Our guide to the city, so you arrive knowing where to start.
University crowd
Hipsters, fashion, music and nightlife
Where the foreigners are
Very posh and upmarket
Multicultural
Beers, squares and tapas
You are in luck! Madrid is a fairly reasonable and affordable city to live in or to visit.
Our students Madrid offers some of the best shopping in Europe! A few pointers to find exactly what you are after:
For souvenirs, the area around Sol, Plaza Mayor and Gran Vía. If you want something different, La Latina has craft shops — and the museum shops if you are interested in art. The most famous Spanish souvenir: the hand fan.
One of the most traditional and special things about Madrid are its colourful fresh food markets.
A small traditional market with quality food from many cultures, in colourful Lavapiés.
Santa Isabel 5 · Metro Antón Martín
In La Latina, next to the Plaza Mayor: tapas and prepared bites. If you are short on time and want to try everything, start here.
Plaza de San Miguel · Metro Ópera / Sol
In the heart of Chueca: fresh produce, high-quality specialities and counters to eat at on the spot.
Augusto Figueroa 24 · Metro Chueca
One of the largest markets in Madrid: it has everything.
Bolivia 9 · Metro Colombia
Chinese and Japanese food and South American products at reasonable prices.
Plaza de los Mostenses · Metro Plaza de España
Said to be the biggest market in Madrid, with the cheapest prices in the capital.
Bravo Murillo 122 · Metro Alvarado / Cuatro Caminos
The Golden Triangle of Art — the three great museums:
Spacious, light-filled museums packed with works by Picasso, Dalí, Goya, Velázquez and many more.
And to breathe: the Retiro, the Casa de Campo, the Royal Botanical Garden, the Parque del Oeste, the Campo del Moro, the Sabatini Gardens, the Tierno Galván park or the Dehesa de la Villa.
Around the Plaza de Santa Bárbara and the Glorieta de Bilbao: a great many tapas bars, pubs and restaurants.
The university area, popular with students and young people, with plenty of bars and pubs.
Quality restaurants, summer terraces and several popular spots at night.
Minutes from the Plaza Mayor: traditional restaurants such as Casa Lucio and Botín, wine bars and tapas. Very popular on Sundays before lunch.
Busiest at night, with pubs and clubs until the early hours. Cafés, wine bars and restaurants for every age.
The streets around the Plaza del Dos de Mayo: bars, cafés, clubs and live music. In summer, the terraces take over the square.
The square and its surroundings, ringed by tapas bars, beer halls and pubs. Very lively at night and before lunch at weekends.
And for dancing: Joy Eslava (a classic since 1981), Kapital (seven floors right in the centre) and Siroco (the most alternative, with gigs by new bands).