Hello there! Recently I got the pleasure to visit my friend who spent her semester abroad in Alcalá, which is a lovely city close to Madrid. It was the most amazing thing to spend the weekend with her and explore the two cities through her eyes, following her lead and now passing on all my tips to you, my readers. What I loved the most about it, was that I got to enjoy Madrid at a slower pace. We took our time to get lost in all the streets and alleys of Spain’s capital and fully embraced the Spanish way of life for a weekend. Meaning, we cherished the siesta, joy, and quality food and so does this blog post. Instead of rushing from sight to sight, why don’t you slow down? Enjoy some tapas, work on your tan, and explore this breathtaking city more mindfully!
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FAQ
When to Visit Madrid?
When traveling to the bigger cities of Europe, I always try to visit them during Spring or Autumn, to avoid the scorching heat and hordes of tourists. My trip to Madrid took place in October and it was the perfect timing. We got to enjoy the city in a more relaxed time and with such a cozy atmosphere, it was wonderful.
How to Get Around in Madrid?
Madrid has a great public transport system, making it very easy for you to get around with. Their train system is also great if you want to go on day trips from Madrid. For example, if you want to get to Alcalá or Toledo. No matter where you want to go, the trains will get you there fast and easy.
Where to Stay in Madrid?
One thing I always try to keep in mind while traveling is that it has to happen in harmony with the locals. I don’t want to occupy their spaces but experience their culture and learn more about it. Unfortunately, mass tourism in Spain has come to an all-time high and with many people renting out their apartments on booking platforms, locals currently face a housing crisis. That’s why I heavily want to recommend you stay in hostels and hotels and not rent out an apartment for your weekend in Madrid. Great options here are the Hotel Life Gran Via Design or the Regente Hotel.
Eating at Mercado de San Miguel
The Mercado de San Miquel is truly a food lover’s dream! Ideal for a snack at noon or some dinner. You can get tons of lovely small things like paella, fish, tortillas, and our choice: burrata with ham & fig marmalade or with tomato and pesto! We also had a plate of paella and stuffed olives and it was overall delicious! The only thing I wished for was to spend even more time there.
Related: 2 Days in Madrid!
Chilling at the Parque del Retiro
After a long day of shopping on the Gran Vía and seeing beautiful sights, you should take some time off at the Parque del Retiro. Grab some stuffed olives, fuet, and bread with aioli, some wine, a blanket, and your bestie for a beautiful time off, while the sun goes down. Especially during the autumn time, this place gets even more beautiful and relaxing.
Tapas tour!
There is so much food to try in Spain but my favorite is by far the traditional Tapas! We had ours in Alcála and it was cool! Instead of ordering one huge meal at one restaurant, you order only one – two tapas per place and then venture to another Tapas bar. Usually, these tapas are accompanied by a glass of wine or beer. Some of my favorite tapas include tortilla España, gambas al ajillo and pulpo alla gallega.
If you don’t feel comfortable going on the Tapa tour alone, why don’t you try a guided tour?
Take The time to Admire The Architecture
Madrid is so beautiful! One tip so that you won’t miss a thing is to avoid busses and public transportation. You will see a stunning city with one of Europe’s most beautiful architecture. It is one of the best tips for exploring a city. Stay away from tubes and underground stations. Walking will get you the most of your trip! Especially walking from Gran Vía to Parque del Retiro will take you through some awesome neighborhoods. There will be beautiful restaurants and cafés on your way and some stunning buildings to take pictures of!
If you want to gather more inspiration about what to do in Madrid, check out this beautiful article about 10 alternative things to experience in Madrid!
So I hope these tips helped you to plan your trip to Madrid or to add it to your bucket list!
7 Responses
I am going to Madrid next month, so stumbling across your blog post was perfect! Thanks for sharing this!
Thank you so much! It really means the world that I could inspire you!
I love Madrid! I went for the first time 2 years ago and felt it was an authentic Spanish experience (there and Seville). I’ll have to go back and try these out.
I loved it too! Such a relaxing and impressive city. I definitely want to go back and see more!