Things to do in Madrid

Spain's capital sits high on the central plateau, and it rewards visitors with one of the richest concentrations of art anywhere: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza line up along a single tree-shaded boulevard. Between museum visits, Madrid's life happens in its squares and on its terraces, from the arcaded Plaza Mayor to the tapas bars of La Latina and the multicultural streets of Lavapiés.

The city is also a place of big green spaces, above all the Retiro Park, and of big passions, whether that means football at the Bernabéu or a night that barely begins before midnight. Day trips reach historic towns such as Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Cervantes, and the vineyards of the surrounding region.