Santiago Bernabéu stadium; worth a visit

During your visit to Madrid it’s certainly worthwhile to also visit the stadium and buy tickets for a guided tour. A tour through the stadium starts with a panoramic view of the stadium from the roof. Then you visit the ‘Presidential Box’, the dressing rooms, the players’ tunnel, the benches and coaching area, the press room and of course the pitch itself. After having seen the pitch, you go to the exhibition of trophies and you’ll end the tour at the store with souvenirs.

The tour

Besides the fact that the tour goes through certain rooms, you can take a photo with your favorite Real Madrid player with a special photo montage. Through an audiovisual interactive journey you will be taken into the history, story, objects and trophies of Real Madrid CF. You can also experience the journey from Valdebebas to the stadium in a replica of the Real Madrid player bus. The stadium is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00 and on Sundays and public holidays from 10:30 to 6:30. On tour days the tour is open until 5 am before the kick-off (limited admission). A standard ticket costs €25 and for children from 4 to 18 years old €18. For more information about tickets and current opening hours, it is best to take a look at the official website of Real Madrid CF.

How to get to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium?

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is located in the center of Madrid on the Paseo de la Castellana, one of the most important streets of Madrid. The stadium is located about 4 kilometers north of the Plaza de Cibeles, where the Paseo de la Castellana comes from. It is at the same distance from Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s main squares. The stadium is best reached by metro line 10. Stop Santiago Bernabeu is right next to the stadium. From the center, line 10 can be taken from Plaza de España or Tribunales, but can be reached with a transfer (for example line 1 from Puerta del Sol or Atocha train station).

From Atocha, Paseo del Prado or Plaza de Cibeles you can also take bus 14 or 27 to go to the stadium. Take bus 14 in the direction of Avenida Pio XII. It passes the stadium on the Paseo La Habana. Take bus 27 in the direction of Plaza de Castilla and get off at Plaza Lima, right in front of the stadium. From the metro station Callao in the center you can take bus 147. Take the bus in the direction of Barrio del Pilar and get off at Plaza Lima. From Puerta del Sol you can take bus 150 in the direction of Colonia Virgen del Cortijo and again get off at Plaza Lima.

Food, drinks and sleeping near the Santiago Bernabéu stadium

The Bernabéu stadium is located on one of the main roads of Madrid, Paseo de la Castellana. The area around the stadium is a mix of mainly offices, shops and residential buildings, but there are plenty of bars and coffee shops where you can eat or drink something. La Esquina del Bernabéu is a shopping mall built right next to the stadium and offers a small dining area and a number of fast food restaurants. A bit further to the south is a branch of the department store chain El Corte Inglés. The number of bars and restaurants is increasing as you head south towards the center of Madrid. Most of Madrid’s nightlife is in the northern parts of the city center.

There are a few hotels near the Bernabeu. The Holiday Inn Madrid, AC Hotel Aitana and Rafaelhoteles Orense are the closest in the area. These hotels get good reviews but are also far from cheap so for the somewhat cheaper options there are some hotels that are further away such as the Espahotel Plaza Basílica, Hotel Gran Atlanta, Hostal Falfes, Hostal Los Ángeles and Sunotel Amaral. These hotels also get good reviews, they are all close to several metro stations and they are reasonably priced, between €50 and €100 per night. These hotels are also within a 20-minute walk from the Bernebéu.

A stadium tour through the Bernabeu is a fun experience, especially as a Real Madrid CF football fan. Maybe a little less if you are a fan of FC Barcelona but for that stadium we would like to refer you to our article about the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Just because the Bernabéu belongs to the most popular sights of Madrid you should already visit this stadium. 1.300.000 people went before you last year.

The post Santiago Bernabéu stadium appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Vintage stores in Madrid; shop till you drop!

Madrid is a big city with a lot of different shops. You can find the biggest brands in the main shopping street (Gran Vía) but it’s quite hard to find the second-hand shops. Today we are going to tell you where you can find those vintage stores in Madrid. Take care of your money though!

