Madrid is full of world-famous attractions, but if you only stick to the big hitters, you’ll miss out on some of the city’s most fascinating spots. For every overcrowded tourist trap, there’s a dusty but delightful museum waiting to be discovered. It’s a topic I tackle in my latest podcast, which you can listen to […]
What’s Not Worth the Hype (and Where to Go Instead) Madrid is a stunning city brimming with history, art, and culinary delights, but let’s be honest—not every so-called “must-see” spot lives up to the hype. In my recent podcast, which you can listen to by clicking on the audio below, I explain why these overpriced
Goya’s Hermitage: an ode to the majo Tucked away beneath the palace by the Manzanares River, the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida stands as a testament to Francisco de Goya’s artistic genius – a place where 18th-century Madrid comes to life and where the artist himself finds his final rest. Goya’s frescoes transform
Hidden Gems: the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida Read More »
Updated 10/2/2026 On Ash Wednesday, while much of the Catholic world begins its solemn observation of Lent, the streets alongside Madrid’s Manzanares River erupt in a boisterous bacchanal. The Burial of the Sardine (Entierro de la Sardina) stands as one of the city’s most enigmatic festivals, where religious tradition meets carnival spirit in a uniquely
When you hear “Madrid vs. Barcelona,” the first thing that springs to mind is football, but if you look beyond the rivalry on the pitch, the competition between these two cities is equally fierce with residents of both convinced their hometown has the other beat. Having lived here for 12 years, I’m firmly team Madrid
In Spain, celebrating New Year’s Eve isn’t just about fireworks and festivities. It’s about grapes—12 of them, to be precise, one for each chime from the clock in Sol at midnight. Known as uvas de suerte, or lucky grapes, these bite-sized delights are thought to bring good fortune if you can manage to eat them
The bauble-like red berries from the madroño tree emerge right around the time Madrid’s Christmas lights get switched on, making them seasonal but extremely easy to miss against the neon blare. However, if you look carefully you can find them all around the city. And you can certainly spot representations of the tree on everything
With winter on the horizon, it’s a great time to explore Madrid’s rich literary heritage either with a good book in hand or by roaming the streets of the city’s literary district. In this month’s podcast, I hope to inspire you to just that by diving into the history of Barrio de las Letras (also
Literary Madrid: Barrio de las Letras and The Madrid Review Read More »
I love autumn in Madrid, the brutal summer is now an unpleasant sweaty memory and the scent of roasted chestnuts wafts through the crisp air reminding everyone that Día de Todos los Santos is drawing near. While Halloween dominates much of the Western world at this time of year, in Spain, a much more important
Male narratives have long dominated Madrid’s literary scene. So it was a heartening sight when Almudena Grandes’ name went up in lights in Atocha Station’s tropical garden in March last year. With the station officially rechristened Atocha Almudena Grandes in honour of the recently deceased novelist, it feels as if women’s literature is finally on
The female gaze: celebrating Madrid’s women writers Read More »
