Madrid

In Madrid, it is not easy for a traveller to decide when to sleep. In the morning, the fragrance of the local cortado espresso invites one into the cafes. During the day, there are the excellent collections of the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza art museums, as well as the variety of shops near the Puerta del Sol square. After a tapas meal, it is time for a flamenco performance. By this time it is usually time to go to bed for the night, but in the trendy Chueca and Malasaña districts of the city, this is when the nightlife really comes to life.

The peaceful Parque del Buen Retiro Park and its art galleries and cafes offer a break from the busy day in the big city. Bullfighting at the Plaza de Toros de las Ventals raises passions for and against it. Passion and excitement also surfaces easily at theSantiago Bernabéu stadium, the home of Real Madrid.