Madrid as a spring wonderland

“In 2021, many of us may have the same resolution: to look ahead and enjoy the small pleasures in life. Enjoying life is about taking that walk, allowing ourselves to discover new routes. That is why I love that this route through Madrid can be started and finished anywhere. We’re all different, so I think it’s much more compelling to create a journey that can be personalised and reinvented, but whose experience is just as beautiful, poetic and full of emotion no matter what you discover.”

*All photography of the route was taken by Luis Galliussi.

Madrid is full of activity and traditions during the spring season. Clear skies, magical sunsets and rich gastronomic delicacies. Follow our journey from the old favourites to Madrid’s best-kept secrets, all of which can be enjoyed safely this year.

It’s time to fall in love with Madrid all over again. So bundle up and start planning your route with the help of Luis Galliussi.

The heart of the city and a spectacular showcase of early twentieth-century Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, Gran Vía is an unmissable emblem of Madrid. We’ve all experienced the hustle and bustle of the grand promenade, but this time we encourage you to walk it and really look – to take in the intricate architectural details and imagine the history behind each building.

Predating the Gran Vía by nearly a century is Lhardy, one of the oldest restaurants in the capital. Built in 1839 and located at Carrera de San Jerónimo 8, Lhardy restaurant has long served as a backdrop to historical and literary Madrid. Visit for a chance to take in its iconic entrance – built in Japonesque style with Cuban wood – and feast on traditional delicacies such as Callos Madrilenos or Entrecot de la Sierra de Guadarrama.

Nearby we find the recently opened Four Seasons Hotel Madrid where, just metres above (seven floors in particular), sits one of the most beautiful skyline views in the city. Its rooftop is crowned with the emblematic copper dome designed by José Grases Riera in 1887. Live a life of luxury in one of the Four Seasons’ 200 palatial rooms and suites, with a visit to the restorative spa or with a taste of the Andalusian cuisine by three-Michelin-star chef Dani García.

Luis has travelled through towns, paths, streets and even cattle trails to discover the region’s finest artisanal delicacies. Now it's your turn to savour them. Plan your weekend and prepare your palate with these mouth-watering hotspots.

A regional secret you won’t want to miss. Tucked away in the mountains of El Boalo, this artisanal cheese farm is the local gold standard, with 100% of its cheese made from a herd of Guadarrama goats.

Born in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range, Cervezas Gabarrera is the first and only ecological beer certified by the CAM. Its must-guarded recipe includes water from mountain reservoirs, barley malts, organic wheat, organic whole cane sugar and yeasts.

Here’s another secret: if you like sweets, palmeritas will be your downfall. This classic puff pastry dessert may seem like nothing ground-breaking, but expert tongues say the secret is in the syrup. To try an exceptional take on an old favourite, head to Pasteleria De la Torre. Don’t believe us? Just ask the thousands of customers who visit Morata de Tajuña every weekend to taste this regional specialty.