Madrid

Eco-friendly travel guide to Madrid advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Madrid, Spain.

Vista de Madrid

Air quality: 3.5 / 5

Exploring by foot: 4 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 4 / 5

Public transportation: 4 / 5

Parks: 4 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 3 / 5

Safety: 3.5 / 5

Accommodation: US$30 - $600

Budget per day: US$80 - $1000

Responsible Travel

Madrid is one of the biggest cities across the globe. It is recognised for being a centre of culture, art, finance, education, sport, and industry in Spain. The city is the capital of the country and in addition to this, it is the hub of all the major activities that take place. If the population of the entire metropolitan region is taken into consideration, the city is home to over 6 million people. This itself is a sizeable number and the impact of such a large population is often seen on its resources and pollution levels. With over 10 million tourists visiting the city on an annual basis, you can only imagine and estimate the impact it has on the city’s resources. While exploring different places and the general idea of tourism is great, it is also harmful for the environment because of the way tourists travel today. It is of utmost importance to be a responsible traveller especially when we are at the verge of a climate disaster.

Choosing the right transport method: A major part of your travel experience includes discovering every nook and cranny of the city. While you will have transport options like private cars and taxis at your disposal you need to know that not only do they contribute to more congestion and traffic pollution but also emit harmful gases into the environment. So, choose options like walking, cycling, electronic and public transportation in general.
Trying local food: A huge part of the local culture is the traditional food that is offered at the local traditional restaurants and by street food vendors. Instead of just sticking to international fast food franchises that contribute to so much waste being produced in the world, you should try the local options. Not only will it help the local economy but also will directly help the families whose sole source of earning are these small food businesses.
Do not throw waste: As an eco-friendly traveler, you need to promote sustainable living as much as possible in the city to motivate not only fellow tourists but local people. When you visit any tourists attractions especially city parks, make sure you do not throw any food wrapper and do not just stop at that but if you see any trash, pick it up and throw it in the dustbin. It might look like a very small thing to do but has a huge impact on people watching especially the children present in the park since they learn and mimic the behaviour of other people around them.
Choose a green hotel: Plenty of accommodations are available in the city that provide you with a top-notch experience but instead of choosing them, you can pick green hotels for your stay. They use eco-friendly measures to reduce the pollution and waste of the city. This is one of the great ways to contribute towards the city to keep it safe and clean.
Shop local: In order to support local craftsmen and artisans always shop local. During your trip to the city, you will come across small shops and food stalls in almost every lane of the city. If you want to have an unforgettable experience in the city, then buy goods and handicrafts from these shops. This will not only help you to save a lot of money but you will be supporting a lot of local people who are dependent on their small businesses to earn a livelihood.

Air Quality and Pollution

The city of Madrid is known to have quite a good weather, it is often leaning towards the hotter end of the temperature spectrum but you shall have a good time nonetheless. The city has a Mediterranean climate where the summers are known to be extremely hot with average high temperatures reaching the mid 30-degree centigrades and the average low touching 20-degree centigrades. Hence, during these months, you might want to wear light clothes, sip on liquids all through the day, and ensure that you have your sunblock and shades on you at all times. Conversely, during the winter months, the average high temperature is above 10-degree centigrades while the average low temperature ranges between 2 and 10-degree centigrades. Thus, one won’t consider this to be too cold during these months, nonetheless, carrying a jacket would be a good idea. On the whole, it is recommended that tourists plan their journey to the city well in advance and pack their bags accordingly.

Beyond the climate, air pollution and overall air quality in any city is an important factor that is taken into consideration by many tourists before visiting the city. Madrid is the capital city of the country of Spain and as mentioned above it is the hub of all major activities that take place in Spain. This directly affects the environment as industries actively contribute to the pollution, the large population and their high standards of living add to the pollution and one such major source are the vehicles used in the city. Nitrogen dioxides are one such major air pollutant that affects Madrid and all the authorities are working tirelessly to put into place a host of measures that shall ensure effective elimination of the pollutants from the air. To do this, the government has been banning vehicles that do not meet emission norms and there has been moderate success witnessed. Advanced methods of traffic management have also been put to use.

In addition to this, the government is working hard to take steps and reverse climate change as well as reduce pollution, one such major step is the restoration of green areas such as parks and gardens, along with securing biodiversity. While this has had a positive impact, the city yet does have relatively high levels of pollution, so if you are a tourist who wants to explore the city on foot or on a bicycle, then it is recommended that you check the Air Quality Index before stepping out. This shall help you decide whether or not you need to take certain precautions. Also, those tourists who have breathing ailments can take necessary medications well in advance to avoid any untoward incident. Beyond this, there isn’t much to worry about for young and healthy individuals who may have been exposed to worse levels of pollution on a regular basis all throughout their lives.

