You’ll often hear Spaniards refer to their capital as a city-sized village. Its old network of barrios has evolved into an enmeshed metropolis that has managed to keep a friendly face and easy-going pace. Whether you’re strolling down one of its impressive baroque boulevards or a bustling back-street, the unique spirit of Madrid vividly colours daily life.

Once a buttoned-down bastion of conservatism, Madrid has become Spain’s unabashed centre of the avant-garde. Today fun-loving, open-minded residents thrive alongside religious traditions and an omnipresent royal legacy.

Contemporary Madrid still feels very Spanish. Apart from serving as the country’s financial and political capital, the city is also a hub for talent, taste and tenacity. This is best sampled at street level: morning coffee on a terraza in Chamberí, tapas in the literary quarter, an afternoon stroll through Retiro or a gallery-hop around Lavapiés.

Time seems to move differently here too: business lunches stretch long into the afternoon and weekday dinners often extend well beyond midnight, mainly because this city knows how to live. Madrid is elegant but unpretentious; energetic yet easy-going. Embrace its compelling contrasts and you’ll quickly understand its rhythm. Whether you’re watching the sunset from a rooftop, wandering through a world-class museum or squeezing into a late-night tablao, Madrid always delivers – with heart, heat or a healthy-sized caña in hand.

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