In Madrid
I'm pretty sure Spain cast a binding love spell on me on my first visit there. It's a place I'm always eager to go back to and a place that captivates me more each time I visit. It spans 195,364 square miles complete with 17 extremely diverse and distinct autonomous regions, and at the center of it all is the timeless and beautiful, Madrid.
This spring I spent a week in Spain and began that trip with 3 days in Madrid. We had visited the capital city before but this trip was extra special because I was able to bring my parents along for the ride! Seeing their joy made me feel as much as excitement, if not more, than on my first visit.
Since it was their first time, I tailored this itinerary to cover a lot of the major sights in Madrid. If you're a first timer, this is the guide for you!
Our Airbnb was in walking distance to everything in Madrid, we loved how centric its location was!
Link to Airbnb: Apartment in Madrid
Madrid 3-Day Itinerary At A Glance:
Day 1
- Breakfast: Mercado de San Miguel
- Plaza Mayor
- Palacio Real de Madrid (13€/pp)
- Catedral de la Almudena
- Templo de Debod (try to catch the sunset here)
- Dinner: Restaurante Botín
- Calle Gran Vía
- El Corte Inglés - The Gourmet Experience (rooftop eats/drinks)
- Drinks: Hotel RIU Plaza España
- Dessert: Chocolateria Valor
Day 2
- Breakfast: Café Federal
- Puerta del Sol
- 0 km Madrid
- El Oso y el Madroño
- Palacio de Cibeles
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Parque de El Retiro
- Estanque Grande
- Palacio de Cristal
- La Roselada
- Museo Nacional del Prado (15€/pp)
- Drinks: Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop
- Lunch: Takos al Pastor*
- El Rastro (flea market but only open on Sundays)
- Dinner: Restaurante El Ñeru
- Dessert: Chocolatería San Ginés
Day 3
- Breakfast: La Rollerie
- Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (12€/pp)
- Plaza de España
- Jardines de Sabatini
- Shopping in Calle Gran Via
Details to the above Itinerary:
Day 1
Like any good foodie we started the day off with a very large breakfast. One of my favorites in Madrid at the Mercado de San Miguel. For me, this is the heart of all things food in Madrid. The hustle and bustle of everyone trying to order across the different food and drink counters makes me feel both overwhelmed and overjoyed all at once (if that's possible). The market is loud and busy at all times, but having so many different food options under one roof brings you back for more every time. It is definitely, a must-see experience when in Madrid. Plus, the food is worth a good shove here and there!
Right next door you have the beautiful Plaza Mayor. This day it was slightly obstructed due to a large stage in the center because they were setting up for an event.
A short walk away you will come up on Madrid's Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral. The moment you enter the plaza where these two marvels sit, I guarantee it will take your breath away.
To the right, El Palacio Real:
Link for tickets: Royal Palace of Madrid Tour
To the left, La Catedral de la Almudena:
They only ask for a small donation to enter the church and like so many churches in Europe, it is absolutely stunning.
We then rode electric scooters over to Templo de Debod. This is an ancient Egyptian temple from the early 2nd century BC that was donated to Spain by the Egyptian State and soon after relocated to Madrid in 1968.
Pro tip: Try to catch the sunset for the best views. Keep in mind, when we went in May the sunset was around 9pm in Madrid.
It's time for dinner at Guinness World Record holder Restaurante Botin. Every dish on the menu is so delicious. It's not only rich in flavors, but also in history.
The restaurant has two specialties: The oven roasted suckling pig and the lamb
Both are roasted in holm oak wood in an oven still in operation from their opening day in 1725.
Book your table here: Restaurante Botin
Next up, the famous Calle Gran Via. This reminds me of a miniature version of Times Square in NYC.
It is packed with world-renowned department stores as well as a great deal of restaurants and bars.
There are a series of shops and bars up here collectively called "The Gourmet Experience."
El Corte Ingles pictured above is the largest department store group in Europe and #3 worldwide.
A staple of Spain and all of Europe.
If you continue to walk up Calle Gran Via you will end up at the Plaza de España. Another beautiful plaza in Spain where you will find the hotel Riu Plaza España. The hotel has been featured on a lot of movies and shows-most recently the Netflix show "Elite" making it a very popular place to visit. The biggest draw if you're not staying at this hotel is the breathtaking views from it's 26th floor rooftop bar. We arrived on a Saturday night and the line was at least 50 people long, moving very slowly.
Pro tip: Pay 20€ and skip the line right to the elevator that will take you to the views!
Views from the Hotel RIU Plaza España 360º Rooftop Bar
To end the night, we went for some traditional hot chocolate and churros. We made it to Chocolateria Valor (recommended by my best friend) just before they closed and it made for the perfect nightcap!
Day 2
Breakfast at Café Federal. Full Disclosure, Jeremy chose this breakfast place because he saw a picture of Shakshuka in passing and was instantly sold. Everyone else had the traditional Shakshuka, while I had a variation of it with eggs, bacon, and potatoes in a deliciously cheesy sauce. The fresh orange juice, croissants, toast, and lattes were all very tasty!
