Madrid

Spain·Europe

Currency

EUR

Language

Spanish

Timezone

Madrid

Continent

Europe

Our guide

Discover Madrid

Madrid has no sea and no single monument that sums it up, which is exactly what makes it pleasant: a city to live in rather than tick off. Its heart is the art triangle — the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza — three museums minutes apart that between them run from 12th-century painting to Guernica.

When to go

April to June, September to October. The Madrid summer is dry and brutal, often past 38 °C, and the city empties in August. Winter is cold and bright — Madrid is Europe's highest capital, at 650 metres.

Getting around

The metro is among Europe's best: dense, clean, cheap. But the centre, from Puerta del Sol to the Retiro, walks easily. What matters more is the local clock: dinner is at nine or ten, and an empty restaurant at eight is not a bad sign.

Where to eat

Botín, open since 1725, is recognised by Guinness as the oldest restaurant in the world still trading — you go for the suckling pig and for the history. Chocolatería San Ginés has served churros and chocolate since 1894 and stays open late. The Mercado de San Miguel is handsome but touristy: the good tapas bars are in the streets around La Latina.

Good to know

The major museums are free at the end of the day — the Prado in its last hour, the Reina Sofía too — which is worth building a day around. Seven halal addresses are listed.

Smart Planning