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Learn Spanish in Madrid with Enforex. Enjoy the capital of Spain. Total immersion at our Enforex school where we offer Spanish courses for all levels.

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Top 10 Madrid Sights, Things To Do, Hotels, Museums, Restaurants & other attractions & sites: the best of Madrid, Spain

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A top ten list of things to do in Madrid, Spain, with recommendations for the best sights, activities, attractions, museums, hotels, restaurants, apartments

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Whilst Madrid is notorious for its lively nightlife it can't compete with the wonders of Andalucia and other parts of Spain when it comes to specific festivals. The main annual event is San Isidro which celebrates the city's patron saint and there are other fiestas specific to Madrid such as Dos de Mayo and Almudena but these won't be particularly noteworthy for the foreign visitor when compared with the better known fiestas of Spain which have earned international acclaim. Madrid is a great city to visit at any time of year so you don't need to plan your visit according to specific festivals. However, here's a summary of some of the city's main annual celebrations in case your visit happens to coincide with any of them.

San Isidro

The festival of San Isidro takes place on 15th May although major bullfights are held at Las Ventas, Madrid's bullring, for the best part of a month around this date. This is the world's largest bullfighting event which attracts all the best matadors. Tickets for the bullfights are sold out for the whole month well in advance. The other side of San Isidro consists of about nine days of varied events with many Madrileños dressed in traditional costume. A whole range of cultural events take place together with concerts and a variety of art exhibitions. You can find full details of what's on and when on the San Isidro Website.

Read more about San Isidro.

Dos de Mayo

If you're in Madrid at the start of May be warned that both the 1st and 2nd are public holidays. Dos de Mayo is a celebration of events on 2nd May 1808 when a popular revolt against the French occupiers began in Puerta del Sol which would lead to the War of Independence in which the French were defeated.

Almudena

Whilst San Isidro is the male patron saint of Madrid, the Virgin of Almudena is the female one. This celebration takes place on 9th November.

La Paloma

During the month of August the majority of Madrid's residents head for their annual holidays on the coast yet there are some important 'castizo' festivals beginning with San Cayetano then San Lorenzo followed by La Paloma on 15th (it's the national holiday of Asunción in the rest of the country). With one excuse after another to party the old centre (near C/Toledo and Plaza de la Paja) is full of those non-holidaymakers who make the most of the ongoing street parties.

Madrid Pride Week

What was a minor affair back in the 1980s when it first took place has become a huge gay festival known as 'La Semana del Orgullo' which attracts around 2 million people concentrated largely on the gay neighbourhood of Chueca. It takes place at the end of June or beginning of July.

Read more about Madrid Pride.

Festival de Otoño

Madrid's Autumn Festival begins during the first week of October and lasts for a month. It is one of the country's top music festivals with dance, music and theatre companies from all over the world. Prestigious events are held in the capital's main theatres including the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro Madrid, the Círculo de Bellas Artes and Teatro Albéniz.

Nochevieja

Puerta del Sol has become Madrid's equivalent to Trafalgar Square in London when it comes to celebrating the arrivalof the New Year. Thousands of people flock there in anticipation of the twelve bells which sound at midnight. As each bell sounds everyone in the crowd (and in the rest of Spain) eats a grape with the intention of finishing the last grape after the final toll of the bell. Doing so brings good luck for the rest of the year. Sounds easy? You will be surprised. Many Spaniards cheat these days by buying tins of grapes which have been deseeded to make the swallowing easier! After the bells the party spreads out around the whole city centre continuing well into the early hours of January 1st. Take a look at our Christmas in Spain article to read about how celebrations proceed during this period culminating in the arrival of the Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos) on the night of 5th January. That night there are processions through the city with the Three Kings throwing sweets to the thousands of children who line the streets awaiting their arrival.

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Whilst Madrid is notorious for its lively nightlife it can't compete with the wonders of Andalucia and other parts of Spain when it comes to specific festivals.

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Spain is having another record-breaking year for tourism. It welcomed 75.3 million international visitors in 2016 -more than ever before - and has just reported a year-on-year increase of 12 per cent for the first six months of 2017. But that doesn't mean you can't still find pockets of seaside tranquility and cities untouched by mass tourism. Let our experts shine a light on some of Spain's best lesser-known gems.

