This is your friendly reminder that summer’s sunny weather doesn’t end as early as it does in the UK everywhere in Europe… I went to Madrid in November and was sat out in sunny squares with a beer in 22˚C, and it was way cheaper than if I’d gone in peak season. So, if you’re looking to book in a break to beat the winter blues, check out Madrid and you can take some inspo from what I got up to over there.
Day 1 – travel day and arriving in Madrid
I had a very early start for my Madrid adventure with an 8am flight from Gatwick. It was bitterly cold in the morning in London, so I was super excited to get to Madrid where the temperatures were expected to be in their low 20s with full beam sunshine. Everything ran smoothly and we made it to Madrid just before midday. As check in wasn’t until 3pm, I decided to brave the metro system to get into the city instead of splashing out for a taxi. The journey is super smooth on the metro to central Madrid, where my hotel was located, so I would definitely recommend it as an option if you fancied saving some money.
I was pretty tired from the early morning flight, so my first stop was for a coffee and a bite to eat. I went to Restaurante Bioloco, which I would definitely recommend. It’s also just a 5-minute walk from the hotel I stayed at – The Social Hub Madrid 4*. After lunch, it was time to check in. I love exploring a hotel when I first arrive so quickly dropped off my bag and had an explore – it was pretty cool. It had a rooftop bar and swimming pool, co-working spaces, a cinema room, café and restaurant. Then, after settling in I decided to venture outside and go for a wander around Madrid itself. The hotel was right opposite the Royal Palace of Madrid and its gardens, so I explored over there before heading into the main centre for some food. I chose Mad Mad Vegan for dinner, and I would highly recommend it for those travelling with veggies or vegans. After a long day, I decided to get an early night tonight ready for exploring the next day.
Day 2 – exploring the top sites and sunset at Temple of Debod
Day two was all about exploring the top sites. However, I started the morning with a run around The Royal Palace’s gardens where I had visited the day before and it was a great way to the start the morning. I grabbed a pastry and coffee for breakfast at the hotel before heading into the city to visit my tick-box destinations. These included the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Museo Nacional del Prado. I also returned for a drink in Plaza Mayor later in the afternoon as it had such a lovely atmosphere. I can’t remember what the place I went to was called however, they’re all pretty similar in the square, so take your fancy. Preferably, pick one in the sun!
That evening, I headed to what I had heard was one of the best sunset spots in the city, Temple of Debod. It definitely didn’t disappoint! The sunset was amazing, the atmosphere was incredible with live music and the view overlooking the city was great, too – so great, I even ended up going back the next day as well. I grabbed some food from the hotel in the evening and had a drink in the rooftop bar there before heading to bed.
Day 3 – markets and the famous El Retiro Park
On day three, I had planned a typical Sunday day – visiting markets. My chosen ones were Mercado de San Miguel, a foodie market, and El Rastro, a clothing market specialising in vintage clothing. El Rastro is only on on Sundays, so I was lucky I was visiting over a weekend. The market had some really cool features however it was super busy, so be warned. Mercado de San Miguel was also a cool atmosphere, and this is open every day and had loads of food options.
After visiting the markets, I went on a walk around El Retiro Park. El Retiro Park is probably the most famous park in Madrid, and it was beautiful. There are loads of gardens to explore within the grounds, cafés to pick up a coffee and even a boating lake. You can rent the boats on the lake for as little as €6 but because I was travelling solo, I didn’t trust myself to row it on my own and not make myself look a bit chaotic… So, I decided to watch from the side with a flat white. After my wander, I went to Honest Greens for dinner, which has been on my bucket list for years. It’s a chain restaurant only in Spain and Portugal that specialises in health-conscious food. It’s super popular and you can’t make reservations so you might have to queue, but it’s worth it. The food is also super affordable, too, which shocked me.
Day 4 – visiting the Bernabeu Stadium and home time
Today was my last day in Madrid but my flight wasn’t until the evening, so I could still make the most of another day. I also had one big bucket-list activity left to do in Madrid – visit the Santiago de Bernabeu Stadium. This is the home of football giants, Real Madrid, and the stadium is renowned for being one of the best in the world. You can book tickets to have a look around with First Choice Experiences and, as I am a big football fan, it was very cool to see, and it made me want to try and go to a game if I come back. I have heard they are pretty expensive though, nearly €200 for a standard ticket! I did check for tickets before I went but I got the timings wrong, and they were a tad out of my budget… After the stadium tour, I just went for an aimless wander around the city, which is something I always like doing to see places beyond the tourist hotspots. I returned to Honest Greens for lunch and headed back to the airport in the late afternoon for my flight.
Overall, Madrid exceeded my expectations. It was a beautiful city to explore and a great foodie scene. There aren’t loads of bucket-list activities to do, so it’s the perfect destination for a weekend break to sit back, relax and enjoy a city in the sun.
If @baileyturvey’s trip sounds like a bit of you, have a look at our Spain holidays and you can find all his picks on our Insiders Hub.
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Author: @baileyturvey
Last updated: 23/04/202
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