Are you thinking of coming to Madrid during the festivities? Looking for a recommended hotel in San Isidro at the best price? Well, we encourage you to check out our Casual Madrid del Teatro (Casual Madrid Theater), and to help you make your decision, we'll give you some tips on the most recommended activities. There's nothing better than coming to Madrid during the San Isidro Festival, the best way to get to know the most traditional Madrid, yes, the Madrid of the chulapos and chulapas. In 2016, they are celebrated from May 12th to 16th , although the main day is the 15th, when Madrid residents go to the Pradera de San Isidro (San Isidro Meadow) , next to the Manzanares River, to the Ermita del Santo (Saint Mary), dedicated to San Isidro Labrador, where the tradition of drinking water from the well is maintained. This place is very accessible from any part of Madrid, although if you book your hotel in San Isidro in the city center, you can always take a walk to other important monuments. In our case, we are next to Gran Vía and Puerta del Sol.

The most recommended in San Isidro

It's typical to spend the day in La Pradera and eat whatever you bring from home, although a good tortilla de patatas (potato omelette) is always a must. You'll also find many street stalls selling typical Madrid food, such as blood sausage, pork chops, chorizo, and entresijos (steaks and gallinejas) , which give the place its characteristic aroma. For something sweet, look for the stalls selling the typical San Isidro sweets: rosquillas listas (a coating made with a mixture of sugar, lemon, and egg), tontas (uncoated), rosquillas de Santa Clara (covered with a type of meringue), and rosquillas francesas (with chopped almonds). Don't forget to stop by your hotel in San Isidro, as you'll need to refuel. The San Isidro Festival always has a great atmosphere, with music and chulapos dancing the chotis, parades, giants and big-headed figures, the open-air dance, regional dance festivals, concerts, and performances. This year, we can enjoy music by Santiago Auserón, Nacho Vegas, NajwaJean, Rachid Taha, El Langui, Obús, Cycle, Abraham Mateo, Furious Monkey House, and Fangoria, among many others. You also can't miss the Cacharrería Fair in Comendadoras Square, a classic of these festivities, or watch the fireworks displays over the Retiro pond, the dances in the Reina Sofía Museum square, and enjoy classical music at sunset at the Temple of Debod and Plaza de Oriente. Without a doubt, the best places to discover the city if you're here for the first time, or if you're a repeat visitor, you'll fall in love with it all over again.