Madrid City Break - A Few of the City's Many Highlights

Football in Madrid

Perhaps the most famous of Madrid's many football teams is Real Madrid, who call the 85,000 seater Santiago Bernabéu stadium home. If you cannot get tickets for a game, you can still visit the stadium for a tour, which takes in the stadium, dressing rooms, tunnel, dugout and other areas. There is also the club museum, where you can learn about Real Madrid's illustrious history and marvel at their healthy collection of trophies. The fee for the tour is €19.
Atlético Madrid are another of Madrid's celebrated teams, based at the Wanda Metropolitanostadium. Visitors to the stadium can take a tour that includes entrance to the club museum, with its fascinating variety of football artefacts. The tour here costs €23.

Best Museums in Madrid

Madrid boasts a superb array of galleries, some of which can be found in the 'Golden Triangle of Art'. The Museo Del Prado is one of the triangle's best museums, showcasing an expansive collection of paintings, decorative art pieces, sculpture and more. It lays claim to having the largest collection of Spanish paintings in the world but additionally displays Italian, French, German, Dutch and British paintings. The Prado has three specific routes that visitors can follow for one, two and three-hour trips. Admission here is €15.

Picasso is one of the great Spanish artists and the Reina Sofía Museum displays an excellent collection of his paintings, including the renowned Guernica. Its galleries additionally include works from González, Miró and Dalí, among others. General admission is €10 whilst the temporary exhibitions can be accessed for an extra charge. Note that there are free admission days in April, May, October, and December - check the gallery's website or call to find out when.
Completing the triangle is the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, a fabulous private collection of over 1,600 works. Encompassing a wide range of styles and periods, the collection includes a number of gems, spread over the gallery's three floors, making the Thyssen well worth a visit.
The Caixa Forum is a newer art gallery in Madrid. It is notable for its eccentric architecture, which encompasses a vertical garden façade with a multitude of plants on it. Inside, the museum's galleries showcase a wide range of contemporary art.
The Museum of America is also worth a visit, displaying an intriguing collection of artefacts from the American continent including ceramics, pottery, helmets and more. Entry here is a very reasonable €3.

Historical Sights in Madrid

A must-visit in Madrid has got to be the Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande, the cupola of which is rather impressive. It is built in the Neo-classical style and also houses many Spanish paintings.
The Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena, otherwise known as Madrid Cathedral, is the largest in the capital. Here Neo-classical and Gothic architectural features merge with interesting results.
Directly opposite is the Royal Palace, which includes the Royal Armoury. A visit here is highly recommended but leave plenty of time - it is vast! In addition to being open to the public, a number of cultural events also happen here, including classical concerts.

Parks in Madrid

Loved by locals and visitors alike, Buen Retiro Park includes beautiful manicured gardens, the Rosaleda Rose Garden, the stunning Crystal Palace pavilion and a lake on which you can row hired paddle boats. There are even free concerts during the summer.

Where to Eat in Madrid

A visit to Madrid would be incomplete without feasting on tapas. Estado Puro serves up tapas classics with contemporary flair, with dishes including parmesan ice cream and lobster gazpacho. The wide variety of mouth-watering plates means that all tastes are catered to, whilst the tapas tasting menu, priced at €45 per person, is a great option for those wishing to sample more of the delectable creations. Head to Tablafina in the NH Nacional to sample a menu based on the fundamental pillars of Spanish tapas, quality products with protected designation of origin. Enjoy excellent cuisine with regional influences and modern touches with the best cocktails at Restaurant DOMO Abascal and DOMO Lounge & Terrace.

Experience our new gastronomic concept centered around Tea. At Suite & Tea, you can chose between 16 varieties of tea and a choice of savory delights and sweets to relax after a day of sightseeing.
For excellent fine dining with a modern twist, try the Michelin starred Diverxo on Calle de Padre Damiàn. Alternatively, with four outposts around the city, 99 Sushi Bar is a great place to get expertly prepared Japanese cuisine.
Madrid is served by the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. The fourth terminal at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas connects with the commuter train that goes to Chamartín and Atocha stations. Metro Line 8 links the airport with Nuevos Ministerios. There are also shuttle services from the airport to the various districts of the city.

Planning your trip to Madrid? Check out our favorite downtown hotels in Madrid.

Author: Daniel Ruiz Aponte

Front Desk Agent at NH Collection Madrid Suecia

I am passionate about Madrid. During the pandemic, I started a personal project called “Madrid on Foot” to showcase the city. This involves creating routes and stopping at various points to rest and admire the city. I wanted to know: Who lived here? What was here before? Despite Madrid’s many legends, which aren’t always the best news, there are numerous charming places and spaces. These allow us to step back in time and say, “I was there.” To facilitate this, I built a website. However, when I realized it wasn’t reaching the audience I desired, I decided to approach it from the perspective of 8- and 10-year-old children (my own kids). I believe this approach will help sustain my project. Collaborating with travel guides and authors, I hope to reach many people and ignite their interest in visiting Madrid and our NH Collection Madrid Suecia.