Madrid is the perfect mix of history and contemporary urban lifestyle. From regal historical buildings, through well-kept parks, colorful streets of the old city, art museums, and the experience of authentic Spanish cuisine, to street art, a vibrant culinary scene, shopping, and nightlife – Madrid has it all. If you’ve been looking for the perfect travel guide to Madrid – look no further 🙂

 

It’s been eight years since I last traveled together just us girls – my mother, sister and I. 

Then, we were headed toward Barcelona in celebration of my mother’s birthday. 

We experienced so much on that trip,  made so many memories, that it was clear to us that someday we would do it again… but boy, did it take time for us to finally recreate the experience! You know how it is – everyone has her life, her job and her schedule – so such a trip is not easily coordinated.

 

 

Anyway, we finally made it happen this year!

 

Like last time, Spain was once again selected as an ultimate all-girls trip, this time we sent for the capital – Madrid. This trip was booked so far in advance to make sure we could all take off 4 days in July and be together 🙂 

Once again, we were celebrating my mother’s birthday… although this time, unlike the last, we were traveling with an extra little traveler – my adorable niece. 

I must admit, I was a little bit worried about this trip. It's been 8 years since the three of us flew together, and each of us has different tastes and preferences when it comes to the nature of the trip. Add in the fact that this is my first time traveling with a 4-year-old ? {who, to her credit,  managed to survive the long hours of our shopping sprees, which might I add, there were quite a few of…}.

This trip was meant for shopping, cafes,  and good restaurants, but of course I took on the task of planning a perfect and flexible itinerary of things to do in this special city. While we didn't get to do and see all that I originally planned, in the end it was an amazing trip full of great experiences, laughing so hard until you cry, good food, and quite a bit of shopping, of course.

 

 

Without further ado, here is my guide to a perfect holiday in Spain’s capital city. The guide includes details on how to get around, where we stayed, and things to see and do in Madrid, including recommendations in terms of where to shop and eat.

Enjoy ♡

Click here to download my map of Madrid.

Click here to watch the stories I posted while I was in Madrid. 

P.S. Like I said, we didn’t make to all the places on my wishlist but I’ve added a list of attractions and places I’d like to visit NEXT TIME 🙂

 

 

STAY

 

So, if you think I delve deep into the net before booking a hotel, you should meet my mother… or, like they say “I got it from my mama “ ?

Long story short, after my mom asked me to check out countless links to hotels in Madrid, seemingly endless whatsapp messages, an, like, a trillion hotels later, {over a period of six months since we booked our tickets}, we finally chose to stay at the  Eurostars Madrid Gran Vía.

 

 

This hotel has got everything you need for a perfect urban holiday – location {right next to the famous Gran Via shopping street}, spacious rooms with a clean-cut design, a delicious breakfast buffet, and an accommodating staff.

Since it was my mother’s birthday after all, I had sent an email to the hotel prior to our arrival, with a request to have her room decorated with balloons and treats, and they kindly did so. You have no idea how surprised my mom was when we entered the room! The perfect way to start the birthday celebrations!  ??

 

 

 

GET AROUND

 

From the airport to the city There are 2 ways to get to the city center from Barajas Airport.

1. Public transportation – Metro, train, or bus, all you have to do is choose 🙂 Since every one of these options reaches a different final destination I suggest you check out which would be your best option by using Google maps. The trip will cost you anywhere between 2.90 – 5.00 Euros. 

2. Direct taxi service -Easy breezy, but more expensive. A taxi from the airport usually costs around 30 Euros {according to the meter}.

 

 

Getting around the city Madrid is very walkable, and its metro is excellent, which makes getting anywhere fast and easy. Daily or weekly tickets can be purchased for riding the metros and buses freely, or, if you’re not planning on taking too many of these trips, a 10-ride ticket might be more adequate. {By the way, children under the age of 4 ride for free.} For more information on tickets and prices click here. 

Another option in the city is a taxi. Fair prices and if you fill the cab the price is worthwhile {especially when you want to keep the little ones energized ?}. 

In general, I always recommend using Google maps to help you find the best route and navigate your way from place to place {Taxi fares  are also available on the app}.

 

EXPLORE

Edificio Metrópolis – At the corner of Calle de Alcala and Gran Via is the remarkable building, one of Madrid's most famous landmarks. The French-style circular building was built in 1911, and is covered with 30,000 24-carat gold leaves, with statues of figures from Greek mythology.

Puerta de Alcalá – Right next to Plaza de la Independencia is the marvelous Puerta de Alcala gate, with an extraordinarily rich history. The original gate that previously stood in the exact same location was built in 1599 as a tribute to Donna Margarita de Austria, wife of King Felipe III. But King Carlos III, who ascended to the throne of Spain about a century and a half later, was dissatisfied with the gate, finding it not extravagant enough. He demanded to demolish it and erect a more majestic gate,  which is the gate that stands today, whose construction was completed in 1769.

 

 

Buen Retiro Park – The 120-acre green park is lined with tens of thousands of spectacular trees and flowers of various kinds, and is one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen on my trips across the globe.

