More tourists go to Madrid, the capital of Spain every year than Barcelona. Its one of the biggest municipalities in the EU. A popular choice for your stag night, Madrid is a modern city with a strong historic feel. Even during the day there is a strong party vibe felt all around, with street performers, bars and great shops. You’ll always find a delicious meal for lunch or that post hangover breakfast or to get ready for your next stag weekend event. Most locals speak English – but take this opportunity to try your pickup lines using your best GCSE Spanish on that sultry senorita.

Why Madrid?
Choose Madrid for your stag weekend if you desire vibrant culture. You won’t find tight curfews here and there is a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. With great outdoor parks like ‘El Retiro’ you can enjoy a boat ride on the lake and see lakeside performers and ‘El Angel Caido’ – the only public statute known dedicated to the devil. Madrid is full of stunning art and active cultural activities. The ‘Big Three’ museums of Madrid – The Prado, Thyssen and Reina – feature works by artists like Goya and Picasso.

Activities:
Madrid is a great choice for your stag night with experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Try Arabian baths, laser combat – or for the true Madrid experience: baby bull running. More traditional activities include woodland paintball, football matches or pro karting on the Spain national championship circuit.

Nightlife:
Chillisauce can help you find the best authentic Spanish restaurants to enjoy delicious cuisine whether you like it mild, wild or a little spicy on your stag do. Remember to have a late afternoon snack; Spaniards don’t eat dinner until about 9pm. The bars open around 11pm so get ready for late night fun!

A Note on Catalan Cuisine:
You’ll want to try patatas bravas, these are like potato chips and come in a spicy tomato sauce. Want meat? A stag weekend in Madrid is a great opportunity to try some of the finest and most delicious meat around. From Chorizo sausage to the plentiful, local seafood. A popular delicacy is barbecued squid or marinated sardines.

Drinking:
Madrid is known as beer and wine country, so you’re going to want to experience everything. Stay on the lookout for Moritz lagers and Estrella Damm as these are what the locals order at the pubs. Chillisauce has already organized a list of pubs, clubs and bars that accept stag groups for stag weekends and nights so there’s no stress or hassle.

Madrid: Don’t miss!
- One word: bullfighting. ‘Las Ventas’ is the biggest bullfighting ring in Spain with fights held every day during ‘San isidro’ festivities from mid March to mid June, Sundays and on public holidays.
- Puerta Del Sol is Madrid’s most active plaza.
- Spend Sunday afternoon in Retiro Park, just behind the Prado museum. Full of street entertainers and people.

Getting Around:
The best way to travel Madrid is the metro – it’s second only the London Underground. You’ll find frequent service with metros every 2 to 3 minutes during rush hour and every 4 to 6 minutes during the day and every 15 minutes after midnight. Late night stag partiers be warned: the metro closes at 1:30am – that’s before the clubs close – so be sure you have plotted how to get back to the hotel.

Climate:
Winter is cold with occasional light snow. Spring gets sunny and warmer. Summer temperatures can rise to 39 degrees C.

Madrid Fact File:
- Spain currency is the Euro. Visit www.xe.com to check exchange rates.
- Madrid is one hour ahead GMT.
- Don’t stress about tips too much. It isn’t customary on top of restaurant charges but leaving a couple of euros will be appreciated Mr. Moneybucks!