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Spain : Madrid - March 2009

Country Code: Dial for Spain

Spring has sprung, so get out there and enjoy the budding trees and flowers in Spain’s sunny capital. This is a big month for culture lovers, with a major Francis Bacon exhibition and grand opera, but there is also time to indulge in the tailend of the sales. Scott Adams finds plenty to like about Madrid in March

Getting around

Barajas Airport

Bus: There are regular buses from the airport to Avenida de America (which connects with Metro lines 4, 6, 7 and 9) until 11pm. The journey takes between 30 minutes and an hour (emtmadrid.es).
Train: Terminal 4 is covered by line 8 of the metro system. The journey to the city centre takes about 45 minutes and a single ticket costs €2.
Taxi: The journey to the centre takes around 20 minutes and costs around €28 (which includes the taxis’ airport charge of €5,25).
Tourist information: The main office is at 27 Plaza Mayor (tel. , www.turismomadrid.es) but there’s also an information stand at Terminal 1.

TRIBALL

Madrid’s answer to New York’s TriBeCa is a fast and totally turned-on neighbourhood just a few paces from the bustling Gran Vía.

Sleep soundly – Good value for money, Hotel Laris (3 Calle Barco, tel. , hotel-laris.com, rooms from €90) still maintains a certain kitsch, 70s appeal, but is well maintained and close to all of the action.

Must eat – A full-on Mexican party experience, La Barriga Llena (7 Calle Valverde, tel. ) gets full marks for its wacky décor and great food.

Dance the night away – Things kick off around 10.30pm at Sala BarCo (34 Calle Barco). It pulls in a young, lively crowd.

Shop til you drop – Check out the hand-knitted alpaca garments upstairs at Emiica Style (53 Corredera Baja de San Pablo) before taking in the art exhibitions in the basement gallery.

OPERA

One of Madrid’s oldest and most regal areas, Plaza del Oriente is surrounded by cobblestone streets crammed with small shops and restaurants.

Sleep soundly – Service at the Hotel Mario (4 Calle Campomanes, tel. , room-matehotels.com, rooms from €85) is excellent and the breakfasts are divine.

Culture vultures – You shouldn’t miss Donizzeti’s comic opera Don Pasquale, on throughout March at the Teatro Real (Plaza de Oriente, teatro-real. com), Madrid’s grand opera house.

Must eat – Get a cosy wooden booth at Restaurante la Opera de Madrid (5 Calle Amnistía, tel. ) and enjoy traditional Spanish favourites. The lunchtime set menu is good value.

Dance the night away – Palacio de Gaviria (9 Calle Arenal) is a nightclub housed in a 19th-century mansion, complete with frescoed ceilings and gilded mirrors.

Shop til you drop – Victimas del Celuloide (4 Calle Santiago) sells handmade clothes, quirky gifts and art.

PLAZA NEPTUNO

Take a relaxing stroll along the treelined Paseo del Prado, before popping into one of the three big museums, which house masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Sleep soundly – Enjoy the in-house art collections and Greek antiquities at Villa Real (10 Plaza de las Cortes, tel. , derbyhotels.com, rooms from €160 per night)

Culture vultures – In an absolute first for Spain, the Prado (Paseo del Prado, museodelprado.es) is showing a major exhibition of works by Francis Bacon (until 19 April).

Must drink – With piquant mojitos and other exotic cocktails, El Imperfecto (2 Plaza Matute) is the perfect place for getting the motor revving before moving on to the clubs.

LAVAPIES

Off the main tourist trail, this fashionable neighbourhood is full of pleasant surprises.

Sleep soundly – Perfectly located, Cat’s Hostel (6 Calle Cañizares, tel. , catshostel.com, shared rooms from €18 per night) is a good option for budget travellers, with a cheery atmosphere and internet access.

Culture vultures – It’s just a short walk to Madrid’s massive contemporary art museum, the Reina Sofia (52 Calle Santa Isabel), which houses Picasso’s Guernica, as well as many other modern masterpieces.

Must drink – Open all day, Tetería Puerta de Damasco (8 Calle Ave Maria) serves aromatic teas and infusions, alongside Middle Eastern music, water pipes and Syrian snacks.

Dance the night away – With a definite underground feel and live rock and reggae on offer, Tierra Loca (19 Calle Olmo) attracts a mixed crowd.

Compiled by Scott Adams