Flamingo Vintage kilo

In this store you pay per kilo, how cool is that! So the price depends on the weight of the clothes. This shop with an American entourage offers the best jeans clothes. You can shop unknown brands but also famous brands like Levi’s and Diesel. Go to the changing room, choose your clothes, weigh your clothes and you will see how much you get for almost nothing. You can find this shop at Flamingo Vintage Kilo, Calle del Espíritu Santo, 1, Madrid, Spain

Alphaville

Another famous second-hand store in Madrid is Alphaville. This store has three different location with each another range of products. One store at Calle Velarde offers sportswear, one store at Calle de Leon has clothing and footwear and one which offers not only clothing but also vintage objects for your house you can find in Calle Verlarde as well.

Magpie Vintage

Magpie is a cute second-hand store which offers a lot of different styles of clothes. From girly to rough; you will certainly find the style that suits you best here. The store is located in the street: Calle Velarde, 3, 28004 Madrid. Close to the other second-hand shop: Alphaville and La Mona Checa.

La Mona Checa

Speaking of finding your inner hipster, in the shop La Mona Checa you will definitely find it. La Mona Checa is a huge shop with many different kind of styles. American, Italian, German, you can find it all in this store! The store is located close to Magpie and Alphaville, so you can hop from one store to the other to make your outfit complete! The street where the shop is located is called: Calle Velarde, 2, 28004 Madrid.

These are the four most famous and nicest second-hand shops in Madrid. There are many, many more in Madrid, but these are the ones easiest to reach and they all have a wide range of products. You don’t have to be afraid that you won’t find something, you should be afraid of the weight of your wallet after shopping! Have fun and don’t forget to enjoy the city as well!

The post Vintage stores in Madrid appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

The best and most affordable hotspots in Madrid

Just like Valencia, Madrid also got a lot of nice and cheap hotspots for students to go to. To make it easier for you, we’ve found the best and affordable hotspots in Madrid. These hotspots were recommended by several students who study and live in Madrid. First a little fact: be careful with the word ‘bar’. In some countries a bar is a place to have drinks with music, in Spain a bar is more of a place to have a drink and grab a bite. If you want to have a drink at a nice place while there’s music playing, you have to use the word ‘pub’. The word pub (which you can also eat at) is in Spanish ‘bar’ (singular) or ‘bares’ (plural).

The most affordable bars in Madrid

El Tigre

El Tigre is a popular bar among students. It is a great place to have some cheap tapas and drinks.

For about 5,00 euros, you can have a large platter of tapas and a beer/wine. The service is well, because the staff works efficiently and they are friendly. The place looks cosy and local. There are hanging fresh big serrano hams above the bar, and the walls are made of nature stone. The tables are made of big beer casts. It will give you a cosy feeling. This El Tigre location is full of people around 20-25 years old. We’re saying ‘this location’, because there are two El Tigre bars which are not far away from each other. At el Tigre, Calle de las Infantas 30, you will get much tapas for free if you order a drink. It is student-proof, and therefore one of the most affordable hotspots in Madrid!

Macera Tallerbar

Do you want to taste one of the best cocktails in Madrid? Go to Macera Tallerbar! Macera Tallerbar is quiet a fancy and affordable cocktail bar, which can be found in Madrid and Barcelona. The barista makes the cocktails with passion and fresh ingredients. This place seriously has the best Gin Tonics in town! The place looks modern and pretty cool. Macera is also a bar where you could go to on your own and where you eventually will meet new people.

The most affordable restaurants in Madrid

Goiko Grill

Goiko Grill is established by the 26-years-old doctor, Anthony. At Goiko Grill you can have fresh 100% pure burgers. Not in the mood for a burger and trying to be healthy? Then you can also choose out of three amazing salads. There is a chance that there will be a queue, because nowadays these burgers are really loved. If you want, you can make an online reservation. Having a lazy day? Then you can even choose to order.

