Modern Foreign Languages School Trip To Madrid

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Experience Spain’s wonderful capital with an exciting quest. Take your students on an adventure and encourage them to work in teams, with the aim to collect keys and be in with a chance of unlocking the winning box. The city of Madrid comes alive through multi-activity team-based challenges with visits to iconic landmarks including Plaza Mayor and Mercado de san Miguel. Enrichment or MFL version available.