Madrid is a cultural center of Spain, as well. Spain, as a whole combines the old and the new and Madrid is a prime example of this. It has an old town that is juxtaposed with modern buildings and infrastructure. It boasts many monuments that are a sought-after attraction for visitors to Spain. One of the highlights in Madrid is its medieval center (the old town known as "Madrid de las Austrias") which dates back as far as the Habsburg Empire. Its Plaza Mayor was opened in 1620 and deservingly remains one of the most popular tourist sites in the city. Madrid's stunning Royal Palace dates back to the 17th century. It is an architectural delight combining baroque and classical styles of building. The city boasts many other architectural delights, as well as interesting museums and beautiful gardens.
Madrid is home to 73 museums. One of its most interesting and unique museums is the Prado Museum which is one of the world's most impressive art galleries. Madrid is known to be a beautifully green city. If you are looking for a relaxing break, you can walk around the stunning gardens, or go rowing and feed the squirrels in one of Madrid's large parks.
Madrid has a vibrant nightlife which visitors to the city finding both enticing and embracing. It has any number of pubs, cafes, discotheques, flamenco clubs and nightclubs. Strangers are made to feel welcome and can join in with all the reveling that occurs until all hours of the morning. In fact, it would not be unusual for you to get stuck in a traffic jam at 4 o'clock in the morning! It is worth trying to visit one of Madrid's traditional verbenas (open-air dances) or one of their popular festivals. The San Isidro bull-fighting festival is also a major attraction.
Madrid, as would be expected of the capital of Spain, has a modern infrastructure which makes getting around fairly easy for guests to the city. If you are visiting Madrid for the first time, it is recommended for you to stay near to the Puerta del Sol and Gran Via and there are a number of accommodation options that you will find near there.
Accommodation for visitors to Madrid varies greatly. You can find top of the range hotels from modern minimalist styles to old-world palatial styles. These are typically found outside the tourist center, but this should not necessarily put you off as public transport is easily accessible. Mid range accommodation is readily available and in these you often find touches of class. Budget accommodation can also be found these are often simple and found in the center of the city.
Phuket nightlife takes on many different forms. Phuket is one of Thailand's top destinations and as such there is a diverse range of nightspots on the island. Although Phuket nightlife is not quite on the same level as in Bangkok, that doesn't mean that you won't be able to find somewhere to have fun.
Phuket nightlife is at its most lively in Patong. You'll either love Patong or you'll hate it. The bars are loud, the clubs are obnoxious and the streets are crowded. That being said, Patong is cheap and the bars and clubs stay open later than in other parts of Phuket.
Patong is famous for its nightlife. The center of the action is found on Soi Bangla, which is a hive of go-go bars, discos and stage shows. This is Phuket nightlife at its most seedy, but it can be a lot of fun if you go in the right frame of mind.
Generally speaking, the bars and clubs in Patong churn out hip hop and dance music hits. It can all be a bit predictable, so don't go expecting anything special.
Patong is also known for its girls. Yes, it's true, there are countless bar girls and sex shows in Patong, but the people of Patong make no effort to conceal these facts. Patong is what it is and it's best not to take the whole place too seriously.
Perhaps the most fun that can be had in Phuket is at some of the local clubs. Phuket nightlife is at its most authentic in the small Thai clubs, where you can check out some of the local bands. Phuket Town is probably the best place to sample some Thai-style clubbing.
Also in Phuket Town there are lots of pubs and beer bars and much less of the seedy side of Phuket nightlife.
There are plenty of other areas where you can go and party, but usually they aren't as busy and entertaining as in Patong or Phuket Town. There are a few exceptions scattered around the island in places such as Surin, Kata-Karon and Nai Harn.
The only area that Phuket really lacks anything in terms of nightlife is serious clubbing. There are a few Phuket clubs where you can hear cutting-edge music, but these are few and far between. However, it is possible to catch electro, techno, breaks, house and more in some Phuket clubs and bars.
Phuket could be a major clubbing destination in Southeast Asia, but the island has a long way to go before it can start competing with the likes of Singapore and KL.
For now, Phuket nightlife has enough depth to keep people entertained, but you feel as if there is more to come. The shining beacon of Phuket nightlife is that there is a great live-music scene around the island. There are lots of bands who can rattle out everything from rock and indie to jazz and blues. If you can get into it, there is a top indie scene in Phuket. Pick up some CDs in a local store to get a feel for the music.
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