Respect the Culture

To begin with, appearance is critical to the Spanish public. In any event, for easygoing events, they like to dress exquisitely. They are likely the most richly and generally moderate in dressing in Europe. Outsiders should know this, in light of the fact that numerous outsiders tend to dress calmly in their own nations. In Spain, there is nothing of the sort as casual Fridays when Americans in business and citizens of a few other nations are permitted to dress casually for chip away at Fridays. An outsider who needs to establish a decent connection in Spain will attempt to show great intuition regarding dressing. Try not to attempt to stand apart by utilising gaudy tones. You will misunderstand the sort of consideration. Great shoes are significant in Spain. The Spanish produce excellent leather shoes in the best assortment of styles, so they are cognisant when taking a gander at the shoes the other individual is wearing. Shoes should necessarily be all clean and shiny. Shorts are not worn in broad daylight by men or ladies, except if one is at a seashore resort, and it is during the day. Long jeans are worn around evening time at seashore resorts by men. A lady who wears shorts in broad daylight might be thought of as an individual publicising her body. Yet you shall see numerous progressive hotties strutting around town in their shorts and tank tops because of the comfort it offers in such hot climatic conditions. People wear rich embellishments, for example, great watches and gems. In Spain, it is essential to extend great intuition with regards to clothing. The Spanish invest a lot of energy on choosing what to purchase and what to wear with the goal that everything matches and is in acceptable taste. One will discover numerous ladies whose pack coordinates precisely her shoes. A decent genuine leather satchel for a lady is an unquestionable requirement in Spain. Spanish men have fixations of purchasing great watches, and the individuals who have cash may possess a few. Thus, you are suggested to dress well to make an impact on the minds of the local people.

Once you make an impact with appearance, your next step to being a good tourist is to ensure that you greet the local people well enough, when somebody acquaints you or you meet with a local person, you should warmly greet the other individual, regardless of whether that individual is a man or lady. In the event that the other individual is a lady and offers you her cheek, at that point you can trade two kisses, the first being on the lady's correct cheek followed by the other cheek. The kiss isn't generally a kiss, however, is the contacting of the cheeks, and the kiss is to the air. On the off chance that it was actually a kiss, everybody in Spain would have smirched lipstick on their cheeks and all the ladies would have smeared lips! For social gatherings, you should warmly greet the other individual. It is more normal for a man to trade kisses with ladies in social occasions than in conferences. Guys and females can embrace ladies companions daintily. Male companions can embrace or grasp (the abrazo) one another or contact each other's arms or kiss one another, contingent upon how great their kinship is. In Spain, this is certifiably not a sign that one is gay. Never contact, embrace or back slap a Spaniard you don't know well, except if a neighbourly Spaniard contacts you first. While bidding goodbye, one should shake hands once more.

Individual pride and independence are profoundly esteemed, as are character and rearing. Humility is esteemed over emphatics. Parading prevalence, knowledge and wealth isn't appreciated. Showing respect in the subtlest of ways is an important aspect here in Madrid, especially to the aged individuals in Spain, who are a functioning piece of society and are constantly demonstrated regard and inclination. Their youngsters bring them all over. There are barely any retirement homes in Spain and family is the most significant thing for individuals.

Another approach to show regard to individuals is to call them Don or Doña, along with their first name.

At the point when one is welcome to somebody's home, it is conventional to bring a little present for the lady. The blessing ought to be very much wrapped. In Spain pens, can be gifted, although luxury brands are costly in Spain. These are likewise little and can be gotten in one's luggage effectively since they don't consume a lot of room. Different endowments to bring to a lady are cakes from a decent cake shop. Flowers are also a great option but one must abstain from chrysanthemums as they are the symbol of death. These flowers are most widely used in funerals. Great chocolates wrapped well are additionally a decent decision. One can likewise bring a container of wine.

Beyond these above-mentioned points, to be a good tourist in Madrid, you need to exercise control over your body language and your gestures. Avoid getting into heated discussions and fights as the Spanish are hot-blooded and many take offence quickly, especially in topics of discussion that are close to their heart such as country, religion, politics, sports, and a few more. The Spanish love to banter and can talk for quite a long time. This is known as the "tertulia". Discussion is the most loved way most Spanish invest their free energy in. Most outsiders may become weary of talking following a few hours, yet the Spanish don't appear to get drained! On the off chance that you are eating out with Spanish companions and the discussion goes on until the early morning, you can tell your companions goodnight, in light of the fact that you are not used to these hours. They will comprehend and won't be outraged. They realise that they are evening people and that they keep the most recent hours in Europe. The most loved subjects of discussion are family. They may get some information about your family. On the off chance that you have some issue with any of your relatives, don't make reference to it. It is ideal to keep your family issues hidden. The Spanish have close family ties and may not comprehend your concern. How close are these ties? Grown-up youngsters need to call their folks regular, some of the time a few times. In any case, the guardians will stress and think there is a major issue with their kid. It doesn't make a difference whether the parent and kid live several kilometres away in various urban areas. Another great point to talk about is food. The Spanish are specialists in food, so go crazy talking about Paella, ham and much more.