1. Llafranc, Catalonia

Sally Davies writes: "The very word 'Costa', these days, can be enough to conjure up images of towering apartment blocks and litre tankards of cheap lager, but the Costa Brava is altogether classier.

" At its centre is the perfectly proportioned Llafranc, large enough to keep a family entertained on a week's holiday, small enough to catch some peace and quiet. Outside the chaotic but short-lived high season (July and August), in fact, you'll hear little more than the birdsong and the waves lapping on the rocks."

Of Calella de Palafrugell, Llafranc's immediate neighbour, Eddi Fiegel says: "It's one of the region's loveliest coastal resorts with low-rise, pastel-coloured villas facing the horse-shoe beach. Every July, Catalans flock to the shore for the annual Havaneres fiesta, when a stage is set up offshore and groups sing traditional Cuban sea shanties brought back to the region by returning seafarers in the 19th century."

2. Segovia and Salamanca, Castile and León

"Go to Segovia for one single stunning Roman view, and a spectacular piece of Roman engineering," advises Mary Beard, the broadcaster and classicist. "The huge aqueduct, built at the end of the first century AD, on a series of double-decker arches almost thirty metres tall, still comes right into the middle of the modern town, dominating the central square. There is little else Roman to be seen, but Segovia is a World Heritage Site, not simply for the aqueduct, but also for its medieval architecture, from palace and cathedral to monasteries and taverns."

To the west of Segovia, and also in Castile and León, lies Salamanca, also a Unesco World Heritage site. Fiona Duncan writes: "Its intricately carved golden sandstone churches, palaces and plazas blaze in the sun high above the river Tormes. At night, they are magically floodlit, and the city bubbles, Spanish style, with life. It's hard to think of another city that so perfectly combines youthful energy with intellectual pursuit and aesthetic beauty as Salamanca. Its university rivals in historic importance that of Oxford and Bologna and a mix of native Castilians and international students throng the thoroughfares (side streets and squares are mostly delightfully quiet) night and day."

3. Extremadura

Spain's most overlooked region, according to Sally Davies, with good food, even better wine and three cities worth exploring. "Trujillo and Cáceres are stunning, my favourite towns in Spain," she says. "Mérida less so, but it has a spectacular collection of Roman remains."

Following a visit in 2012, Anthony Peregrine wrote: "Under a vast sky, the scorched tableland rolled away enormously, interrupted here and there by tough hills, and then Portugal. This was a land to gallop across with a band of desperate brigands. Lacking same, we drove through the dehesa lands of holm oaks whose acorns feed the pigs that feed the world Ibérico hams. Gradually, the countryside grew loftier and greener and we were curving up to Guadalupe, a fine monastery trimmed with a hillside village. We were soon among more beauty than I could readily assimilate. Magnificent mudéjar cloisters gave way to chambers boasting illuminated chant books the size of a pope, exquisitely embroidered cloaks and chasubles, then works by Goya and El Greco."

Isabella Noble urges a trip to the region's northern valleys: La Vera, Valle del Jerte and Valle del Ambroz. "Pretty La Vera is known for producing pimentón (paprika) and for its odd-angled, half-timbered houses, and hosts a brilliant Parador at Jarandilla de la Vera," she says. "The Valle del Jerte comes alive with cherry blossom in early spring (late March or April); it also has lovely hikes along the Garganta del Infierno gorge. There's more hiking in the Valle del Ambroz, where the town of Hervás flaunts wonderfully a preserved Jewish quarter and some surprisingly fine restaurants. Drivers can easily reach this area from Madrid, 150 miles east, and you can drive between the three valleys via a series of spectacular mountain passes."

4. Viveiro, Galicia

Looking for Spain's best beaches? A trip to the north coast is a must, says Annie Bennett: " Using Viveiro as a base, you could go to a different one every day of your holiday, driving for less than an hour too. Or you could just stick to the beaches around Viveiro Bay, a teardrop-shaped inlet framed by hills covered in pine and eucalyptus trees. This is one of the Rías Altas, the estuaries that dip into the north-west coast of Galicia.

