Madrid
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Madrid is Spain‘s central capital. The city boasts large streets lined with gorgeous monuments, buildings, and sculptures. It’s renowned for its collections of European art, including Museo El Prado’s works by Goya, Velázquez and other Spanish artists while the Reina Sofía houses Picasso’s “Guernica.” A must-visit for everyone and the perfect city to start your travel adventure in the country.
Travel tip #1: Madrid may be the capital of Spain, but most businesses don’t start opening their doors until 11 am or even noon! Other than cafeterías, bakeries, markets, and schools, don’t expect much to be open in the morning hours.
Places of Interest
Anton Martin Market: This local market is a good place to visit for fruit, veggies, meats, and more. Stop here to see a Spanish market in action. They open a bit later than typical markets, but around a standard time for Spain.
Mercado de San Antón: An eating, drinking, and shopping hub complete with cooking demonstrations and grocers. Stop here for a bite to eat and drink with a friend. Not as many places are open on Sundays, though.
El Rastro Flea Market: The largest and oldest flea market in Madrid that is held on Sundays and public holidays. You can find just about anything from the vendors, including clothing, art pieces, and jewelry.
Malasaña: A hip and trendy area in the northern area of the city. Great place to go for vintage hunting (Miss Vintage, Flamingo, and Aramayo to name a few), thrifting, drinking, and cafes. Lots of bars and clubs around here to frequent at night.
Barrio de las Letras: A more upscale neighborhood that features quotes by famous authors along the ground. Also known as The Literary Quarter, Barrio de las Letras was home to 17th-century writers. Watch classical theatre performances at Teatro Español or live flamenco shows at tablao dinner theaters.
Calle de la Cava Baja: Close to Plaza Mayor, Calle de la Cava Baja is one of Madrid’s most charming streets that is known for its various tapas spots and bustling vibe. Take a stroll here in the evening to pick and choose places to eat and drink.
El Retiro Park: Covering over 125 hectares with more than 15,000 trees, El Retiro Park is a green space in the heart of Madrid. There are monuments, gardens, sculptures, and pathways. In the center is a large artificial lake where you can rent a rowing boat or visit the Velázquez Palace and Glass Palace.
Palacio de Cibeles: Cibeles Palace, formally known as Palacio de Comunicaciones and Palacio de Telecomunicaciones, has two buildings with white façade. It is located in one of the historical centers of Madrid and is hard to miss due to its impressive size.
Puerta de Alcalá: The Puerta de Alcalá is a neo-classical monument/gate in the Plaza de la Independencia. It is one of the most well-known monuments in Madrid which was built between 1769-1778 and designed by Francisco Sabatini.
Plaza Mayor: Large central square where performances and events are held. This is a good meeting point within the city. Historically, it was used as a marketplace as well as a place for events like bullfights, public executions, and trials during the Spanish Inquisition.
Royal Palace of Madrid: Emulating Baroque and classical architecture styles, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the Spanish royal family at the city of Madrid. Now, it is used only for state ceremonies. You can book a ticket to enter the palace, or simply walk around the perimeter. Behind the palace are trails through a small, forested area.
Atocha Station: One of the main train stations in Madrid, Atocha has an impressive green space within it! If you’re not catching a train to Sevilla or Cordoba, be sure to take a walk through Atocha to see this inside garden.
Tabacalera Promoción de Arte: Closed for re-working the space when I visited in January 2022, this art and culture center features permanent programs comprised of temporary exhibitions and acivities related to photography, contemporary art and visual arts.
Museo Nacional del Prado: The main Spanish art museum in the country, featuring works by prominent artists such as Velázquez and Goya. There are free times to enter the museum! Check the website for this information. You can either get a paper ticket ahead of time from the ticket office or stand in line before the free-entry time starts.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Compared to El Prado, the Reina Sofía museum has more contemporary artworks. Here, you can view Picasso’s “Guernica,” which is absolutely mystifying in person. Similar to other museums in Madrid, there are free-entry days and times. There are two entry points for free admission, with the shorter line being near the bookshop near the main road.
