Summer in Madrid
Madrid virtually shuts down in the summer ; from around
July 20 you'll suddenly find that many of the bars, restaurants and
offices are closed, and their inhabitants gone to the coast and
countryside. Only in September does the city open properly for
business again.
Luckily for visitors, and those madrileños who choose to
remain, most sights and museums stay open, and a summer nightlife
takes on a momentum of its own in outdoor terrace bars, or
terrazas. In addition, the city council has in recent years
initiated a major programme of summer entertainment, Los Veranos
de la Villa . It's not a bad time to be in town at all, so long
as you're not trying to get anything done.
Note that, throughout the year, most museums (and many bars and
restaurants) close on Monday . Major attractions that stay
open on Mondays include the Reina Sofía and the Palacio Real.
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