Study Spanish in Madrid

Learn Spanish in the capital city of Madrid

In the very center of Spain, surrounded by the arid 'mesta', Madrid is the highest capital in Europe.

Madrid exudes all the bravado of a capital city. Cars and buses jam the city's streets, yet the commute proceeds with order, speed, and efficiency Everything you might want to see is close by, via a leisurely walk, a quick subway trip, or an inexpensive taxi ride.

You will find the locals "Madrileños" are gregarious! Animated discussion and dancing enliven the city's cafés, taverns, bars, and open squares until the early hours of the morning.

Locals often munch on tapas and postpone dinner until 11:00 p.m. Then follow the crowds to a wonderful play at Plaza Santa Ana, shake to the dance scene of La Latinaor or take in a show at Madrid's top flamenco clubs near Plaza Tirso de Molina. Madrid is a fascinating place to learn Spanish!

The Manzanares River borders the city from west to south and the city is overlooked by the impressive Guadarrama Mountains to the north. Madrid's history reaches back into the 10th century as a fortified Moorish town. By 1607 Madrid became Spain's permanent capital and has flourished ever since, blooming into a vibrant, modern city.

Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) is Madrid's oldest surviving neighborhood. Even today, much of the city (including the subway system) radiates from Sol, which is packed with shops, bars, restaurants and hotels.

Nearby Plaza Mayor, a locale that transitions into the Hapsburg section, offers more shops, restaurants and outdoor cafés. The streets that spill down from the Plaza's Arco de Cuchilleros constitute one of Madrid's busiest dining neighborhoods.

In contrast to the hubbub of Sol and Plaza Mayor, the imperial center is regal and decorous. The National Palace (still partially occupied by the royal family) and the Opera House face each other across, the formal landscape of Plaza del Oriente.

The back streets of this neighborhood offer interesting boutiques, shops and Madrid's music stores, selling Custom-made guitars or heavy-soled flamenco shoes. Bourbon Madrid could almost be called "Museum Madrid"-here you'll delight in Spain's leading art institutions-the treasure-filled Prado (one of the world's top art museums), the Reina Sofia (which houses Picasso's Guernica), and the Thyssen-Bornemisza (offering two halls devoted to Impressionists and post-Impressionists). The 3 museums are within a few blocks of each other along broad boulevards punctuated with monumental fountains and formal parks.

The city's smelly old fish market, the Mercado Puerta de Toledo was gutted and gentrified into a fashionable, five-story shopping center with antiques, haute couture, jewelry, and there's a lively outdoor scene as well. Another major area is the two-story Galería del Prado, Plaza de las Cortes and lets not forget the famous flea market, El Rastro, in the old town (Plaza Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores).

Shopping in Madrid
Madrid is a city of contrasts. This is evident by the large modern department stores that exist alongside small family run shops on narrow side streets that have managed to survive through the ages.

Shops are usually open from Mondays through to Saturdays, from around 10 am to 2 pm and then from around 5 pm to 10pm. Large department stores and shopping centers stay open all day rather than closing up for the traditional after-lunch siesta. They also generally open every first Sunday of the month. In July and August, stores which are further away from tourist areas close a few hours sooner as most city dwellers leave for their summer holidays during these months. Smaller shops tend to close up for the summer altogether. Madrid has a chain of VIPS late night stores, which have adapted their business hours to those of restaurants and can definitely come in handy!

The best shopping district: Downtown, everybody will be sure to find something to their liking. Along Gran Vía, around the Plaza Mayor area and in the vicinity of Puerta del Sol, there are scores of shops, one after the other. Salamanca is the place to go for haute couture sold in small exclusive boutiques and with prices to match. For more affordable fashionable clothes, a stroll down Calle Fuencaral and through the shopping mall Mercado Fuencarral may prove successful.

Department Stores: The national chain of department stores, El Corte Inglés, naturally has several branches in Madrid. These stores cater for all kinds of merchandise, ranging from groceries to clothing and furniture. If you’re looking for a specific CD, you’ll be sure to find it in a store called Madrid Rock and if you’re keen on Spanish literature, it is a good idea to head in the direction of the city’s largest bookstore, the Casa del Libro.

