Aeropuerto-Feria de Madrid
Are you coming to Madrid on business? Enjoy your leisure time in the area around the trade show centre and the airport
In spite of being located on the outskirts of the city, the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas airport and Campo de las Naciones area–where the city’s trade fair venue is located (IFEMA MADRID) –, make up an area that is worth visiting. In recent years, the area has extended its cultural activity, hosting concerts and show, as well as fairs and congresses.
IFEMA MADRID hosts more than 80 fairs a year supporting numerous sectors of the economy. The venue has begun its major expansion project which it hopes to complete in 2024 and whose new infrastructures will increase the impact it has been generating in its surroundings and which has made it the second major economic engine of Madrid. It has some emblematic buildings that have become true ambassadors of the Spain and Madrid brands. This is the case with FITUR, ARCOMadrid and the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid. Two of the biggest food fairs held every year are Salón Gourmets and Madrid Fusión Alimentos de España.
Adjoining the Municipal Conference Centre (Palacio Municipal de Congresos) and IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Juan Carlos I Park opened its doors to the public when Madrid was designated European Capital of Culture in 1992. There’s a 30,000m2 lake in the park, a 1,900m-long estuary, around twenty outdoor sculptures, a garden named ‘Las Tres Culturas’, a greenhouse known as ‘Estufa Fría’, which boasts a collection of over 200 exotic plants, and an auditorium. Climb aboard a catamaran, tour the park on a tourist train, fly a kite, or ride around on one of the free rental bikes... These are just a few of the activities you can enjoy.
Although many Madrid residents are unknown to tourists, the El Capricho Park is one of the most spectacular gardens in the city, due to its history and beauty. The park has three types of classical gardens: the parterre or French garden, the English landscaped garden and the Italian giardino. Judas trees, elm trees, almond trees, holm oaks and lilacs grow profusely here. Supported by twelve Ionic columns, the little temple dedicated to Bacchus is one of the most romantic spots in the garden.
El Capricho hides another secret: its famous Posición Jaca bunker, a unique enclave of the Civil War in Europe on account of its current state of conservation, housing the headquarters of the Republican Army for the Central Zone. There are free guided tours lasting 30 minutes that run on certain weekends. Tickets for these tours sell out quickly. Soon the Palacio de los Duques will be turned into a museum dedicated to the Duchess of Osuna and the age of Enlightenment it represents.
Quinta de los Molinos, famous for its almond trees, which are in flower during spring and the Quinta de Torres Arias, can also be found in this neighbourhood.
Football fans should stop at Ciudad Deportiva del Real Madrid, the club’s home in Parque de Valdebebas. Real Madrid players train on its premises, which include the residence of the youth team and their stadium, the Alfredo Di Stefano. Golfers have Golf Olivar de la Hinojosa, a golf club featuring everything lovers of this sport could ask for, only a short drive from central Madrid: a 27-hole course, a club house and a restaurant serving delicious Mediterranean dishes.
Looking for a hotel near Madrid’s busy international airport or the local convention centre, which holds so many international fairs all year round? Choose from the wide range of accommodations in the area.
The following are but a few of the hotels where you can stay near IFEMA or the airport: Auditorium Madrid, Hotel Nuevo Boston, Axor Barajas, Hilton Madrid Airport, Maydrit Airport, Be Smart Madrid, Novotel Madrid, Tryp Madrid Alameda, täCH Madrid Airport, Meliá Barajas, Hotel Barajas Plaza and Ibis Madrid Aeropuerto.
If you fancy something a little less expensive, book one of the following: Hospedaje Los Rosales guest house, Hostal Emilio and Hostal Príncipe hostels, Apartamentos Barajas and Camping Osuna, the only campsite and caravan park in Greater Madrid, close to El Capricho tube station (Line 5) and a short journey to the centre of the capital.
The area between Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport and Campo de las Naciones is a financial district as well. Big companies have established themselves in it, which means there are good restaurants nearby.
In some basements of these office buildings it is possible to find well-known food and buffet chains -Foster's Hollywood, McDonalds, La Mafia, Hamburguesa Nostra, Fresc Co...-, restaurants with more elaborate dishes such as El Partenón, Green Ifema or the Galician La Gran Pulpería, with the hotel establishments themselves being another good option.
On Machupichu and Los Andes avenues stand a couple of eateries and pubs – Caché, Los Cheses – to have a drink before going to sleep late at night. If you opt for unwinding whilst waiting for your flight or after a long day of trade fairs, you can enjoy a cocktail at Skynight in the Hotel Puerta América.
If you prefer to have lunch or dinner at the airport, you can go to the Kirei Barajas restaurant run by the chef, Ricardo Sanz.
The major Spain-based department store, El Corte Inglés, and Hipercor, its supermarket chain, can be found in this area. At Centro Comercial Campo de las Naciones, a shopping centre on Avenida de Los Andes 50, they sell everything from electronics to fashion, cosmetics and accessories.
Centro Comercial Plenilunio, on Calle Aracne, has more than 200 shops, cinemas and a food court that open 365 days a year. Finally, the recently opened Bahía Center completes the list of shopping centres in the district of Barajas.
If your plane is delayed and you have time to spare before your flight connection or if you simply arrive with plenty of time before your flight, don’t resign yourself to a long wait or having a siesta, you can do everything at Madrid Barajas Airport. We will give you more details in these contents about Free Time in Barajas. Don't forget to check out the article on Left Luggage Lockers with all the information you need about where to store your luggage and enjoy yourself without any of the worry.