Quick Guide to visiting Madrid
Updated: July 2019
When I visited Madrid back in 2011, I wasn't writing down any travel tips. Luckily though, I still remember enough to share with you a quick guide to visiting Madrid. Most of these tips were actually handed over to me by Samer, my awesome friend who was my guiding force when I first started traveling :).
Good Morning / Good day = ¡Buenos días!
How are you? = ¿Que Tal? / ¿Cómo estás?
Where is the metro station? = ¿Dónde está la estación de metro?
Good afternoon = ¡Buenas tardes!
Good night = ¡Buenas noches!
See you soon = ¡Hasta pronto!
See you later = ¡Hasta luego!
Thank you = Gracias
You're welcome = De nada
How much does it cost? = ¿Cuánto cuesta?
I don't know = No sé
#FROMSPAINWITHFUNK
Make sure to check Barcelona Guide, and Road Trips from Barcelona
When I visited Madrid back in 2011, I wasn't writing down any travel tips. Luckily though, I still remember enough to share with you a quick guide to visiting Madrid. Most of these tips were actually handed over to me by Samer, my awesome friend who was my guiding force when I first started traveling :).
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| Puerta del sol |
1) Where to stay
- Anything on Gran Via is a good idea
- I recently stayed in B&B Hotels (Centro Fuencarral 52) and I loved it, you can see my review on booking.com
- Calle de las Fuente (City Centre)
- Calle del Arenal (City Centre)
- Calle de Bordadores (City Centre)
- Calle Mayor
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| See what I mean! |
2) Things to do
- Watch a Flamenco show (this is a must), the place I went to was called "Artebar La Latina", located at Calle de San Bruno 2, La Latina neighborhood. The flamenco show is performed in a back room, so the atmosphere is cozy and warm. I am also trying a new venue called Corral de la Morería which I've been told is one of the best; I will update it with my review soon.
- Museums
- Prado
- Reina Sofia
- Thyssen
- La Latina (Nice on a Sunday, hope from one tapas bar to another)
- Live Band in La Negra Tomasa (Calle Espoz y Mina 9, centro), it's Madrid's Little Havana. The band plays salsa music and cuban songs.
- Night life in the center of Madrid is a must, make sure you visit some of Madrid's best rooftops. Back in the days we went to Penthouse rooftop.
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| Flamenco show in Artebar La Latina - Madrid |
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| Penthouse Rooftop - Madrid |
3) Places to visit
- Templo de Debod at sunset. It's an Egyptian type, gifted by the Egyptian government to Spain after the latter's efforts in saving ruins in Aswan.
- Nearby is El Palacio Real (Royal Palace) in Parque del Oeste
- Also nearby is Cathedral de la Almudena (neo-gothic with amazing interior)
- Puerta del Sol (Make sure you see the bear)
- Plaza Mayor (Nice to visit, avoid touristy restaurants there)
- Gran Via (big long street if you want to do some shopping)
- Plaza de Cibeles (make sure you check Banco de España building)
- National Geographic Café restaurant and shop (if you're a nat geo fan like me)
- Tienda Real Madrid (if you're a fan of the FC Real Madrid)
- Parque del Retiro
- Teatro Real
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| Mercato de San Miguel |
4) What / Where to eat
- Mercato de la Reina (Calle Gran Via, 12.), you can take the metro there. It's a must visit if you love markets, great in the mornings!
- Socarrat Valencian Food for a range of different paellas (it's a paella bar so that's the only thing you're going to find), and here's my review here.
- Mercado de San Miguel (Plaza de San Miguel, centro), go in the afternoon, all Spanish food!
- Chocolateria San Gines (Pasadizo de San Gines 11, centro), this is a MUST if you want to try the famous Chocolate con churros :)
- Patatas Bravas (dices of fried potatoes with a red spicy sauce)
- Jamon (if you like ham, this is the place to eat it)
- Gambas a la plancha (grilled shrimp with a hint of garlic)
- Huevos Estrellados (it's local, you got to try these eggs)
- Pimientos de Padron (just order it)
- Pulpo a la Gallega (cooked and slived octopus over potato slices and a lot of sweet paprika)
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| Tapas (Pimientos de Padron, Patatas Bravas) |
5) What to drink
- Sangria
- Hot Chocolate (con churros)
- Cortado (shot of espresso that has been "cut" with a splash of milk)
- Wine (Rioja, heavy and amazing. Brands to try: Marques de Caceres and Protos)
- Vino de Verano (if you're there in the summer), it's a mix of red wine and lemon Fanta, refreshing and nice.
- Clara (beer with lemon, or lemon Fanta)
- ColaCoa (Chocolate drink)
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| If you can eat Churros in only one place in the world, it has to be Spain. (and of course, have it with their specialty Hot Chocolate) |
6) Useful Spanish Phrases
Hello = HolaGood Morning / Good day = ¡Buenos días!
How are you? = ¿Que Tal? / ¿Cómo estás?
Where is the metro station? = ¿Dónde está la estación de metro?
Good afternoon = ¡Buenas tardes!
Good night = ¡Buenas noches!
See you soon = ¡Hasta pronto!
See you later = ¡Hasta luego!
Thank you = Gracias
You're welcome = De nada
How much does it cost? = ¿Cuánto cuesta?
I don't know = No sé
#FROMSPAINWITHFUNK
Make sure to check Barcelona Guide, and Road Trips from Barcelona
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