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Chulapos dancing the Chotis Celebrating San Isidro in Madrid If you're traveling to Madrid during the first half of May, you're in for a treat! The feast of Madrid's patron saint, San Isidro, is on May 15th and during the days leading up to it you'll get to see locals getting into the spirit. Click here to get the Essential 5‑Day Itinerary & Travel Guide — the exact plan I use to help travelers experience the city at its best. The Chotis The photo above is of Chulapos dancing

El Dos de Mayo (The Second of May 1808), by Goya (cropped; on display at the Prado museum) Many Americans treat Cinco de Mayo as little more than an excuse for a margarita, and it's easy to assume that Spain and Mexico share the same foods, holidays, and traditions. After all, Spanish is spoken in both countries. But the two cultures diverged centuries ago, when Spain colonized what is now Mexico, and their histories have followed very different paths ever since. Nowhere is t

Installation view from ‘Dalí Infinito’ at Palacio de Gaviria. Image courtesy of the exhibition site. Madrid just added a major new cultural stop to its map. After years of limited use, the Palacio de Gaviria has officially reopened its doors with a long‑term exhibition dedicated to Salvador Dalí – and it’s a standout. Palacio de Gaviria: A Little History Behind the Palace Long before Dalí arrived, the Palacio de Gaviria was already one of Madrid’s great showpieces. Built

Medellín, Colombia - Photo Credit: Nicolas Gerardin Shakira Madrid September 2026 Shakira is bringing her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour to Madrid in a way the city has never seen before. A multi‑night residency in a custom‑built stadium will anchor her only European residency in September and October 2026. Demand is already enormous, and nine dates are now on presale. Confirmed Concert Dates Shakira now has nine scheduled shows in Madrid: September 18 September 19 Sept

Interior Photo of Santiago Bernabéu Taken During the Tour Several Years Ago Whether you live in Madrid or you're just visiting, there's a good chance that you'll have a reason to go to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. You might not have thought so. Read on to find out whether this should be on your itinerary and if so, how you might get there. But first, take a few seconds to view the photos above . The cover photo and the first two photos in the gallery were from a visit we m

If you’re staying near the Bernabéu or planning a visit for a stadium tour, Bernabéu Market, Plaza Mahou, or a match, you’ll run into a temporary interruption on Metro Line 10 between Nuevos Ministerios and Cuzco. This is starting in March 2026 and is expected to last through the end of the year. The workaround is simple: a short walk, a frequent free shuttle, or a quick taxi or ride‑hail. Want a clear, stress‑free plan for your Madrid visit? Tap the image for the itinerary

Holy Week Procession in Madrid Religion in Spain and Madrid As a student I occasionally attended Catholic mass in Madrid, occasionally in the almost never sense of the word. That was in the years from 1986 through 1990. I didn't see many people my age in church. A quick google search really didn't inform me much at all. Depending on the source, the percentage of spaniards who consider themselves to be Catholic varies greatly with the highest statistic I found being 95%. Other

Chulapos and chulapas in traditional Madrid dress bring Plaza de la Villa to life each November 9, with music, dance, and centuries of folk tradition. Madrid has a way of surprising you, even when you've lived there. During my two years studying in the city, November 9th (Día de la Almudena) came and went without me ever actually experiencing it. Both years, our school took advantage of the holiday to organize excursions outside the city, so while Madrid was celebrating its p

We know people like Top 5 lists. And we occasionally see people asking what to do in Madrid on a budget. So, here’s a set of curated Top 5 lists that are low-budget and loved by many. We'll look at five in each of several categories: outdoor must-sees, cafés with a local vibe, local eats under €10, and cultural spots. Want a complete, ready‑to‑use Madrid itinerary? Click to download the full 2026 guide. 🏞️ Top 5 Outdoor Must-Sees (Free or Low-Cost) Parque del Retiro – Iconi

Illustration of the Fiesta de la Virgen de la Paloma Madrid! Virgen de la Paloma Festival 2025 – Castizo Spirit! The trilogy ends with a...

Chulapos Dancing at the Lavapiés Metro Entrance, San Lorenzo 2021, Photo Credit: El País Madrid! San Lorenzo Festival 2025 – Summer...

San Cayetano Street Decorations, Madrid Madrid! San Cayetano Festival 2025 – Summer in the Streets Every August, Madrid erupts into three...

Almudena Cathedral Always Something New to Experience in Madrid Madrid, the vibrant capital of Spain, never fails to surprise and delight visitors with its rich history, stunning architecture, and cultural treasures. For those who have explored this city multiple times, there always seems to be something new waiting to be discovered. We recently returned to Madrid for a couple of days where we experienced several things we hadn't previously, either because they opened since

Day Trip Locations from Madrid Madrid, Spain has a lot to offer without leaving the city limits. It has a rich history with many places of interest to keep visitors engaged for several days. Most visitors spend about two days in Madrid, which, in our opinion, is barely enough time to see the essential sites. You can read more on Madrid in some of our earlier posts and we have another one coming soon. If you have more than a couple of days to spend in Madrid, there are many

Madrid Map Showing the Routes of the Two Free Zero Emission Buses There are Two Free Zero Emission Buses in Central Madrid! Did you know...

Templo de Debod, Madrid Madrid's Beautiful Blue Skies and Magnificent Sunsets Madrid Rooftops Beneath a Beautiful Sky When we think of...

San Antonio de los Alemanes, Interior When people think about cities with sacred monuments and spaces , they probably don't immediately...

La Puerta de Alcalá (Alcalá Gate) The Emblematic Puerta de Alcalá We recently wrote an article about the Retiro Park in Madrid . With...

Monument of King Alfonso XII, East Side of the Pond in Retiro Park, Madrid, Spain Serene Retiro Park One of our favorite places to spend time in Madrid is the beautiful Retiro Park. It offers many acres of gardens, fountains, monuments, exhibit spaces, and a large pond. There are apparently more than 15,000 trees in this UNESCO World Heritage Site . So, it can be a great place to escape the sun and heat on warmer days of the year. It’s enjoyed throughout the year by locals a

Prado Museum, Madrid So Many Museums to Choose from in Madrid We must admit that despite the vast amount of time we have spent in Madrid,...