Visit This City In Spain For A Picture-Perfect Fall Getaway
By CAITLIN FLYNN
With smaller crowds, shorter wait times at attractions, and cooler temps, there are significant advantages to visiting Madrid in the fall shoulder months rather than summer.
Madrid hosts cultural events like Architecture Week, and fútbol season is in full swing in autumn. Watch a game of one of the two teams, Real Madrid CF and Club Atlético de Madrid.
Madrid is a fantastic city for art lovers with internationally renowned art museums like The Prado and Museo Reina Sofía and several smaller galleries.
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sabatini Gardens, and Retiro Park's lake, fountain, and palace, where you'll be treated to the beautiful changing foliage during the fall months.
Take a food tour to sample Madrid's cuisine of Iberian ham, croquettes, cocido madrileño (Madrid-style stew), paella, and the calamari sandwich.
Madrid Otra Mirada, a free four-day event in mid-October, has hundreds of activities and tours of the city's most incredible buildings closed to the public the rest of the year.
Soak up Spanish culture by celebrating the National Day of Spain (Día de la Hispanidad), observed annually on October 12. Its signature military parade held in Madrid.