An Unforgettable Experience Awaits
This vibrant city pulsates with life, and language students get enthused by its art, culture, food and language.
Students can explore the beautiful Spanish capital whilst putting their Spanish skills into practice.
If you are interested in teaching other languages, we can help organise trips for Mandarin, German, French and many more MFL options.
Trip Highlights
The Bernabéu Football Stadium Tour
A tour of El Pais newspaper offices
Las Ventas Bullring, the home of bullfighting
An evening of Flamenco
Recommended excursions
Spanish Language Lessons
The best place to learn Spanish is in Spain and we can arrange language lessons at a local language school with a native speaker. This gives students a chance to work on grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation and to discuss cultural and social aspects of Spain with the teacher. Afterwards, students can use what they have learned in a real context.
Bernabéu Football Stadium Tour
Visit the 85,0000-seater home of legendary football club Real Madrid for a look behind the scenes. Students can walk in the steps of the players, from the tunnel to the locker rooms, the bench, the pitch and even the presidential box. The tour ends with a visit to the new museum and a look at some footballing artefacts that bring the club’s history to life.
Flamenco Show
Pupils can enjoy the colourful spectacle of this traditional Andalucian art form on stage. The passion, strength and confidence of Flamenco performers make for an unforgettable show. See how they artfully convey their full range of emotions – from humour, happiness and love to envy, anger and bitterness – within a strict framework of rhythmic patterns.
El Rastro Flea Market
Madrid’s largest open-air flea market is held from 9am to 3pm on Sundays and public holidays. Locals and tourists mingle among 3,500 different stalls in one of the city’s oldest working-class areas. It sprawls downhill towards the river from the Plaza de Cascorro. The main street is Calle Ribera de Curtidores, once the site of the city’s tanning industry. Photo © Tomás Fano.
Palacio Real
The Royal Palace awes visitors with its sheer size and monumental presence. It was commissioned in the early 18th century by Felipe V, who was inspired by his childhood at Versailles with his grandfather Louis XIV. Inside, 2,800 rooms compete with each other for over-the-top opulence. The guided tour winds a mile-long path through its highlights.
Museo del Prado
The main Spanish national art museum has one of the world’s finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection. As well as works by Hieronymous Bosch, Rembrandt and Boticelli, students can view the best single collection of Spanish art, including many works by Francisco de Goya.
Museo Reina Sofía
Dedicated to 20th century Spanish art, the biggest draw of this museum is Picasso’s Guernica, shown with preparatory sketches and photographs of the artist at work. This exhibit gives students an appreciation of how artists create their work and respond to the world around them. Dalí, Miró, and others are also represented in film, sculpture and photographs.
El Pais
El Pais is the highest-circulation daily newspaper in Spain. It was first published in May 1976, six months after the death of dictator Franco, and became the newspaper of Spanish democracy. Students can tour the departments of the El Pais office in Madrid, from reporting to design and printing, and learning about the politics and ethics of the newspaper.
Wine Museum in Valdepeñas
This museum is set in an old winery, and the visit starts with a 10-minute audio-visual presentation. Students learn about aspects of wine production in the region, from history to the physical environment, commercialisation, culture, wine archive, gastronomy and Wine Fiesta. There is also a visit to the jaraíz – the industrial part of the winery.
Las Ventas Bullring
Las Ventas is the home of bullfighting in Spain. On a guided tour, students can experience the emotions that might be felt by a bullfighter or a member of the public, visiting the patio de cuadrillas (where the bullfighters wait before the event), the patio de arrastre – where the bull is taken after the fight – the main gate, the ring itself and the stands.
Bike Scavenger Hunt – Retiro Park Madrid
Enjoy an off-road scavenger hunt on bikes in Madrid’s famous Retiro Park. Discover the history and become an expert on the park through a series of fun activities and challenges. Puzzle-solving, socializing, and team spirit are key to this activity. Bikes, guide, helmets and a bottle of water are included for each participant.
The Race for Time – E3 City Trail
The Race for Time trail is a teacher-led, self-guided city tour showcasing top landmarks. Fun activities along the way promote teamwork and dynamic thinking, turning a normal walk into a sightseeing adventure! Each trail pack includes comprehensive teacher’s notes and a risk assessment document (MFL and Enrichment version available).
Typical accommodation
Hostal Marlasca ★★
Why groups like it:
- Central location, a 10-minute walk from Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Prado Museum and the Chueca District
- Four metro stations are within a five-minute walk away
- Air-conditioning for the warm Spanish evenings
Facilities
- Private bathroom
- TV in room
- Lift and free Wi-Fi access
Hotel Mediodia ★★
Why groups like it:
- Five minutes’ walk from El Retiro Park and 100m from Atocha station and the Reina Sofia museum
- The Prado Museum and Thyssen are 800m away
Facilities
- Air-conditioning
- Free Wi-Fi access
- TV in rooms and a lift
Itinerary suggestion
1 Flight to Madrid – about 2.25 hours
2 Coach transfer to your accommodation
3 Own evening sightseeing (flight time permitting) – evening meal
1 Breakfast
2 Language lesson
3 City sightseeing, we suggest the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
4 Evening meal included or optional Tapas Evening
1 Breakfast
2 Language lesson
3 City sightseeing, we suggest the Bernabéu football stadium and the Museo del Prado
4 We suggest a Flamenco evening – evening meal
1 Breakfast
2 Shopping in the Gran Via (flight time permitting)
3 Coach transfer to the airport
4 Flight to the UK
Learning outcomes
Subject focus
Students can:
- Practise in a natural setting through spontaneous, unscripted conversations with native speakers
- Develop confidence and fluency in Spanish by speaking it in practical situations
- Learn about the culture and the people
- Develop students’ interest and enthusiasm for the country and its language
Student outcomes
Students will have had an opportunity to:
- Develop speaking and listening skills by communicating with native Spanish speakers in real-life situations
- Gain confidence by stretching their skills
- Learn about the Spanish culture and people
- Learn about issues affecting contemporary Spain
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Really pleased with the level of professionalism I have received from Travelbound and the speed of response if I have had an issue.
Testbourne Community School
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