Shopping Malls: If what you’re looking for is a range of options all under one roof then one of the city malls is what you need. La Vaguada shopping gallery is located in the northern part of the city and consists of over 350 stores. If you’re after more exclusive fashion garments, Galería del Prado on Plaza de la Cortes is the place to go.

Flea Market: The biggest and most widely known flea market in Madrid is El Rastro, which covers streets from Plaza Mayor all the way to Puerta de Toledo (La Latina). Every Sunday morning hundreds of salesmen begin setting up the stalls on which to show off their wares, which include almost anything one could ever think of buying. One can wind and weave through the throng until around 3 in the afternoon when the vendors begin packing up their stalls.

Nightlife in Madrid
Just as in the rest of Spain, people here in Madrid go out very late. Most begin the evening at around 10 PM at a tapas bar. The nightclubs open up at around 1 AM but people head for these at around 3 AM, when the bars close up. Then they party and dance until around 7 AM, which is closing time for most nightclubs. It is pretty common to stop over for some breakfast on the way home at one of the city’s many cafes.

For many, the weekend already starts on a Thursday night as Fridays usually imply shorter workdays. Madrid’s nightlife is so varied that everyone is sure to find something to their liking. Spaniards in general are friendly and sociable people so you should have no trouble meeting new people at the places you go to.

Spaniards like to dress up when they go out. Even at ‚alternative’ bars people are seldomly wearing jeans or tennis shoes. Women in Spain like to dress sensually, especially when going to nightclubs and are always careful to ensure that they are elegantly, fashionably and femininely dressed. There are of course, those that dress with a somewhat freakish fashion sense to stand out in the crowd.

Theatre, Movies and Other Cultural Activities
If dancing all night long is not your cup of tea, there are other quieter options to choose from when it comes to ways to spend the night.

In Madrid there are over 100 movie theatres. Some are very modern, with the latest movies out at the box office while others are smaller and less frequented. These usually carry foreign or independent films. Make sure to look out for the Dia del Espectador – on these days movie tickets are sold at a reduced price, sometimes even at 50% off. Usually these days fall on Monday and Wednesdays.

Madrid also has many theatres to offer those seeking cultural entertainment. Some of these put on classical plays in huge halls and other theatres, usually smaller ones put on more experimental and avant garde performances.

Other cultural activities on offer aside from the theatre include orchestral performances, operas and many other artistic productions. The Circulo de Bellas Artes is made up of a theatre, a movie theatre, a cafe, and many other rooms in which new events and exhibitions are constantly being organized and displayed. Thanks to the Juan March Foundation, most activities here are free.

Cafes, Tapas Bars and Nightclubs
Madrid has cafes, tapas bars and nightclubs on almost every block and therefore only the most well-known are mentioned.

The area most favoured by those who enjoy going out to these places is probably Plaza Santa Ana. This is where tourists usually flock to, however you will also come across a considerable number of locals as well. Tapas bars line the streets here so the selection is endless.

Along Castellana you will find mostly upscale bars and nightclubs with the kind of crowd such places attract. It is unlikely to find students here and the general age group ranges from 25 years upwards. The same goes for Retiro and Salamanca areas. This is where the "pijos" hang out, Spanish for yuppies. Running parallel to Castellana are many salsatecas or salsa nightclubs, owned and run by Latin American immigrants.

In the Malasaña district you’ll mostly come across simpler bars that can come off as rather untidy or unclean. Prices here are very affordable and the crowd is generally very young, mostly made up of students who like to spend their evenings here. Plaza Dos de Mayo is a square that is always buzzing with activity – the clubs there are relatively stylish and therefore quite expensive. When the bars in this area close down for the night, the streets empty fairly quickly and it is not a good idea to stay around for to long as in this part of town street crime at that hour is very high.