By following most of the above tips, you shall be regarded as a good tourist, the people shall also take an instant liking towards you and you won’t have to worry about striking a connection. Just try to keep things as peppy and cheerful as possible, the rest shall fall in place with some music, conversation, and pop culture related references.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Madrid as a city is stunning in every possible way and the tourists shall have to ensure that they waste no time if they wish to cover all of the popular landmarks in town. For those tourists who are looking for a readymade list of the best places to explore, look no further, given below is a list of the top 10 places to visit in Madrid:

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium: Whether or not you're a supporter of the club, the reality remains that Real Madrid is Europe's best football team with scores of accolades and trophies, ranking as a most valuable team on the planet as well. Considering much of this, it is truly a breath-taking experience to enter the stadium, any fanatic of the game ought to consider a journey to their tremendously large arena, where history has been made commonly down the seasons. A visit will allow you all-encompassing perspectives on the arena, you'll venture inside the changing area, visit the pavilions and see a wide range of intriguing pieces including the prize assortment, press room and official box.

Puerta del Sol: This stupendous square close to the Casa de Correos which translates to Post Office Building is a famous gathering place, suffused with significance for both city and nation. Virtually every Spanish individual will perceive the clock at the head of the Casa de Correos, as this denotes the broadcast commencement on New Year's Eve. There's a dubious custom included as well: With each toll you should eat a grape for best of luck there are a total of twelve altogether. Additionally in the square the is El Oso y El Madroño sculpture, an image for Madrid since the Middle Ages.

Plaza Mayor: This is a must-visit destination in the city of Madrid. Plaza Mayor is an attractive renaissance square, spread out in the mid-17th century and totally sequestered by notable three-story-high private structures. There are nine doors to the square and inside the porticoes at the lower part of the structures are a few bistros. Request an espresso which is overrated yet vital in light of the area, at an outside table and watch Madrid in real life for a couple of moments. After that, you could meander up to the 4 centuries old bronze sculpture of King Philip III, who was in power at the stature of the Spanish domain.

Gran Vía: On the off chance that you'd prefer to get a feeling of the city, a stroll along the Gran Vía is a brilliant spot to begin. It's Madrid's amusement, shopping and social operational hub, a humming road regularly brimming with life until first light. Sights to spot as you walk incorporate the huge Telefónica Building, underlying 1928 and an early case of a high rise. In the nights there are couples affectionately intertwined, venturing out to the film or a melodic. By day it crowds with customers halting by the numerous shopping centres, high-road stores like H&M and Zara and extravagance boutiques. Also, after sunset, the road shines with a significant number of Madrid's top clubs.

Mercado San Miguel: A simple stroll from Plaza Mayor is this lovely workmanship nouveau commercial centre that dates to 1916. It's to a lesser degree a new produce market despite the fact that there are staple slows down and even more a gastronomic objective to buy the best that Spain has to bring to the table, as cava, pimenton known as parprika across the globe and saffron. It's Europe's biggest civil market with two hundred carts. To do your food shopping like a genuine Madrileño head to the tremendous Mercado de Maravillas in Cuatro Caminos. There's a large group of tapas bars here serving all the top choices like patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and boquerones, with a glass of lager, rioja or vermouth.

Catedral de Sta Maria la Real de la Almudena: Being one of the best supporters of the Madrid Spain Tourism, Catedral de Sta Maria la Real de la Almudena is the prime Diocese of Madrid which took just about 110 years to be built, initiated, and blessed. Owing to such deferral to the political components, it is, in reality, one of the most striking tourist spots of Spain. Adding to its wonder, it stands tall as the main Spanish church that has been sanctified by his elegance, Pope John Paul II.

The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial: A recorded landmark that took the designers of Juan Bautista de Toledo, and Juan de Herrera all together over 20 years of development, the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial is the most prominent of all Madrid and Spain attractions. Standing tall as an observer to the incomparable Spanish Renaissance, El Escorial turns out to be one of the best structural landmarks of Spain.

Temple of Debod: It is accepted that the Temple of Debod was introduced as a badge of thanks by the previous Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser to the archaeologists' group of Spain. Viewed as one of the strange spots to visit in Madrid, the group from UNESCO had spared this famous sanctuary from getting devastated under the thundering waters of Lake Nasser in Egypt and is currently situated in the core of Parque del Oeste in Madrid.

The Royal Theatre: Locally known as Teatro Real or El Real as it is well renowned, this unprecedented drama house is one of the most entrancing spots to visit in Madrid. Viewed as probably the best venue in the whole of Europe, Royal Theatre conveys execution by driving craftsmen from the business of music, dance, and theatre. With a seating limit of almost two thousand people individuals, this social foundation likewise offers very much guided visits to all the explorers the same in different dialects also.

Plaza de España: Much acclaimed to be perhaps the busiest square in Madrid, Plaza de España is the place one can watch the way of life of a genuine Spanish neighbourhood. Situated in a focal region wherein the Princesa roads, and the Gran Vía combine, this Spanish square is exceptionally well known in the midst of the explorers over the world for highlighting the absolute best landmarks in the city. From the tallest high rise of Torre de Madrid, and the famous writer of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's sculpture, to the advertised structures of Palacio de Liria and the notable Cerralbo Museum, Plaza de España has everything that you can't miss.

