Driving from the airport into Madrid you’ll notice numerous high-rise flats, looking somewhat squalid and not particularly appealing. Don’t let them put you off. The closer you get to the city centre, the better it gets. Although Spain’s capital may not have the ambience and attraction as it’s main rival (and I’m not just talking football here) Barcelona, Madrid has it’s own unique personality.
But first of all the basics. Accommodation is plentiful, it’s cheaper than in Barcelona, and often more easily found. If you’re arriving by plane, taking the bus form the airport is the easiest and cheapest way to the city centre. If you’re visiting in spring or summer you’re likely to be jumped upon as soon as you set foot off the bus by people offering you accommodation. It’s often a good idea to take then up on their offer - it’s easy and normally cheap, albeit a little basic. However, if you’re more wary, then there is a booking service for accommodation in the airport, or the bus station, just be prepared to pay more for your room. One thing to point out is that if you are arriving late in the evening on the bus from the airport, the bus station is underground and attacks and robberies on tourists have been known. Just be sensible and aware of your surroundings and you should be fine. The police have become aware of this problem in the last year or so though, and are taking extra measure to ensure this stops.
Getting around Madrid is easy, walking is the best way of doing this since the city centre is so compact. If you are feeling particularly lazy or tired then Madrid has a n efficient metro system, although it isn’t that expensive.
The city is awash with restaurants, and there are plenty of options - I even found a curry house on one visit. Veggie food is also easy to find and there are several good restaurants, my personal favourite would be ‘Biotika’ off one of the side street leading off Calle Huertas (Sorry! Can’t remember the street name, but if you’re coming up from the direction of the Prado, then it’s off the left-hand side of the street about half-way up. The area around the street is full of bars, and the nightlife here is buzzing. Close by is the Plaza de Santa Ana, which is full of bars serving all sorts of tapas – plenty here for vegetarians too.
As for sightseeing, then there’s plenty to do. The Plaza Mayor is one of the places to visit, just for the architecture, although the autos da fe (the trials of the Spanish Inquisition) were held here too. (There are some good bars and restaurants around this area as well). You can go to see the Royal Palace if it’s up your street, it apparently has more rooms than any other palace in Europe and you can get guided tours around certain parts. Many people however visit Madrid for it’s art galleries, namely the Prado, (entrance on Saturdays and Sunday morning is free) which houses works by such great names a Goya and Velázquez, and my personal favourite, Bosch’s ‘Garden of Earthly Delights’. The other gallery that has to be visited is the Reina Sofia, named after Spain’s present Queen, and which houses a more modern collection (if you visit on a Saturday or Sunday entrance is free), The main attraction being Picasso’s stunning and moving ‘Guernica’, the artist’s reaction to the bombing of the town during the Spanish Civil war. However, the museum holds much more than this that is worth seeing and shouldn’t be missed. If, after all this sightseeing you need a rest then the expansive Retiro park is situated in the centre of the city and is perfect for an afternoon’s rest. Be warned, however, that if you go on a Sunday then it will be full of Spaniards taking and afternoon’s stroll, musicians, and small market-style stalls selling arts and crafts. The park is so big though, that it’s still possible to find a quiet spot for a bit of peace and quiet.