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Madrid Vacation, Trip & Travel Package

  • Madrid - typically your starting point for most Spain holidays.
  • Explore the spacious Plaza Mayor, home to a number of events throughout the year
  • Shop some major deals for souvenirs on Gran Via
  • Experience the culture and classic architecture of Cibeles Palace, now home to the Madrid City Council
  • Capture neo-classic beauty when visiting the arching Puerta de Alcala
  • Dive into the world of art at The Prado Museum, boasting Spain's most comprehensive collection of Spanish art

Madrid is the capital and the largest city in Spain. It is the third largest city in the European Union after London and Berlin and its metropolitan area is the third largest in the European Union after London and Paris. As the capital city of Spain, the seat of government and the residence of the Spanish Monarch, Madrid is also the political, economic and cultural centre of the country to be visited on Spain holidays.

While Madrid possesses modern infrastructure, it has preserved the look and feel of its many historic neighbourhoods and streets. Its landmarks include the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Royal Theatre with its restored 1850 Opera House; the Buen Retiro Park, the 19th-century National Library building (founded in 1712) containing some of Spain's historical archives; a large number of national museums and the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three art museums: the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Madrid is also home to two world-famous football clubs; Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid. 

The streets of Madrid are a veritable museum of outdoor sculpture to be enjoyed on trips to Spain. For example, the Museum of Outdoor Sculpture, located on the Paseo de la Castellana, is dedicated to abstract works. The Paseo del Prado has a number of classical monumental fountains. 

Many areas of Buen Retiro Park contain sculptures. Among them is The Fallen Angel by Ricardo Bellver, and the Monument to Alfonso XII, designed by José Grases Riera. Madrid is the European city with the highest number of trees and green surfaces per inhabitant and it has the second-highest number of aligned trees in the world. Madrid's citizens all have access to large green areas.  

Buen Retiro Park, formerly the grounds of the palace built for Philip IV of Spain, is Madrid's most popular park and the largest park in central Madrid. It is located very close to the Puerta de Alcalá and not far from the Prado Museum. The park is entirely surrounded by the present-day city but one can escape very easily to view the more tranquil pastime of pleasure boating which is popular. Atocha Railway Station is the city's first and most central station and is also home to a large indoor garden with more than 500 species of plant life and ponds with turtles and goldfish. 

The Casa de Campo is an enormous urban parkland to the west of the city, the largest in Spain and Madrid's main green lung. It is home to a fairground, the Madrid Zoo, an amusement park, the Parque de Atracciones of Madrid and an outdoor municipal pool. To enjoy a bird's eye view of the park and city on a holiday in Spain, one can take a cable car trip above the tree tops. Casa de Campo's vegetation is one of its most important features.  

The Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid is an extensive botanical garden located in the Plaza de Murillo next to the Prado Museum. There is an important research facility that started life as a base to develop herbal remedies and to house the species collected from the New World. 

The Royal Palace is surrounded by three green areas. In front of the palace are the gardens of the Plaza de Oriente; to the north, the gardens of Sabatini and to the west up to the Manzanares River, the famous Campo del Moro. The Campo del Moro Gardens is a scenic garden with an unusual layout filled with foliage and embodies a romantic atmosphere. 

Mount of El Pardo is a Mediterranean forest inside the city of Madrid and one of the best preserved Mediterranean forests in Europe. The European Union has designated it as a Special Protection Area for bird life. 

The Prado Museum is a museum and art gallery that features one of the world's finest collections of European art dating from the 12th century to the early 19th century. The collection currently comprises around 7,000 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, 5000 prints and 8,000 drawings.  The Prado is one of the most visited museums in the world and is considered to be among the greatest museums of art. It has the best collection of artworks by Goya, Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens, Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Van Dyck and Albrecht Durer. The Reina Sofía Museum is Spain's national museum of 20th Century art but is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spain's greatest 20th Century masters, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miro. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is an art museum that fills the historical gaps in its counterparts' collections. In Prado's case, this includes works from the Italian English, Dutch and German schools including Impressionists, Expressionists, and European and American paintings from the second half of the 20th century. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando functions as a museum and gallery that houses a fine art collection of paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries and is also the headquarters of the Madrid Academy of Art. These are all outstanding art galleries and museums when on Spain holidays.