Puerta del Sol

Explore

Madrid is an immensely popular city amongst tourists and travellers from all across the globe are often dying to visit the city and get lost in every inch of its magnificence. Being one of the most visited and one of the most sought after destinations annually, you can be assured that there shall be scores of tourists and no dearth of attractions to visit. Some of the most prominent ones that you must visit are listed below.

City Parks

Retiro Park: Madrid’s green heart is this park and it is loaded with rich gardens, the Retiro is only a couple steps east from the Prado and was an illustrious property up to the furthest limit of the nineteenth century when it was opened to the general population. The iron and glass structure worked to house the Philippine Exhibition in 1887 is sublime and filling in the lake before it are uncovered cypresses, weird bog trees that turn a dazzling brilliant earthy coloured in summer. In case you're chatting with minimal ones, rowing on the Grand Pond close to the landmark of Alfonso XII is a pleasant choice on a radiant evening. The most antique tree in the city is near too, it's a Montezuma Cypress planted in the 17th century and it is ringed by an iron fence.

Casa de Campo: It is the greatest of the apparent multitude of parks in Madrid. As an edge of reference, it is around multiple times the size of Central Park in New York City. Like Central Park, it additionally used to get negative criticism for being a centre of obscure illegal businesses, yet a ton of work has been done to change that. Today it is a massively famous spot to have an excursion, go biking or basically go for a relaxed walk. It is one of the features of the city, particularly in case you're visiting Madrid in Fall.

Campo del Moro: It is a reference to the twelfth-century endeavour of a Moorish recovering of Madrid. It has one of the most intriguing accounts of the apparent multitude of parks in Madrid. During this mission to vanquish what was then the Royal Alcazar of Madrid which is presently Royal Palace, a Moorish chief rested a night in this Madrid park, giving it the name Campo del Moro. Today it is arranged on the western side of the Royal Gardens and is an exquisite spot to visit.

Jardín del Príncipe de Anglona: A delightful walled garden in the core of old Madrid, the Garden of the Prince of Anglona is an entryway to a lot more established time in Spain. The Prince of Anglona was Pedro de Alcántara Téllez-Girón y Alfonso-Pimentel and this is the nursery that had a place with what was at one time his royal residence. It was made in the days when Goya was meandering around the city and is one of the numerous authentic parks in Madrid.

Royal Botanical Gardens: These are a concealed jewel among the numerous parks in Madrid. It was in 1774 that King Carlos III concluded that he simply needed to have some greenhouses. Francesco Sabatini, the Italian modeller who planned the Puerta de Alcalá, additionally planned these nurseries. Home to three distinct nurseries with three unique atmospheres and more than 30,000 types of plants, these nurseries are a flat out must-find in Madrid! You can discover them directly close to the Prado Museum.

Casa de Campo Lake at Dawn

National Parks

Sierra de Guadarrama National Park: It reaches out over the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range and is the fifth largest national park in Spain. Eminent highlights of this region incorporate the Puerto de Navafría pass and La Morcuera and Siete Picos mountain ranges. This park is situated in Madrid and Castilla y León. The territory is rocky and incorporates frosty lakes, prairies, pine woodlands, and lush backwoods. The atmosphere goes from cool to moist which offers path to an assortment of greenery, it is accounted for that in excess of 1280 species flourish in the recreation center. There are the Iberian royal falcon, dark storks, deer, wild hogs, mountain goats, and foxes, among numerous others. For those keen on trees and plants, there are oak, juniper, and wild pine.

Sierra de Guadarrama National Park

Beaches

Those tourists who enjoy swimming in the ocean on their vacations or like relaxing on the sandy beaches, sunbathing and rubbing lotion on their body while cooling off with a chilled beer shall find Madrid to be a disappointing place. The city does not have any beaches so you won’t be able to enjoy the hot weather by the ocean. The nearest city that has a beach is Valencia and it is approximately an hour’s journey if you opt to commute via train.

Landmarks

Royal Palace: You need to go inside for the full experience in light of the fact that the illustrious assortments and frescoes are heavenly. You can see the main string group of four of Stradivarius instruments on the planet, and the Royal Armoury that incorporates the individual weapons utilised by Charles V in the sixteenth century. There are works by Goya, Caravaggio and Velázquez, just as shocking showcases of watches, embroideries, porcelain and flatware. Built during the 18th century for King Philip V, the Royal Palace is on the site of Madrid's Moorish Alcázar post royal residence, which torched in the year 1734. It's the biggest imperial castle in western Europe and has a mix of elaborate and neoclassical styles.

Plaza de Cibeles: Lodging the unbelievable and the striking Cibeles Fountain, and the exceptional Cybele Palace, Plaza de Cibeles is the most notorious landmarks of Spain. Situated at the junction of the locale of Salamanca, Retiro, and Centro, Plaza de Cibeles is additionally home to the Buenavista Palace, Linares Palace, and the striking Bank of Spain.

Círculo de Bellas Artes: Be it writing or theory, visual expressions or expressive arts, science or performing expressions, Círculo de Bellas Artes opens inventive ability with great affection. Despite the fact that this idea may be new to the greater part of voyagers around, yet this private organization increased a lot of popularity whenever it was proclaimed the official "Place for Protection of the Fine Arts and Public Interest", in 1880. Additionally, don't pass up the entrancing horizon perspectives on the Madrid city from its housetop and savouring some credible cooking from the housetop eatery.

