Because I was such a crazy person all over the place in Spain, I didn't always do the best job of keeping up with the blog. Especially when it came to my weekend trips. So since I didn't get the chance to share my experiences then and because I've been missing Spain like crazy lately, I thought I'd share my adventures & give some tips about visiting Spain's capital now! Better late than never, right?
Puerta del Sol
Christmastime
Before I even stepped off of the plane when I arrived in Madrid for the first time on my flight from the US, I was a crazy little ball of nervous excitedness. My flight had been delayed in Istanbul, and I had no way to contact my Couchsurfing host to tell him. I'm not going to get into the whole story, because it's a long & boring list of unfortunate events (and no one like complaining!), but basically I left Madrid with very mixed feelings about the city and very little desire to go back.
However, the more time I spent time in Spain and the more I fell in love with it, the more I wanted to give Madrid another chance. The more places I travelled to and the more comfortable I felt getting around on my own & with speaking the language, the more adventurous I felt. And I remembered that the Prado was there waiting for me… The thing that was at the very top of my list of things to do in Spain. So when one of my best friends asked me to go with her for a weekend, I tried to let go of my old feelings towards Madrid… Now I am so thankful she asked me to go with her!
Everyone always talks about Barcelona, but now I'm all about Madrid. The city is so vibrantly Spanish, unlike any other place I've been to in Spain. The art, the plazas, the streets, the history, the parks, and of course Real Madrid - It's a place you have to experience to understand. I could go on for hours about how much I love it and all the things to do there. Our weekend was completely packed trying to fit in all of these beautiful things, but it some how felt so relaxed. Everything we did that weekend, I would consider a must-do for Madrid, but there are still a few more things on my Madrid bucket-list. Here's what made Madrid so amazing for me.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
When you think Spain, you think fútbol. And when you think fútbol, you think Real Madrid. Well, at least after seeing the stadium and going on the tour you will. Even though my first fútbol game was a Barcelona game, after seeing the stadium and going on the kick ass tour, I knew my heart belonged to Real Madrid. I know it sounds kind of boring, but it is so cool! All of their trophies, old uniforms, pictures, interactive screens, and even a room with sounds of memorable moments & games are there waiting to be explored. I still can't get over how cool it is. Not to mention you get to go on the field! This was definitely one of our favorite stops of the weekend. Although I consider Madrid a very walkable city, this is one place you're going to want to take the metro to as it's a bit far outside of the center.
Museo del Prado
This was the place I had been waiting to go to since two years ago when I had my first Spanish history class where we talked extensively about the importance of Spain's art. I have studied these paintings and sculptures, written papers about them, and fallen completely in love with them. I won't bore you with all of my nerdiness, but I'll just say I freakin' love classic Spanish art! I vividly remember walking into the Velázquez room and my eyes filling up with tears at the sight of these paintings I loved so much all right in front of me. I could have wandered around that museum all day. But since we were limited to one weekend in Madrid (and because Maggie would have killed me if we stayed any longer), we had to keep the visit short. This is where the museum guides came in handy! At the entrance of the museum, you can pick up a pamphlet with the most inportant paintings in the museum and their room number. So great for people on a time crunch like us or for those who just want to get in, see the main attractions, and get back out into the city. Like the Reina Sofia, this museum is free for students under 25.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
When you think Spain, you think fútbol. And when you think fútbol, you think Real Madrid. Well, at least after seeing the stadium and going on the tour you will. Even though my first fútbol game was a Barcelona game, after seeing the stadium and going on the kick ass tour, I knew my heart belonged to Real Madrid. I know it sounds kind of boring, but it is so cool! All of their trophies, old uniforms, pictures, interactive screens, and even a room with sounds of memorable moments & games are there waiting to be explored. I still can't get over how cool it is. Not to mention you get to go on the field! This was definitely one of our favorite stops of the weekend. Although I consider Madrid a very walkable city, this is one place you're going to want to take the metro to as it's a bit far outside of the center.
GOOOOOAAAALLLL
You get to go on the field!!
Even if it's just a little blocked off part… it's cool!
And I'm cheesy
Parque del Buen Retiro
I love the outdoors, so when I visit big cities I always look forward to taking a break from the busy streets & urban landscape to see some green in the parks. Buen Retiro was no disappointment! Full of kids playing, families walking, and paddle boating, this is the perfect place for a picnic or afternoon stroll. And while I'm sure it's beautiful in every season, it was even more beautiful than I could have imagined with all of the leaves changing in the fall. This park is also home to the gorgeous Crystal Palace. Sadly we couldn't go inside due to construction, but I hear they have art exhibitions there throughout the year.
