A City on Vacation

Many madrileños, like city dwellers across Spain and Europe, flock to the coasts in August for a well-deserved beach vacation. As a Spanish city without a beach, Madrid quickly becomes a little quieter in August. In fact, a number of businesses close their doors for August, leaving their customers to contemplate a paper sign in the window announcing that they’re closed for some weeks in August. That doesn’t mean everyone’s gone, however. Some people cite August in Madrid as a highlight–as it turns into a hot, languid capital–while others regret the temporary exodus. Whatever your opinion on the matter, the fact is that life in Madrid goes back to normal in September.

[Photo: Julien Narboux]