Sol

The Sol district is famed for its Kilométro Cero, from which all distances in Spain are mapped.  Its large square, Puerta del Sol, was reconstructed in the 19th century and is today one of Madrid’s favourite attractions, right in the central core of the city.  Spain’s principal celebrations and victories take place here, such as New Year’s Eve.

Aside from being a shopping and cultural centre, Sol district also features the Plaza Mayor, a buzzing central square built in the 17th century.

Once the scene for bullfights, this terrace-lined plaza is now popular for open-air musical events and of course, leisurely dining with friends.

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Gran Via

With the largest number of quality high-street stores, cinemas and flamenco theatres, this very central district is named after its very ostentatious avenue, Gran Via.
Rebuilt at the start of the last century, the beautiful baroque architecture found here has created a really breathtakingly grand style, fit for jetsetters.

Located nearby are the Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and adjacent streets, such as Fuencarral with its designer boutiques and shoe stores, making up the oldest shopping area, with an array of craft products such as guitars and flamenco accessories.

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Malasaña

Malasaña is the fashionable neighbourhood in Madrid, with a growing number of art galleries and a unique selection of vintage and alternative shopping, as well as the best of Madrid’s nightlife, which stays busy all year round.  

Hip crowds frequent this area, which is perfect for bar-hopping.  Streets around Plaza Dos de Mayo are packed with interesting bars, while Paseo de la Castellana offers up a more trendy selection of cocktail bars and nightclubs.

Nearby, Moncloa-Argüelles is the city’s university zone.  It sports the huge El Corte Inglés shopping mall, on calle Princesa, alongside typical high-street shopping and inexpensive eateries.  Key monuments to visit include the Templo de Debod and the wonderful Parque del Oeste.

Further west of the district lies the Zoo-Aquarium and Madrid’s biggest park, Casa de Campo.

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Chueca

This barrio has had the greatest resurgence in Madrid in the last few decades and is commonly known as Madrid’s Soho.
Although a proudly gay area of the city, it has a very cosmopolitan vibe and an equally mixed crowd.  

An array of fashionable shops, traditional tavern-style bars and outdoor cafés means that Chueca is always lively.

Chueca sits on little zigzag streets between Hortaleza, Gran Via and Fernando VI, and is within walking distance to most other central barrios.

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Salamanca

Salamanca is Madrid’s upper-class barrio, with prominent avenues such as Velázquez and Goya, that pay homage to Spain’s famous painters.

With a border on the once exclusively royal Parque Retiro, this area has a distinct feeling of grandeur and boasts Madrid’s “golden mile” for shopping.
Here you can find the most prestigious designer shopping, for fashion, jewellery and interiors, as well as the capital’s upmarket restaurants and art galleries.

Neighbouring Alonso Martinez quarter has Plaza de Colón, walkable to most points of interest.  The airport can be accessed via public transport from here.
Plaza de Santa Barbara, also good for shopping, has an array of fantastic tapas bars and the Estación de Recoletos, from which you can make day trips outside the city.

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Paseo del Prado

Named after its beautiful tree-lined walkway, the Paseo del Prado district features many of Madrid’s most spectacular fountains, such as the Fountain of Neptune or the Cibeles.  It makes for a fabulous stroll.

Visit here the grand city park, Parque del Retiro; an expanse of green lawns, the Botanical house, lakes and outdoor cafés, or venture beyond the Paseo del Prado for some of Madrid’s well-priced tapas eateries, right in the heart of the city.

The city-central Paseo del Prado and Les Cortes areas offer up an unbeatable selection of art in Spain, being home to the Thyssen gallery and the famous Prado museum. 
The Prado, with the world’s largest collection of Spanish painting, including Goya, El Gréco, alongside classical Roman sculpture, to name a few, is beautifully complemented with the nearby Thyssen’s modern art collection, with a huge range of German, Dutch and American paintings.

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Huertas

This local, traditional area is just five minutes walking from the Puerta del Sol, with an array of the finest tapas bars, taverns and restaurants.

Pretty plazas can be found on exploration, such as Plaza Santa Ana and are popular with the city’s professionals, who meet and socialize in the terrace cafés during lunch.
As ever, home-made (a la casera) tapas are often on the menu and come highly recommended.

This area borders the Sol district with several theatres; the most famous of which is the Ballet Flamenco, where you can revere in the truly authentic of Spain’s flamencos, Carmén.

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Atocha

With its central location on the edge of both the Lavapies and Paseo del Prado neighbourhoods, Atocha district has the city’s main Renfe train station and is within easy walking distance to the major attractions in this part of Madrid.

Its own main attraction is of course the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, its modern art museum, with a score of works by Joan Miró, contemporary and surrealist artists, as well as the world-famous La Guérnica painting, by Pablo Picasso .
Atocha is an open, laid-back neighbourhood, with a variety of authentic Spanish restaurants.  The Thyssen and the Prado are just minutes away.


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Lavapies

This is Madrid’s multi-cultural hub in the city centre.  A large variation of Indian, Middle Eastern and Chinese cuisine blends with traditional bars serving tapas, great steak and cidrerías with locally made cider-sangría. 

Calle Olivar in the district is also well-known for its flamenco scene, with clapping flamenco rhythms, singing and Spanish guitar soundsproviding an ambient backdrop to the lively madrileño crowd in the street.

A very relaxed and friendly social scene, with its central situation just south of Gran Via and minutes walk from the Reina Sofia modern art museum, mean that this is an exciting district for enjoying the best of Madrid.

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La Latina - El Rastro

The steep streets of El Rastro are famous for filling up on a Sunday morning with stalls, flea market bargains and an array of typically Spanish trinkets. 

This area serves a nice brunch, offering home-made paella, beer and tapas at really good value prices.

Part of the old town area in Madrid, La Latina is also one of the most handsome districts, with lots of busy nightlife and interesting leisure spots. 


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Opera

Home of the Royal theatre, this barrio is crowned with the Royal Palace, built in Italian Baroque style with its beautiful sunken gardens, the Jardines de Sabatini. 

With really stunning scenery, you can walk around and take in the Teatro Real, built in 1818, or delightful plazas such as the Plaza de Oriente and Plaza de Isabel II.

This is an upmarket area for fine dining and most restaurants cater for a pre-theatre crowd.


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Ifema - aeropuerto

A short taxi-ride from Madrid Barajas airport will take you to the Ifema-aeropuerto district of Madrid.

A quiet residential suburb, with the pretty Quinta de los Molinos park, this area is famous for its Ifema trade fair and Parque ferial Juan Carlos I exhibition centre.  Ifema is Spain’s largest corporate showgrounds and the most profitable trade fair in Europe, with a 200,000 sqm capacity.

Located by the campo de las naciones metro station, a short journey from the centre of Madrid, the Ifema-aeropuerto district is a favourite for business trips to Spain’s capital.  Companies benefit from easy access to the Madrid Barajas airport and Ifema, as well as more tranquil, luxury executive accommodations, shopping, restaurants and proximity to the championship 18-hole golf course; Club de Golf Olivar de la Hinojosa.

In just 15 minutes you reach Madrid’s exciting city centre, with a dazzling array of museums, theatres, shopping and nightlife, making this a great choice for your citytrip to Madrid.

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