Grab Your Friends and Live the Good Life on a Trip To Madrid

11.09.2023 - 17:48 / matadornetwork.com / Royal Palace

With incredible shopping, stylish restaurants, historic architecture, and world-famous nightlife, the lively Spanish capital of Madrid sets the backdrop for a splurge-worthy trip. Madrid exemplifies chulo, the Spanish word for cool, which you’ll embrace after spending days getting lost in the colorful markets, strolling through El Retiro Park, and sipping cocktails on a rooftop as the sun sets.

Here are our tips for living the glamorous, laid-back Spanish lifestyle with your best pals and finding your perfect version of Madrid that combines culture, gastronomy, and nightlife with Spanish luxury.

Treat yourself (and your friends) to five-star splendor, the Madrid way. The city’s happening hotel scene has seen many sophisticated newcomers in recent years, impressing with modern amenities combined with warm Spanish hospitality. Options run the gamut — choose from hotel bars with 360-degree views, or sleep in a 19th-century palace. Many properties offer a gym, state-of-the-art spa, and suites with unbeatable views of the historic city. Choose a hotel within walking distance of the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, and Teatro Real opera house, or one steps from Gran Vía, and then look forward to complimentary wifi, in-room espresso machines, and twice-daily housekeeping services.

Maybe you’ll check into The Madrid Edition, one of the newest players in Madrid accommodation. Or perhaps you’ll opt to sleep like royalty at the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques, located in the former palace of the Dukes of Granada de Ega. The Hotel Montera Madrid, Curio Collection by Hilton, extends five-star luxury near Madrid’s famous Gran Vía. And the Hyatt Centric Gran Vía Madrid is set within a gorgeous 10-story 1920s art deco building.

Whichever upscale spot you book, know to expect a luxurious space for some rest and relaxation after a night of dancing and drinking, just what you need to gear up for the next day’s adventure.

Photo: Madrid Destino

Madrid offers no shortage of ways to explore and immerse yourself in this historic city, but there are certain activities that will really help you zero in on the Madrileño lifestyle.

For nature lovers, take a stroll through El Retiro Park — part of the Landscape of Light, the first site in Madrid to be granted UNESCO World Heritage status — right in the city center. The sprawling green space is the place to soak up local life and enjoy some fresh air. Pack a picnic or rent a rowboat on the lake for a picturesque afternoon. You can even rent a bike to pedal around the park. Don’t miss the amazing monuments, including the Puerta de Alcalá gate, the many ornamental fountains, the Obelisk, and the monument to Alfonso XII.

When you’re done exploring outdoors, make your way to the edge of the