Salamanca

• Lee más sobre El Retiro

Madrid’s most iconic park, home to a fallen angel statue, a large lake and plenty of runners.

There are other parks worth visiting in Madrid, but none quite like El Retiro. At every step, a sculpture, building or floral display invites you to stop and take it in. That’s why people say you could spend the whole day wandering its paths and still not see it all.

When you leave, it’s time to catch your breath the Madrid way: a beer on a terrace table outside a bar.

• Lee más sobre La Paz Market

A true Madrid classic, where market stalls, tapas counters and local life come together — the perfect place to taste the city, Mahou in hand.
 

Madrid’s flavour can also be found among traditional market stalls, lively counters full of conversation, and locals who shop like they’re keeping a tradition alive.

In the heart of the Salamanca district, Mercado de La Paz is one of those timeless spots where you can take the city in slowly: a tapa here, a recommendation there, and—just as every good plan requires—a perfectly chilled Mahou to go with it.