If you’re thinking about stepping out onto the world stage and exploring the best the world has to offer, you’re in great company! A lot of people are really interested in trying to have a really good time and going outside your comfort zone is the perfect way to do it. If you have always wanted to make sure that you get plenty of time to enjoy the best that life has to offer, you definitely want to go on holiday outside of your home area and sea something else besides beautiful Mediterranean beaches.

So our recommendation today would have to be none other than Madrid. This is the capital of Spain, and is a classic destination that holiday travelers have enjoyed for many years now. With nearly 3.3 million residents calling Madrid home, it’s no secret that there’s plenty of things to see and do in the city of Madrid. Are you ready for a little adventure? Read on, we give you the whole scoop here!

So, where is Madrid located, actually? It’s the capital of Spain, but it’s located in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula, on a plateau. The altitude is about 650m, which means that you’re going to be up above sea level.

The weather tends to be a bit extreme from time to time, but the residents of Madrid have grown used to that. The climate can be classified as continental, with hot and dry summers along with cold winters. Snow isn’t completely out of the question, but it doesn’t happen a lot. Spring and autumn are usually the best times to go — April, May, June as well as September and October. July and August tend to be too hot to really go, but you’ll still have a good time even if you travel during that time of year.

What about the cultural history of Madrid? Well, it’s definitely rich with the keys and notes of royalty. Madrid was the seat of the Spanish Empire, and it definitely still shows in some of the cultural sights and sounds. There is the Royal Palace there, along with plenty of buildings that were used heavily by the Spanish monarchy. There are also plenty of cathedrals, a living testament to the history of the Catholic faith.

However, for all of this history, there are plenty of modern touches to Madrid as well. You can find restaurants, bakeries, shops, and everything else. You can always find a vibrant party going on in the city, and despite appearances, the city is well known for being highly tolerant of gay visitors and residents alike.

The actual citizens of Madrid refer to themselves as Madrilenos, and they tend to be pretty laid back. During the summer you can see people taking siestas where no work is done. Bigger stores tend to run more by Western standards of business hours, staying open all day. The long breaks are usually done only on weekends and holidays.

There are many interesting neighborhoods to see when it comes to Madrid. Of course, this is not the only European city that’s divided into multiple “zones” or neighborhoods. We recommend a few neighborhoods to check out first.

If you’re looking for parties and adventures as a younger person, you’re going to enjoy the neighborhood of Alonso Martinez. There are tons of pubs and little discos, and many of them stay open until 3am.

If you are older and you really want a more “modern” adventure, there’s always the neighborhood of Barrio de las Letras. There are tons of interesting buildings along with some more bars, pubs, restaurants and even some hotels to stay. If you need an excuse to pull out your camera, there’s the Plaza de Santa Ana, which is a gorgeous square. The locals find it a little too overdeveloped and much more “tourist” than they would like, but it does bear a visit in our opinion.

Chueca is a neighborhood that is a magnet for gay travelers, even though it’s welcoming to everyone. There are plenty of new designs, cool shops, and cozy cafes that you can nip into. It’s pricey, but it’s well worth the visit if you really want a touch of luxury in your holiday.

If you really want to sample the best of the region, you will find the neighborhood of La Latina. There are great tapas restaurants where chefs cook up some truly innovative treats for your evening. There are more bars and pubs, which is a theme of Madrid. There are plenty of bars in Madrid.

If you’re looking for more of a budget experience, you will enjoy Ciudad Universitaria, which is where the students live.

On the other hand, there are plenty of luxury areas to check out as well. Salamanca is home to tons of expensive boutiques with unique shops to check out as well as department stores. You’ll also love Torre Europa. Even though a lot of locals find it too expensive, the truth is that there really is something for everyone. Besides, what dollar amount can you really put on making memories?

You don’t have to rent a car in order to enjoy a holiday in Madrid. Public transit is everywhere — subways, buses, trains, a bus system as well as taxi cabs.

Speaking a few words of Spanish will help you get around Madrid a lot better, but it’s not required. The younger generation is learning English rapidly, but the population at large tends to prefer Spanish. If you’re in a heavily tourist trafficked area, you’ll find plenty of English spoken and understood there.

So, what about all of those places to see? Let’s go over that.

You can’t talk about Madrid without covering the Puerta del Sol, which is the heart of Madrid. It’s also super busy — you don’t want to try navigating the plaza with a car. The traffic will just end up irritating you. You will find the hub for the local transit system here as well. This is where most of the locals meet, and this is where many of the festivals will be hosted if you come during a time where everyone is feeling festive (which is virtually all the time!)

There’s also the Plaza Mayor, a square that has truly played host to bullfights, markets, and even symphonies.  Today it’s a zone for tourist shops, cafes, and restaurants. There’s a gorgeous statue of Phillip III.

There’s also the Mercado de San Miguel, which is a huge indoor market. You will see plenty of fresh food and meats, amazing produce and plenty of handmade items.

Cap your trip with the Palacio Real — the Royal Palace itself. It is technically the official residence of the King of Spain, but the royal family doesn’t reside there year round. It’s merely used for state ceremonies.

Guided tours are available, but many people like to navigate the palace on their own. Unfortunately, there’s no photography allowed.

There are also too many museums to mention — like the Museo del Prado, which houses tons and tons of amazing artwork and sculptures.

If culture is what you’re after, there are tons and tons of flamenco shows to check out. This is truly one of the most recognized cultural dances of Spain, and there’s nothing like being able to see it up close.

Of course, you might be tired after a day of drinking in all of these sights and sounds — why not get something to eat?

There are lots of classic dishes. Keep in mind that Madrid is an area that relies a lot on offal along with regular and more “familiar” muscle meats. Just about every part of the animal is used in this region, and the residents truly relish just about all of it.

Seafood is brought in from the coast, but it is very expensive. Still, some tourists like to check out all of the cuisine, including the pricier sets.

Madrid is a very large city, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities for accommodations. It doesn’t need to be something expensive if you don’t have the budget for it. You will find modest hotels as well as expensive ones. It’s merely what you want to actually spend money on that will determine your choices.

There are plenty of opportunities to have a good time in Madrid. We’ve tried to cover everything there is to see and do in the city but you have to realize that there is truly too much to actually cover in a single guide. With so many nonstop flights to Madrid, there’s only one way to figure out everything that has to do with the city — check it out for yourself!