Madrid Events

Festival Flamenco Caja Madrid

If you like Flamenco during this month you have the chance to see the Festival Flamenco Caja Madrid. Among the others, the Festival will take place at La Casa Encendida and the eatro Canal de la Comunidad de Madrid. If you are lucky you will have the chance to learn some steps of the flamenco dance! More information here

Madrid Carnival

The week before Lent (from 16 to 21 of February) Madrid celebrates the city Carnaval. The Carnaval, as usual, will shows parades, processions and a lot pf parties. The Chueca district will be the heart of the event. More information here

Gastrofestival Madrid

From whatsowhen “Madrid’s Gastrofestival celebrates fine food with a packed programme of public events. City restaurants (some Michelin-starred) offer special set-menus, delicatessens and markets host tastings, and even the Filmoteca Nacional screens food-themed documentaries and movies.”

Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair

From the 15-th to the 19-th of February people can enjoy the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair. As pointed at the IFEMA website Fifteen galleries, two bookshops and prestigious professionals from Catalonia are taking part in the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair. The 31st International Contemporary Art Fair, ARCOmadrid 2012, which takes place from 15 to 19 February, will bring together over 200 galleries, 15 of them from Catalonia. Moreover, the next edition of the fair will be attended by some notable representatives of Catalan art at the 10th Experts’ Forum ..

Hotels in Madrid City
High Tech Hotels Madrid

Interestingly enough, if you are an aficionado of paranormal activity, you will enjoy touring haunted sites in Madrid that we have listed here:

Belmez de la Moraleda – located in this small Madrid village is an inconspicuous whitewashed home that Spaniards contend is one of the most notoriously haunted sites in the city. The home is the site of numerous paranormal events, most of which occur within the kitchen area.
Supposedly there are images of human bodies and faces that show on the cement floor and then mysteriously vanish. After these instances created a lot of publicity, the authorities decided to investigate the property and found that the home had been built on top of a 700-year old cemetery. More information about hotels in this Madrid village can be found here

Reina Sofia Museum – the building is the home of “Guernica”, the most famous of Picasso’s paintings as well as and extensive collection of Salvador Dali’s pieces. It is also said to be a haunted structure. The building is over 200 years old and at one time was a hospital which many believe is what counts for the paranormal activity that goes on there. Employees of the museum and many of its visitors have reported numerous apparitions that occur in the evening hours in the central part of the structure. Strange voices and whispers have also been said to occur during this time frame and into the early morning hours which was reported by the security guards of the museum.

Palacio de Linares – this famous structure is located across from the renowned Banco de Espana. It is also the home of the Casa de Americana. The center promotes the cultural diversity of the region through Latin American art. However, the locals also know the building for its paranormal events that have occurred there that was supposedly the spirits of the prior owners of the building.
It was built in the late 1800’s by a wealthy businessman named Jose de Murga after he had it designed by Carlos Collubi, a well known architect of the day. The legend of the Palacio de Linares has it that the paranormal activity is due to the spirit of Murga’s son and his lover who was supposedly the daughter of Murga’s ex-wife.

Our hotels near haunted sites in Madrid
Useful information for accomodation near Reina Sofia Museum and Palacio de Linares can be found at

• Luxury boutique hotels in Madrid
• Hotels in Madrid City
• Cheap hotels in Madrid

Real Madrid:  it is one of the most famous teams in the world, recognized by FIFA as the best soccer team of the 20^th Century.  Many of the world’s best soccer stars like Beckham, Raul and Roberto Carlos have played here during the years.   The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is Real Madrid’s home ground.   This legendary stadium was awarded the top 5-star status in 2007. It has a capacity of around 80,000 people and it’s considered one the city’s landmarks.   The club offers a tour where you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the grounds and a visit to the Trophy Room.  Also you can grab a bite or have a drink at the Realcafe, the club’s fashion restaurant.

Atlético de Madrid:  better known as the “Atleti”, the team has a very passionate group of supporters.  There is a very well known historic rivalry between the Atleti and the Real Madrid.  Every year both teams play the “Derbi Madrileño” which paralyses the city completely.  The team’s stadium is the Vicente Calderón, with a capacity of about 54,000 people.  The stadium also hosts concerts and many important artists like Madonna and the Rolling Stones have performed here.

Getafe: this is the newest team in the city.  It started on the newly named “Segunda B”, which replaced 3^rd Division.  It went to 2nd division in 1996 and won its promotion to Primera in the 2003/04 season.  It has maintained its position since.   The Coliseum Alfonso Pérez is its official stadium.  It was built in 1998 and has a capacity of just 17,000 seats.

Getting tickets for the games is not easy or cheap, so try to plan it in advance.

Be aware business and restaurant hours are different from most of Europe and America. Some banks and shops are closed between 2 pm and 5 pm. Restaurants open for lunch at 1 pm and don’t even think about having dinner before 9 pm; when going to a nice place try to make reservations so you don’t have to wait for hours to get a table. Can’t leave Madrid without having some of its famous tapas! Try the Iberian cured ham, the Spanish tortilla and gazpacho (traditional tomato soup).

