Madrid

Madrid is Spain's capital and serves as a showcase for the country's rich heritage. There are royal palaces, marching soldiers, changing of the guards, and hundreds of museums to visit, making it an ideal vacation location. No visit to Madrid is complete without visiting all three of the city's major museums. The Prado Museum (formally known as the Museo Nacional del Prado) houses the Spanish royal collection of art, while the Reina Sofia Museum, located close, displays modern classics like as Pablo Picasso's moving Guernica. The adjacent Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, meantime, exhibits Old Masters alongside the greatest of contemporary art.

Madrid is also a classic European strolling metropolis, with green spaces such as Buen Retiro Park and large, pedestrian-only boulevards such as the famous Gran Via. From casual tapas tasting cuisine to cutting-edge, Madrid has it all!

• Best time to visit: Fall (September to November) or Spring (March to May)
• Location: Madrid, Spain