Time Out Madrid (Time Out Guides)

Famed for its wild nights and lazy days, Madrid provides a whole lot more: spectacular opera productions and chirpy folkloric zarzuela; cutting-edge cuisine and ancient, tiled tabernas; designer shoe shopping and strolling around flea markets. Written by resident journalists, Time Out Madrid also covers the artistic jewels housed in the Prado, Thyssen, and Reina Sofia, as well as the etiquette of watching a bullfight or joining in with a flamenco performance. Special sections of this seventh edition include “In the Frame” (the intriguing stories behind some of the city's best-known paintings), “Sophisticated Snacking” (where to find gourmet tapas and wine-lists to match), “Winding Down” (detailing the yoga centers, spas, and Turkish baths), and “Up, Up and Away” (climbing, skiing, and hang-gliding within reach of the city).