Matador's Ultimate Guide to Madrid

Colorful culture & nightlife with urban European charm ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Madrid]( Matador's Ultimate Guide to Madrid Hi all, Madrid blends an energetic, big-city vibe with a relaxed Spanish attitude. Spain’s vibrant, cosmopolitan capital has no shortage of [cultural sites]( restaurants, bars, and cafes to explore. Whether it’s enjoying a beer in the funky La Latina neighborhood or shopping on the elegant calle de Serrano, Madrid is packed with urban charm. In the past few years, the city has also been noted for its LGBTQ scene, hosting the biggest Pride extravaganza in Europe during the summer. And if you need a break from the city buzz, day trips to historic towns like Segovia and Toledo are just a short train ride away. Just come back in time to savor Madrid’s [famous nightlife]( with the ultra-late hours this city keeps, that won’t be hard to do. This week, Matador explores Madrid. [Let’s dive in](. [EXPLORE MADRID](  GET INSPIRED [Playa Manuel Antonio]( A Quick Guide To the Neighborhoods of Madrid Madrid, the third latest city in the European Union, is administratively divided into 21 districts, which are further subdivided into 128 wards or barrios. The highly dense urban core has sprawled out over the last two decades, and while some areas have a modern feel, many others keep a suburban landscape vibe. [READ MORE]( [Malasaña]( If You Only Go To One Neighborhood in Madrid To Eat, Make It Malasaña Along with a reputation for breaking cultural norms, this colorful neighborhood is known for its eclectic food scene. Malasaña is the place to go if you want to taste a wide spectrum of Spanish cuisine, from traditional tapas to fusion creations. In fact, there’s a fair case to be made that Malasaña is Madrid’s best neighborhood for people who travel to eat. [READ MORE]( [Sobrino de Botín]( What It’s Like To Eat at the World’s Oldest Restaurant Though this restaurant serves some of the most captivating food in Madrid —it’s not just the food that makes this place special. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Botín is also the oldest restaurant in the world, and going there is like stepping back in time. When you eat at Botín you get a master class in Spanish gastronomy from a place that locals have been eating at for centuries. [READ MORE]( [Madrid Travel Guide]( The Top Things to See and Do in Madrid Where every street corner has a story to tell, and every tapa is a work of art. This stunning Spanish city is filled with incredible sights and activities. Check out our travel guide. [READ MORE](  NATURE + ADVENTURE [high-speed train]( These High-Speed Trains Will Take You Between Madrid and Barcelona for Just $9 Spain’s two biggest cities, Madrid and Barcelona, are located 390 miles apart, and driving between the two takes almost 6.5 hours, making for a very long day of travel. If you want to travel between Madrid and Barcelona quickly, conveniently, and for super cheap, take the train instead. [READ MORE]( [madrid]( 11 Awesome Things To Do in Madrid for Free If you’re visiting Madrid on a budget, you’re in luck. The city has plenty of free attractions and entertainment. Here are 11 of the best things to do in Madrid — totally free. [READ MORE]( [day trips from Madrid]( The Best Day Trips from Madrid There’s enough to do and see in Madrid to occupy several days, or a lifetime, but its surroundings are a wonderful window into another side of Spain, where life occurs at a slower pace than in the capital. Spain is filled with historic towns, and the ones surrounding Madrid are easily accessible, beautiful, and fascinating. [READ MORE](  FOOD + CULTURE [tapa bar]( 6 Essential Tapas Bars You Have To Try in Madrid, Spain Madrid’s food scene is as vibrant as they come. Like most capital cities, it has a long list of restaurants from fine dining to fast food. But to fully immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Madrid, it’s essential to try at least one famed tapas bar. [READ MORE]( [Yaucromatic]( The 5 Best Food Markets in Madrid You can peruse stalls and sample not only Spanish dishes but also foods from Latin America and Asia. These are the best places to go and what to try, in no particular order, to see what makes Madrid’s food markets so special. [READ MORE]( [coffee]( Where To Experience Madrid’s Growing Specialty Coffee Scene You'll find small coffee shops using single-origin beans with unique flavors and experimenting with different roasting techniques. The northern neighborhoods of Madrid are bursting with independent roasters, top-notch cafes, and a diversity of coffee drinks. Here's where to go to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. [READ MORE]( [Barajas Airport]( Where To Eat and Drink at Madrid’s Barajas Airport The Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport is beautiful. The architecture is inviting and the space is massive (the second biggest in Europe behind Charles de Gaulle in Paris). The food, depending on which terminal you end up in, is just as inviting. We just hope you haven’t had too much Ibérico ham yet, because there are many good places to eat it and plenty of beer and wine to wash it all down. [READ MORE](  EPIC STAYS Take the headache out of planning and check out our staff picks for places to stay [Overwater Bungalows]( [Four Seasons]( [Nayara Gardens, Nayara Springs]( [GuideGeek](  [Facebook](  [Twitter](  [Linkedin](  [Youtube](  [Instagram](  [Tiktok](  [Pinterest]( [Update your email frequency and topic preferences here](. Or [unsubscribe from our newsletter.]( We'll be here when you need us! Copyright © 2023 Matador Network, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Matador Network, PO Box 7775, Suite 40021, San Francisco, CA 94120, United States Â