Where to go & what to do in MADRID
Updated: Jul 27
Madrid, the capital of Spain is a hospitable city that has a lot to offer for a city trip. A rich past has ensured that Madrid has countless monuments and historic buildings. Taste the Spanish atmosphere during your Madrid city trip in one of the many restaurants, sit down on a terrace and enjoy the lively cityscape of Madrid.
Great city for a few days in Spanish atmosphere. During our city trip, we enjoyed & eaten delicious tapas in one of the many bars and made a city tour.
Madrid is a great city for shopping with girlfriends. A nice variety of shops you will find in the center and in the various neighborhoods. You will also come across specialist shops in the bustling city. Think of a hat shop or a fan shop. To end the day you can eat the best Churros in Madrid
Chocolateria San Ginés
The specialty of Spain is churros. It is best to compare the taste between a Dutch oliebol and donut. The tastiest churros are made in Madrid in a narrow alley between Calle Arenal and Calle Mayor. The store is so popular that it is open 24 hours a day. You can enjoy this specialty on the terrace. It is popular to take a churros with a cup of chocolate milk (chocolate con churros).
Mercado de San Miguel
It is a traditional market since the Middle Ages located next to Plaza Mayor. It is a market that is full of Spanish delicacies such as sausages, fruit, sweet pastries and fish. To enjoy the hustle and bustle, you can sit at the bar with a drink and snack.
In the center of Madrid there are a number of streets that you should not skip to go shopping. It is the streets Calle Hortaleza, Calle Gran Vía and Calle Fuencarral that eventually lead to the central square Puerta del Sol. In these streets are the well-known and lesser-known brands located. If you are looking for Chanel, Michael Kors or Prada, you should go to Calle de Serrano in the northeast of the city. If you would like to buy a hat, the hat shop in the La Latina district is really something for you. Or how about handmade jewelry and art. In the Chueca district you can find it. For book lovers, the Mercado del Libro is a mecca. You can find this market near Jardín Botánico.
A cozy busy square to enjoy the surroundings. On the square are two fountains with decorated flowers. You can sit on the edge of the fountain. Also the symbol of the city, a bear with a madrone tree 'El Oso y el Madroño' is located on the east side of the square. It is a lively central square with continuous experience. Highly recommended to record the impressions of the city together.
Getting around!
The most common means of transport in Madrid is the metro. There are thirteen lines that will take you to the sights of the city and beyond. A metro runs every 3 to 8 minutes. You can choose between single tickets or a ten-ride ticket. The journey ticket is cheaper than single tickets and can also be used on the bus. Another advantage is that the ten-journey card can also be used together. Day tickets can also be purchased at the vending machines or ticket offices.
Another fun way to discover the city is by tourist bus. This bus will take you to all the highlights of the city and you can hop on and off as many times as you like during the day. Two routes are driven. The blue and green line. When making a booking, you can book this hop on hop off bus directly for the duration of one day or for two days.
What’s on where ?
From its royal palace to art museums to tapas bars, Madrid offers plenty to discover while wandering its boulevards. Sitting near the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula, the Spanish capital is the seat of not only the country’s government, but also of much of its culture, food, history, and art. With so much to do, it can be hard to exhaust Madrid’s many attractions, ranging from Buen Retiro Park to the Prado museum. But make sure to leave time to explore farther afield, where historic sights including El Escorial, Toledo, and Segovia make for perfect day trips.
My TOP recommendations in MADRID
No.1 Flamenco Show & Special Menu at Torres Bermejas in Madrid
from € 25.00
Treat all of your senses to a dose of Spanish culture with a flamenco and dinner package in Madrid. Booking in advance guarantees you a seat in the legendary Torres Bermejas, a tablao (flamenco venue) where some of the greatest names in flamenco have performed. Plus, your experience is completed by a tapas selection inspired by classic Spanish cuisine. Choose from two showtimes.
Flamenco show and dinner at Torres Bermejas in Madrid
Guaranteed entry to a show at the often sold-out venue
Watch a performance in the oldest tablao (flamenco venue) in Madrid
Feast on classic Spanish dishes during a tapas dinner
No. 2 Full Day Tour Ávila and Segovia from Madrid with Tickets to Monuments Included
from € 77.00
Exploring Avila and Segovia—two of Spain’s oldest cities—from Madrid in a day can be tricky without a self-drive car. This full-day coach tour is the easy option, with the added bonus of a guide to chart the cities’ history, and included walking tours and entry fees. Check out Avila’s walls, Cathedral, and Basilica; and then continue to Segovia to take in its towering Roman aqueduct, Alcazar, and Cathedral.
Discover Avila and Segovia with ease on a day trip from Madrid
No planning needed: coach transport, guided walks, and entry fees included
See all the highlights, including Segovia’s Roman aqueduct and Avila’s walls
Hear tales and facts about the cities and sites that you might miss if alone
No. 3 Full Day Tour to Toledo & Segovia
from €46.00
See two of Spain’s best small towns in one easy trip from Madrid to Toledo and Segovia without having to rent a car, navigate, or deal with language barriers. Instead, hop on the bus to visit both of these UNESCO World Heritage sites in just one day to maximize your time. The trip includes walking tours in both cities and easy, roundtrip transport by bus.
Benefit from a bilingual walking tour in Toledo to visit highlights like the Santa María de Toledo Cathedral and the Alcázar of Toledo
Enjoy a bilingual walking tour in Segovia, stopping at the Cathedral, aqueduct, and the Alcázar of Segovia
Relax with comfortable bus transport between Madrid and both towns
Meet at a convenient departure and return point in Madrid to take the bus
No.4 Three Cities in One Day: Segovia, Ávila & Toledo from Madrid
from €119.99
Visit Segovia, Ávila, and Toledo—three cities that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites—on a full-day tour from Madrid that features ancient battlements, a soaring cathedral, a historic monastery, and more. Coordinated tours and transport make the most of your travel time so you can cover more ground without rushing to catch trains or find buses; traveling with a guide takes you straight to the three cities’ essential sights.
Included entrance fees save time and costs upon arrival
Travel between cities in the comfort of a climate-controlled minibus
Enjoy an included picnic lunch after visiting Ávila
Air-conditioned minibus transportation
Guided tour of Segovia, Ávila and Toledo, given by a professional guide
Lunch
Entry to the Primate Cathedral of Toledo.
No. 5 4-hour Spanish Cooking Class in Madrid
from € 75.00
Uncover the secrets of Spanish cuisine with a traditional cooking class in Madrid. Get hands on as you create classic dishes such as tapas, gazpacho, or paella; master new skills under the guidance of an expert chef; then sit down to feast on your homemade creations, accompanied by a glass of Sangria.
4-hour Spanish cooking class in Madrid
Learn the secrets of Spanish cuisine from an expert chef
Create an array of Spanish dishes such as gazpacho, tapas, or paella
Enjoy a delicious homemade lunch of dinner, accompanied by traditional Sangria
Choice of morning or evening cooking class
No. 6 Express Tour of Madrid in a Private Electric Tuk Tuk
from € 42.50 If you want to see the highlights of Madrid but can't spend all day doing it, this easy one-hour tour is a great introduction to the Spanish capital. On a private tour, you and your companions will pass must-see attractions such as the Royal Palace, El Retiro, and Plaza Mayor. You'll get an overview of the city and know where to return later on your own.
Zip around in an eco-friendly electric tuk tuk
Ideal for first-time visitors to Madrid
In winter blankets are provided to keep you warm
Well, there's lots of astonishing activities waiting for you in MADRID.
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