Puerta de Alcalá: The term is gotten from the base of Alcalá, which in Arabic, in a real sense converts into a fortress. Also, that is the way, this magnificent entryway which filled in as the fundamental access to Spain during the mid-sixteenth century, gotten its current name. As notable the way things are, it is to be sure one of the most generally critical landmarks of Spain.

Palacio de Cristal: In spite of the fact that this enchanted landmark is situated inside the previously mentioned Buen Retiro Park, it merits a unique notice on the list. Viewed as one of the most loved spots to visit in Madrid for local people and sightseers the same, Palacio de Cristal is totally made out of glass and metal which fills in as the best site to grandstand the appeal of greenery during public shows.

The Royal Palace of Madrid

Museums

The Prado: Significant to visit in Madrid, the Prado is truly outstanding and most mainstream workmanship museums on the planet. Spain is spoken to by Velázquez and El Greco, the low nations by Rembrandt, Brueghel, van Dyck and Rubens, while Titian, Caravaggio, Botticelli and Tintoretto structure the Italian unforeseen. There's a mind-boggling assortment of show-stoppers by renaissance and elaborate bosses. The craftsman with most works hanging at the Prado is the Spanish Romantic Goya, whose 14 Black Paintings are a Spanish social reference point. Of the many must-see works are Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights and David with Head of Goliath via Caravaggio.

National Archaeological Museum: With important art pieces assembled from across Spain, this exhibition hall is an outing through Spain's rich history. What may shock you is the abundance of superb things that originate before the Roman time frame. The Lady of Elche is a bust of a lady with an unimaginably point by point hood and curls over her ears. The best of these Iberian fortunes and figures look practically new, notwithstanding being in any event 2.5 millenniums old. A lot later yet no less noteworthy is the Treasure of Guarrazar a Visigothic set of crosses and votive crowns.

Reina Sofia Museum: Adjust your excursion through Madrid's speciality assortments with the third exhibition hall on the Golden Triangle. This museum is principally based around Spanish workmanship and is more current in scope than the others. Among the other Spanish greats spoke to at Reina Sofía are Joan Miró, Juan Gris and the significant unique stone worker Eduardo Chillida. The best motivation to come is to the numerous works by the twentieth-century specialists Picasso and Dalí. Just to show that isn't pointless excess: Picasso's age making Guernica is in plain view, so it's an open door you truly shouldn't miss.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art: On the off chance that you actually have a craving for craftsmanship after the Prado, wander over to this historical centre, which is likewise essential for Madrid's "Golden Triangle of Art". You shouldn't get impeded, in light of the fact that the attractions in the Triangle are corresponding, each covering schools and periods that the others don't. So at Thyssen-Bornemisza, you can see works from the English and German schools by craftsmen like Hans Holbein, Hans Baldung Grien and Albrecht Dürer. There's additionally a major assortment of American conceptual expressionism, and a large group of impressionist and post-expressionist pieces by any semblance of Monet, Renoir and Degas. These are joined by pieces from other renaissance aces like Tintoretto, Veronese, Rembrandt, van Dyck and many more.

National Archaeological Museum

Eat

Madrid is a mixture of commonplace food from each area of Spain. Andalusian bars flaunting incredible gazpacho sit close by Galician eateries publicising piling plates of pulpo a feira which is essentially Galician-style octopus. Try not to get excessively gotten up to speed in food from different locales, however! Madrid's own run of the mill food is definitely justified even despite your time. No outing to the Spanish capital would be finished without tasting, at any rate, a couple of these commonplace nourishments in Madrid:

Callos: It is one of the commonplace nourishments in Madrid throughout the winter. You'll ordinarily discover this stew in an earth dish. It highlights pieces of beef, lumps of chorizo and cuts of morcilla. The smoky, appetizing stew has been a mainstream chilly climate dish in Spain's bars and bars for a very long time. The principal plans for Callos go back to the sixteenth century! The paprika for the most part colours this healthy stew red. You can discover it in many bars and eateries all through the capital city throughout the winter months.

Churros: They are a staple of Madrid's nightlife and an unequivocal must-have for Madrid's holiday-goers during the extremely rare hours. For non-nighttime Madrileños, churros with some steaming sweltering, thick chocolate are a typical evening nibble and are even sometimes had for breakfast!

Pincho de Tortilla: A type of Spanish omelette, is a staple of Spanish cooking and one of the most regular nourishments in Madrid. Here in the capital city, the enormous variety of this straightforward dish is on conspicuous showcase. You can discover each assortment of tortilla de patatas. Some are runny heaps of egg and potato that you need to gather up with bread. Others are firm cuts including everything from caramelized onions to mushrooms to frankfurter to peppers. Most bars in Madrid will serve a little square of tortilla with a toothpick as a tapa, yet to completely appreciate this dish, a pincho which is a marginally bigger cut of tortilla is an absolute necessity!

