But it’s not just size that makes the Spanish capital stand out. Madrid is also home to two famous football clubs – Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid – and two enormous stadiums.
The most famous is Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, which recently underwent major renovations and now has a retractable roof and a capacity of around 80,000.
The stadium has hosted some of the most important matches in football history, including multiple Champions League finals, the 1982 World Cup final, and even the Copa Libertadores final.
The Bernabéu, named after former player and club president Santiago Bernabéu, is located in the Chamartín district and is easily reached by metro or bus. It has its own metro stop on Line 10 and is served by several bus routes.
Madrid’s other football stadium is the Metropolitano, home to Atlético Madrid. Originally built in 1994 as part of Madrid’s bid to host the 1997 World Athletics Championships, it was closed in 2004 and later acquired by Atlético Madrid.
The club completely redeveloped the site, transforming it into a 70,692-capacity stadium, which opened in 2017.
It went on to host the 2019 Champions League final and is one of the most modern stadiums in Europe.
Apart from the stadiums, there are many other sights worth seeing in Madrid.
According to Spain’s official tourism website, it’s a “cheerful and vibrant” city with a unique mix of world-class museums, historic architecture, lively neighbourhoods, and huge green spaces.
Highlights include the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen museums, as well as the Royal Palace, Gran Vía, and Retiro Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Food lovers are spoilt for choice too. From traditional tapas bars and historic taverns to gourmet food markets like San Miguel, Madrid has something for every taste.
And according to Lufthansa, the city is home to the oldest restaurant in the world, Sobrino de Botín, which has been serving food since 1725.
Even the city’s sunsets are famous. Locals and tourists gather at the Temple of Debod or rooftop bars like Círculo de Bellas Artes to watch the sun go down over the city’s skyline.
