On a visit in a young life city, a metropolis with village charm. With 3.2 million inhabitants. Madrid is the largest city in Spain. The people of Madrid come from the country. There are few old families in the city, but most residents are children from disease.

Plaza Mayor At Madrid's "main square" the time goes by a bit slower than in the rest of the city. The visitors are on the chairs of the restaurants where the sun shines down. And they hear the street musicians. And if you are hungry: prefer a restaurant or a Tapabar in the Cava Baja 100 meters south of the Plaza Mayor, before you get poor in the tourist restaurants on the square. Metro 1, 2, 3: Sol

Estación de Atocha From the outside it looks like a train station, from the inside like an oversized greenhouse. The most you enjoy the tropical atmosphere in the restaurant Samarkand. Metro 1: Atocha Renfe

Retiro Biggest park in the centre of Madrid. In the south, the Fuente del Ángel Caído is tanding - probably the only Luzifermonument on the world. At its foot are guarding eight dragon heads symbolically the hell, the fallen angels will never leave it. Metro 1, 2, 9: Retiro, Ibiza, Atocha

Plaza de la Cibeles On the southeast corner of the square is the Palacio de Comunicaciones situated. 200 meters east up the Calle de Alcala is the monumental Puerta de Alcala. Metro 2: Banco de España

Plaza de la Villa A quiet, rather inconspicuous place on the south side of the Calle Mayor. Here is the City Hall of Madrid, Casa de la Villa, built in 1644-1696. Metro 2, 5: Ópera

Palacio Real The inside fills lush, baroque splendor the seven floors: 100 000 sq meters, where about the kings of Spain and its court could spread.

shopping Calle Fuencarral A phenomenon how this downtown street in less than ten years has completely changed from a dark road passage to the hippest fashion mile of the town - a bit of London in Spain. Brands like Diesel or Mango have here their shops. Metro 1, 5, 10: Gran Vía, Tribunal.

Designer clothes and upmarket antiques are best sought out in Salamanca, while there’s no shortage of second-hand clothes and decidedly dubious antiques at Madrid’s infamous flea market in La Latina, the Rastro. Rich with junk dealers, antiques and pickpockets, the Rastro has become a Sunday promenade to match that in the Retiro, and is an essential part of a visit to the city.

food                                                                                                                                                                           Taberna de los Cien Vinos Here is the preparation of tapas as a fine art maintained - so you can see fine people at the tables sitting. Slightly more expensive than other Tapabars. No error, to reserve a table. Mon closed. Nuncio 17, Metro 5: La Latina            Almendro 13 A classic in Madrid de los Austrias with rustic Spanish kitchen. daily. Almendro 13, Metro 5: La Latina                              La Finca de Susana So good in such an elegant frame, for so little money can nowhere be found a place to eat in Madrid. daily. Arlabán 4, Metro 2: Sevilla                                                                                                                                              Ribeira Do Mino  If it’s seafood you’re after, look no further than the bustling Ribeira Do Mino (C/Santa Brigida 1, closed Mon & Aug).

where to stay                                                                                                                                                              HH Campomanes Small, modern hotel (opened 2002) near the Teatro Real. 30 rooms. Campomanes 4, Metro 2, 5: Ópera               Tijcal I Lovly decorated and very well kept hostel in the shot, perfectly located 30 meters from the Plaza Mayor. 31 rooms. Zaragoza 6, Metro 1, 2, 3: Sol                                                                                                                                                      Urban Opened in 2004, its an ultra-modern building of glass and black stone. On the rooftop bar you can look over the Old Town. 96 rooms. Carretera de San Jerónimo 34, Metro 2: Sevilla                                                                                                          Tryp Ambassador Four-star hotel in a former Duke's Palace, in sight of the Teatro Real. Very good value for the money. 182 rooms. Cuesta de Santo Domingo 5/7, Metro 2, 5: Ópera, Santo Domingo

Train Trains from the north arrive at the station Chamartin. Trains from Barcelona arrive in Atocha. From there just take the metro.

Plane The airport is in Madrid Barajas about 15 km to the east of the city. In the year 2005 was a super modern, new terminal (T4), a few kilometers from the old airport, opened. A taxi to the center costs 18 to 22 Euro. From the old airport building (T1 to T3) is a ride with the Metro the best. The best to buy in the metro station near the airport in Terminal 2, is a ten card (known as Metro or diez viajes) for 5.80 Euro its very cheap. The trip to downtown takes about 30-40 minutes.

Public Transport The Metro is the best way to use in Madrid. The twelve lines are from 6am to 1.30am at night in operation. To change at many stations is annoying, because the way to the next line is long. From the Plaza de la Cibeles are starting from 12am to 6am a total of 26 night buses in the suburbs. A single ticket costs 1,15 Euro. In the entrance area at each station there are vending machines to buy your ticket.