The nightlife in Madrid is one of the city's main attractions. Tapas bars, cocktail bars, clubs, jazz lounges, live music venues, Flamenco theatres and establishments of all kinds cater to everyone. Every night there is a wide range of live music shows, everything from acclaimed to up-and-coming artists, and singer-songwriters to rock bands or jazz concerts.

For dining, there are many restaurants of all types of cuisine in Madrid. You can find not only Spanish food but also cuisine from other countries: Asian food, Chinese food, Japanese food, Italian food and Peruvian food.

Consider an additional stopover to your Spain vacation at one of Goway's other European destinations. You can choose from a Paris vacation, a London vacation or an Amsterdam vacation. This can be done stopping over en route to or from Spain.

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Madrid, Spain

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    FIRST-CLASS | TAILOR-MADE: Explore the quintessential highlights of Spain in Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona. Discover historical landmarks and artistic masterpieces in Madrid and Barcelona, explore the old cities of Toledo and Ronda, and enjoy delicious tapas and beautiful Flamenco music.
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  • Paradores of Spain Self-drive: Madrid, Valencia, Tortosa & Cardona

    FIRST-CLASS | SELF-DRIVE: Stay in unique properties situated in spectacular locations on a 8-day self-drive program in Spain. Spanish Paradores are state-run restored Monasteries, Convents, Fortresses, Manor Houses and Castles. Experience high level of services, modern amenities and exceptional gastronomy for a truly amazing adventure!
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  • Spanish Deluxe: Madrid, Seville, Granada & More

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  • Journey to Spain and Morocco

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  • Hotel Hospes Puerta de Alcala Madrid: Stay of Distinction

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    Duration:
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    Prices From:
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  • Way of St. James Self-Drive: Bilbao, Oviedo, Santiago de Compostela & More

    FIRST-CLASS | SELF-DRIVE: Discover the delights of northern Spain on a unique self-drive program. Start in Madrid, then discover the cities of Toledo, Burgos, San Sebastian, Segovia and more. See charming medieval cities, attractive beaches and stunning mountain scenery. Spend time in Santiago de Compostela, the final destination on the Way of St. James pilgrimage route, before heading back to Madrid.
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    Prices From:
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  • Classic Spain & the Mediterranean In Depth

    Explore the highlights of Spain and the Mediterranean on this city and cruise combo. You’ll begin in Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona to experience the vibrancy of Spain before boarding a cruise ship and visiting Mediterranean highlights, from Naples and Rome to Florence and Cannes.
    Duration:
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    Prices:
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    Trip Type:
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  • Discover Madrid

    MODERATE | TAILOR-MADE: Spend four days exploring the Spanish capital of Madrid. Stay in moderate accommodations and get to know the city with a Hop-On Hop-Off bus pass and discover its famous museums, cathedrals, parks, and palaces. You’ll also get skip the line access to the Royal Palace and enjoy a small group city tour in style.
    Duration:
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    Prices From:
    AU$ 1,066
    Trip Type:
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  • Essentials of Spain from Madrid to Barcelona

    Visit five iconic Spanish cities, Madrid the capital, Cordoba, Seville and Granada in Andalusia and Barcelona in Catalonia, each with its own character, culture and history. Enjoy magnificent architecture, old and new and be awed by all that Spain has to offer the visitor.
    Duration:
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    Prices From:
    AU$ 5,587
    Trip Type:
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  • Highlights of Madrid

    FIRST-CLASS | TAILOR-MADE: Experience the best of Madrid as you discover the main highlights. Learn about the powerful Hapsburg Dynasty and its picturesque Baroque architecture before touring the Prado Museum and heading to nearby Toledo to discover its charming blend of cultures.
    Duration:
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    Prices From:
    AU$ 1,030
    Trip Type:
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