Luxury Travel to
Madrid
The big bustling city, Spain’s capital, has been quite a surprise. You expected grand monuments—and you’ve seen them. The Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de Cibeles, the Puerta del Sol… You have also seen wonderful art museums, visited lovely parks, and gone shopping on the gorgeous Gran Via.
The surprise, though, has been the little neighborhoods, almost like little villages within the city, where your AAV local guide took you. You’ve seen the insider’s Madrid.
Tailor my trip5 things you don’t know
about Madrid
The capital of Spain and the 2nd largest city in the European Union, Madrid was founded in the 9th century. It is the hometown of singer Julio Iglesias, soccer star Raul Gonzalez, and actrice Penélope Cruz. Many scenes in Pedro Almodóvar’s famous movie, High Heels, were filmed here, as were parts of The Bourne Ultimatum and Terminator: Dark Fate.
You are probably familiar with much of Madrid’s history, but what you might not know…
01
Although Madrid is over 2000 years old, it didn’t become Spain’s capital until 1561 when King Phillip II moved his court here.
02
Madrid is one of Europe’s sunniest cities, averaging 300 days of sunshine per year. It can get cold, but there’s almost always sun.
03
Madrid is also one of the highest European capitals—667m above sea level, and second only to Andorra la Vella which is in the Pyrenees mountains.
04
Inhabitants of Madrid, Madrileños, are known as “cats”, because they stay out and party all night. Madrid is a great destination for nightlife.
05
With over 300,000 trees and 6400 hectares of green space, Madrid is the 2nd most sustainable city in the world.
Madrid travel guide
Where to stay in Madrid?
Madrid is big and bustling. Your AAV travel experts have found just the right hotels to offer you a luxurious haven, a cocoon of comfort and superb service.
Located in Madrid’s’ “Golden Triangle of Art”, the Mandarin Oriental Ritz is itself a masterpiece. The Belle Époque palace has been meticulously restored. The rooms and suites are opulent, sophisticated, and amazingly comfortable. The marble-lined indoor swimming pool is magnificent. You’ll enjoy relaxing there or in the spa’s vitality pool, “experience showers” or steam room.
One of the best-guarded secrets in Madrid is the private garden of the Hotel Santo Mauro. When you stay there, the park– with its fountains, terraces and ancient chestnut trees– is all for you. The hotel is the former home of the Duke of Santo Mauro, a group of three buildings, all uniquely decorated to reflect the history of the buildings while assuring you maximum comfort. La Biblioteca offers gourmet cuisine in an amazing environment.
The Rosewood Villa Magna is modern, elegant, and vibrant. The hotel’s collection of over 380 pieces of art, displayed in public spaces and in certain rooms, add to the feeling of exclusivity. Consider staying in one of the two “houses” located on the rooftop of
Villa Magna. The views are incredible! The Rosewood Villa Magna’s wellness center features an authentic hammam.
Seven historic buildings transformed into one hotel; the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid offers the luxury experience you expect from Four Seasons properties with an extra Spanish flair. The beautiful rooms and suites mix-up antiques with modern furnishings, elegant design with opulent fabrics, and fabulous views of Madrid. Dani, the hotel’s brasserie, showcases the best of Dani Garcia’s Michelin-starred recipes along with more casual Spanish cuisine.
All the rooms and suites of the Only YOU Boutique Hotel are unique, no two alike, some with balconies, others with rooftop terraces, some with fireplaces… All are exquisite. The YOUNIQUE Arts Club serves traditional Mediterranean cuisine; Celioso, high end fusion food, 100% gluten free. The cocktail bar, Padrino, is inside a 19th century bookshop, complete with the original façade. While the atmosphere is literary, the cocktails are pure drama.
Tailor my tripBest luxury experiences in Madrid
A view of Toledo
A private luxury car will pick you up at your hotel in Madrid and take you to Toledo, a gorgeous fairy-tale-like town. Your local guide will take you to see El Alcázar, the palace-fortress, the Cathedral (Spain’s second largest), San Juan de Los Reyes monastery and its fabulous cloister, the Moorish Puerta Vieja de Bisagra…
Play on the greens of champions
Golf enthusiasts will enjoy taking a day off from sight-seeing to play 18-holes at La Finca, one of the best golf courses in Spain and a short drive from Madrid. La Finca has two different 18-hole courses, with spectacular views of the countryside all around. You’ll be surprised by the 7th hole.
