Often snubbed in favor of Barcelona, the Spanish capital does not lack assets for a weekend getaway. Forget the clichés, the city tour goes far beyond the classic tapas-Prado duo. Carefree and creative, Madrid is full of activities: avant-garde museums and art centers, alleys inviting to shopping, crazy night bars. Let yourself be carried away by Madrid’s perpetual movida.

Madrid, artistic capital
For a first visit, go discover the three great museums of the city on the Paseo del Arte. The Prado Museum, one of the largest art galleries in the world, brings together the paintings of the masters of Flemish and Spanish painting and nearly 500 Greco-Roman sculptures. Expanded in 2005 by Jean Nouvel, the Reina Sofia museum focuses on modern art. You can admire, among other masterpieces, Guernica by Pablo Picasso, a famous monochrome that depicts the horrors of Franco’s style. As for the Thyssen-Bornemisza foundation, its programs alongside its rich permanent collection, the most brilliant temporary exhibitions.

The city does not fall asleep on its achievements, as beautiful as they are. The artistic dynamism manifests itself through foundations that have grown in the four corners of the city in recent years. Two of them are located not far from Paseo del Arte. Supported by the banks of the same name, Casa Encendida and the Caixa Forum offer a good overview of the avant-garde in the visual arts.

Soon, you will have to leave the historic center to discover the most spectacular site, Plaza Matadero, a multidisciplinary center (architecture, visual arts, fashion, theater, literature, etc.) housed in the former slaughterhouses. This large-scale project will not be finalized before 2012 and should run over almost 150,000 m2! Some spaces are already open to the public, and the architecture of this briquette-like place, typical of the industrial style of the 20th century, is definitely worth a look.

If Madrid is not a city of buildings, there are however skyscrapers signed by the greatest builders of our time in particular at the Cuatro Torres Business Area, the business center of Paseo de Castellana, where the Repsol tower by Norman Foster culminates at 250 meters.

Trendy shopping
Gran Via, which celebrates its centenary in 2010, brings together the giants of cheap clothing. Shopping on this artery will also be an opportunity to enjoy the most beautiful pre-war style buildings. Between a trip to Zara and a refueling at Corte Inglès (the equivalent of our Galeries Lafayette), think about lifting your nose on the sumptuous Metropolis (at the crossroads of Alcala) imagined by two French architects and on Casa Telefonica (at corner of Fuencarral), a building that evokes the Chicago of the last century.

Go down to Puerta del Sol (photo) by Calle de los Preciados if you are looking for fashion at low prices and head north, near Triball for designer boutiques. This district, forming a triangle between the Gran Via, Callao and Tribunal metro stations, has long been the playground of prostitutes and junkies. The municipality intervened to revitalize the district, and in a few months this desolate corner found a new breath.

Praised by sores, Triball, who dreams of dreaming like the New York TriBeCa, brings together the trendiest shops in the city. The activity focuses on Fuencarral, a literally crowded street on Saturday afternoon, but do not hesitate to get lost in the adjacent streets to discover small stalls.

Finally, on Sunday, do not miss the Rastro chips. This bric-a-brac brings together panoply for neo hippie, souvenirs and antiques in the city center, close to the South American district of Latina. Watch out for pickpockets!

Sleepless night in Madrid
Forget Barcelona, for the nightlife, it is in Madrid that it happens! Remember, from Pedro Almodóvar to Lucía Etxebarría, many artists have praised Madrid nights. It was the 80s, sure, but Madrid has not said its last word.

The classic circuit begins with a tour of the “chupitos” bars, in the area spanning from Puerta del Sol to Plaza Santa Ana. For a chicer aperitif, take a little height! Many hotels, such as Room Mate Oscar, Las Letras or Urban have transformed their roof into a bar-terrace, ideal for enjoying the sunset at 360 °.

We can also slog in alternative bars in the Lavapies districtor near Chueca, the gay district, which is home to many small, casual restaurants and lively bars. At club level, the Sol has been a real institution for almost thirty years, but you may prefer the Low or the Elastico for their sophisticated electro rock programming.

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