Maggie & I outside the Crystal Palace
El Rastro
This giant flea market in the Embajadores neighborhood happens every Sunday. And when I say giant, I mean it… this thing is freakin' huge! It's filled with vendors selling handcrafted goods, antiques, vintage clothing, quirky jewelry, scarves, food, and all the little odds & ends you can imagine. I won't lie, we were a little overwhelmed by all of the people and the huge variety of stuff to be explored, but it was such a cool thing to see. I've never seen an open air market so big in my life! Even if you're not in the mood to hunt through all of the treasures, el Rastro is still something you should see!
This giant flea market in the Embajadores neighborhood happens every Sunday. And when I say giant, I mean it… this thing is freakin' huge! It's filled with vendors selling handcrafted goods, antiques, vintage clothing, quirky jewelry, scarves, food, and all the little odds & ends you can imagine. I won't lie, we were a little overwhelmed by all of the people and the huge variety of stuff to be explored, but it was such a cool thing to see. I've never seen an open air market so big in my life! Even if you're not in the mood to hunt through all of the treasures, el Rastro is still something you should see!
Museo Reina Sofia
I don't know much anything about modern art, but the Reina Sofia was definitely worth seeing! Full of some of the most interesting art I've seen, we had a blast walking through the exhibits and making up our own stories behind the pieces and their authors. It's quite hilarious if you've never done it before, especially in a museum full of such creative (and even a little bizarre) works. This museum is also home some works of Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso. This is where you'll find Picasso's masterpiece, Guernica. The Reina Sofía is free for students in the EU under 25, so don't forget your visa or student ID!
Randall from Monsters Inc… anyone?
Another example of the work in the Reina Sofia
We called this one "Picture Frame Town."
Original, right?
Yummy Places
Being such a large city, Madrid has a huge variety of cuisine! Most places in Granada were typically Spanish, so this was our time to go for the cheeseburger we missed or to try some good ethnic food. If you're into international cuisine, take a visit to Lavapiés, the multicultural hub of Madrid. This neighborhood is populated by mostly immigrants, so there are lots of different ethnic shops and restaurants to try. You have to search for them, but don't be discouraged! We found a little Indian place with the best food and such friendly people. Our air bnb was very close to Puerta del Sol, the main plaza of the city, so we went to the main areas with more tourists often, but this wasn't a bad thing at all. We still got the Madrid experience while experiencing the vibrant life of the city. Another place that is a definite must-do for every visit to Madrid is Chocoletería San Ginés, a 24 hour cafe with some of the best chocolate con churros in Madrid. The chocolate here is so rich, so delicious… I can eat just about anything sweet - meaning I would drink the churro chocolate after dipping the churros in it (just a tad bit unhealthy & gross) - but if I would have had any more of this chocolate than what we had with our churros, I'm pretty sure I would have exploded! It's the perfect stop for a late night early morning snack after a night of bar hopping and dancing.
Maggie & I at the famous San Ginés
Museo del Prado
This was the place I had been waiting to go to since two years ago when I had my first Spanish history class where we talked extensively about the importance of Spain's art. I have studied these paintings and sculptures, written papers about them, and fallen completely in love with them. I won't bore you with all of my nerdiness, but I'll just say I freakin' love classic Spanish art! I vividly remember walking into the Velázquez room and my eyes filling up with tears at the sight of these paintings I loved so much all right in front of me. I could have wandered around that museum all day. But since we were limited to one weekend in Madrid (and because Maggie would have killed me if we stayed any longer), we had to keep the visit short. This is where the museum guides came in handy! At the entrance of the museum, you can pick up a pamphlet with the most inportant paintings in the museum and their room number. So great for people on a time crunch like us or for those who just want to get in, see the main attractions, and get back out into the city. Like the Reina Sofia, this museum is free for students under 25.
Outside the Royal Palace
Other attractions in Madrid include the Royal Palace, Templo de Debod, Puerta de Alcalá, and of course the night life! Don't be afraid to talk to people in hostels or even other tourists and locals wherever you go, we found that everyone in Madrid is very friendly and willing to help out.
For next time:
A Real Madrid game. Now that I've been to a Barça game but fallen in love with the Real Madrid organization, I'll have to see where my loyalties truly lie by comparing the games!
La Latina. This district is full of little shops, yummy tapas, and great bars & nightlife. We didn't get to spend too much time here, so I will definitely be back to see more!
Paddle boating in Buen Retiro. It was a little chilly when we went, so next time hopefully the weather will be warmer and I can soak up the sun and gorgeous ambiance from a paddle boat in the lake!
Meet more locals. When I went out with my Couchsurfing hosts during my first stay in Madrid, it was a blast. Even though it's so much fun traveling with friends and family, next time I hope to meet up with my Couchsurfing hosts again and to meet more locals to explore & to practice my Spanish with!
I hope you enjoyed my stories and maybe learned a thing or two for your next trip to Madrid, because let's face it, you know you want to go now! Next up for my travel series is Rome… but first I feel a craft tutorial coming… Stay tuned!
-Breezy
-Breezy
- 10:46 PM
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