Holiday lettings in Madrid

Madrid can be a busy city so make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment. It is also important to choose a barrio which makes sure you get exactly what you want from the city. Salamanca offers luxury, shopping and history and bears the reputation of being the wealthy barrio of Madrid, while on the other hand, Malasaña is an alternative neighbourhood with hip streets and street art. Visitors can wander amongst fantastic markets, boutiques, restaurants and bars in Chueca, the city’s official gay neighborhood. To discover a more cultural side of Madrid head to Las Letras/Cortes, home to most important museums in Madrid. La Latina is another good choice. As well as being one of the oldest and most traditional barrios, it is the best place to go for tapas.

You’re spoilt for choice in Madrid for things to do. Its pretty squares have lot of history and have been used as locations for bullfighting, festivals and executions. Go to Plaza de Cibeles for beautiful architecture, Puerta del Sol for street entertainers and Plaza Mayor to simply appreciate it. Madrid also has a great deal of beautiful parks such as Retiro Park, which is a great place to retreat away from the hustle and bustle of Madrid. Most people are surprised to hear that there is an ancient Egyptian temple in central Madrid but the Temple of Debod located in the Parque del Oeste park and is well worth a look. Madrid also has a number of impressive museums that are worth your time, such as the Reina Sofia Museum, the Prado Museum and the Sorolla Museum.

Amid various historical sites, Madrid has a plethora of great places to eat and drink. This means, of course, that most things revolve around eating and drinking. One of the most popular dining options in the capital are tapas bars, with the best found in the barrios of Huertas, Malasaña and Chueca. It is also possible to stop by the market at Mercado de San Miguel and pick up some tasty olives and bocadillos stuffed with Iberico jamon. Another top tip is Botín. The oldest restaurant in the world, it serves mouthwatering roast lamb and suckling pig. In relation to bars, it is always worthwhile to pause at El Jardín Secreto de Salvador Bachiller, a magical rooftop bar. The La Venencia bar is also worth pulling out your wallet for.

Madrid Airport is just a short distance from the city centre. Several buses operate between the airport and the city and the journey takes just 20 minutes. Public transport within Madrid is clean, safe and reliable. There are 13 metro lines and 170 bus lines the city and all tourist attractions are easy to get to. Madrid is also well connected by bus with the beach towns surrounding Valencia and the beautiful town of Salamanca to the west of Madrid. Taxis are located on almost all streets and are an efficient way of getting around, drivers usually speak enough English for you to be able to communicate with them. They know the city intimately and be able to quickly get you from your villa or holiday apartment to wherever you want to go.