Cocido Madrileño: With the drop in temperature, the smell of this stewing pork stew starts to drift through the roads of Madrid. The most well-known interpretation of the customary Spanish stew ordinarily comprises of a delightful stock brimming with vegetables, chickpeas, chorizo frankfurter, and pork. The stew stews for as much as four hours, making a mix of radiant, strong flavours that make for the ideal fix to Madrid's frigid climate.

Traditional Local Restaurants

Those tourists who are headed to Madrid for a great feast and to explore the Spanish cuisine shall be in for a delight as Madrid is a centre point for Michelin-star restaurants, contemporary Spanish combinations and customary culinary culture. The city is acclaimed for its energy for food and is home to probably the best gourmet specialists on the planet. Madrid is an absolute necessity for foodies who love cutting edge culinary exploits. Some of the best authentic Spanish restaurants in the capital city are:

Cantina la Traviesa: This eatery is a top choice among local people because of its renowned fish paella and amiable environment. An exuberant and valid Spanish eatery, Cantina la Traviesa is currently in its 4th era and has been essential for Madrid's culinary scene for over a century. Its set of experiences extends back to the early 20th century when scholarly people would meet and drink there. Cantina la Traviesa is an ideal spot to be revelled and completely drenched in the nearby Spanish setting while as yet footing reasonable bills.

Santceloni: The group of cooks at the eatery are the vital aspect for winning a Michelin star the very year of its opening. After its fruitful initiation in the early 21st century, the eatery was granted another Michelin star four years later and also various different honours. Santceloni's group of gourmet specialists prepared under the esteemed Santi Santamaría before moving to Madrid and moving their culinary information into the kitchens of Santceloni. The inside is contemporary and basic and doesn't occupy from the world acclaimed Haute food the café guarantees. Its 'Extraordinary Menu' is adjusted for every visitor and fuses the freshest food from the day by day market.

El Club Allard: When a private individuals club, El Club Allard became available to general society since 2003 it became immensely popular. Nearly concealed away, its subtle passage drives the burger joint through to an exquisite space inside this mid-20th-century building. The culinary passage of gourmet expert Diego Guerrero Alava has been praised with the introduction of two Michelin stars, the first was earnt in 2007 and the other in 2011. Famous for their imagination, the dishes are presented with an aesthetic introduction which really epitomises the connection between craftsmanship and cooking.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Those tourists who are vegan or vegetarians shall not have to worry too much in a big city such as Madrid, here you shall have the option of devouring the finest vegan and vegetarian cuisine that too at some of the most reputed restaurants, a few of these are listed below:

La Encomienda: In case you're searching for a stylish, vegan brunch or lunch spot, La Encomienda is the best choice. Also, in the event that you stop by later for a beverage, you'll appreciate the free tapa that accompanies it.

Vega: It is one of the best vegan restaurants in town and you have an extensive menu to choose your dishes from.

La Colectiva: In case you're going with non-vegans who don't accept that a vegan eatery can simply be undisputedly acceptable, take them here. La Colectiva Café will wow a large number of your doubtful meat-cherishing companions.

B13: This is a must-visit eatery for lip-smacking, authentic Spanish bites such tortilla and croquetas, it is totally vegan, so go have a blast!

Street Food

Football is an immensely popular sport in the city of Madrid and the nightlife is absolutely ecstatic. One might wonder what either of these has to do with the street food found here. However, there is a direct connection as it is only during football matches and after partying that the local people love digging into the sumptuous street food found in the city. There are plenty of students and daily wage workers who enjoy daytime meals, you too could enjoy the following street food specialities in Madrid:

Huevos Rutos
Bocadillo de Calamares
Oreja a la Plancha

Drink

The cuisine of Spain is renowned for its rich flavours and interesting blends of ingredients and spices. However, the Spaniards are famous for their drinks as well. They absolutely love their beverages and whether or not they are drinking alcohol, you shall see them relish these beverages all the same.

First, we shall list out some of the popular non-alcoholic drinks that you can try in Madrid:

Horchata
Mosto
Latin Limeade
Agua Fresca
Chocolate Caliente
Champurrado

The Spaniards are passionate about drinking and here in Madrid, you shall find some of the world’s best cocktails and spirits. Just head to any party and have a blast downing some of the most renowned drinks:

Clara
Vermouth
Cava
Sangria

In addition to these, you can also enjoy some beers as the country is the 4th largest producer of beer in Europe. The known brands are Estrella Damm, Mortiz, Cruz Campo, San Miguel, and Mahou.

Tap-water

Madrid has probably the best tap water in Spain. There is literally nothing hazardous, dangerous or even unsavoury about it. Madrid's tap water is thoroughly perfect and uncontaminated, and you ought to have no misgivings at all about drinking it. However, if you have a weak tummy and don’t wish to take any risks, you can always choose to buy bottled mineral water.

Organic Cafés

Eating organic food and having sustainable meals at cafes and restaurants is the new trend. This is increasingly beneficial for the environment and it also helps keep an individual fit and healthy. Thus, if you are one such individual, you shall find plenty of like-minded people at some of the best organic cafes in town, these are listed below:

Al Natural: The gourmet specialists acknowledge the café's name, utilising the freshest of fixings picked from their natural nurseries on the edges of Madrid. Al Natural's way of thinking is to cook with not many flavours, permitting their quality fixings to represent themselves.

