On day 4 of our two week tour of Spain, we took the 2h45 train ride to Madrid from Barcelona. We had high hopes that we like the city, but we didn’t expect that it would quickly become one of our favorites. Whether you’re looking for a cultural, historic or foodie experience Spain’s capital and largest city, has something for everyone. Keep reading for more details about our time in beautiful Madrid!
Day 1
We arrived by train just before noon and headed straight to the hotel to drop off our bags. While in Madrird, we stayed at the JW Marriott Madrid. It’s a wonderful hotel, in a great location and their restaurant Qú has fantastic food!
For lunch, we headed to Restaurant Botín, founded in 1725, making it the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. It is well known for its suckling pig dish and it’s traditional Spanish cuisine. No surprise, the food was delicious especially the suckling pig. If you are wanting to go, make a reservation well in advance to not be disappointed.
Our evening plans included Tapas and Historic Tour with Devour Tours. We have had the good fortune of doing food tours in several cities, this one was by far the best to date. We enjoyed the perfect blended of a guided walking tour through historic Madrid with great food stops along the way. Some of our favorite foods were the garlic shrimp, amazing mushrooms, Iberian ham (Jamón ibérico) and our first sips of refreshing tinto de verano.
During the tour we also visited both Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor. Puerta del Sol is one of Madrid’s most popular squares and the site of the city’s New Year’s celebrations. It is also where you will find the famous Tio Pepe sign. Plaza Mayor is another major square, found in the oldest part of the city, rich in history and where plenty of events are held, including the city’s Christmas market in December.
Day 2
Our second day in Madrid started with a great breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant. And spent the rest of the morning taking a Tuk Tuk tour. It was a great way to explore the city’s main attractions, while staying out of the warm sun. And, since the tour was private we were able to decide where to stop based on our preference.
After the tour was over, we went on a quest to finally taste the famous churros con chocolate (churros with chocolate). At the recommendation of our tour guide from the night before, we headed to Chocolatería San Ginés. They were delicious! But who can resist crispy, fried-to-perfection churros lightly dusted with sugar and dipped in piping hot, sinfully delicious thick hot chocolate. Be prepared, it’s quite a popular place and there can be a bit of a wait.
We spent our afternoon exploring El Retiro Park. This park has gardens, monuments, galleries, an artificial lake, and plenty of venues for events. One of the main attractions is the Palacio de Cristal, a beautiful structure made mostly of glass used mainly for exhibits. It’s currently closed for renovations, so you will have to admire it from afar.
That evening, we went to a Flamenco Show Tablao La Carmela. Lucky for us, the venue was just a few minutes walk away from the hotel. It was a really good show and a fun experience. Definitely something to experience while in Spain.
Day 3
On the morning of our third day, we ate breakfast at the hotel. Then headed out for a cappuccino before our visit to Madrid’s Royal Palace. Surprisingly it is not currently the primary residence of the Spanish Royal Family but it serves as a ceremonial residence. Constructed in the 18th century, the Palace is gorgeous and opulent. With its 3,418 rooms is the largest royal palace in Western Europe.
Prior to the visit, we booked tickets directly on the official website where both self guided visits or a guided tours are available. We definitely recommend booking well in advance. As I write this, I’m looking at the next few weeks and most days either have none or low availability.
For lunch, we walked over to San Miguel Market to see what it was all about. It’s definitely a foodie heaven. There you will find everything from for fresh mango juice to tapas and delicious pastries. This is a must visit while in Madrid. Keep in mind that it can be quite busy at times and that seating is limited. Also, bring cash because not all vendors accept credit cards.
After having tasted many different foods at the market, since our time in Madrid was coming to an end, we headed out to find some souvenirs. We spent most of the afternoon on Gran Via shopping. For dinner we stopped at Honest Greens. It’s not traditional Spanish food, but it was very good, quality, healthy food.
Arms full of shopping bags, we headed back to the hotel to pack our bags and get ready for the next morning’s departure.
Day 4
On day 4, we were up early to catch our train headed to Granada. Sad to leave such a great city but ready for the next adventure.
Madrid might just be our new favorite city. And, what surprised us the most is just how many parks and green space there are. We didn’t get to see everything that there is to see, so we’ll need to come back!
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