Takos al Pastor

No cravings for Spanish food, but down for Mexican food? Visit Takos al Pastor! This restaurant is very famous in Madrid. There could be a queue outside, but it is definitely worth the wait! The food is traditional Mexican and really cheap. Takos al Pastor offers taco’s for 1 euro per taco, and quesadillas are 2 euros. A cocktail is 3-4 euros, and other drinks are 1-2 euros.
The restaurant looks really happy and colourful. There are small coloured flags all over the place, wooden pallets and posters on the wall.

The most affordable clubs in Madrid

Teatro Kapital

If you feel like dancing, get yourself ready and visit Teatro Kapital! This is probably the biggest disco in Spain. You are not going to find a lot of locals in here, but there will be a lot of people from across the world. This place makes an excellent go-to spot for meeting new people. The disco has tons of variety regarding to music, rooms, karaoke and you will even receive a drink at the entrance. Although this place is quite expensive, it is still a place that you definitely want to visit (save some money if you’re planing to go). Furthermore, there will be a lot of other (and maybe more affordable) places where you can have a nice night out. Madrid is the Las Vegas of Spain. A city that never sleeps!

Some words might have been taken by Spanish people differently. To clarify the right word-use and meanings:
Bar: A place where you can drink (for example a beer) and eat some food.
Pub: A place where you can drink (mostly alcoholic drinks) at night, with music.
Disco: A place where you can only drink and dance.
Restaurant: Only for eating.

The post Affordable hotspots in Madrid appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Top 5 best clubs in Madrid nightlife

Make sure you have a great time in the Madrid nightlife with our top 5 best clubs in Madrid!

5. Ochoymedio

“The indie Club” of Madrid is Ochoymedio. Considered by many to be the best indie club in Spain. With the rock, indie, pop and alternative hits played in the club every weekend, it is a must go for every indie lover. The resident DJ’s are famous for the impossible mixes they produce. It is not a mainstream club in Madrid what will assure a special night! Friday night the entrance is free when you put yourself on the guest list, if you go to the website to “lista de puerta” and fill in your details, the entrance is free before 1am with max 10 friends. If you are not on the list or you want to go Saturday night, you pay €13,- with 2 mix drinks included or €10,- with 1 mix included.

Opening hours: Friday and Saturday
Location

4. Opium Madrid

The club Opium in Madrid is the complete opposite of Ochoymedio. Opium Madrid is the most exclusive club in the Madrid nightlife. The beautiful decorations of the club combined with the exclusive vibe, give the club a very special atmosphere. The resident DJ’s play house and commercial vibes adapted to the needs of the crowd to make sure everyone enjoys a great night out. We suggest you to make a table reservation if you go to Opium Madrid. The entrance for girls is FREE, guys pay only €10 before 1am.

Opening hours: 365 days a year
Location

3. Teatro Barceló

Many will know Tetro Barceló as the old Pacha Madrid. A few years ago the name changed and Teatro Barceló became one of the most exclusive and selective clubs in Madrid. The old building and door policy make sure the exclusive image is guaranteed. To enter Teatro Barceló you have to be 23 years or up and the dress code is elegant. Make sure you wear your best outfit because Teatro Barceló has a selective door policy. The music is usually commercial and dance. There are also great events with international artists. Take a look at the website to find out the dates. The price for entrance goes from €10 to €20 with one drink included.

Opening hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Location

2. Fabrik

What’s a top 5 best clubs in the Madrid nightlife list without a good techno club? Fabrik in Madrid is the perfect place for every electronic and techno lover. The club is located in the suburbs of Madrid at 30km of the city. But don’t worry, busses are leaving every thirty minutes from Plaza de España. Besides the two great spacious rooms of Fabrik, there is also a huge terrace where you can dance all night long. The atmosphere can be described as electronic, alternative and Ibiza. Entrance starts from €20 and the price increases until all the tickets are sold out. Special events can be found on their website and can cost up to €50 or €60.