La Vaqueria: Designed for a much more fine dining organic experience, La Vaqueria, just ticks all the boxes with their intricate dishes and season-according natural produce. Suppers here are somewhat pricier than different choices on this rundown of organic cafes but it is worth every bit of your time and money.

La Biotika: This vegetarian café is in the focal point of the city and it presents a variety of dishes arranged with natural vegetables and ecologically created grains sourced as locally as could reasonably be expected. Other than flavourful eating alternatives, La Biotika likewise holds cooking classes, conversations and other network functions. Nearby the lounge area has a little store which sells natural, vegan and vegetarian goods.

Breweries

As mentioned above, the people of Madrid are passionate about their brews and keeping in mind the hot weather in the city, you can be assured of several litres being consumed by a beer-loving individual for the most part of the year. Given below are some of the prominent breweries in town that you can visit for a soul-satisfying pint of beer:

La Virgen: This brewery, simply outside Madrid, makes an extraordinary road trip from the capital. La Virgen is one of the most mainstream nearby speciality lager brands and at their primary distillery, guests can take a visit, become familiar with the brew blending measure, at that point appreciate tasting some in the taproom close by American-style dishes of art like sausages and burgers.

Chinask: Pouring almost twenty varieties of beer, Chinaski is an extraordinary spot on a lager trail around Madrid. Set in the multicultural barrio of Lavapiés, the bar has brews from Spain and around the globe, even gluten-free alternatives. There's a decent menu to go with the lagers, including cheddar, Danish smorrebröd and German frankfurters.

Fábrica Maravillas: It can be found on Calle Valverde in Malasaña, simply off the bustling Gran Vía. Go on an end of the week evening to beat the groups, or pack in with the punters later on and request a Malasaña, their nearby IPA. Try not to miss a look at their tempered steel lager tanks, in glass-fronted rooms simply behind the bar. It is a must-visit if you are looking to enjoy a good pint of beer, predominantly because of the history associated with it. Fábrica Maravillas is the first microbrewery to set up in the capital city of Spain.

Activities

Madrid as a city offers a tonne of activities for tourists to enjoy and many of these involve exploring the outdoors, you could either go walk around the city and admire the architecture, you could try your hand at photography, or you could even go for a trek and head to Seven Peaks Ascension.

Yoga and Retreats

The people of Spain are known to be in good shape and the secret behind the fitness of many is the regular practising of yoga by these individuals. As a tourist, if you wish to practice yoga in Madrid, you could either do this on your own or you could choose to meet like minded individuals and have some fun and learn a lot more at some of the best yoga retreats and centres in town:

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre
Madrid City Yoga
Yoga Centre

Accommodation

Being the capital city of the country, Madrid does have outstanding accommodation options to offer to all the tourists who are visiting. Right from luxurious five star hotels to budget oriented hotels with basic amenities. You also have a wide selection of home stays and apartments for rent in addition to the hostels available. More details about the same are given in the sections below, so keep reading to know more.

Green Hotels

NH Collection Eurobuilding: This hotel is TripAdvisor GreenLeader Silver named and is devoted to reusing all through. The Eurobuilding additionally offers biodegradable toiletries with reused bundling and partakes in low compound cultivating. Aside from its green status, the hotel is likewise home to one of Madrid's trendiest Michelin-featured restaurants, DiverXO.

Hotel Ópera: Another Green Key affirmed hotel, the Hotel Ópera has a carbon footprint of about six kilograms per room every night, which is one of the lowest in Madrid. The rooms are spotless and savvy and the area, which is directly opposite the Palacio Real, is ideal for the travel industry. The hotel additionally has a well-prepared rec centre and a sauna.

Artiem Hotel: This is viewed as the main metropolitan green hotel in Madrid. The Artiem Hotel is situated on the edges of town, helpful for parks and admittance to nature. The hotel is devoted to sound living and wellbeing, with an accentuation on moderate cooked, natural food like freshly pressed juices and plates of mixed greens. There is even in-room practice gear and a contemplation space, in addition to a very much supplied hotel exercise centre. In-room reusing containers assist visitors with downplaying waste as well.

Hostels and Guest Houses

Bastardo: It opened barely two years ago with a lucky area between the trendy Malasaña and Chueca, the focal point of the city's LGBTQ scene. Its classy style coordinates the area, with a hip, glass-fronted common space, bar, café and rooftop patio, just as rooms named after social illuminating presences, for example, Patti Smith and Luis Buñuel. The perfect residences include worked in wooden lofts and glimmers of neon, rooms range from six-bed dormitories to private pairs and family rooms and there's even one with its own special rooftop porch. Something beyond a spot to lay your head, Bastardo is a genuine social centre point, facilitating customary shows, film screenings and displays.

