After only being in Barajas airport several times I was dreaming of visiting Spain for years, to try their food, experience the culture and to enjoy Flamenco shows. I was finally able to actually go to Madrid city center. Now I’ve been there two times, last time was for FITUR 2018, a great experience for the ones involved in travel and tourism.
Most of the time we only have one or two days to visit a city, and even if I prefer to do slow travel and to stay longer on every destination, having only one or two days is enough to have some fun.
When you only have some hours you have to plan it properly to profit at best.
If you prefer to have even a more organized trip, I can recommend you this Introduction Tour to Madrid by Bike, perfect when you only have a few hours to see the city center. If you prefer to ride a bus, you can BOOK HERE and enjoy a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour in Madrid.
Here I share with you how was my Weekend Getaway in Madrid and what you can do for a city overview.
Arriving in Spain is usually the door entrance for many flights coming from the Americas and Madrid-Barajas Airport (code IATA:Â MAD) it’s the 5th most busy airport in Europe, transporting nearly 30million passengers a year.
If you arrive at Barajas the easiest way to get to the city center is taking the metro. You have to buy a card that will allow you to use all the public transportation, each ticket costs around 1,50€ and for the airport, there is an extra fee of 3€. When you are going back to the airport, don’t forget to add it because when you get out you have to show the card!
If you prefer to get to the city more comfortable, you can even hire a private transfer for around 50€ for a group. You can BOOK HERE a private transfer and get to your hotel in 30 minutes!
Meaning culture, food, music, Madrid is a vibrant city and it really took me by surprise!
The must-see in Madrid and my favorite places to enjoy the city center area
Visiting the Markets!
Mercados
Visiting the markets is my number one activity everywhere I go, and Madrid, being a foodie city was no exception at all!
You will find a market in every neighborhood, with different shapes and themes. Most of them are mainly dedicated to groceries and Spanish fast food, that means tapas and small bites you can grab with a glass of wine to take a break.
From local, simple groceries market where people buy their daily supplies to fancy refurbished old buildings hosting caviar, lobster, oyster, cheese, sweets, champagne and wines of the best quality, the markets in Madrid are definitely a must to visit and enjoy the chill vibe of the city.
There are so many products in every market, that if you really want to know about them in a deeper way I can recommend you this Markets and Tapas walking tour where you not only will learn about the food but you will also try a lot!
You can BOOK HERE this 4-hour walking tour and get a traditional breakfast, visit local markets and eat later delicious tapas and wines!
My favorite markets for their beauty, selection of products and location are:
Mercado san Hildefonso
Mercado San MartĂn
Mercado BarcelĂ³
Going for Tapas
Madrid is a big city, but what I liked the most is that is keeping a very relaxed vibe and rhythm. They still take the “siesta” after lunchtime where you will find most of the shops closed! And also…they love eating and chilling!!! Eating in Madrid it’s like a national sport!
They usually have dinner very late, around 10 pm or even later, but also sometimes they like to go into a bar-hopping night eating tapas before dinner.
The usual way to get the tapas is ordering a beer or a glass of wine, with it they will serve you a little snack, sometimes even more than a snack. It will be more than popcorn and peanuts, tapas can include different appetizers from olives, cheese, fried squids, to potatoes in different ways.
Going out for Tapas with friends is a must, and even if you are alone this is not rare, you can always seat in the bar (and with this, it means food will be usually cheaper!)
Some of the restaurants you should keep in mind are:
- Petiscos
- El Tigre
- Cruz Blanca
- El Gallego
- Zoko (if you love Tuna….this is heaven!!!)
If what you really love is cooking, I can recommend you this amazing culinary experience where you will learn to cook a traditional paella and tapas, like ‘tortilla’ with a professional after visiting the famous Mercado de San Miguel. BOOK HERE to bring the flavors of Spain to your house. Plus, they will give you unlimited delicious wine!
MUSEUMS
There are several museums and exhibitions to visit in the city, but if you have a short time I highly recommend you to visit at least these two.