Travel tip #2: Many of the sculptures, fountains, and monuments can be worked into your schedule if you are walking around Madrid. It is best to plan your itinerary based on neighborhoods and larger sites, as the city is fairly spread out.
Food and Drink
Chocolatería San Gines: Founded in 1894, this is the most famous chocolate and churro shop in Madrid. They’re open nearly all day so you can get your churros con chocolate fix anytime. 6 churros split between two people with a cup of chocolate for each person is the perfect serving.
Pez Tortilla: There is no sign on this eatery, only a fish. Here, you can grab traditional tortilla de patatas (Spanish tortillas made with eggs, potatoes, and onions), as well as tortillas with other mix-ins, such as brie and green peppers.
Ojalá: This beach-themed restaurant is in the Malasaña area of the city. It’s an semi-upscale place to get breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks. They’re open throughout the day, which is a nice option in Madrid.
Sahuaro: Mexican food near Plaza Mayor. The lunch special here is awesome: 11.90 EUR for an drink, appetizer, main plate, and dessert. They have a set menu for this lunch special, in addition to other menu items. Their chicken tinga enchiladas with mole were phenomenal.
El Chaparrito: More Mexican food, but more casual than Sahuaro. As of January 2022, select tacos were 1 EUR each! There are other delicious items to choose from on the menu, including enchiladas, burritos, and margaritas.
Bar La Campana: A classic and well-known spot to try one of Madrid’s famous calamari sandwiches for only 3.50 EUR. They also serve tapas, sangria, and drinks.
Wok Sun: I was craving Asian food and found this Chinese restaurant near Sol Station. Wok Sun has a variety of Chinese dishes—noodles, rice, meat, and more—for relatively low prices. I ordered their egg noodles with veggies and chicken, which was very good for only 6.50 EUR.
El Arco Pinoy: If you want Filipino food, specifically Filipino breakfast, try El Arco Pinoy. The longanisa, fried rice, and egg plate was just what I wanted. Plus, their halo-halo was awesome!
Sobrino de Botín: A traditional restaurant that Hemingway wrote of in one of his novels. It’s been open since 1725 and is known for their suckling pig dish.
Travel tip #3: For good Spanish tapas, ask your accommodation staff for recommendations. If you’re tired of eating Spanish food, Madrid is the best city to find international cuisine options. Try using Google Reviews to get an idea of your options.
Transportation and Accommodation
Madrid is a large, urban metropolis complete with an interconnected public transportation system comprised of subways, trains, buses, and more. It’s relatively inexpensive to use the Metro system, either 2 EUR for a single-journey or 12 EUR for 10 rides on either the subway or buses. (You will need to purchase a card from a Metro Station to easily use the subway or bus.) Alternatively, you can walk, rent a scooter or bike, or use taxi services.
If you land at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, the most feasible way into the city-center of Madrid is via bus. For only 5 EUR, you can take a single-way ride into the center of the city. Metro or the Cercanias lines—accessed via Chamartín Station—are other options if you prefer using public transportation over taxi to get to and from the airport. Note that a taxi ride into the city from the airport will cost about 30-40 EUR, depending on time of day.
There are tons of places to stay in Madrid. I opted for a hostel, choosing 007Room Ventura Hostel near Barrio de Las Letras. It was in a great location, with the Golden Triangle of Art, El Retiro Park, and the Royal Palace in walking distance. This is a good area to stay in, but I would also recommend Malasañas if you like trendy areas and the café/ coffeehouse scene.
Travel tip #4: Other than the Metro, you can take the Cercanias or Renfe trains. These lines interconnect with the subway system and require separate tickets.
Climate
You can visit Madrid in any season due to the city’s generally mild weather, especially since there isn’t too much rain throughout the year. Madrid has a Mediterranean Climate, with extreme temperature variations between summer and winter. Summers are typically very hot and dry, with the heat being almost unbearable. In contrast, winters are cold and not too sunny, but a little better for tourists if you don’t like the heat and if you prefer to pay less for accommodation. March through May as well as late September through early November are the best times to visit, weather-wise!
