ABOUT MADRID
Why Madrid?
The capital of Spain was proclaimed best world destination for meetings in 2019 and has the 36th position in ICCA world ranking. The safety of the city, the good transport connections and its varied culture and leisure offer, makes from Madrid one of the best cities for organizing meetings and conferences in the world.
Madrid is a cosmopolitan city that combines the most modern infrastructures and the status as an economic, financial, administrative and service centre, with a large cultural and artistic heritage, a legacy of centuries of exciting history. It has extensive and beautifully maintained parks and gardens, like the Juan Carlos I Park, which offer inhabitants and visitors the chance to enjoy the sunshine in one of the greenest capitals in Europe.
Transportation
The capital is connected by air directly to the main European and American cities, and by road and train to all Spanish cities. Barajas Airport (with 4 terminals) is located 15 minutes by light train from the city centre and the two main train stations, Atocha and Chamartín.
There is also a large taxi fleet and the buses and metro run regularly and are highly reliable. Madrid’s underground system is in fact one of the longest in the world. Users can purchase single fares, 10 journey tickets, monthly and yearly season tickets or tourist tickets.
Leisure Time
If you want to dig a little deeper into the fine arts world of Madrid, there are countless places for you to turn to. Madrid is full of amazing museums and galleries.
Museo Nacional del Prado. Situated in the heart of Madrid, is a chance to see 7,600 paintings and over 1000 sculptures from artists such as Rembrandt, van Rijn or Caravaggio, among others.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The National Museum of 20th Century art is named as Queen Sophia and includes excellent collections of Spain’s most famous artists including pieces from Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.
There is also a large taxi fleet and the buses and metro run regularly and are highly reliable. Madrid’s underground system is in fact one of the longest in the world. Users can purchase single fares, 10 journey tickets, monthly and yearly season tickets or tourist tickets.
Typical places in the City of Madrid
The City Center: Gran Via, commonly known as the “Spanish Broadway” is a place where you can find many theatres, cinemas and shops. The most important street of Madrid, which has an exciting atmosphere all days. Near the Gran Vía you can also enjoy Fuencarral Street, Madrid’s hub of modern fashion. It is the dividing line between Malasaña and Chueca, two of the most famous neighborhoods of the capital.
Plaza Mayor is the central square of the city. It hosts some of greatest bars and restaurants of Madrid. Its traditional architecture is a must to see and is also typical to eat a “bocadillo de calamares” around the square.
El Rastro is a market held every Sunday in Madrid between 9am and 2pm. A great chance to explore a market with hundreds of stalls selling many Spanish specialties and crasworks. It is located into the lively and colorful area of La Latina, a maze of narrow lanes filled with tapas bars and cantinas.
Parque del Buen Retiro is one of the Madrid’s largest parks, which features many different activities; from free concerts on summer Sundays to rowing a boat in its lake or exercise outdoors.
La Puerta de Alcalá is only some meters away from the main entrance of the Buen Retiro Park. The gate was a real door to enter in the city and was erected as a triumphal arch to celebrate the arrival of the King Charles III in Madrid.
La Puerta del Sol square is the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads (Km 0). The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of the New Year. In it you can also find El Oso y el Madroño which is a statue from the second half of the 20th century, an heraldic symbol of the city. It represents the coat of arms of Madrid.
Typical Food
Madrid’s typical food is full of variety and different flavors. You can find some typical food plates like Cocido Madrileño, a traditional chickpea based stew, prepared with meat and vegetables. You can also eat a ‘Bocadillo de Calamares’, ‘Churros con Chocolate’ or ‘Jamón’.
¡Enjoy this delicious food!