– Museo El Prado
Having one of the biggest art collections in the city, with several famous art pieces from different European artists. Like “Las Meninas” from Diego VelĂ¡zquez, several pieces from Tiziano, Goya and Rubens.
One cool thing in El Prado is that is FREE on Friday evenings! BOOK HERE your Skip the Line tickets for EL PRADO MUSEUM
– Catedral de la Almudena
Right in front of the Palacio Real, this church looks not super impressive from the outside, but the interior is definitely worth to give it a look.
The ticket value is 6€ and includes a visit to the religious museum, the entrance to the upper floor with great views of the city and also the Cathedral itself.
Gran vĂa and Shopping
If your plan is going shopping in Madrid, one of my favorite areas for fashion is around Gran VĂa.
From super-budget brands like Primark or H&M to more upscale like Desigual, Zara, Oysho, Pull & Bear, Mango, Bershka to Prada, everything is happening within one of the longest and most beautiful streets in Madrid’s city center.
Flamenco Show
Visiting Madrid is a synonym of nightlife and music too and one of my favorite things in the city center was attending to a Live Flamenco Show.
Flamenco is one of the more known artistic expression in Spain and It was declared UNESCOÂ Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity on November 16, 2010.
The recitals include voice, guitars, hand-clapping, castanets, and male and female dancers. Each song is a story where intense feelings are expressed with the voice, the instruments and the dances. The energy of the musicians and the dancers will catch your soul and senses.
My favorite place is Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco, created in 1994, where you can enjoy the show with delicious food and their excellent choice of wine.
The show lasts around 45 minutes and it’s a great way to end the day.
TIP for the shows at Cardamomo Flamenco:You can Get a free wine bottle for every 2 adult tickets if you go for the 18:00 and 23:30 shows.
Parque del Retiro
This is probably one of my favorite places in Madrid.
The Public Park including 125 hectares and hosting more than 15,000 trees. representatives of 167 species in the different gardens they are inside El Retiro Park, like the Rose Garden, JardĂn de Vivaces, Jardines de Cecilio RodrĂguez, Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios, and the Parterre FrancĂ©s with a 400 years old bald cypress that is the oldest tree in Madrid.
To have a fully immersive experience at the park, you can BOOK HERE a very fun segway tour including Plaza Mayor, or if you are into food, this tour includes the Royal Palace before visiting Retiro Park together with tasting some delicious Tapas!
There are not only plants and trees in Retiro Park, but it’s also a place for sports activities where you can enjoy the lake taking a rowing ride, cultural activities at the VelĂ¡zquez and Cristal Palaces and a few restaurants and bars very lively even on Sundays.
Crystal Palace – Palacio de Cristal
I’m making a special mention of this place because I consider it’s probably one of the most beautiful structures inside this Park.
Built in 1887 as a greenhouse to exhibit flora and fauna from the Philippines, by the architect was Ricardo VelĂ¡zquez Bosco. It’s made almost entirely of glass set in an iron framework and today is used for art exhibitions.
The entrance is free and it’s open from 10 to 22 in summer and until 19 in winter.
If you want to get this picture, go early as soon as they open and then enjoy the Park, maybe get breakfast near the Lake and enjoy the lovely and relaxed ambient in nature.
Other places you can visit and combine with your journey at Retiro Park are:
- JardĂn botĂ¡nico
- Puerta de AlcalĂ¡
- Feria de Libros Usados (Second-hand book fair)
Palacio Real
The Royal Palace is Madrid’s largest building and is also the largest royal palace in Western Europe. It was inspired by the sketches for the construction of the Louvre in Paris made by Bernini and is standing where the former fortress of the city was located before Madrid was the capital of the country.
This Palace is having over 3000 rooms and beautiful art pieces reflecting how was life when it was built. In 1561 this palace came the residence of the Monarchy and today you can still observe the royal kitchen with unique pieces of that time.
If you prefer to have a guided tour to get a better experience and knowledge about the Spanish Monarchy, you can BOOK HERE this tour that includes a skip-the-line ticket so you will enter quicker the largest Royal Palace in Western Europe.
