The Community of Madrid is Spain's political and cultural heart, a landlocked region on the Iberian plateau anchored by Madrid, one of Europe's great capitals. At 667 metres above sea level, the city claims the title of the highest capital in the EU. The region blends world-class art museums — the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza form the Golden Triangle of Art — with royal palaces, medieval villages, and the snow-capped Guadarrama mountains on its northern doorstep. Madrileños eat late, party later, and take leisure seriously, giving the region a vibrant street culture that runs from tapas-crawls in La Latina to all-night clubs in Malasaña.
Best time to visit
Recommendation
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None