"Covas, the main town beach, curves for more than a mile around the bay; a strip of pale sand backed by a promenade that has frankly seen better days. But no one seems to care; this is not a place for parading up and down, showing off your designer beachwear. Viveiro is all about people of all ages just enjoying the holiday vibe with their family and friends."

5. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country

Overshadowed by its glitzier sisters Bilbao and San Sebastian, Vitoria-Gasteiz is the Basque Country's forgotten gem, according to Tim Pozzi. "From early evening until midnight, the atmosphere around the central plazas and their bar-crammed side streets is as convivial as any I've encountered.

"It's that familiar Mediterranean thing of people strolling, gossiping, waving wine glasses about, while seniors play cards and kids muck about on the steps of venerable churches."

6. Secret Majorca: The Victoria Peninsula

A string of little coves make up the Victoria Peninsula, which separates the Bay of Alcúdia from the Bay of Pollença in the north-east corner of Majorca.

"Even though it is only a short drive from the resort Alcúdia, the area has a remarkably untouristy feel," says Annie Bennett. "Most visitors are Majorcan residents, and I was only there because some British friends who live there decided to divulge the secret of their favourite beach. To get a better look at the coast, we took a boat trip around the peninsula. 'This is a part of Majorca that 90 per cent of tourists don't see,' said our skipper as we sailed out of Alcúdia and turned left around the headland. 'There are so many places where you can just drop anchor, stay the night, and not see anyone else at all'."

7. Alcalá de Henares, Madrid

"This ancient town 20 miles east of Madrid has some surprisingly strong claims to fame - enough to make it a World Heritage Site - yet few people bother to go there," says Annie Bennett. "For a start, Cervantes, Spain's greatest writer, was born there in 1547. There's also the archbishop's palace, where Christopher Columbus beseeched Queen Isabella to finance his voyage across the sea, a magnificent Renaissance university, founded in 1499, and the Corral de Comedias, the only theatre in Europe to have been in use for four centuries."

8. Playa de Mónsul, Andalusia

Another of Annie Bennett's seaside favourites is Playa de Mónsul, just one of a string of spectacular unspoilt beaches in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park in the southern province of Almería. "The owner of much of this part of the natural park, a remarkable lady called Francisca Díaz Torres, died in 2013 at the age of 103. A passionate environmentalist, Doña Pakyta - as she was known - generously gave the public full access to the beaches and fended off all attempts to develop the land. Behind the beach is a landscape of prickly pear cactuses, agave plants and dwarf fan palm trees, with only the odd farm building visible. You could be in Mexico or Texas, which is why Cabo de Gata and the neighbouring Tabernas desert are such a popular location for films, television series, adverts and music videos, from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly to Doctor Who."

9. Es Grau, Menorca

The fishing village of Es Grau boasts a 500-metre crescent of soft, dark sand that backs onto the low dunes of of the S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park. "Sprawling up the northeastern coast of the island, this lake and wetland area is the main reason why Menorca was made a Unesco Biosphere Reserve more than two decades ago, a happy decision that has saved most of the island from excessive development," says Annie Bennett. "A sandy path leads into the nature reserve from the beach, with information panels on the flora and fauna at regular intervals. Follow signs to the lake, which attracts migrating birds in spring and autumn, and after a walk of just 15 minutes, it is easy to feel as if one is in deepest countryside."

10. La Coruna, Galicia

Chris Leadbeater writes: "Lurking in the north-west corner of Spain, this Galician port soothes its scuffed, salty soul on a pair of glorious urban beaches - Playa del Orzan and Playa de Riazor - that teem with life on hot summer days. Its cramped medieval lanes are abuzz with tapas bars, its Museo de Belas Artes is an underrated nugget of visual wonder which boasts sketches by Spanish romantic Goya."

