Madrid

Madrid is Spain's grand, high-energy capital, a city of stately boulevards, sun-filled plazas, and a nightlife that runs until dawn. Its cultural heavyweight is the so-called Golden Triangle of art, where the Prado, the Reina Sofía, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza sit within a short walk of one another, holding masterpieces from Goya to Picasso's Guernica. When the museums close, the vast Retiro Park offers a green place to unwind.

The city truly comes alive on its streets and in its bars. The medieval core around Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol gives way to the tapas taverns of La Latina, the bohemian buzz of Malasaña, and the polished shops of Salamanca. Madrileños eat late and go out later, and joining the crowds moving from bar to bar over small plates and wine is the surest way to feel the city's pulse.

Sitting high on the central plateau, Madrid has hot, dry summers and crisp, cold winters. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures for exploring on foot, while August sees many locals leave town to escape the heat.