Madrid, a metropolis in transformation
The city of Madrid has always been known as a friendly, open and hospitable place. However, today it is also a modern, innovative and cutting-edge city, which is prepared to welcome its visitors with the highest quality standards in terms of products and services.
Madrid is undergoing changes this year due to the new infrastructure and installations being put in place, making it one of the most dynamic capitals in Europe.
The New Paseo del Arte
As other two museums of the Paseo del Arte (Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Centro de Arte Reina Sofía), which inaugurated their respective extensions during 2004 and 2005, the Nacional Prado Museum will finish during this year its expansions, with will obtain 29.400 m2, reaching its total surface of 58.000 m2.
Rafael Moneo rewarded with the Pritzker Prize and one of the most distinguished Spanish architects, has designed an ingenious formula of extension of the Prado, that preserving the former building, his environment and the adjacent structures, it will join the Museum with a new building of one floor and the cloister restored of the missing Monasterio de los Jerónimos.
In this way, the space for rooms of temporary exhibitions will be larger, an auditorium, workshops of restoration, a cafeteria, a restaurant and offices.
Moneo has concealed the link between the ancient and new building with a landscaped platform that refers to 18th century gardens.
Also the Casón and the Reinos Lounge, last vestiges of the ancient Buen Retiro Palace, will join to the Prado environment.
Never-ending leisure activities
The traveller who comes to Madrid undoubtedly already knows that it is one of the most lively and bustling capitals of the world, both at day and, especially, at night. Theatre, musicals, concerts, opera, zarzuela, flamenco, bullfighting, theme parks, leisure centres, all can be found by tourists to make their visit unforgettable.
Leisure activities can also be found on the streets and plazas, where Madrileños traditionally meet, thanks to the favourable climate year round.
And of course, the Madrid night life, which is one of the most well known and fun to be found anywhere in the world. Until late in the evening, karaokes, clubs, pubs, jazz halls, live music venues and bars welcome - especially in the weekends - a diverse crowd looking to have a good time.
To finish off the evening, don't forget to try the local favourite of chocolate with churros (fried dough).
Design between Courses
Madrid is also the capital of flavour. If you want to treat your palate to something nice, choose one of our typical tapas in one of the restaurants in the historical centre of town. But if you would like something more modern, try one of the increasingly numerous restaurants, which stand out for their creative cuisine, in a sophisticated setting that highlights the original interior design and the presentation of food. These designer restaurants have even reached the tapa style dining, and increasingly more of them are making "creative tapas".
Business Centre
Since Madrid is the economic and financial centre of Spain, where the multinational companies have their offices, it can't help but also be the capital of business tourism. Many visitors to Madrid go to fairs or attend congresses attracted by its excellent communications with the rest of the world's major cities, its highly developed infrastructure for holding events, the quality of its services, the efficiency of its professionals, etc... With two Congress Centres - a third one is being planned - two exhibition centres and innumerable special sites, Madrid has all it takes to hold events of any size.
With the Family
Don't forget about the kids. Madrid also has many parks such as the aquatic parks Aquópolis and Aquasur; theme parks, like the Amusement Park or Warner Bros. Park; parks that specialise in animals like the Zoo, Faunia or the Safari Park; as well as ice skating rinks in the Dreams Ice Palace; snow parks like Madrid Xanadú; and special projections in the IMAX Madrid or the Planetarium.
Passion for Sport
Tennis is only one of the many sports that you can practice in Madrid. And the number of installations for practicing sports just doesn't stop growing: the Aquatic Centre, for swimming and water polo, and the Caja Mágica for tennis, will be the next ones.
Furthermore, the new Madrid Arena was officially opened last year. It is a multi-use space that among other events, will hold the Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid.
The city's sports calendar includes important international tournaments which makes Madrid the sport's capital of the world. In fact, from 2001-2005, Madrid has hosted 88 high-level competitions in all the Olympic sports and is the annual site for trophies and elite international championships.
Madrid Card
The Tourism Board of Madrid has wanted to put Madrid's entire cultural offer at the disposal of its visitors through two tourist cards, the Madrid Card and Madrid Card Cultura.
The Madrid Card includes free access to 43 of the main museums of the city and the surrounding area, free entrance to the biological park Faunia, the IMAX, Cable Railway of Madrid, Madrid Amusement Park (only into the 72 hours card) and the Zoo-Aquarium. It also includes the possibility of enjoying all the guided tours of the Discover Madrid programme, the unlimited use of the Madrid Vision Tour bus, and discounts in over 100 establishments, which include shops, leisure centres, clubs, musicals, car hire, restaurants and dinner theatre.
There are three types of Madrid Card: 24 hours for 28 euros, 48 hours for 48 euros and 72 hours for 58 euros.
The Madrid Card Cultura is perfect for those who only want to know the numerous cultural and artistic resources to be enjoyed in Madrid. The prices are as follows: 24 euros for 24 hours, 28 euros for 48 hours and 32 euros for 72 hours.
Since December 2005, you can purchase the Madrid Card for Kids. This card offers in a direct and clear way the cultural and leisure offer of Madrid directed exclusively to the infantile public, this version has a unique modality card of 72h to 26 Euros.
The main sales outlets for these cards are: The Tourism Centre of Madrid (Plaza Mayor, 27), Tourism Office of Madrid (Duque de Medinaceli, 2), Airport (Centro de Atención al Ciudadano - Terminal 2), Madrid Vision buses and its kiosk and by Internet at: www.madridcard.com
Tourist Information
Tourism Centre of Madrid
Mayor Square, 27. Tel.: 34-91-5881636
www.esmadrid.com
Schedule: from Monday to Sunday, from 9.30am to 8.30pm
Points of tourist information: Callao Square, Cibeles Square and Madrid Airport-4 Terminal (rooms 10 and 11).
www.esmadrid.com
Schedule: from Monday to Sunday, from 9.30am to 8.30pm
Special point of tourist information into the Mutua Madrileña Masters Madrid, during the tournament.