complemented by buses, as well as trains servicing the suburbs and nearby towns. The Tourist Travel Pass is a convenient way to save time and money. For exploring on two wheels, you can rent an e-bike from one of over 200 BiciMAD stations all over the city. If you're flying into Madrid, the Exprés Aeropuerto bus connects Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and the centre in around 30 minutes.