A fashionista’s tour of Madrid
Madrid has rhymed with fashion ever since Balenciaga opened his first workshop in 1919. Already, the Madrid Fashion Week is heading into its 80th edition. Your AAV personal shopper will take you to see younger designers, more established fashion houses, and the luxe boutiques on Calle José Ortega y Gasset and Calle de Serrano.
Segovia in a day
Visit beautiful Segovia where you will be amazed by the Roman aqueduct, circa 50 A.D. which is amazingly well preserved. Over 160 arches on two levels were constructed without the use of mortar. You will also visit the Alcázar, begun in the 11th century, and the stunning 16th century Gothic cathedral, among other sites.
When is the best time to visit Madrid?
It is difficult to choose the best season for visiting Madrid; the Madrileños are always so joyous and welcoming, it’s a great vacation destination year-round.
Madrid in winter:
Why visit Madrid in winter? For the sunshine. Although the city can get cold, it’s usually bright and sunny, which makes it a nice alternative to European cities further north. Madrid has some amazing museums—the Prado, the Reina Sofia Museum, the Thyssen Museum, to name a few—which are great to visit in winter, when there are fewer crowds.
Madrid in spring:
Spring is a good time to visit Madrid, when the weather is cooler than in summer, warmer than winter, with the same gorgeous sunshine. Early March, go to Quinta de los Molinos park to enjoy the amazing almond tree blossoms. Or head to the Royal Botanical Garden for the gorgeous tulips. Madrid is also interesting for its Easter celebrations and its many processions throughout the week.
Madrid in summer:
Hot weather, long long days, it’s the best time to relax on a terraceo in the evening, sipping a caña and tasting all the wonderful varieties of tapas. Hire a boat and hang out on the lake in Retiro Park. And go native, by picking up the perfect summer accessory and something every Madrilenos has– a fan. You’ll find historic ones, modern ones, lace, plain, flowered… all the better to cool off.
Madrid in autumn:
Some say that autumn is the perfect time to visit Madrid. Because the weather is still warm and sunny, you will find a lot of open-air activities, including the Festival de Otoño, Madrid’s performing arts festival. And don’t forget the Dia de Los Muertos, with its unique blend of Spanish and Mexican traditions.
Travel tips about
Madrid
There is so much to see and do in Madrid — Gran Vía, the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace, the Puerto del Sol, just to name a few. Since AAV is curating your itinerary, you can be confident that you will see all the sights, even a few known only by locals. You will also benefit from elegant, exclusive accommodations and entries into the best restaurants in Madrid.
If your tastes are a little more “off the beaten track”, here are a few ideas for you:
01
Get an overview of Madrid
Literally. When you take the teleférico from Paseo del Pintor Rosales street to the Casa de Campo park, you will see many of Madrid’s famous sites: the Royal Palace, the Almudena Cathedral, the San Francisco el Grande basilica, the Plaza de España…
02
Best sunset in Madrid
A gift from the Egyptian government to Spain, the Temple of Devod is an actual Nubian temple brought to Spain in the 1970s. The ruins are set on a platform in the middle of a large pool of water. At any time, it is majestic. At sunset? Absolutely enchanting.
03
Fan-tastic!
When you walk into the Casa de Diego on the Calle del Carmen, you’ll feel as if you’ve walked into a museum for fans, and rightly so, because some of the fans for sale here are truly works of art. Madrid’s main supplier for over 150 years.
04
The secret garden
Madrid has a lot of surprises waiting for you, and one of them is the Atocha station botanical garden. The old Atocha train station houses over 7,000 plants from over 260 species, including rubber trees from Brazil, banana trees from the Philippines, African coffee plants, a Mexican fruit salad plant…
05
Open 7/7… for almost 300 years!
Be sure to visit the world’s oldest restaurant, the Botín. You will find simple fare, pork and lamb, both slow-roasted in a wood-burning stove which has been functioning since 1725. The food here is so good that Ernest Hemingway wrote about it in his novel The Sun Also Rises.
Plan
your trip
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