The Hat: Referring to itself as the hostel for clever voyagers, The Hat is situated in a period assembling simply off Madrid's memorable Plaza Mayor, directly in the focal point of the city. The stylistic theme is overwhelmed by clean lines, a white shading plan and mechanical contacts, causing this sensibly estimated lodging to feel more like a creator hotel. Voyagers are welcomed with an invite lager on the inn's rooftop bar; serving mixed drinks and a choice of tapas, this is an extraordinary spot to begin the night.

Apartments

Leasing apartments on your excursion to the city of Madrid is a choice in the event that you lean toward them over hotel rooms or give importance to your privacy or if you have a couple of companions going with you. Without a doubt enough, Airbnb is very famous here alongside a couple of other comparable applications and websites.

Couchsurfing

CouchSurfing in Madrid is extremely popular, most young adults open their doors to welcome people from other countries to come and stay at their crib. As a tourist, you can find suitable hosts on various online platforms and once you do get one, make sure you be useful at home, strike a genuine connect and repay the gesture with a small token of appreciation.

Camping

Camping is a fun activity in Madrid, many people enjoy the outdoors and with no shortage of nearby camping areas and scenic locations, you too could go solo or with a group of friends and like-minded individuals. Peñalara Natural Park and Valle de la Barranca are two such locations worth exploring.

How to Get There

Being the capital city of the country of Spain, reaching Madrid is absolutely easy from any major city in any corner of the world. The city is extremely well connected via all possible means of transportation and details about the same are listed below.

Air

The city is served by the Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport which handles both the international and domestic flights. The airport is extremely well connected to the city via all means of local transportation as well, so if you are headed her via a flight you won’t have much to worry about.

Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport

Bus

The city of Madrid is extremely well connected via buses from both national and international destinations. Most European destinations in neighbouring countries are easy to reach and the Estación Sur de Autobuses is the centre of all bus transportation in the city.

Train

Reaching Madrid via railway is a great option for most tourists because not only is it a greener option but the city is well connected to most important international destinations via high-speed rail.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking in Madrid is extremely common and as a tourist, you could explore this as an option, the people are friendly and you won’t need to pay either. But it is always nice to make some small talk and perhaps buy a cup of coffee or a meal for your host at one of the halts.

Others

Beyond the above-listed means of transportation, you don’t have any other ways to reach Madrid.

Moving Around

Madrid has a phenomenal local transportation network and it offers a host of options for tourists to choose from. Many of these are extremely efficient and eco-friendly as well.

Walk

Walking around town to explore the various landmarks and destinations is a great option, not only is it extremely convenient but it is also eco-friendly and allows you to wander around and appreciate everything at your own pace.

Bicycle

Bicycles are available for rent and you can definitely consider cycling to be a great option to travel to nearby destinations and get in some exercise while not polluting the environment in any possible way.

Electronic Vehicles

Electric Vehicles are only recently gaining traction in Madrid and you can see a few available on rent, however, their availability is limited.

Public Bus

The public bus network comprises of over three thousand vehicles and you can certainly board a bus and head to your destination with great efficiency and connectivity as it covers almost four thousand kilometres.

Tram, Train and Subway

Madrid has an elaborate metro comprising of over three hundred stations and twelve lines. There is also a local rail network in addition to the single cable car. You can conveniently choose one mode depending upon your destination and urgency.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping is amazingly fundamental in the event that you wish to be an eco-accommodating traveller. Every thing of attire or extra you buy builds your carbon footprint significantly, more so supporting nearby organisations will assist you with adding to the fight against combinations that abuse the planet and its common assets for insatiability.

Food Markets

There are quite a few interesting food markets that are available for customers to peruse if they want fresh ingredients and good food products, given below are a few such food markets:

Mercado de San Ildefonso
Mercado de Antón Martín
Platea

Flea Markets

Flea markets are interesting places to hunt for bargains knick-knacks and souvenirs, a few popular ones are:

Mercado de Motores
El Rastro
Mercado Central de Diseno

Second Hand Stores

Second-hand shops and thrift stores are popular in Madrid, a few stores worth visiting for great buys are:

Flamingo Vintage Kilo
La Mona Checa
The 2nd Room

Eco-Fashion

In Europe, as a whole, people are very conscious about the manner in which their clothing is made, sustainability’s important and hence many eco-fashion stores have popped up and the story is no different even in Madrid.

Recycling

Recycling in Madrid is highly efficient with almost 30% of household waste being recycled systematically. This number is close to the 50% mark around 2020 but it is yet to be officially declared, all materials from metals to glass are recycled.

Waste

Waste collection is quite efficient in Madrid and what aides in making the system accurate and simpler is the presence of bins of various colours to segregate different waste materials.

Work and Study Abroad

Madrid is a hugely well known city where individuals from all over the globe come to study and work at probably the most renowned corporations and firms.

Exchange Student

Being part of the European Union, the exchange of students from neighbouring nations for educational programmes is very much a regular occurrence. There are plenty of scholarships offered to students across the globe as well.

Au Pair

Being an Au Pair is common here and on the off chance that you have the correct contacts or find the perfect host you could get yourself an overall decent home with good pay and less workload.

Volunteering

Clearly, there are a few issues to tackle in Madrid and you can do your bit for society by chipping in through volunteering for different undertakings being attempted particularly by NGOs and government initiatives.