Things to do in Madrid

Cheer on the galacticos with a football match

As 12-time European Cup winners, Real Madrid (tel: +34 91 398 4370; www.realmadrid.com) are a footballing giant. Their success has brought glamour to the Bernabéu Stadium and galacticos (highly skilled footballers) such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo to the pitch. See one of the world’s most decorated clubs with a stadium tour or better still, catch a game.

See Madrid from a different perspective

You don't even need a head for heights to see the city differently. Madrid's cable car, Teleférico (tel: +34 91 526 9793; www.teleferico.com) glides just above the trees of the Casa de Campo and offers unobstructed views of the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral. After disembarking, visitors should take in the views with a drink from the bar.

See the best of the city on a bike

Pedal power is one of the best ways to explore Madrid. Fitter cyclists can circumnavigate the city using Anillo Verde (Green Ring), while hourly rentals from Bike and Roll (tel: +34 91 427 793; www.tallerbicicletasmadrid.com), are ideal for exploring the delightful Retiro Park or Casa de Campo Park on the bank of the Manzanares River.

Tread the path of the royals

Flanked by mountains, Madrid has a wealth of walking opportunities. Among the best is the Royal Path, a reconstruction of the route historically used by Spanish monarchs when travelling around the Madrid Sierra. To tackle some of the lesser-known rambles like La Gran Cañada, walk with Hiking Madrid (www.hikingmadrid.com).

Watch a performance at the majestic Teatro Real

Designed, destroyed, restored and renovated, the life of Teatro Real (tel: +34 91 516 06 60; www.teatro-real.com) in the heart of Madrid has been one of constant change - it has even acted as a gunpowder store. Today it stages world-class operas; catch a performance to see why it is one of Spain's most important cultural venues.

A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

City Highlight: Madrid

Madrid is vibrant, creative, and has a regal vibe with grand architecture befitting an ancient empire that once gripped the Iberian Peninsula

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Featured Hotels

Petit Palace Ducal Chueca

Located close to the Gran Via, this Madrid hotel can truly boast 'all mod cons'. Part of the state-of-the-art High Tech hotel chain, its 58 boutique rooms are full of electronic knobs and whistles, including a flat screen TV and a hydro-massage shower. That doesn't impinge on comfort levels, though, and the red and black décor gives it a classy feel.

Vincci Soma

The location is one of the main attractions of this 170-room boutique hotel in Madrid, opposite Goya Metro station in the upmarket Salamanca district, 1km (0.6 miles) from Retiro Park and the chic shops of Calle Serrano. There are a few forays into the realm of luxury service, with a pillow menu and a book delivery service. The restaurant serves creative Mediterranean dishes.

Hotel Trafalgar

Less than 10 minutes from the centre of town by metro (Iglesia or Bilbao), the Trafalgar is a modern hotel that is popular with both tourists and businesspeople. It lies in a residential neighbourhood, well provided with shops, restaurants and other amenities. The 48 en-suite rooms, while unexceptional, are air-conditioned and have direct-dial telephones and TV. There is also a laundry service and currency exchange. The English-speaking staff are friendly and helpful.

Hotel Paris

One of the popular cheap options in Madrid’s Puerta de Alcalá area, Hotel Paris' 120 rooms are surprisingly spacious, decorated in classic style – this was one of the first luxury hotels in Madrid at the start of the 20th century. It was only when the Ritz was established in 1910 that it was relegated to a more modest category. Its main attraction is its location, right on the Puerta del Sol, with the main cultural stops right on its doorstep.

Hotel Unico

Despite the name, this five-star property in the heart of Madrid's most affluent neighbourhood, Salamanca, is not exactly unique – at least in terms of interior design. But based in a 19th-century palace, it is smart and elegant, with numerous luxurious touches such as the coffee machine in the rooms, the ground-floor garden that manages to block out the noise of the city and the staff who deliver complimentary chocolates and water to your room in the afternoon. Breakfast in the aforementioned garden is an extravagant affair, with fresh-baked pastries, Iberico ham, fine cheese and eggs to order.

The Principal

Concealed behind a palatial facade, The Principal is situated on the corner of one of Madrid's most important streets, Gran Vía. The entrance, reception and dining area are handsomely decorated, with portraits of aristocrats and fine wooden furnishings conjuring 19th century grandeur. Rooms are stylish without being ostentatious; expect carpeted floors and elegant but simple furniture. Ask for a room overlooking Gran Vía for terrific views over the city, or you can always pop up to the roof terrace for a drink.

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