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   Madrid, the capital of Spain, is situated in the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula. It is the main communication link to the rest of the country. There are five million people living in Madrid and its outskirts. Its cultural wealth, with museums like Museo del Prado, Museo Thyssen; its monuments, like Palacio de Oriente; its architecture; its parks; its varied gastronomy and Spanish people´s kindness make Madrid one of the favourite European touristic destinations.
   Madrid has a continental climate, with an annual average temperature of 13º degrees centigrades, although in summer the temperature is around 30º degrees centigrades and in winter we can have 0º degrees centigrades. In the outskirts it can snow, and 60Km away form the city you can ski until spring.
   The airport Madrid-Barajas is located 15Km north-east away from the city. You can get to the centre using the subway (135pts), a bus that take you to Plaza de Colon, or a taxi, which costs 3.000 pts. approximately.

Madrid is the capital of Spain since 1562, it´s bigger than any other city in Spain. It is situated in the geographic centre of the Iberian Peninsula. It has a very pleasant climate during Autumn and Spring, with an average of 25º degrees centigrades, but the highest temperature can reach 40º degrees centigrades. Winters are relatively cold, and it can snow once or twice a year. In the mountains, 60Km away from the city, you can ski until April. We enjoy the sunshine and blue sky about 125 days a year. It´s a very cosmopolitan city, with a huge variety of museums, monuments, shops, restaurants, parks and many other hobby places. Madrid is opened 24hours a day. Don´t be surprised if you find yourself in a traffic jam at 4 in the morning. Madrid is one of the best touristic cities for its cultural and artistic wealth.

Museums

Museo del Prado One of the most important art galleries in the world, where you can admire paintings from Goya, Velazquez, El Greco, Rubens, Tiziano, Zurbaran and Murillo, as well as Flemish painters.
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza It is near to Museo del Prado. Here you can find a magnificient collection from the early Flemish to contemporary art.
Museo Reina Sofia Contemporary art from Spanish and foreign artists. Picasso´s and Dali´s paintings are here!
Museo del Palacio Real Art, furniture and decoration from Austria´s Age.
Museo Sorolla Paintings from Sorolla.
Museo Arqueologico Nacional Archeological treasures from excavations all over Spain.
And many other museums: Museo del Ferrocarril, Museo de la Ciudad...

Attractions

Parque del Retiro Marvellous park, with plenty of statues and fountains, it is a pleasant shelter to scape from the crowded streets. Don´t forget to visit the Crystal Palace. If the weather is good you can hire a boat in the lake inside the park!
La Plaza Mayor (main square) It´s the point of departure to walk around one of the most traditional areas of the city, including El Palacio de Santa Cruz, La Puerta del Sol, La Capilla de San Isidro and La Basilica de San Francisco "El Grande".
You can´t miss El Rastro, one of the biggest street markets in the world. Here you´ll find a huge variety of things with low prices.

Go shopping

Madrid offers a huge variety of cosmopolitan items. There are shopping-centers similar to Americans, and shops where you can find souvenirs, and internationally known shops, such as Gianni Versace, Escada, Loewe, Purificacion Garcia, Stephane Kelian, Cartier or Farrutx.

Gastronomy

There are so many restaurants that we can´t make a list, but we are sure you can find restaurants for all tastes. We recommend the typical Madrid, where you can eat a good Spanish boiled dinner (cocido madrileño), a garlic soup, or go on "tapas" and try the cheese and marquetry form the region. If you are looking for a bullfighting restaurant, visit La Taurina, Ctra.de San Jeronimo, 5 (next to Puerta del Sol); or La Taberna, Plaza de Sta, Ana, 3. In Madrid you will enjoy lunch time but remember it is later than in other European cities: from 14 to 16 and supper time starts at 22 hours.

Hotels

We recommend Hotel Reina Victoria (****) in Plaza Sta. Ana, 14. It is the hotel that gives accomodation to bullfighters the day before bullfights. It´s the best place to live the passion of bullfighting.

Nightlife

You will find anything you want. Discos, bars, theatres, folkloric dance shows, jazz and more. This city lives night life, and despite Madrid is a big city, it is relatively safe.

Transport

Subway is the fastest and most popular. It works form 6 in the morning to 1.30 at night. After this time, there´s a nocturnal bus service called "Buho" (Owl) that departs from Cibeles. Taxis are white with a red strip and fares are not really expensive.

How to get to Madrid

By airplane: You´ll land in the International Airport Madrid-Barajas, one of the most visited in Europe, with flights to the whole world.

By train: railway system (RENFE) connects Madrid with all the cities in Spain. The AVE (High Speed Train) takes 2hours and a half to go to Seville. The ALARIS (High Speed Train) connects Madrid with Valencia.

Municipal Tourism Office: Plaza Mayor, 3.(91) 3665477
Barajas Airport International Arrivals (91) 3058656.
Chamartin Train Station (91) 3159976