A Step-by-Step DIY Literary Tour of Madrid
Madrid is a great city for literature buffs. Our step-by-step literary tour takes you to important landmarks related to Cervantes, Hemingway and many more.
Barrio de las Letras
Barrio de las Letras means neighborhood of letters, and while it’s not necessarily a literary quarter anymore, there are some important streets named after famous writers, like Calle de Cervantes and Calle Lope de Vega. Many streets have commemorative plaques dedicated to famous writers, such as Luis de Góngora, Francisco de Quevedo, and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, who once lived in the area.
1. Biblioteca Nacional
Library
2. Casa Museo Lope de Vega
Museum
3. Botín
Not only is this spot the oldest restaurant in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it’s also noted in many famous novels and poems, such as The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. This iconic restaurant has also been mentioned in Fortunata and Jacinta by Galdós as well as in works by Frederick Forsyth, Arturo Barea, Carlos Arniches, Graham Greene and even F. Scott Fitzgerald. You’ll need a lunch break anyway during your tour, so you may as well enjoy some roast suckling pig while discussing Hemingway’s notable presence in Madrid.
Botín, Calle Cuchilleros, 17, 28005 Madrid, Spain, +34 913 66 42 17
4. Las Cuevas de Sésamo
This famous cave bar is famous for three things: sangria, piano music and literature. In fact, quotes from artists, singers, actors and writers (such as Miguel de Cervantes and Garcia Lorca) are scratched on the walls and there’s even an autographed plaque from Hemingway on the wall – he was one of the bar’s first patrons.
Las Cuevas de Sésamo, Calle del Príncipe, 7, 28012 Madrid +34 914 29 65 24
5. Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes
Museum, Theater
6. Garcia Lorca's Doorway
Bookstore, Building
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.