Explore Madrid

Madrid runs on a rhythm most cities can't match: late lunches, later dinners, and nightlife that barely starts before midnight. The Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor anchor a historic centre built for wandering, while the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums form Europe's most concentrated stretch of world-class art within walking distance of each other. Retiro Park offers a proper green escape in the middle of the city, and Gran Vía delivers the theatre-district energy after dark. Madrid is also the easiest base in Spain for day trips, with Toledo and Segovia both under an hour away by train, making it a natural hub for a wider Spanish itinerary.