Guides for Madrid
Honest itineraries and practical advice to explore Madrid without the tourist clichés.
Madrid with kids: an honest guide by age (4 to 16)
Madrid with kids and teens: zoo, theme park, museums that work, outdoor plans, and common mistakes. An honest guide by age group.
Madrid in 3 days: a curated route for a serious European visit
Madrid in 3 days, with judgment: the Prado, El Escorial, the Valley of Cuelgamuros, Chamberí, and what to skip. An honest itinerary, not postcards.
Flamenco in Madrid: Las Carboneras or Torres Bermejas?
Madrid has two directly bookable flamenco tablaos: Las Carboneras and Torres Bermejas. We compare format, price and atmosphere to help you decide.
Madrid's best tapas, dish by dish: bravas, calamares, tortilla, torreznos, callos and croquetas
Where to eat Madrid's best patatas bravas, bocadillo de calamares, tortilla de patatas, torreznos, callos a la madrileña, jamón and croquetas. Addresses and judgment, dish by dish.
Prado, Reina Sofía or Thyssen: which one if you only pick one
Honest comparison of Madrid's three big museums: Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen. Which to choose for your profile, and which you can skip.
Toledo from Madrid in one day: a three-cultures day trip
Toledo in a day from Madrid: what to visit with judgment, how to get there (car, AVE, bus), what to skip, and why it's the best day trip near Madrid.
Madrid on a budget: making the most of the capital without spending a euro
Madrid on a budget, with judgment: free museums, free viewpoints, recurring events and neighborhoods to walk. Plus what's actually worth paying for.