The Chueca district is one of the favourite areas of Madrid at the moment. It may be helpful to know that this is the city’s gay area, that way you’ll know what to expect before wandering into the nightclubs there.

If you’re a jazz or salsa fan, in Huerta you’ll be sure to find a music bar to your liking. On weekends these places usually have live music to enjoy along with your drink.

The La Latina district is ideal for enjoying a relaxing glass of red wine with your tapas in quiet inner patios and courtyards.

Local fashion
There are no strict dress codes to be observed in Madrid – one’s clothes should merely try and fit the occasion. During the somewhat oppressive summers people tend to wear light clothes to make the heat bearable. Winters in this city can get pretty cold.

Madrid has been rivaling with madrid to obtain the title as Fashion Capital of Spain. Here in Madrid fashion weeks are also organized with main events being held at the Pasarela Cibeles (Cibeles Catwalk). Twice a year, Madrid-based designers, such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Angel Schlesser and Javier Larrainar, among many others, present their creations and latest collections here.

You will find clothes by these great designers in the city’s exclusive boutiques. If you’re traveling on a tighter budget, your best bet will be to take a look in the shopping malls for clothes.

Eating in Madrid
As everywhere else in Spain, food in Madrid is an important subject. Going to a restaurant for a meal is not only intended for eating purposes, but as a social occasion as well. In Madrid you will come across the simplest of snack bars and cafeterias as well as true gourmet shrines. And the beloved tapas bars must not be missed. Whether it’s a small snack you’re after or a plentiful and mouthwatering meal, in Madrid you are sure to find the food to your liking.

Many immigrants from places all over the world live in Madrid, and have naturally brought recipes from their homelands with them. International cuisine is gradually catching on here but why not take advantage of your stay in Spain to taste the exquisite local cuisine?!

Local events & festivals in Madrid
Veranos de la Villa (Village Summer Festivals): This festival, held during the first week in August, is made up of a series of cultural events including photo and art exhibitions, operas, concerts and theatrical performances. The festival features both small, up-rising musical groups as well as internationally famous music bands, which usually perform around Plaza España. Festivities continue on through the night on Plaza Mayor.

Verbena de la Paloma Festival: The Verbena de la Paloma Festival is held from August 6 to 15 in the La Latina area. This festival involves some of Madrid’s best popular traditions. In the evenings bars are quickly filled with people and many free live concerts are held. Performances of traditional dances with folkloric costumes are put on and during this time Madrid takes on an almost village-like quality. The last evening sees off the festival with a spectacular firework show.

Semana Santa: During Holy Week many church services and impressive processions take place in Madrid. Both Holy Thursday and Good Friday are official holidays here and on these days, as well as on Easter Saturday and Sunday, locals parade around the city streets, carrying religious statues, particularly of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. Those seeking penitence can often be seen wearing long robes.

Carnival: Carnival has been celebrated in Madrid since Medieval times. This tradition was interrupted for many decades by General Franco, who banned the carnival since the Civil War. In 1976 this ban was lifted and ever since, the popular event is celebrated every year. On the last day of Carnival, Ash Wednesday the traditional „Entierro de la Sardina“ (The Burial of the sardine) is held on Paseo de la Florida. This marks the beginning of Lent.

Jazz Festival: Since 1970 the "Club de Música y Jazz San Juan Evangelista“ organizes the annual Jazz Festival in Madrid. In last year’s festival, jazz greats such as Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillespie delighted onlookers with their musical talent. Other festivals, such as the Flamenco Festival, are also organized by the club, the aim being to reach as many people as possible. The festival is held in late October-November and admission fees are very low.

Feria de San Isidro : This religious festival is held in May and honors Madrid’s patron saint. The Las Ventas bullring boasts the best bull fights of the season and many colorful street celebrations, concerts and performances brighten the city by day.

New Year’s Eve: Thousands crowd to Puerta del Sol on New Year’s Eve to see off the old year and welcome the new with fireworks. At midnight the Spanish tradition is to eat one grape on every strike of the clock, making a wish per grape.

Our spanish program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs.