Time Out Madrid (city guide)

Posted by Dreamer

For tourists and residents alike, Time Out Madrid is a treasure map to experiencing Madrid to its fullest – in whatever form that may be. Cultural information, accommodation, eating, shopping, nightlife, arts, events, sports, and side-trips are all covered here for the hip hedonist at heart.

With better local information and a less fanatical following than a Lonely Planet guide, Time Out Madrid covers the basics of any guidebook, but where it really excels is the extensive sections on arts and entertainment (Festivals & Events, Children, Film, Galleries, Gay & Lesbian, Music, Nightlife, Sport, Theatre & Dance), and eating and shopping (Restaurants, Tapas, Cafés & Bars, and Shops & Services). Young and vivacious readers might get their money’s worth from the Nightlife section alone – “Party now, sleep later,” reads the subheading. The Gay & Lesbian section is also an important Madrid primer for anyone who swings that way and doesn’t like to stay at home.

In addition, the directory and A-Z resource list is concise and highly practical. Besides the lowdown on trains and taxis, it provides information on doctors, Internet, libraries, telephones, and other day-to-day topics. It’s a slim volume to contain so much information.

The only thing I don’t like about the guide is that it includes a sprinkling of advertisements, but it’s less annoying than in some other books I’ve seen. Nevertheless, the book is attractively laid out and includes full-color photos. Blue asides highlight a variety of interesting topics in Spanish art, history, life, nightlife, and culture.

If I had to buy just one guide to Madrid, this would have to be the one.

Time Out Madrid. London: Time Out, 2007. 320 pages.
Buy the book in Europe or buy the book in North America.

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