Madrid Hotels and Festivals

Summer is the time for outdoor festivities and large music festivals throughout the world’s major cities. Holidaymakers booking Madrid hotels have many to choose from. Spain in well known for the running of the bulls in Pamplona and the messy fun of La Tomatina in Valencia but not so much for music festivals. The largest of them all is Rock in Rio which takes place in Madrid after first being staged in Rio and then exported to the capital cities of Spain and Portugal. Both of the European events are hugely successful and attract large crowds of revellers.

Any holidaymakers that do plan on going to Rock in Rio should book tickets well in advance as they sell out very quickly despite costing over 80 Euros. for the price of the ticket revellers can pick one of four days, each with different headline acts and be part of the 300,000+ crowd to visit ‘Rock city’ for Rock in Rio. The complex includes fairground rides, separate stages and tents away from the main stage for dance and electronica as well as smaller stalls and attractions. Both the Lisbon and Madrid festivals have large VIP areas with outside decks overlookinig the main stage.

Those travelling to Madrid wanting to experience the local culture rather than seeing a mix of Spanish and global recording artists should travel in May. Not only is the weather still pleasantly bearable at this time of year, it is also San Isidro, a festival held in the honour of Madrid’s patron Saint. The festivities held for Saint Isadore are raucos but some of it, such as the bullfighting may not be to everyone’s taste. However most revellers will enjoy dressing up in folk costume, watching the fireworks and dancing the night away in front of the open air stages.

For fans of Dance and Electronica Barcelona hotels will be the best place to stay. Visitors to the capital of Catalonia, Spain’s second city can book tickets for Festival del Sonar, the largest electronic music event in Europe. Sonar takes place in two venues, the most impressive and lively is the pavilion which comes to life in the most energetic frenzy of lights, lasers and dancing revellers. For holidaymakers looking for something a little more serene Musica als Parcs provides the opportunity to listen to classical and jazz music in the balmy open air surroundings of the city’s parks.

Holidaymakers that like the prospect of relaxing to the sound of jazz but would prefer a holiday island to the Spanish mainland can book a flight to Majorca. The capital, Las Palmas has the feel of a much larger city with its grand cathedral and, open squares and ornate buildings. The best festival to go to is the Jazz Voyeur festival to see performers from all over the world. The biggest bonus is that holidaymakers have a wide choice of Majorca hotels at any time of year in the classy capital or in the tourist resorts along the coast in Alcudia or Magaluf.