Date of publication 09/12/2022
Madrid, Rome, Budapest, Barcelona and Lisbon Travel to the 5 most exciting fashionable cities
Europe in style
New boutiques and gastronomic temples coexist with beautiful spaces in five fashionable cities in Europe: Madrid, Rome, Budapest, Barcelona and Lisbon. Are you ready to discover the surprises that you will find in each of them?
Madrid, non-stop energy
Madrid’s vital vibe will captivate you right from the beginning. Visit Madrid’s Golden Mile, the streets of Serrano and Ortega y Gasset. Here you will find the most exclusive fashion boutiques in the world, lined up one next to the other.
In the bohemian neighborhood of Malasaña, actress Sarah Jessica-Parker was captivated by the dresses in its vintage storefronts. Williambsburg, Alphaville or The Temple of Susu are some choices of top brand couture.
The fact that Madrid does not have a beach is no problem at all for Vacaciones Cocktail Bar. This Malasaña bar is one of the trendiest in the city. And to enjoy the most famous dish, cocido madrileño, the iconic restaurants Florida Blanca, Casa Lhardy or La Bola are your best bet.
The Gran Clavel restaurant in Madrid recovers the gastronomic essence of this timeless avenue. A broad concept of Madrid cuisine with a triple staging: vermouth, wine bar and eatery. The excellent food and the retro-chic atmosphere will amaze you for its elegance.
You will find the best dinner & movie plan in Madrid at Yelmo Luxury Cinemas. In this luxury cinema, the waiters will serve you a la carte food (yes, you read correctly) while you watch the movie sitting in a comfortable armchair.
Rome, a thousand times eternal
None of Rome’s visitors leaves without throwing a coin in the Fontana di Trevi. Do you know why? Tradition says that only those who do return to the Eternal City.
Visit the first Bulgari store. Via Condotti is possibly the most luxurious street in the world. Valentino, Hermès, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Prada and other major brands have their headquarters here. But perhaps nothing would have been the same if, in 1894, the Greek businessman Sotirio Voulgaris had not opened his first shop in this location. 125 years later, it is known as Bulgari throughout the world.
Bird's eye view. Admiring Rome from the roof of a building is an image that you will not forget. At Aroma, if you close your eyes you can still hear the echoes of people cheering the gladiators. This elegant terrace with views to the Colosseum and the Forum is one of the it-places to go during the Roman notte. On the San Pancrazio terrace, in the heart of Trastevere, conversations are calm, just like the rhythm of the neighborhood itself. The view of the Capitoline Museums, in the Campidoglio, has no match from the Caffarelli Terrace.
Sunset from the Gianicolo. In the first scene in The Great Beauty, by director Paolo Sorrentino, a tourist vanishes, due to the well-known Stendhal syndrome, after admiring the views from this hill in Rome. But stay calm, it's just a movie! What Sorrentino wants to show us in his Oscar-winning film is what all the Romans have already witnessed: the unique sight of the last rays of sun resting on the domes and buildings of the city. A sublimely beautiful show that is impossible to forget.
The best pizza in Rome. The Pizzeria da Baffetto is considered the best pizzeria in the city by locals. It is not strange to have to queue on the street to taste their creations. However, the wait is worth it. The place is old and has a lot of character. Photographs of famous people who have visited this classic establishment hang on its walls.
Budapest, under the Danube’s spell
Swimming in a Renaissance temple? Budapest has more than 100 thermal water spas. In Roman times they were already in fashion and are currently still one of the great attractions of the city. The most recommended? Széchenyi, in Varósliget (City Park), with its three outdoor pools, and Veli Bej, one of the best-preserved Ottoman spas.
Sailing the Danube. Relaxing on a boat at night through the calm waters of the Danube, enjoying Budapest all lit up, is a feast for the eyes. You will go under the Petőfi Bridge, the Chain Bridge, the Isabel Bridge and the Liberty Bridge. You can see some of the main buildings in the city, such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, Matthias Church or the Fishermen's Bastion.
