Because I host an annual Spain Trip, I'm always asked about my favorite things to do and places to see in Madrid, so here is a round up of things I enjoy there!
Hotel: I do not love to stay in the city center, but instead just outside of it (it is walkable to the center!) The Salamanca District has amazing shopping, is clean, easy to navigate (the streets are on a grid, unlike the city center,) and has excellent restaurants.
The spot that I always recommend people to stay in is the ICON Casona (this is my personal favorite, it has a more boutique feel, but since COVID some sites say this is permanently closed- it is not closed!) or the ICON Wipton
In Salamanca, these are some of our favorite spots to eat:
- Restaurante Belle Mondo (Italian, if you're craving pizza!)
- Resturante Casa Dani in the small Mercado has the most amazing Tortilla (like a quiche but with potatoes!) in the world! Also the Mercado is fun to walk around and explore.
- This list shows the top spots in Salamanca and all look incredible!
- I also just use my phone when traveling and will pull up spots that look good as I'm walking by: if they are well rated, typically they will be good spots to pop down!
- Ask your concierge for recommendations if you need some too: they always are loosed into the new and exciting spots.
Things to do in Madrid:
- Walk Retiro Park. Rent a row boat and take it out, pop into the Glass Palace and see what sort of Art is on display, and just wander around. A picnic is fun in the park too!
- Go visit the Prado Museum. They did have a free tour in English on Sundays if you want to pop in, be sure to check their website. If you are interested in a guided tour, these are available on Viator or under AirB&B Experiences. (I also love the Museum of Romanticism - it is small and very doable in 45 minutes, the Reina Sofia is more modern art, and the Sorolla Museum is the former home and studio of Impressionist painter Joaquin Sorrolla.)
- Go to a Flaminco Show
- Go on a Tapas Tour in the Madrid Center - this is so fun and we have done it!
- If you are into history, a tour of the center of Madrid is so interesting.
If you are in Madrid over two days:
I really love the day trips that Airbnb or Viator offer to Toledo, Segovia, or El Escourial. Pick the one that looks the most interesting and go for it!
Resources:
I always use the Airbnb 'Experiences' Search to find interesting experiences for our family. Viator also has helpful options that some of my friends have used.
The biggest thing here is to look at the ratings and go with options that hare highly rated (also keep in mind that a solid 5% of people will never be happy, so weed out those comments in my opinion!)
Also, go with experiences that appeal to you. Not a museum-goer? Then skip that not matter how many people tell you to go there!
I hope this is helpful and that you end up loving Madrid as much as we do!
