You think of Madrid when you think of bullfighting. You also think of Madrid when it comes to a hectic nightlife. There is so much to see and do in Madrid that hardly anyone pays attention to the fact that Madrid is also one of the best known cities in the world because of its cuisine. Yes, I am talking about the world famous Spanish cuisine though Madrid has developed into a cosmopolitan city with cuisines of many countries being present here. The city is a melting pot of races with influence of many cultures over its food and cuisine being felt by the tourists who come here. First of all, get yourself an apartment in Madrid to know about the city from the locals in a much more intimate manner. These apartments are also cheaper than hotels and provide more privacy in general. This is same as Barcelona apartments or an apartment in New York.
Madrid is one of the very few cities in the whole world to have hundreds of tourist attractions. This is why there are different kinds of tours for the tourists depending upon their taste. There are biking tours, trekking tours, nightlife tours, museum tours and so on. But for those who are connoisseurs of food, all these tours are nothing in comparison to food and wine tours that are there in big numbers there being many operators organizing such tours.
Take a guided food tour fro one of these operators and you will be taken to every nook and corner of the city and to eating joints you otherwise would never come to know about on your own. Your taste buds will come alive with the tingling sensation of the tasty tapas that are a delight and found only in Spain. With a guide who is as entertaining as the food he introduces you to, such a walking tour will be your introduction to a laid back Spanish lifestyle that is far from the hustle and bustle that you encounter when you are on a short trip to the city and want to see as many places of tourist attraction as a little timer as possible.
On one of these food tours, you are typically taken to 4 bars and restaurants to let you try authentic Spanish recipes. Octopus, cider, sherry, etc are food items that may have heard a lot about while coming to Spain but you will relish them when you are made to taste these recipes in a traditional Spanish restaurant. The prices of such a tour typically include your drink at the first bar and also tapas that you are made to eat several times.
The food tours cost around 30-35 Euros and considering you get free drinks, these are very satisfying for those who are always on the lookout for local cuisine. You also get to learn about Spanish food traditions from your English speaking guide. You can ask your guide to include a flamenco show in the tour for a little more enjoyment.