june-2012

METROPOLIS BUILDING ON THE GRAN VIA
Spain reigns
With world-class art collections, tasty tapas, Sunday markets and a great street
buzz, Spain’s capital encapsulates the country’s colour and culture. There’s
something for everyone, from designer fashion to foodie haunts, from Old Masters
to serious clubbing.
WHAT TO SEE
On the museum trail
The ‘Golden Triangle’ of the
Prado (see Don’t miss), Reina
Sofi a (museoreinasofi a.es) and
Thyssen-Bornemisza
(museothyssen.org) museums
warrants several days’
exploration. Lesser-known
Lázaro Galdiano Museum (fl g.
es) and Museum of the San
Fernando Royal Academy of
Arts (rabasf.insde.es) offer
similar quality, but fewer crowds.
WHERE TO SHOP
High street and
handicrafts
Chueca boutiques around Calle
Almirante offer alternative
designers to the ultra-chic shops
in the Salamanca area, while
Calle Fuencarral is packed with
fashionable international brands.
The best place for handicrafts is
around Plaza Major.
WHERE TO BOOGIE
Feel the nightlife
From the seven-level Kapital club
(grupo-kapital.com) to the disco
bars of trendy Chueca,
alternative Malasaña, stylish La
Latina and multicultural Lavapiés
areas, Madrid’s nightlife is vast
and varied. Café Comercial (7
Glorieta de Bilbao) and Café del
Círculo de Bellas Artes
(circulobellasartes.com) and
Vinoteca Barbechera (27 Calle
CAFE CULTURE
Príncipe) are great places to
warm up before the serious
clubbing begins.
HOW TO GET THERE
KLM operates fi ve direct
daily fl ights to Madrid Barajas
Airport from Amsterdam
Airport Schiphol.
Tourist information
turismomadrid.es
Looking for handy, up-to-date
travel information? Check out
KLM’s Destination Guide pages
— and book your fl ight — on
klm.com. Content provided by
Frommer’s Unlimited © 2012,
Whatsonwhen Limited.
TOUCHDOWN MADRID
SPANISH-STYLE FAST FOOD
DON’T MISS
Perfect Prado
The Prado Museum in the
Paseo del Arte is one of the
world’s fi nest repositories for
fi ne arts. It contains an
unrivalled Spanish collection,
including Goya’s The Third of
May and Velázquez’
Las Meninas. It also has
several Italian and Flemish
paintings, such as Bosch’s
The Garden of Earthly Delights.
museodelprado.es
GARDENS AT THE PRADO
Holland Herald 73