Cathay Pacific launched four weekly flights to Madrid from Hong Kong in June and has some tips for travellers to the land of siesta, flamenco and paella:
- Fuencarral at Metro Bilbao has cool, interesting shops and right at the very top is Café Comercial where the Movida took place after the death of Franco and it was a gathering place for poets, writers and other intellectuals. It’s a great place to stop for a hot chocolate.
- It’s all about the jamon (ham) in Madrid, and where better to seek out the best than the San Miguel food market. Look for “iberico bellota gran reserve” – it’s worth every Euro. You’ll also find a wide variety of produce and, of course, tapas and great wine.
- Right near San Miguel Markets is a cute street called Calle de Cuchilleros packed with underground bars and great restaurants to visit.
- Be like the locals – the perfect place to stop for a quick coffee and sandwich in the morning are museo del jamons.
- Slip into a new time zone – We don’t just mean the time difference. Expect things to open later in the morning and social activities including dining to kick off much later and carry on into the night. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself eating dinner at 10pm.
- Embrace the graze – Instead of a meal at just one restaurant, enjoy a touring banquet of tapas. Walk along the street hopping from one tapas bar to the next, sampling different tapas at different establishments. One place may be known for one particular dish or another, so look out for what the locals are eating.
- Pucker up – In Spain, greetings are with two kisses to the cheek, starting with the right cheek. Generally it’s a light peck but if you are uncomfortable, a cheek to cheek is acceptable.
- Travel there with Cathay Pacific – With four direct flights a week to Madrid from Hong Kong and over 70 flights a week from Australia, you will be travelling well when you choose to fly with Cathay Pacific. The great connections mean that the total travel time (including transfers) is less than 24 hours from Sydney to Madrid. Vamos! What are you waiting for? Airfares start from $1,707 including taxes and surcharges.
Northern Summer 2016 schedule
| Flight No | Routing | Departure | Arrival | Days of the week |
| CX315 | HKG-MAD | 0045 | 0845 | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun |
| CX320 | MAD-HKG | 1225 | 0705+1 | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun |
Northern Winter 2016 schedule
| Flight No | Routing | Departure | Arrival | Days of the week |
| CX315 | HKG-MAD | 0045 | 0810 | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun |
| CX320 | MAD-HKG | 1120 | 0705+1 | Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun |
Cathay Pacific Airways operates more than 70 flights every week from Australia to Hong Kong – four daily from Sydney; three daily from Melbourne; 10 per week from Perth; 11 per week from Brisbane; four per week from Cairns and four per week from Adelaide.