During the 17th century, the park was privately owned by the royal family, who used it for competitions and bull fighting. A century later, the park became open to the public, but formal wear was required to enter. Today the park is open to all free of charge, and anyone may enter as they are. 

 

 

You can easily spend half a day at the park, have a picnic, ride a bike, walk, or simply enjoy the beautiful green setting under the sun. The park’s three main attractions are the great lake, where row boats can be rented, the Velasquez Palace and its changing exhibitions,  and the breathtaking crystal palace {which I will expand on later in this post ?}.

Since the park is so big, we decided to get on a small red buggy that took us around for a 30 minute ride through the lovely parks and attractions {Yes, touristic I know, but it was very hot, and like with the taxis, it was best to keep our little girl from getting too tired}.

 

 

Crystal Palace – This place was my dream destination the moment I began planning our trip to Madrid. The Crystal Palace is located in the Buen Retiro Park. This breathtaking architectural structure was built in 1887 as a greenhouse for exotic plants, and was later transformed into an exhibition space and a wedding hall {What a dream! ?}. It may have been too hot to stay inside {A greenhouse in August}, but the combination of this special building and the sculptures on view were so beautiful it was hard to leave. 

 

 

 

Puerta del Sol – “The Gate of Sun” is the heart of Madrid and one of the most central and most bustling squares. The square is named after its shape – a semicircle from which the adjacent streets resemble rays of sun. The square is home to a number of landmarks which the city is known for. The statue of Carlos III mounted on a horse, the famous 1935 “Tio Pepe” poster, the statue of the bear and strawberry tree, and the Kilometer Zero stone slab. Around the square and its corners you’ll find street performances and many shops, cafes ,and restaurants. 

 

 

Kilómetro Cero – This stone slab in Puerta del Sol marks the point from which the distances of Spain's national roads are measured.

 

 

Plaza Mayor – Literally translated as the city’s main square. A beautiful grand plaza lined with buildings in red and orange hues, boutiques, and coffee shops. This square often hosts markets and other special events. 

 

 

The Palacio Real de Madrid – Madrid’s royal palace is one of the most significant spots in Madrid and in Spain. Its construction was inspired by the Louvre and boasts extensive grounds, manicured gardens and fountains. Though the palace is the official residence of the Spanish royal family, today it is mainly used for ceremonial purposes. The crazy line at the entrance to the palace kept us from going in since we didn’t book tickets in advance with Skip-the-Line 🙁 but I heard it is highly recommended, so if you’d like to see it from the inside, don’t think twice and buy the tickets in advance – they’re worth every penny! Right next to the palace is the Catedral de la Almudena from which you can see a beautiful view of the city for a small fee. 

 

 

 

Flamenco performance at Torres Bermejas – You can’t go to Spain and not enjoy traditional flamenco. Flamenco is an energetic and passionate dance deeply rooted in Spanish history and culture. There are lots of places to see a flamenco show, but before our trip I found a recommendation for the Torres Bermejas show, which turned out to be really close to our hotel, so we decided to book tickets in advance for an hour-long performance. The show was mesmerizing and the hour went by so fast. A true  experience not to be missed. {Incidentally, you can also order a ticket that combines dinner as well, but from my experience the dinner at these kinds of places is never anything to write home about…).

 

 

Parque Warner – This amusement park is definitely a surprising part of the trip! When looking for attractions in the city, I couldn’t help but think I didn’t want to leave out my niece. After all, if she was surviving all the shopping and touring around with us adults, it was important to make sure she had some special time herself 🙂 So, after a short search, I discovered that there was this amusement park outside Madrid, but unfortunately couldn’t find a sufficient amount of information online. We decided to take the risk and go anyway – a decision that turned out to be totally worth it! Turns out this is a crazy cool park, just like Disney, with different “worlds” to visit {cartoons, superheroes, and many more!}, and also rides, food, and whatnot. We only spent a couple of  hours their and visited the Looney Tunes park {which was absolutely perfect!}, but I’m pretty sure at least a day or two can be spent in this park. Right next to the Parque Warner is a water park that seems really cool as well – entrance is a separate fee. By the way, if you feel like going back the next day, you should know that discounted tickets available at the exit {If I remember correctly it’s about 6.90 Euro, but don’t take my word for it ?}. 

We avoided the line by ordering tickets in advance from here. A ticket for the nearby water park can be purchased here, and tickets that include transportation, ticket to one or more of the parks can be purchased here. {Keep in mind the transport service has fixed hours.}

We took a taxi to get there and back because we didn’t want to be dependant on the transport service schedule, but it did cost a nice price to do so. From what I’ve read, it seems that arriving independently is pretty complicated. 

 

 

Places to check out NEXT TIME…

Museo Nacional del Prado –  This museum is considered to be one of the most important museums, and its collection of artworks is one of the largest in the world. Rumor has it that in the Prado museum there is an additional painting of the Mona Lisa, made by a different artist, which painted around the same time that her famous portrait was painted by Da Vinci.

