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Eating is a passion bordering on religion in Spain, and in Madrid you can feast on regional cuisines from all over the country and beyond.
Once the sun goes down, hit one of Madrid’ s bars – it is said to have more than any other city in the world – and savour the city’ s fun nighttime atmosphere, from clubs to traditional flamenco performances.
If you’ re a football fan, try and catch a Real Madrid game – you can also take a tour of their famous Bernabeu Stadium – or go and watch their arch rivals and neighbours, Atletico Madrid. On home match days, you will find their fans celebrating in city squares if they have won, or drowning their sorrows in bars if they haven’ t.
Beyond the city, there are many more delights to discover in the Madrid region. Former royal summer residence San Lorenzo de El Escorial lies in the heart of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains 60km northwest of central Madrid. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, it is a magnet for visitors today for its many stately monuments and its cultural and leisure opportunities. Cervantes’ home town Alcala de Henares, to the northeast, is another UNESCO site full of history dating right back to Roman times and incorporating Renaissance highlights including the University of Alcala and the Corral de Comedias. Take a guided tour through its history at the Regional Archaeological Museum.
South of Madrid, Aranjuez has been a royal site for over 500 years and the gardens of its ornate palace are also UNESCO listed, together with the natural environment surrounding the municipality.
You can take historic trains to visit all three sites, with characters from history on board bringing their stories to life and local strawberries to sample on the Strawberry Train to Aranjuez. The impressive fortifications of Buitrago del Lozoya fortress, to Madrid’ s north, have protected the town since the 14th century, becoming the residence of the
Marquis of Santillana and the dukes of Infantado.
The best preserved castle in the Madrid region is the turreted Castillo de Manzanares El Real, in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park – one of Spain’ s largest national park. Its history goes back to Spain’ s reconquest.
The castle lies close to monumental granite formation La Pedriza, in an area of the park rich in flora and fauna with species such as griffon vultures abundant there Galería Canalejas is a top luxury shopping spot in central Madrid, set in seven restored early 20th-century buildings. It features 17,000 + preserved elements, including an Art Deco stained-glass window and a 19-ton vault door. Home to boutiques like Hermès, Dior, and Louis Vuitton, it also boasts a 4,000 m ² Food Hall with cuisine from top chefs. Part of the Centro Canalejas complex, including Spain’ s first Four Seasons Hotel, it blends historic charm with modern luxury.
VP Plaza España Hotel is a 5 * luxury hotel in Madrid’ s Plaza de España, known for its modern design, art, and sustainability. It has 214 rooms over 17 floors, many with city views. Highlights include“ The Waterfall,” a 25-meter sculpture, and the Ginkgo Sky Bar with panoramic views. Guests can enjoy rooftop dining, a spa, a pool, and over 1,400 m ² of event space, ideal for both leisure and business stays.
Madrid offers more than just golf; it’ s a hub for leisure, culture, and gastronomy, complementing its high-quality golf courses. It has the highest density of golf courses within a 30 KM radius among European capitals and over 40 fivestar hotels, 85 four star hotels, 23 Michelin-starred restaurants, and more than 90 museums. The official hotel of the association is Hotel VP Plaza De Espana but an agreement with the Madrid Hotel Business Association increases the offer to around 300 establishments.
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DestinationGolf. travel
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