Opening hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Location

1. Teatro Kapital

Last but not least, our personal favorite of the Madrid nightlife, Teatro Kapital. The best club of the top 5 best clubs in Madrid. The club is located in the center of the city. What makes Teatro Kapital so special, are the 7 (!?) floors, all with their own atmosphere and style. Before it turned into a club, it was a theater. The old balconies are maintained and turned into VIP areas with a direct view on the main stage. With seven different floors the music variates from Hip-Hop, to electronic and Reggaeton. There is also a karaoke room for the singers among us. The ticket price is €20 with two drinks included. Teatro Kapital is definitely a great place to go during your stay in Madrid.

Opening hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Location

Enjoy the night!

The post Madrid nightlife appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

What is Tour Me Out?

Tour Me Out is a travel company offering a range of unique, fun and informative experiences in Valencia, Barcelona, Benidorm and Madrid. They aim to give travellers the best experiences in their cities by offering activities unique to that city, season and people without breaking a student budget.

What makes Tour Me Out so Unique?

Tour Me Out are not just your everyday travel company; for example, they offer walking tours, yes, but not just your everyday ‘check out the La Sagrada Familia’ and move on… Tour Me Out focuses on showcasing the cities best attractions (of course), but also focus on giving insider tips, how to appreciate the unique architecture of your local buildings, and how history has evolved over time to make the city what it has become today.

Along with everyday walking tours, Tour Me Out also create personalised activities unique to a city and it’s local events and specialties. Want a local tapas tour? Get your tastebuds ready! Want to run with the bulls in July? They’ll take you! Want to get covered in tomato juices in La Tomatina? Get amongst the group! How about experiencing Fallas festival up close and personal? You got it. There is almost nothing they can’t help you experience – oh, and did I mention they won’t break your budget?

Why is Tour Me Out perfect for Students?

Tour Me Out is perfect for students not only because they offer cheap, awesome experiences that will have you looking at your city in a whole new light… They are also perfect for students because they only hire low budget, volunteer walking tour guides who have fallen in love with the cities themselves and decided to stay! Who else is better to give advice on keeping to a low budget while getting the most out of the city than someone who has been through the exact same experience?!

Seriously, check them out and you can be the judge for yourself!

This article is written by Bec Jenkins.

The post Tour Me Out; Walking tours, pub crawls, tapas tours and more… with a difference! appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Brunch in Madrid

For a good start of your day or after a good night out, there is nothing better than a good old brunch in Madrid. There are a lot of places to have brunch in Madrid, but which one is the best? We wrote down our top three for you, so you don’t have to look any further!

Federal Café

One of the most fashionable places to have brunch in Madrid is Federal Café. This trendy bar is known for its breakfast and brunch menus with a lot of fresh yoghurts, toasts and pastry. Besides breakfast and brunch, Federal Café is known for its amazing coffee, a perfect way to start or end your brunch. If you are late, you should try the burgers or salads, also amazing!

Carmencita Bar

A perfect place to have brunch on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday morning is Carmencita Bar. The light interior gives a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy an affordable and cozy brunch. Carmencita Bar is also a great place to have a drink afterwards.

Café Oliver

Our personal favorite is Café Oliver. This small bistro in the fashionable neighborhood Chueca was one of the pioneers in Madrid. Every Sunday morning you can have brunch in this cozy bar. The menu with fresh juices to start, coffee and the renowned eggs Benedict, is the best brunch menu in Madrid.

When in Madrid, you should definitely visit one of these amazing places!

The post The best places to have brunch in Madrid appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Experience el clásico, the most important football match in Spain

Just before the preparations for Christmas were about to start last year, a special event took place in Spain: El Clásico. In other words, the clash between eternal rivals FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. On Saturday December 3 the Camp Nou stadium was the theatre for this special match, which always ensures spectacle and nice goals. If you’re lucky and you are in Spain during the match, you can experience el clásico, and see how the Spaniards experience this match in their own way.

Although it was financially almost impossible to actual go to Barcelona and buy tickets, it was in Valencia a nice experience as well. The week before the match the shops will sell a lot of merchandise. It is difficult to estimate which of the two teams has the most support in this city.

