Best Day Trips from Madrid

Los barrios, the neighbourhoods of Madrid, are the soul of the Spanish capital, small worlds close to each other but each with its own physiognomy and personality.

To orient yourself, bear in mind that the centre of Madrid is built around Puerta del Sol, the largest square in the Spanish capital, to which some of the city’s main thoroughfares such as Calle Mayor, Arenal, Alcalá or Preciados converge. It can be said that the Sol area is the centre of Madrid!

Surrounding Sol are the other central districts of Madrid: Austrias, Letras, Paseo del Arte, Chueca, Malasaña, Lavapiés and La Latina, and around these lie the other districts of Madrid, which are much larger but generally less interesting for tourists.

Madrid neighbourhoods to visit

The tourist heart of Madrid, where the main tourist attractions are concentrated, is enclosed by Gran Vía (marking the border between Sol and Chueca), Sol, Austrias, Opera and Paseo del Arte.

These are the most elegant areas of the city, where the most prestigious museums and palaces are concentrated: the Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional Reina Sofía, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Royal Palace, the Teatro Real…

Quite a different atmosphere in La Latina and Lavapiés, the two popular districts in the centre of Madrid. Forget the wide boulevards of the tourist areas, these two neighbourhoods – especially La Latina – are a maze of narrow, winding streets. Colourful and picturesque, they are perfect for experiencing a more authentic Madrid, shopping in the markets and dining on a budget.

Of the two, La Latina is considered Madrid’s historic neighbourhood, which preserves its traditional soul: for a snack of tapas and cerveza like true Madrileños, no tourist shenanigans, its tiny taverns are the perfect place! Lavapiés, on the other hand, is Madrid’s ethnic quarter, where you can sample recipes from all over the world.

For nightlife, we recommend the two lively neighbourhoods of Chueca and Malasaña: the former is Madrid’s gay district, full of trendy clubs, while the latter is the alternative district, where underground clubs and bars with indie/rock, punk and pop music prevail.

Younger people can also make a foray into Princesa, an area mainly frequented by students, with many inexpensive clubs and a nightlife geared towards 20-somethings, while for a higher age group and a more well-stocked wallet the right area is Salamanca, where the city’s chic clubs are concentrated.

Castellana is Madrid’s financial axis, the area where the offices of large international companies, embassies, ministries and even one of the city’s most famous tourist attractions are located: the legendary Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of Real Madrid.