Feeling energized after our meal we then went to Puerta del Sol. This large plaza is usually swarming with people but we got here very early on a Sunday and essentially had the area to ourselves which was such a treat!
First photo spot: El Oso y el Madroño
In 1222 the bear and the strawberry tree image was used as a seal to sign a decree to end a dispute over land rights between the church and the city by King Alfonso VIII. It is now a symbol of an ancient Madrid.
Next place to see in Puerta del Sol is the Kilometro Zero. This marks the geographical center of Spain. The marker also sets the point from which distances are measured in Spain and the starting point to the country's 6 national roads.
The walk from here to Palacio Cibeles and further to la Puerta de Alcala is gorgeous. You really get to see all of Madrid's beautiful architecture and history. You should aim to end up at the corner of the Calle de Alcalá and Calle Gran Vía at the beautiful Metropolis Building. Unfortunately, it was under construction on this trip but I have added a picture from my last trip to appreciate its beauty without the scaffolding.
Continuing down Calle de Alcala you will come across the gorgeous Palacio Cibeles building.
Continuing your walk, you will come up on the Puerta de Alcalá.
Erected in 1778, the triumphal gate was once the main entrance to the city of Madrid.
A few feet away is one of the many entrances to the Parque de El Retiro. The famed central park of Madrid. My best advice for Parque de El Retiro is to just wander and get lost in its beauty. I will highlight some of my favorite places within the park below, but make sure to stop and take in all the beauty while walking from place to place.
First stop is the gorgeous Estanque Grande where you can rent small boats and row around the lake.
Then, there's the beautiful and picturesque Palacio de Cristal.
Lastly, the beautiful rose garden, La Roselda.
If you exit on one of the westward facing gates you can walk right from the park to the famous Museo Nacional del Prado. You will find famous works by Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, Hieronymus Bosch, and Leonardo Da Vinci (his first version of the Mona Lisa is here) just to name a few. The entrance is 15€ per person and you can book it here: Museo Nacional Del Prado.
Another gorgeous museum I visited on a previous trip to Madrid is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. You can buy tickets here: Museo Reina Sofia.
From here, I took everyone to one of my favorite rooftop bars in Madrid. It sits on the rooftop of the Circulo de Bellas Artes building. This bar offers the best views of the Metropolis and Palacio Cibeles buildings. I believe there's a 5€ entry fee for the rooftop. We had some tapas and drinks for lunch here.
Pro tip: Try and go during Sunset for the most spectacular view of Madrid going from day to night.
Azotea del Circulo - the rooftop bar at Circulo de Bellas Artes
We really wanted to have lunch at Takos al Pastor (another recommendation from my best friend) but turns out they closed for a month for vacation. Worth a try if they're open, the tacos are 1€ each!
From here we went to Madrid's famous Sunday flea market - El Rastro. If you're in Madrid on a Sunday this is a must see and do. Beware, it will be crowded!
You can find anything from car parts to souvenirs at the market. It makes for a very cool experience.
We then went to the bar at Restaurante El Ñeru where we watched a bull fight with the locals. We then proceeded to have dinner at one of the best places I have eaten to this date. Restaurante El Ñeru. It blew us all out of the water.
Croquettes and Fabada (bean stew)
Churrasco and Oven Roasted Pork
Lamb Shank and the Roasted Ham
Nightcap: Chocolatería San Ginés for more churros and chocolate.
Possibly the most famous chocolate and churros location in all Madrid.
Personally, I always think their hot chocolate is too rich and can get repugnant.
Day 3
Breakfast at La Rollerie was astounding! You won't regret going there for breakfast or brunch.
Breakfast Burger and Avocado Toast
Latte and Pancakes
Brunch Iberico and Traditional Torreja (bread pudding)
From here, we took the metro to the Real Madrid Soccer Club Stadium. FYI, the stadium is currently undergoing renovations as of May 2022 so the outside is not very picturesque. The inside, however, is still astounding! We mostly did this tour for my uncle who is a huge Real Madrid fan but if you'd like to do it here is a link to buy the tour tickets: Stadium Tour Tickets.
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
After the stadium, we took the metro back to Plaza de España and the Jardines de Sabatini.
We laid out here and had a wonderful scenic picnic.
Buy some ham, cheese, and chorizo at one of the many Museo de Jamon and enjoy a picnic in one of the many parks around Madrid.
From the park, we did some shopping at Calle Gran Via.
Pro tip: Zara is Spanish owned so because there's no importation fees or taxes it is substantially cheaper to shop at Zara in Spain. So keep that in mind, because we shopped here so much we almost had to buy another carry-on luggage to return.
It's always a bittersweet moment when you have to leave a city you love. After 3 amazing days in Spain's capital city we rented a car and drove south to the Andalucian region.
Read my blogs on the different Andalusian cities of Sevilla, Ronda, Nerja, and Malaga to explore more cities with me!
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