You can watch the Changing of the Guard every Wednesday (except in July, August and September, and when there are official events or adverse weather conditions).
General Admission 10 €,  see the different types of visits and rates on the official website.
TIP FOR FREE ADMISSION:
There’s free admission for citizens of the European Union, residents and holders of work permit in that territory and Latin American citizens.
From Monday to Thursday from 16 to 18 h. (October to March) and 18 to 20 h. (April to September).
Get more information at their website
Plaza Mayor
Perhaps one of the most beautiful and busy areas in the city center, this rectangular square is surrounded by three-floor buildings and nine entrances.
It was only until the end of the Spanish Civil War when the plaza was renamed the “Plaza Mayor”, and today is a vibrant area where people go to relax, enjoy some beers or delicious Spanish food in one of the many restaurants located there.
The most famous delicacy to try is the Bocata de Calamar, a calamari sandwich composed of a bread bun packed with fried calamari. It’s a very popular sandwich in Madrid and in Plaza Mayor, you will find some of the bests. Bocata de calamari it’s usually around 2,90€.
Another option is to try a Paella. I can give you one little tip: If you are alone and don’t wanna pay more than 20€, you can always seat in the bar chairs and there, the Paella portion will be as little as  6€, I tried it in “El Soportal” and it was delicious!
Egyptian Monument, Temple of Debod
This temple dedicated to Isis and Amon was originally located in Upper Egypt, in Aswan. It was given to Spain after their help in saving the Abu Simbel temples, in gratitude the Egyptian state donated the temple of Debod to Spain in 1968. It was shipped to Valencia in 1969, and from there it was then taken by train to Madrid, it was reconstructed in Parque del Oeste, near the Royal Palace and open to the public in 1972.
This is one of the few ancient Egyptian structures that can be seen outside Egypt, but it was reassembled in a different order than when originally erected.
Admission: free
Where to Stay in Madrid
If you have just a few days in Madrid, I would definitely choose to stay in the city center area. Is where you will also find most of the hotels with a huge offer in different ranges, from the most luxurious to budget hostels with shared dorms.
Some of my favorite Hotels to stay in Madrid are these:
LUXURY
Gran Hotel Inglés
This 5-star hotel is located in a 19th-century building in the heart of the city, with a beautiful art-deco style and excellent service. You will be at walking distance from most of the places you must visit to enjoy Madrid days and nights. CHECK HERE their rates and availability for your dates.
MEDIUM RANGE
Hotel Artiem
With a good location in a commercial area, this hotel will make you feel at home. They even have a coffee shop with a Green zone including everything for free! The design is modern, very clean and they have excellent service.
CHECK HERE their rates and availability for your dates.
BUDGET
Hostal Adis
CHECK HERE their rates and availability for your dates.
What to do for a day trip from Madrid?
If you want to explore some cities near Madrid there are several day trips you can do to have a better idea about the culture, nature and different foods in the region.
Between the options, Segovia, Toledo, and Avila are one of the most beautiful places to visit for a day trip from Madrid. You can BOOK HERE a full day trip including two of Spain’s oldest cities, Avila and Segovia. You will see Medieval walls dating from the 11th century surround Avila and Segovia features one of the best-preserved aqueducts from the Roman era, The Alcazar Spain’s most spectacular castle and much more!
What’s your favorite thing to do in Madrid?
Planning your trip to Madrid?
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What beautiful pictures! Madrid is another beautiful state. We have been blessed with such a gorgeous planet.
Very informative article. Thank you for sharing.
Few cities boast an artistic pedigree quite as pure as madrid’s, many art lovers return here again and again.
Thank you, Madam !
I absolutely loved Retiro Park, the trees were amazing! The crypts at Almudena Cathedral were really incredible too. Madrid is so amazing, just walking around the city is fabulous.
Aw, I miss Retiro park so much. We would go there every week at least once when I was studying in Madrid for half a year đŸ™‚