Recreation

Madrid offers several modern recreational activities that include golf, soccer, swimming and much more.

Fitness centers

Madrid has some 45 city-run sports centers that offer wide range of facilities, which includes gyms, swimming pools and tennis courts. Most gyms in Madrid allow only members. However travelers can avail gym facilities offered by the hotels or opt for private health clubs.

Polideportivo La Ermita,

Calle Sepulvedo 3/5

Tel: (91) 470 0111

Golf

The Golf clubs and courses may be towards the expensive side in Madrid.

Olivar de la Hinojosa,

Avenida de Dublin,

On the Metro Campo de las Naciones

Tel: (91) 721 1889

This golf club provides facilities for beginners and seasoned golfers both. Apart from that they also have tennis courts.

Swimming

You could enjoy a swim at some of the best swimming pools in Madrid.

One of the best outdoor municipal pools is

Instalacion deportiva del Canal de Isabel II

Avenida Islas Filipinas 54

Tel: (91) 533 1791,

Near Metro Canal -

Open from 1100-2000

Tennis

Madrid has several tennis clubs but most are privately owned. Some sport centers have tennis courts that are open to non-members.

Soccer

Football raises excitement to a feverish pitch all year in Madrid. League matches are held on Saturday or Sunday, from September through May, culminating in the annual summer tournaments. Madrid has two teams that play in the top division.

Real Madrid plays home games at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Concha Espina, 1

Tel. 91/344-00-52; metro: Lima

Tickets, which cost from $14 to $350, can be obtained at the stadium.

The Club Atlético de Madrid plays at the Estadio Vicente Calderón,

Paseo de la Virgen del Puerto, 67

Tel. 91/366-47-07; metro: Pirámides

Tickets are sold at the stadium and cost from $14 to $350.

For lovers of English-style football, this is the place to be:

Santiago Bernabeu, which is Madrid, main stadium:

Total capacity 75,000 spectators.

This is the home to Spain's most successful team Real Madrid, whose charismatic international stars are at par with Brazil's Ronaldo to Britain's Beckham.

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu,

Paseo de la Castellana 144.

Tel. 91-398-43-00.

www.realmadrid.es.

Ticket office 6-9pm.

Tickets: $17-$92

Metro: Santiago Bernabeu.

Bus: 27, 40, 126, 147, or 150.

Basketball

Basketball is just about as popular as soccer all over Spain and there are several stadiums in the city where you can watch the sport.

The best stadium:

15,000-capacity

Palacio Alegre stadium,

Situated in the southwestern suburbs

Calle Utebo 1

Tel: 91-422-07-81

www.palaceiovistaalegre.com

Metro: Vista Alegre. Bus: 34, 35, 118, or 119.

It is also a venue for bullfights as well as rock and opera concerts.

Athletics

This city features a variety of athletic events as well as periodic music shows.

Estadio de la Comunidad de Madrid.

(20,000 capacity)

Located on the rapidly expanding eastern edge

Av. de Arcantales s/n.

tel. 91-720-24-00.

Metro: Las Musas. Bus: 48.

Bullfighting

Madrid attracts some of the finest matadors from around Spain. If a matador hasn't proven his worth here, it is considered to be infra dig.

Plaza Monumental de

Toros de las Ventas, Alcalá 237

Tel. 91-356-22-00; Metro: Ventas

This is the venue for a sequence of fights, during which talent scouts are watching with an eagle's eye in the audience.

Beach life

Most European tourists head for a vacation from June to August. Most places are quite crowded during this time. The Spaniards too migrate to the beaches in August. Most of the restaurants, shops remain shut during the entire month of August, though the museums remain open. The beach is full of activities and fun filled fairs.