Escaping Heat: Your Ultimate Madrid Guide

by Sana Bun

Escaping Heat: Your Ultimate Madrid Guide

9 Jul 2024

Photo: Florian Wehde

In the new edition of our Escaping Heat series, we share the tips and must-visits of Madrid — a monumental city where a rich history blends with lively modernity, welcoming you with its bustling markets, stunning architecture, delicious restaurants, and extensive art scene. Pack your bags!

Photo: Adrian Valverde

How to get there

You can get to Madrid from pretty much any airport in the UAE, but the available options would depend on your budget and willingness to spend a couple of extra hours on the road.

If you are planning to visit the Spanish capital in the upcoming weeks, get ready to pay at least 4350 AED for the direct flight operated by Emirates from Dubai International Airport or 5500 AED to go with Etihad Airlines from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International.

However, the situation is not hopeless. For instance, Qatar Airlines would take you to the destination for 2900 AED from Dubai and for 2700 AED from Sharjah with a short connection in Doha. So, just hit travel aggregators for the routes and rates that work best for you.

Where to stay

To enjoy the city to the fullest, choose the accommodation in the central areas. This would allow you to easily reach the main locations, avoid traffic, and finally recall what recreational walking is like.

My absolute favorite part of Madrid is the surroundings of El Retiro park. Relatively calm and extremely green, it has most cultural must-visits just around the corner, covers you from the sun with its tree crowns (which is especially nice in summer), and offers plenty of great places to eat.

If you don’t mind a bit of hecticness, move towards Austrias — the oldest part of the city, full of lively local vibe, and find a hotel in Barrio de Salamanca if you have big shopping ambitions and a taste for fine dining.

El Retiro. Photo: Diego Allen

What to explore

Explore the city on foot to get to know Madrid in all its charm.

In the morning, before it gets too warm and crowded, go for a promenade in El Retiro park. Walk in its gardens, join a yoga class, rent a boat, and pop by Palacio de Cristal to check for current exhibitions.

Palacio de Cristal. Photo: Marsela Sulku

After exiting the green oasis, take your time to enjoy the magnificent architecture. Turn to Paseo del Prado and head to Palacio Real de Madrid and Jardines de Sabatini through Calle de Alcalá, Puerto del Sol, and Plaza Mayor.

Plaza Mayor. Photo: Victor

Alternatively, stroll to Calle Gran Via, Paseo de Recoletos, Barrio de las Letras, or pick your own route — no matter where you end up, your inner aesthete won’t be disappointed. As an option, book a guided adventure — for example, the one that follows the locations of The Money Heist series.

Calle Gran Via. Photo: Jorge Fernandez Salas

If you happen to be in Madrid on Sunday, a public holiday, or 1st or 3rd Saturday of any month, don’t miss out on El Rastro Flea Market (Plaza de Cascorro).

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Avenue de Concha Espina, 1) is a must-visit for football fans. Reserve a tour to discover the home venue of the Real Madrid team and examine the events schedule — maybe there is a game falling on the dates of your stay.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Photo: Vienna Reyes

As you are already in this part of the world, take a chance to do a day trip to nearby cities — for example, Toledo, the ancient capital of Spain. Or at least hop by Puerta de Atocha to feast your eyes upon the beauty of this historical railway station with a tropical garden.

Puerta de Atocha Railway Station. Photo: Diego Corona

Museums

Start experiencing art in Madrid with the “Big Three” — the city’s main museums situated in the area known as the Golden Triangle of Art.

The first stop of your cultural program should surely be Museo del Prado (Paseo del Prado) — one of the world’s most famous museums with an impressive collection of classical art, including works by great Spanish artists such as Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, El Greco, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, and José de Ribera.

Cross the street and you’ll find Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (Paseo del Prado, 8) which displays masterpieces of different époques and genres, from Italian primitivism to impressionism and Russian constructivism.

For modern art visit Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Calle de Santa Isabel, 52), specializing in Spanish art of the XX century.

Tip: All these art institutions offer free entrance on certain days, times and venues (in the case of Reina Sofia). Check their websites for up-to-date details.

Where to eat

Tapas

Mercado de San Miguel (Plaza de San Miguel)

Lateral (multiple locations)

Ultramarines Del Coso (Calle de San Joaquín, 16)

Photo: Getty Images

Food

WATTS Cantina (Calle de Don Pedro, 4)

Vinoteca Moratín (Calle de Moratín, 36)

Lhardy (Carrera de San Jerónimo, 8)

La Pescadería & Club Fishermans (Calle de Hermosilla, 46)

Marcano (Calle del Doctor Castelo, 31)

Taberna Laredo (Calle del Doctor Castelo, 30)

Corvina Mx (Calle del Olmo, 35)

La Xida (Calle de López de Hoyos, 11)

Mómö Kebab Not Kebab (Calle de Hartzenbusch, 9)

Little Dragon (Calle de los Reyes, 11)

Monster Sushi (multiple locations)

Red Dragon (Calle de Silva, 18)

Restaurante Maison Umami (Avenue de Juan Antonio Samaranch, 76)

Biang Biang Bar (Calle de Pelayo, 8)

Circolo Popolare (Plaza Pablo Ruiz Picasso, 1)

Restaurante Ogrelo (Calle de Menorca, 39)

Source: mumami.es

Vegan and healthy

Roots Lamarca (Calle de Fernando VI, 10)

Mudrá Plant-Based Food (Calle de Recoletos, 13)

Sanissimo (Calle del Barco, 8)

Frutas Prohibidas (Calle del Conde Duque, 26)

Honest Greens (multiple locations)

Mad Mad Vegan (Calle de Pelayo, 19)

Cookaluzka (Calle de Lira, 8)

Source: rootslamarca.com

Coffee

Umami Specialty Coffee (Calle de la Alameda, 1, Centro)

Hola (multiple locations)

Toma Café (Multiple locations)

Osom (multiple locations)

Cafés Guayacán (Calle de Fernández de los Ríos, 26)

East Crema Coffee (multiple locations)

Café Angélica (Calle de San Bernardo, 24)

Drømme Kaffe House (Calle de Juana Doña, 8)

Placeo Coffee (multiple locations)

Source: somososom.com

Churros

Chocolatería San Ginés (Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5)

Photo: Felix Girault

Ice cream

Brando (Calle de Hortaleza, 55)

TÖTO Ice Cream & Coffee (multiple locations)

La Dolce Fina (multiple locations)

Cora Gelato & Coffee (C. del Barquillo, 37)

Source: ladolcefina.es

by Sana Bun