When you don’t know where to watch El Clásico on match day itself, ask around. Many people from Valencia tell you that every random bar with a television screen would broadcast Barca-Real. And no Irish Pub of course, but rather a typical Spanish bar where the delicious jamones hang above you on the ceiling and the dobles stand next to you on the counter. A little bet with your friends and the game can begin!

It is better not make it that late the evening before. To get a good place to sit and watch the game in a bar you have to be on time. But do not expect that you can follow the football every single second. Bars will be filled with people and besides that Spaniards are known to be quite passionate during these kind of games.

Because FC Barcelona and Real Madrid are very big, in Valencia as well live a lot of supporters of both clubs. That’s why it is so special to witness that (youthful) fans can watch the match together. You can’t imagine that when for example Manchester United and Liverpool face each other. Nevertheless, one can see that more people cheer for the Catalans than the Madrilènes. This manifests itself in jubilation after the 1-0 scored by Suarez just after halftime. Moreover, it is advisable to go on the streets during halftime. You will notice that it is very quiet there and that’s how much the confrontation lives in the city! Eventually the rivalry is not too bad when Ramos scores the 1-1 just before the end of the game.  The people drink a beer together and cheers on the result.

Altogether it’s special to perceive how El Clásico is experienced in this country that is crazy for the football game.

The post Experience el clásico as a student in Spain appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

Where to go when you are only one day in Madrid

One day in Madrid, when you visit the capital of Spain you should visit these sights that will make your trip unforgettable!

Plaza mayor

The best-known square of the city. In the middle of the crowded city you find this open square. You will see the combination of history, architecture and street life.

Palacio Real

By an official or self-guided tour it is possible to visit over 50 rooms of this palace. The royal family lived here before but since they moved to another palace (Palacio de la Zarzuela) this palace is only used for royal ceremonies.

You like art?

Visit Museo del Prado. In this museum there are over 1500 paintings. If you like to see them all you will need a lot of time, or maybe more visits. It is one of the biggest art gallery in Europe

When you are impressed by all the art you saw in Museo del Prado, you can walk into Parque del Buen Retiro, which is around the corner. Stroll through this park and visit the crystal palace, which is made of glass and metal. Rent a boat at the lake which is typical experience. Relax and escape from the busy city centre.

Plaza de Santa Ana

This square, which is more quiet then plaza mayor, offers a lot of restaurants where you can have a delicious dinner. Plaza de Santa Ana is situated in the area Huertas, that has a lot of bars.

Another way to spend the evening is to have a drink in Malasaña, an area that is known to be filled with ‘Madrileño’s at night, having drinks in the bars. Also in daytime this area is nice to visit and has many vintage stores.

If you have some energy left, dance through the night at Teatro Kapital to finish your one day in Madrid experience. This 7-floor disco has different types of music where everyone is guaranteed for a long night to party.

The post One day in Madrid appeared first on Suspanish Blog.

What can you find on the blog Madrid

On our blog Madrid, we give you fun and interesting information you should know about the city. Not only the hotspots in Madrid but also the unknown places of the city. Madrid has so much to offer, we cannot stop sharing information on our Madrid blog.

Read everything about this vibrant city on the Madrid blog

Madrid is located in the exact center of Spain, is always sunny and has very hot summers. The city is visited throughout the year because of the history, art and culture. Besides being the political heart of the country, the city also has two very famous football clubs, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

There is so much to see in Madrid. Important hotspots are the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), Parque del Buen Retiro (the biggest central park of Spain) and Plaza de Cibeles (A very big square with the well-known fountain and beautiful buildings). Besides that, the city has a lot of rooftop bars where you can enjoy the view while enjoying a Spanish cocktail.

Also, de less known places in Madrid deserve a visit. For example, the various neighborhoods of Madrid, they all have their own charm and character. One of the best ways to discover the city is by bike. There are multiple companies in Madrid where you can rent a bike for a few days. You can also buy a guided city tour to see every hotspot in Madrid.

Take a look at our blog Madrid and discover everything this vibrant city has to offer.

The post Read everything the city has to offer on our blog Madrid appeared first on Suspanish Blog.