Madrid Travel Guide

Madrid is the capital of Spain in more ways than one. It is the largest city on the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal). With surging immigration, Madrid is now the third most populous city in the European Union (after Paris and London). With a forward-thinking effect on politics, as well as a major cultural influence, Madrid is truly a major global city of the world. Madrid is also a province and the autonomous community of the same name. It is located on a lousy river called the Manzanares.

Housing the King of Spain, there are many noteworthy places -- the huge Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real (Royal theatre) a restored 1850 Opera House; the imposing 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; the Buen Retiro park, founded in 1631; and three superb art museums: the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, a museum of modern art, Prado Museum, which hosts one of the finest art collections in the world and the newest, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

The population of the city was 3.5 million (December 2005), while the estimated urban area population is 5.5 million. The entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area (urban area and suburbs) is calculated to be 5.84 million. The city spans a total of 607 km² (234 square miles).

Try not to form a first impression of Madrid -- especially from the airport: you see an ocean of mid-rise ugliness that wil soon be replaced by historic buildings and smaller, narrow streets with a very vibrant city life. You'll be joined in the streets by children on the way to school, mothers doing their daily shopping in the small stores and a group of older men that have been catching drinks at the same bar for over 20 years. The poeple of Madrid is perhaps the best attribute of Madrid.

After spending some of the day in cafés or the summer terrazas, get ready for an incredible night -- forget going to sleep -- you'll be out very, very late choosing from a thousand bars, clubs and discos. For whatever Madrid loses out in "beautiful postcards", it makes up for in a fantastic day in the streets and nights out on the town!