The Spanish capital is an ideal destination to enjoy a lazy long weekend or perhaps a stop as part of a longer trip. Madrid doesn’t have the reputation of Barcelona (not many places do!), and doesn’t have a beach or river to speak of, but it does have style, great food (including the world’s oldest restaurant) and sights to see.
Here’s 4 easy things to do in Madrid.
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is a sprawling complex with some picturesque gardens and views. Contrary to popular belief, it is not where the ‘King’ Cristiano Ronaldo lives!
A tour of the Bernabeu
Speaking of Ronaldo, for the sports lover and the uninitiated alike, a trip to the Bernabeu, home of arguably the world’s most successful football team is a must. If you can’t get to a game to experience the atmosphere, make do with the stadium tour, which is an amazing behind the scenes experience which will take you into the stands, the change rooms, onto the pitch, the dug out and into the post-match press conference room. It gives you a great idea of the regard this team is held in and well worth the 90 minutes it will take you to complete the tour.
Mercado de San Miguel
Whilst in Madrid, you can expect to be well fed. Tapas restaurants are easy enough to find, but to whet your appetite in the first instance and sample a range of cuisine, head to Mercado de San Miguel to get your fix of cured meats, seafood, pastries and a glass of bubbles. Try a little bit of everything in this market which is always buzzing.
Looking for dinner? Look no further than Gastromaquia. You’ll find a fantastic range of tapas here, with surprisingly large portions, so take your time in ordering your meals here. It’s a popular restaurant and moderately priced. We let our host steer our selections and suggest you do the same!
Open spaces
For some sightseeing, Madrid has a number of beautiful open spaces worth visiting. Spend some time wandering around the colourful Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and check out the Plaza de Oriente just outside the Royal Palace and finally Plaza Colon, which is home to biggest Spanish flag. Hopefully there is a breeze so you can see it in full flight in this plaza dedicated to Christopher Colombus.
Madrid is an excellent city explored on foot, although that sun can get quite harsh at times in the summer. Enjoy your trip to this stunning part of the world.
Have you been to Madrid? What did you get up to?