La Latina – Madrid’s old quarter, known for its many tapas bars, Basilica de San Francisco EL Grande, and a market called Mercado de la Cebada which has food, clothing, and local art. A flea market by the name of El Rastro is open on Sundays. 

Temple of Debod – The temple  is an ancient Egyptian temple that was dismantled and rebuilt in Madrid as a gift from UNESCO in 1968.

SHOP

 

Our main mission for this trip was definitely to go shopping, and Madrid has more than enough places to successfully shop around in – especially when you arrive during sale season 🙂

Hedonistip – Spain has two official sale seasons called “Rebaja”. The winter sale is from January 1 through the end of March, while the summer sale begins mid July and goes all the way through the end of August. 

 

Here are some of the main places for shopping in town… 

Gran Via Madrid's famous shopping street starts at Puerta del Sol and extends to Espanya Square. The street has all the major fashion brands, ranging from Spanish brands like Zara, Bershka, Pull & bear, Mango, Desigual and many others,  to other chains from all over the world H&M, Primark, and more … Gran Via can be compared to Oxford Street in London – where you will find every chain store that comes to mind, along with long lines and big mess.

Puerta del Sol – In the square’s surrounding streets you will find local shops alongside international brands {Zara, Mango, Sephora, etc}.

Salamanca The upscale shopping district of the city, where you will find all the couture shops you can dream of… 

Places to check out NEXT TIME…

Las Rozas de Madrid – About 30 minutes from Madrid is an outlet mall designed like a boulevard with over a hundred stores of the most exclusive local and international brands. Click here to reserve a spot on the transport service. 

 

EAT

 

Mercado De San Miguel – A few meters away from Plaza Mayor is Madrid's famous indoor food market. The market is relatively small, but you can find many food stalls selling different types of tapas, pastries, paellas  and drinks. A must-see for foodies and in general.

 

 

Ten Con Ten – THE restaurant of our trip! I got plenty of recommendations for this place when I posted Stories from Madrid on Instagram, so we decided to book a birthday dinner on our last night in Madrid and it was absolutely perfect. Starting with the upscale ambiance, while at the same time the place feels young and fun, the service was excellent, and every dish that we ordered was so neatly served {not excluding the apple pie!}. The restaurant is in the upscale Salamanca neighborhood and its prices suit its location – but in my opinion, this is a must when visiting Madrid {and don't forget to reserve a table online}. Yep, it’s that  good.

El Invernadero de Salvador Bachiller – This restaurant is located inside a cool store by the same name on Gran Via. It literally translates to “Salvador Bachiler’s Greenhouse” which is exactly the vibe of this space. As soon as you descend the curved staircase toward the restaurant you feel that you are entering a tropical forest full of flowers and wild plants. We got to taste the surprising lunch menu, which changes on a daily basis and includes a first and main course, dessert, and a drink, all for less than 15 Euro. The place seems to serve an extra special brunch, cool cocktails, and a variety of other dishes. The service was pretty slow, but the design and ambiance made us reconsider going back for another meal. Highly recommended!

 

 

Botania – A super cool restaurant-bar on Gran Via street. Food was not bad, but cocktails were excellent and the botanically designed space along with its vibrant atmosphere are definitely a reason to go back. The place belongs to a group of restaurants under the name Larrumba, they own a number of cool spots in the city which you can read about here. 

Oven Mozzarella Bar – if you’re in the mood for Italian, check out which one of these five restaurants is closest to your location. They menu has great Italian food including pasta, pizza, salad, dessert, and a whole page on the menu is dedicated to the Italian Burrata!

 

 

Chocolateria San Gines – No trip to madrid would be perfect without the famous Spanish churros with a side of hot chocolate sauce. {Unlike Mexican churros, where they are rolled in sugar and cinnamon}. This Chocolateria has been preparing its traditional dish since 1894, and is still popular among the locals just as much as the tourists. San Gines’ churros are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, they don’t have an oily aftertaste and are served with a chocolata {an extra thick hot chocolate drink} made from quality chocolate, and not too sweet. Every bite is savory. 

 

 

Museo de Jamón – With ten chain stores around Madrid, there is no way you will miss this deli restaurant! I’m not sure what a delight the actual restaurant space is, as it looks very touristy, but you should definitely bite into a simple and delicious Jamon and cheese sandwich served at the bar, and enjoy the local atmosphere.

 

 

Places to check out NEXT TIME…

Mercado de San Antón –  Another Madrid food market that spans 3 floors. Downstairs there is a supermarket selling local delicacies, and on the top floor is a restaurant called La Cocina, which overlooks the city's rooftops.

La Habanera – The brunch in this place looks heavenly! I read it’s best to reserve a table ahead of time. 

Salon des Fleurs – A tea room, flower shop and English style gift shop. Also recommended to make a reservation. 

Superchulo – A restaurant-cafe that seems super cool with a dreamy-looking menu. 

Cafe Commercial – A restaurant-bar whose IG page is so tempting!

 

 

 

 

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