Here I am back from 3 intense days in Madrid. It wasn't the first time I went in Spain, considering my three holidays in the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote) and the trip to Barcelona in 2004. But as you well know, each city is unique for what it offers both from a cultural - artistic point of view and for the people who they live there, but I also and above all believe that the perception and appreciation of a city also change according to our mood at the moment and the people with whom we visit a place.
No more chatter ... pass New Year's Eve in Madrid it has long been a dream of mine .. which I have always given up due to the high cost of hotels and flights during this peak season. So I decided to get organized in time and to book in August.
That's all advice to visit the Spanish capital on New Year's Eve without spending too much.
1) He flew: book well in advance, surely I have exaggerated booking in August .. but do not let too much time pass and organize yourselves for September, especially for the purchase of the flight. What flights to Madrid? I flew with Iberia from Bologna, but for the indefatigable of low cost there are also Ryan Air, Vueling e Easy Jet. Even with Alitalia, always booking in advance and paying attention to any promotions, you can reach the airport Barajas of Madrid.
2) Hotel: in Madrid there are really a lot of hotels. During your search you will find some called Hostal. It does not correspond to what we call a hostel, it is simply a small hotel. The advice I say select two or three downtown and do some check-ups TripAdvisor, its Zoover or on Trivago to understand based on the reviews of other users which is the best. I booked a hotel with only 20 rooms in a small street 5 minutes walk from the Gran Via, the main street that cuts through Madrid and overlooked by shops, theaters, restaurants and so on and so forth. The hotel is called Antigua Posada de Pez - breakfast included, Free wifi and above all a lot of silence. In fact, Calle Pizzaro, where the hotel is located, is not noisy at all and there are no local bars so you can rest assured that no one will disturb your sleep.
3) Museums: Madrid like all big cities is full of museums. The first advice is to select two or three such as the Reina Sofia of modern art (Mirò, Picasso, Dali….) and the Meadow of Classical art (Tintoretto, Beato Angelico, Velasquez, Goya). The second is to go in the evening after 19.00 or on Sunday when they are free. Obviously expect a bit in a row but I swear it's worth it. I was finally able to see works that seemed completely different to me in the art books when I was studying.
4) Eat: eating, in a city like Madrid, can be really low cost even in the most central places. Leaving Prado I ate in one of the many Jamon Museum (Ham). A bocadillo, which would be our sandwich, with the typical Madrid ham costs € 1,00 and one beer (medium size) € 0,80. So for less than € 2,00 you can have lunch. Obviously, in the different Museo de Jamon you can also eat other typical products of Madrid, such as composite dishes, which correspond in part to our cutting boards, where you will find ham, salami and cheese. These dishes cost around € 5-6. You will find the typical Museo del Jamon throughout the city, starting from Gran Via, up to Plaza Major and Paseo del Prado. Recognizing them will be very easy: in addition to the sign outside, inside the restaurant there are numerous hams hanging from the ceiling.
5) Beanie: if you are a lover of beer in Madrid you will find all sorts, but above all at a very good price. From € 0,80 to € 2,50. The important thing is to drink it standing up or at the counter accompanied by chips and pretzels (which they called caps... from tapear, which means making an aperitif .. even if you will later find that beer is drunk at any time of day and not only during the unmissable aperitif before dinner).
6) Move: on foot everything is certainly more beautiful and evocative ... Also because you can see details and better understand the style of life of the Spaniards. For long distances the advice is to take the subway (12 lines for 12 colors and 12 numbers). If you are in Madrid for two or three days, buy thesubscription. It allows you to save time and money.
Have I convinced you? If you feel free spirits, if you love meeting new people and having fun at any time of day Madrid is for you. What are you waiting for book?
