Madrid Travel Blog

On busy Madrid streets the lines of patiently waiting people seem to stretch on for a block. They’re not waiting for a celebrity or a highly anticipated electronic gadget, no. Each person is simply waiting to buy a ticket for Spain’s annual Christmas lottery. Every Spaniard dreams of winning the...

On the run up to August 15, the La Latina neighborhood comes alive (more than usual, I mean) to pay homage to the Virgin of La Paloma with music, dance, food, and drinking in the streets until the wee hours of the morning. It is also not uncommon to see people wearing Madrid’s traditional castizo dress,...

A type of fortified wine that has been flavored with herbs, vermouth is an especially beloved drink in Madrid. In fact, on Sunday afternoons drinking vermouth is rather an institution in the Spanish capital. Many madrileños enjoy an afternoon glass of vermouth at a sidewalk café or else go to a bar...

To celebrate the city’s patron saint San Isidro, Madrid comes alive every May 15 with bullfights, concerts, dances, picnics, and sweets. Madrileños roll out their blankets on the famous hill at San Isidro Park, enjoying picnics and the festive atmosphere, with some even venturing to dance Madrid’s...