11. Reus, Catalonia

This little town in Tarragona province, about an hour south of Barcelona, is used by Ryanair started using Reus as a secondary airport for the Catalan capital. But it's worth visited in its own right. "The birthplace of Gaudi, it's home to a brilliant museum about the architect, as well as some splendid Modernista Art Nouveau architecture and many excellent restaurants," says Eddi Fiegel.

12. Soria, Castile and León

"A two-hour bus ride from Madrid, Soria is renowned for being one of the most sparsely populated areas in Spain, a forgotten province out on a limb in an unfashionable corner and short of funds to improve its lot," says Annie Bennett. "I knew when the bus had crossed the invisible frontier because the road surface suddenly deteriorated. It has, however, attracted more than its fair share of creative spirits over the years. Painters, writers and particularly poets have been mesmerised by the rich colours of its landscape." The result is a town packed with elegant, traditional shops that's surprisingly lively after dark. There are also Romanesque churches and a 12-century monastery. "It is incredible that there are so few tourists," adds Annie.

13. Aragón

Annie Bennett explains: "West of Catalonia, you enter the vast region of Aragón. The town of Teruel, with its astonishing Mudéjar architecture, the pretty villages of Albarracín and Alqúezar, and the Ordesa National Park, are just a few of the things to see in this undervisited part of the country. And you can fly direct to the capital, Zaragoza, with Ryanair."

Zaragoza itself is the hometown of the artist Goya. "He is the city's favourite son," says Nick Trend. "His statue presides over the main square, while his bust stands proud in the courtyard of the Museo Goya. In the great Basilica del Pilar there are two of Goya's ceiling frescoes, the Museo de Zaragoza has a good gallery of his portraits, and the Museo Diocesano de Zaragoza has one obscure Goya portrait - that of archbishop Joaquín Company - but it's an intriguing museum in its own right, with a good collection of medieval paintings."

14. Navarre

"Navarre, to the west of Aragón, also doesn't get its fair share of tourists," says Annie Bennett. "Go there for the really good local food, the great wines, the historic towns of Tudela and Olite and medieval villages such as Ujué."

15. Toledo, Castille-La Mancha

"Set on hills rising from the arid plains of Don Quixote's La Mancha, Toledo stands tall in Iberian history," says Norman Mailer. "It was the seat of the Spanish court until its 16th-century move to Madrid and its cobbled lanes have been filled with Romans, Visigoths, Jews, Arab and Christians for more than two millennia. It is also a wonderfully intimate city, where one can glimpse leafy courtyards through high wooden doors, wander the tiny alleys around Plaza de Santa Clara, and pause by time-worn houses as piano music drifts through shuttered windows."

16. Secret Andalusia, away from the coast

"A lot of people head straight for the coast, but the north of Andalusia is very rewarding and much quieter," says Annie Bennett. "The white villages in Córdoba province are just as attractive as the better-known places around Ronda. This is where some of Spain's best olive oils are produced, along with the neighbouring province of Jaén, where olive groves carpet the hills and the towns of Úbeda and Baeza are filled with exquisite Renaissance architecture. Hotels and self-catering rural properties are much cheaper in these areas too."

Eddi Fiegel recommends the pueblo blanco of Cazalla de la Sierra, about an hour and half north of Seville. She adds: "At the annual Romeria festival, which takes place every August, a wooden effigy of the Virgin Mary is taken out from the vast 14th century church and paraded through the cobbled streets while senoras, senoritas and caballeros, all kitted out in traditional flamenco, arrive for the festivities in horses and carts. Then the whole village gets very merry."

Jolyon Attwooll, meanwhile, suggests a trip to Villaluenga del Rosario: "It's a peaceful village at the bottom of a limestone ridge - the smallest settlement in the province of Cádiz, with a pocket-sized bullring to match. The Plaza de Alameda, its main square, is ideal for coffee and watching village life unfold. It is also known for its gourmet cheeses, which you can buy directly from the village's factory."

Hikers should head to the Sierra de Grazalema, says Isabella Noble, "filled with deep gorges (try hiking the Garganta Verde), the province's highest peaks and some of Andalusia's most perfect white villages (such as Grazalema and Zahara de la Sierra)."