Madrid homes two very famous and important museums in the world, Museo del Prado and Museo Reina Sofia; so going for a visit to at least one of them is a most. You can visit Museo del Prado for free Sundays from 17h00 ´till closing at 20h00. Museo Reina Sofia is free Saturdays from 14h00 ´till closing, and Sundays from 10h00 ´till closing.

If you want to know what’s happening in the city during your stay, buy “La Guía del Ocio” for €1 at any newspaper stand. It will be your guide for all kind of activities like concerts, movies, exhibitions, parties, etc.

Hotel Radisson Blu Madrid Prado As close to the Prado Museum that you can get, the Radisson Blu Prado Hotel offers a world of first class luxury within walking distance of all the city sights. Here you can enjoy fine dining, great facilities and staff that know the true meaning of great service

The majority of the desserts that are indigenous to Spain are creamy, rich, and smooth custards that are made from the highest quality Spanish eggs and milk. Historically, many of these desserts were once made by nuns in order to generate revenues for their convents, but today, you can find them in the majority of the bakeries and confectionaries throughout Madrid and the rest of the country. The following are some of the more popular ones to consider whenever you are visiting the city.

Crema catalana – this is the traditional Catalonian custard and is a creamy dessert that features a crisp, caramelized topping. It is similar to its French cousin crème brulée although it is not as heavy or rich. As a result, it makes for an excellent ending to a heavy dinner such as paella.

Hotel Petit Palace Art Galleryis a charming high tech hotel situated in the exclusive Salamanca neighbourhood, near prestigious boutiques, the Paseo de la Castellana avenue and the main business area of the Spanish capital city

Flan – the light and delicious classic Spanish hard caramel-topped custard that can be made in a variety of flavors depending on the region of the country you are visiting. For instance, if you are in Murcia or Valencia, you will most likely encounter an orange flan that is made using the oranges that are indigenous to that region.

Tocinillo de cielo – translated as heavenly bacon or Heaven’s little pig, this is a sweet, traditional Spanish dessert that is made using up to a dozen eggs, lemon peel, and sugar. Normally it is baked in water and has the texture of custard once it sets. Like Crema Catalana above, it makes the perfect ending to a heavy meal.

Polvorones (polvorón) – derived from the Spanish word meaning “dust”, this is a dusty almond cookie that is a very crumbly, yet heavy and soft shortbread, which is primarily produced primarily in the Spanish region of Andalusia. However, polvorones are popular throughout Spain and most of Latin America. It is made with flour, milk, nuts (ground almonds or walnuts), and sugar.

Hotel Petit Palace Plaza del Carmenis a charming boutique hotel in the historical centre of Madrid, nearby the Gran Vía avenue, the main commercial and business area of the city

Churros – although churros did not originate in Madrid, they are extremely popular there and are not restricted to the dessert portion of the main meal. In fact, this is true with many of the Spanish desserts mentioned above. Churros are oftentimes enjoyed with the first meal of the day (breakfast or brunch) or with coffee the first thing in the morning.

However, with so many of these eateries to choose from, it can be quite a challenge to select a location for spending a lazy afternoon. The following is a list of the top 5 cafés inMadridand the ones that you should definitely include on your vacation agenda while visiting the city because of their unique atmosphere and charms:

Café Central – there is no better place to spend your afternoon or evening inMadrid if you love jazz music with your meal. There is always a local artist that is performing live, but occasionally some bigger names make an appearance. It’s a great place to stop for coffee during the day or a filling afternoon snack.

Café del Circulo de Bellas Artes – at one time, this was a “members-only” venue but is now open to anyone who wants to enjoy the combination of Portuguese and Spanish cuisine in a 1920’s atmosphere that is decorated throughout with artistic statues. It is not uncommon to find some ofMadrid’s politicians relaxing here over coffee during the day.

Café Gijón – originally opened in 1888, this historic, old establishment is a favorite haunt of artists, poets, politicians, and writers. It’s also a great place for mingling with the locals and enjoying an hour or two of intelligent conversation. The fantastic setting, outdoor terrace seating, and the quality of the food make this café an excellent summer venue.

Café del Foro – with its variety of live music performances and modern décor, this café is now considered Madrid’s trendiest hangout. Be prepared for crowds of college students and 20-somethings because that is the main audience when the music is playing. Café del Foro is more of an evening café as the primary hours of operation are from 7:00pm until 3:00am seven days a week. It’s fairly peaceful until just before midnight when the music starts.

Café Moderno – if you need a break from the crowds and the hectic Madrid streets, this is the perfect place to hang out for a while and relax over a drink and a snack. The café features one of the friendliest staffs in the city along with a relaxing atmosphere, outdoor terrace with ample seating, and some of the tastiest food you will find anywhere in Madrid.

(page header photo by wamdé)