Madrid

Puerta Del Sol

Puerta del Sol can be likened to Piccadilly Circus in London; surrounded by department stores, retail shops and fast food restaurants, it is extremely tourist heavy and generally bustling whether day or night. Its location has made it a popular meeting point for hundreds of years, now with modern markers like the "Tio Pepe" sign and Madrid's most iconic statue, "El Oso y el Madroño." Puerta Del Sol Known is known as 'kilometre zero' because the distances of Spain's highways are measured from here, it is an important part of not only Madrid, but in fact the whole of Spain.

Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor was one of Madrid's first market squares in the 15th century and, as construction continued over centuries, came to host bullfights, carnivals, festivals and various different kinds of official ceremonies. You'll now find the city's biggest tourist office here, a city government building and a number of cafes with outdoor seating. This area is great for people watching and enjoying the hustle and bustle of modern Spanish life. If you're after a cheap Madrid holiday it's probably worth visiting other areas for your cafe culture experience as the cafes here can be pricey compared to those in other districts.

El Rastro

Named after the Sunday market that you'll discover within it, El Rastro lies within the triangle formed by the La Latina metro stop, Puerta de Toledo and Glorieta de Embajadores. Lavapiés, the area east of El Rastro, has as its boundaries Calle Atocha to the east, Ronda de Valencia to the south, Calle de Embajadores to the west and Calle de la Magdalena to the north. The area has a strong youth presence, especially those of an artistic or bohemian bent, so there are lots of makeshift galleries and street art to see, which for a tourist can make a nice change from the usual sightseeing haunts.

Huertas

Huertas is also known as "El Barrio de las Letras," or 'literary' Madrid. This is where Spain's most illustrious Golden Age authors - Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca, Tirso de Molina - lived their lives in the 17th century. The Plaza de Santa Ana offers a heady mix of busy tapas bars and disco-pubs that cater to a mix of both international and Spaniards. The Paseo del Prado holds the fantastic Prado Museum and Botanical Gardens, as well as some of the rest of the cities' most impressive architectural delights.

Chueca

Chueca is Madrid's gay neighbourhood, and it comes equipped with all the style, vigour and fun that this might suggest. Ripe with fashionable boutiques, cool and of-the-moment restaurants, noisy bars and fabulous clubs, Chueca is a favourite of many - gay or straight, boy or girl, Spaniard or tourist. The "Barrio Rosa" (the pink neighbourhood) is a beacon of tolerance and fun and most importantly, is a great place to party once the sun goes down.

Salamanca

This area is the oldest part of Madrid, and so for this reason alone should certainly be visited! In the 18th century, King Charles III of Spain decided to extend the city, starting with the Paseo del Prado, which he envisioned to hold the most illustrious scientific and artistic establishments. East of the Paseo del Prado he saved the bucolic idyll of the Retiro, creating the vast park it remains today. The area north of the Retiro became a favourite destination for Madrid's wealthy in the 19th century, and continues to be an affluent area with a wealth of beautiful buildings - some are even old palaces! This is a great place to wander and marvel at the ghosts of history past and the beauty of old Spain.