2 Days in Madrid
Madrid was the second stop during our 6-day trip to Spain. Although we were only there for two days, we fell in love with the architecture and overall vibe of this regal city.
Getting There
We took a high-speed train from Barcelona to Madrid that got us there under 3 hours. I recommend you purchase your tickets weeks in advance on Renfe, but before you do, know that booking on that site is a process. The page gave me errors and I had issues getting the transaction approved by my credit card. Nevertheless, once we took the train, we enjoyed a very smooth ride. The train itself is modern and serves great food onboard.
Where to stay
We stayed at Only YOU Boutique Hotel, a historic 19th-century mansion located in one of the trendiest areas of Madrid. We fell in love with the hotel's décor, so much that we rarely stepped out to other spots in the city. The hotel has a restaurant, 2 bars, and a cute little cafe right on site. We spent both nights at one of the bars, sipping cocktails and enjoying each other's company.
Where to Eat
La Cocina de San Antón
La Cocina de San Antón is a beautiful restaurant located in El Mercado de San Antón. The place was fairly quiet on a Tuesday evening, but the vibe must be completely different during the day and during warmer months. Try the steak for two. It was delicious and cooked to perfection.
VE-GA Bar
VE-GA bar is located in the Salamanca district and is a lovely place to stop for lunch. The food is amazing and so is the service. Their desserts are to die for, particularly the Tarta de dulce de leche. Definitely, a must-try.
What to See & Do
There is a ton to see and do in Madrid. So much that we wish we had more than one day to explore.
We wanted to see as much as we could, so we took one of those Hop-on Hop-off buses for 30 euros. We toured the city and saw some of the most beautiful monuments and parks.
Palacio Real
Our first stop on the bus was El Palacio Real or the Royal Palace of Madrid. This is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, but it is only used for state ceremonies. There was a changing of the guards' ceremony when we visited, so we weren't able to go inside.
Puerta de Alcalá
The Puerta de Alcalá (Door of Alcalá) is an old city gate at the Plaza de la Independencia in Madrid, Spain. The monument was built for Carlos III and was once one of the five doors used to enter the walled city of Madrid.
Parque del Buen Retiro
The Buen Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in Madrid. The park boasts beautiful marble monuments, landscaped lawns, elegant fountains, all remnants of when the park belonged to the Spanish Monarchy.
Prado Museum
If you appreciate art you will enjoy El Museo del Prado, Madrid's Spanish national art museum. This museum houses the world's finest collections of European art, including works by Goya and Diego Velazquez.
I absolutely loved Madrid and can't wait to go back.
What are your favorite spots in Madrid? Let me know in the comments.
