Why learn Spanish in Madrid?

Madrid, the capital of Spain and one of the best cities to live in the world. These are just five of the many reasons why coming to study Spanish in Madrid is a great idea. Let’s look at each of them in turn.

No matter what sort of museum you’re into, Madrid has something for everyone. The famous Prado museum caters for those fans of such artists as Velázquez, Goya and the ahead of his time El Greco. You could easily spend half a day wandering the vast corridors of this palatial building and still not discover all of its secrets. However, if classical art isn’t your thing, then the Reina Sofia with its impressive collection of contemporary art might be more up your street. Picasso’s Guernica is the star painting here and hangs proudly alongside works from other great artists such as Miró, Dalí and Juan Gris.

“But I don’t like art”, you might say. Never fear- Madrid has plenty of other museums such as the Museo del Traje, Museo de América, Museo de Ciencias Naturales and many more. You’d be hard-pressed not to find something you’ll like!

Madrid has some legendary nightclubs, some of which are a holdover from the Movida Madrileña of the 1980s. The massive Kapital in the city centre is a seven-storey (yes, seven!) mega club, while Penta in trendy Malasaña plays all the best hits from the 80s and 90s. A big advantage of getting out and about in the evening is that you’ll come into contact with lots of locals to practise your Spanish with!

If clubbing isn’t your cup of tea, then there are lots of other ways to soak up the cultural atmosphere of Madrid. Like the theatre? Well, Gran Vía, one of the main boulevards in the city, has tons of theatres where you can enjoy the biggest musicals and productions. You could also take a food and drink tour, which is another great way of picking up some basic Spanish vocabulary too, or take in the breath-taking views from one of the multiple miradores in the city such as the Faro de Moncloa or at Centro Centro.

Being the capital of Spain, Madrid has a wide range of culinary delights to sample while you immerse yourself in Spanish culture and learn its beautiful language. An unmissable place to go is Botín which holds the Guiness World Record for being the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the world- it opened in 1725! More relaxed options include the myriad of tapas bars dotted throughout the city where you can snack on some fantastic mini portions of Spanish cuisine while having a glass of locally produced wine.

Although the Madrid restaurant scene is a feast for the belly, you might sometimes want some home comforts in between your Spanish classes. Madrid now has a vast range of international options, from Thai to Colombian and even good old British fish and chips. It’s all a question of getting out into the city and exploring, all the while practising your Spanish conversational skills to get tips from the locals on the hottest new restaurants!

Nature lovers are spoilt for choice in Madrid as the city and its surroundings have some great green spaces to enjoy when you’re not studying. Right in the city centre is the Parque del Buen Retiro with its beautiful lake, shady grassed areas and remnants of the old palace buildings which used to dominate the area. Furthermore, the vast Casa de Campo on the eastern edge of the city has a fantastic cable car which takes you right into the heart of the park where you can enjoy some incredible views back over Madrid.

When you come to learn Spanish in Madrid, you shouldn’t forget that the city is surrounded by mountainous areas such the Sierra de Guadarrama which is absolutely perfect for hiking and climbing enthusiasts. The nearby countryside is dotted with quaint little villages full of history and beautiful architecture, such as the fortified buildings in Buitrago del Lozoya or the 15th century castle in Manzanares El Real.

Evidently, the most important thing to anyone wanting to study Spanish in Madrid is the quality of the city’s language schools. It’s crucial that you find a school which offers top-quality teaching, great support for students and a range of courses to help you develop your Spanish language skills. With over 30 years’ experience teaching languages, Hablamos is the place for you. Our teachers are highly-qualified and use the latest teaching methods in class to make sure you develop the skills you need to get out into Madrid and confidently start talking to people from the very first lesson. You’ll soon be making lots of new friends and wondering why you didn’t make the move sooner!