17. Ribadesella, Asturias

"It's a well-guarded secret that Spain's most beautiful beaches are tucked away on its untamed and unspoilt northern coast," says Isabella Noble. "Nowhere does this ring truer than in dramatic Asturias, where bold rocky cliffs cascade down into the wild waters of the Bay of Biscay, the jagged Picos de Europa soar up just a few miles inland, and sandy strands entice surfers and sunbathers alike.

"Right in the heart of it all is the friendly, unfussed fishing town of Ribadesella, carved in half by the mouth of the Sella river and fronted on the west side by golden, graceful Playa de Santa Marina. As you stroll along the popular pedestrian promenade that bounds this serene kilometre-long sweep, encased by two grassy headlands, you'll feel a world away from the packed-out resort eyesores for which Spain has become notorious - and that's what this place is all about."

Away from the coast, Isabella recommends Somiedo Natural Park. "It's a mountainous, densely wooded five-valley wonderland that sees very few foreign visitors," she says. "There's fabulous walking between high-altitude lakes and elevated pastures, where you might spot clusters of traditional thatched shepherds' huts or, if you're lucky, an endangered Cantabrian brown bear. The small village of Pola de Somiedo, 50 miles southwest of Asturias' capital Oviedo, is the best base; here you can sleep in a converted country house at the Palacio Florez-Estrada Hotel."

18. Cíes Islands, Galicia

Off the coast of Galicia lies the Cíes Islands, billed as the region's answer to the Caribbean - and perfect for those in search of isolation. "There are several walking routes and the islands are popular with hikers and birdwatchers, particularly in the autumn," explains Annie Bennett. "Part of the Galician Atlantic Islands National Park, the land and the surrounding sea are highly protected. Visitors are limited to 2,200 a day; there are no hotels - only a campsite - and just a couple of basic restaurants. There are no bikes, let alone cars."

19. Murcia

Nick Harrison suggests a trip to Murcia, a city brimming with history and world-beating cuisine. "Murcia serves some of the best food in Spain, so it is tempting to spend the day flitting between tapas bars," he says. "But you must drag yourself away, at least for a while, for this city, founded by the Moors in 825, mixes 500 years of Islamic architecture and influence with a fascinating old town of beautiful churches and museums, all in narrow streets and attractive plazas of many shapes and sizes."

20. Binisafúller, Menorca

"If your idea of beachside heaven is a secluded cove laced with pristine, silky white sand, knotted pines and clear, teal water, look no further than Binisafúller," says Eddi Fiegel. "Although you're less than half an hour's drive away from the airport in Menorca 's capital Mahon, you'd never guess; this really does feel like an idyllic island hideaway. There's nothing apart from the beach, a couple of traditional, whitewashed villas and a handful of wooden fishing boats bobbing peacefully."

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20 places in Spain you never thought to visit (but really should)

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Spain is having another record-breaking year for tourism. It welcomed 75.3 million international visitors in 2016 -more than ever before - and has just reported a year-on-year increase of 12 per cent for the first six months of 2017. But that doesn't mean you can't still find pockets of seaside tranquility and cities untouched by mass tourism.

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Catalan, Basque, Galician, and Valencian

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Learning Basque: Greetings and conversation

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No trip to the Spanish capital would be complete without tasting these typical foods in Madrid! Here are 20 local favorites to order.

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Popular and suitable clothing for the weather

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Skirts, dresses, shirts, jeans, T-shirts... whatever piece your wardrobe is screaming out for, you're sure to find it in the shops in Madrid. From large chains to small boutiques, Madrid's city centre is one of the largest shopping areas in Spain. Depending on your style and budget, you can look for that special garment in the modern Mercado de Fuencarral and shops in the Malasaña district, or hunt for you treasures in a top-brand shop in C/Serrano.

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Skirts, dresses, shirts, jeans, T-shirts... whatever piece your wardrobe is screaming out for, you're sure to find it in the shops in Madrid. From large chains to small boutiques, Madrid's city centre is one of the largest shopping areas in Spain.

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Warm-temperate subtropical climate

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Check out the Madrid weather today. Take a look at current temperatures in Madrid and descriptions about the average behavior of seasons in the city.