A Night at the Opera. The Budapest Opera is one of the most important buildings in Hungary. It was built between 1875 and 1884 and financed by Franz Joseph I, emperor of Austria. So, what was the monarch's sole condition in order to cover the cost of its construction? That it was not bigger than the Vienna Opera. Occupying one of its 1,261 seats, surrounded by sculptures of famous musicians and composers, is a treat for the ears and sight.
Shopping on Andrássy Avenue. This extensive boulevard, built in 1872, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002. The recognition is due to the Renaissance houses and palaces’ beautiful facades. On this street you will also find the Budapest Opera, some of the most famous restaurants in the city and the most elegant boutiques.
For exquisite palates. Do you prefer cuisine based on rich aromas and spices, or the Mediterranean tradition based on local products? At the Iberostar Grand Budapest restaurant, you can choose the option you prefer, cooked with expertise and top-quality ingredients.
The best goulash. Hungarian goulash is one of the most primitive meat stews, based on meat, onions and butter. Over time it evolved and incorporated ingredients such as potatoes, red peppers, tomatoes and spices. However, the most special of all is paprika. The ideal restaurant to try this delicious recipe? Menza, two steps from the distinguished Andrássy Avenue.
Barcelona, culture and the avant-garde
If you are a design and art lover, Barcelona will captivate you with its creative and relaxed atmosphere.
Try Mecànic, an inspiring space in which you can enjoy a delicious homemade cake or a glass of wine while reading a good book. And if you love chocolate, your place is Chök. This chocolate kitchen is the rage for its exquisite raw materials. To get rid the chocolate from your system, nothing better than a walk around the Encants Vells market (old charms market), one of the oldest in Europe. Open since the 14th century, you can find unique pieces, or even take part in its picturesque auctions.
Street Art. Projects such as Free Walls attract the best street illustrators in the world to Barcelona. Take a tour of the neighborhoods of Poblenou, El Raval, Sant Antoni, the Gothic Quarter or the Guinardó district and discover true art treasures on facades that have been transformed into canvases.
The underground city. There is a secret Barcelona that offers you the possibility of seeing what is not visible from the surface. Anti-aircraft shelters, ghost train stations, water tanks that supplied the city at the beginning of the 20th century, old stables with vaults from architect Antonio Gaudí's time ...
Lisbon to the rhythm of fado
The Iberostar Selection Lisboa, one of the best hotels in Portugal without a shadow of a doubt, will allow you to experience the Portuguese capital to the fullest. You will connect with its most modern side in the business district that surrounds it and with its more bohemian side, via Avenida da Liberdade. In this 5-star hotel in Lisbon you can taste the typical dishes of the local cuisine in its delicious Luz restaurant. Enjoy the spa with water areas, massages and beauty treatments. You can also spend unforgettable afternoons taking a delicious cocktail on the pool terrace.
Cod, the king of the table. Cod is the traditional dish par excellence in traditional Portuguese cuisine. In A Provinciana, one of the most popular joints, you can taste it surrounded by locals. But try to get there early, since its great popularity attracts people from all over the globe.
After the last stop for tram 28, within the Graça neighborhood you will find Vila Berta, a hidden place that hides two charming rows of houses lined with their characteristic railings, iron columns and beautiful colored tiles.
City of bookstores. In the Chiado district, the Bertrand bookstore, opened in 1732, is the oldest operating library in the world. Parallel W, Simao or Fabula Urbis are other spaces in the old town where you can discover unusual books that hold details of the city’s history.
Capital of art. The neighborhoods of Baixa, Castelo and Graça, right in the center, are ideal for photography lovers, with galleries like Pedro Alfacinha. In addition, the galleries in Chiado veer towards contemporary art, such as Carpe Diem, which occupies the decadent Pombal Palace. You will find new trends in the Alvalade neighborhood, in spaces such as Carlos Carvalho, Quadrado Azul, Vera Cortês or the Calouste Gulbenkian museum.
MAKE IT REAL