Madrid Tourist Information You Should Not Miss

Madrid is a city that appeals to many kinds of people, the art aficionados, the party mongers, the diehard fashionistas, the live music enthusiasts and the fans of culture. No matter what you are into, Madrid, Spain has something to offer you.

Warm dry summers and cool winters - a climate of extremes - are what you should expect from the city. Depending on what time of the year you visit Madrid, the weather and climate are as diverse as the city itself.

Characterized by intense cultural and artistic activity as well as a very lively and hot nightlife, you can never run out of things to do and places to go to in Madrid. It is a cosmopolitan city, headquarters for the public administration, business center and the home of the Spanish Royal Family.

You want to know when the best time is to visit Madrid? Well the answer is all year round! But if you are just in for a short visit, the best time to go is on the weekends. There are so many activities and parties going on during weekends that you will really get to know the heart and soul of the city.

On a Sunday, you should definitely not miss out going to El Rastro Street as an enormous outdoor market is waiting for you. Find some excellent buys and start bargain hunting for clothes, CD's, accessories and even kitchen supplies and equipment. It is a 9-5 pm affair so wear comfortable footwear and shop to your heart's content.

If you want to save money when visiting museums, buy a Madrid card which gives you free access to 42 museums as well as more than one hundred establishments that give discounts upon presentation of the card. There is also a guided tour called Discover Madrid Program that you can join for free with this card. You can buy this card from the Madrid Tourist Information Office which is located at the Plaza Mayor, or you could also ask your travel agency to get you one.

Among the 42 museums, you definitely should not miss the Prado Museum on Paseo Del Prado. It is one of the most visited Madrid tourist attractions that houses masterpieces from the 12th century to the 19th century.

If you want an escape from the traffic of Madrid, you can visit the Retiro Park. It is a wonderful oasis of calm located to the East of the center of Madrid. Stroll along the leafy paths like royalty as it was once a palace garden. You can even have your fortune read by tarot card readers on Sundays.

With the abundance of cafes and restaurants in Madrid, you will never go hungry. Here you can experience the other side of Madrid, calm and relaxing as opposed to the busy nightlife in the downtown area.

Palacio Real, the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family is open to the public at certain times. It is best to pay for a guided tour and listen to the history that is behind every wall of the palace. 45 minutes of your time will give you a preview on how it is to live like a prince and princess in Madrid.

But then again, with a city like Madrid, you will always feel the royal treatment around you.

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