The Best Guide To Madrid

Madrid is the capital of the enchanting country of Spain. Located in the center of the western European country, Madrid is home to over three million people and is the second most popular city next to Barcelona. Madrid is an elegant city that offers an intriguing culture, stunning architecture, a lively nightlife, and drool-worthy tapas. This guide to Madrid covers everything you need to know from where to stay to what to do. Read on to discover the best guide to Madrid, Spain.

This post is all about the best guide to Madrid.

The Best Guide to Madrid

Map Of Madrid

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Where To Stay In Madrid

Budget Hotels In Madrid

This cozy apartment 10 minutes from the heart of Madrid is a great choice if you are on a budget. As a budget traveler this would be my first choice because I am not a huge fan of hostels.

Petit Palace - I stayed at the Petit Palace and it was absolutely wonderful. The Petit Palace has multiple locations in Madrid. The one I stayed in was the Petit Palace in Plaza Del Carmen, which was centrally located. The Petit Palace is a clean and affordable option for accommodation.

Middle Range Hotels In Madrid

Room Mate Alba - The Room Mate Alba is a chic hotel located in the center of Madrid. You will find a fully equipped fitness center, bar, free wifi, and more at Room Mate Alta.

Avani Alonso Martinez Madrid Hotel - Located in Madrid's commercial district the Avani Alonso Martinez Hotel offers comfortable accommodation with a kick. The interior of the hotel is unique with many statement pieces.

Luxury Hotels In madrid

Bless Hotel Madrid - The Bless Hotel Madrid is a luxury hotel in the middle of Madrid and is, of course, a wonderful place to stay. You can find two restaurants, three bars, a rooftop pool, bowling alley, spa, and more at the Bless Hotel Madrid.

Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá - Located just steps away from the Royal Palace of Madrid the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá, offer luxury accommodation. At the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá you will find a rooftop pool, three restaurants, a gym, and more.

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When To Go To Madrid

Madrid is lovely year round! In the winter Madrid tends to be a bit cooler. (50s - 40s fahrenheit). In the spring Madrid is a little warmer than the winters at (70s - 50s fahrenheit). Fall in Madrid is a little bit warmer than the spring at (80s - 50s fahrenheit). Summer is super hot in Madrid at (90s - 60s fahrenheit).

There are so many sunny days in Madrid that even when it is cold you will feel warm because of the strong sunshine.

How To Get Around Madrid

Like any European city, Madrid is extremely walkable. My favorite way to see any city is to walk. I feel that walking is the best way to experience a city and it's free.

If you need to get to farther away places like the airport or a restaurant on the other side of the city Madrid has a great metro (goes all the way to the airport). The city also has buses and taxis.

I personally did not do great navigating the Madrid airport. Most people find the Madrid Airport easy to get through but I found that switching terminals and security was tricky and had a lot of steps. Make sure that you give yourself at least two and a half hours to get through the airport. If you are a fellow stress ball get there with three and a half hours.

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What To Do In Madrid

Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor is located in the heart of Madrid. It was built in 1580 – 1619 by Philip III. Once used for bullfights, it is now a gorgeous square that travelers flock to every year. I would avoid any restaurants in the square as they tend to be geared toward tourists and overpriced.

Plaza Mayor is the type of place that you don’t need to spend too much time at. Just snap a few pictures and enjoy the scenery, then you should be good to go.

Puerta Del Sol

Make your way out of Plaza Mayor and into Puerta Del Sol. (look for the bear in the strawberry tree) Puerta Del Sol is probably the busiest part of Madrid. There is shopping everywhere, and during the holidays there is a massive Christmas tree in the centre and is home to the famous Madrid Christmas market.

Grab some Spanish coffee, walk around the shops and people watch.

El Retiro Park

I would definitely recommend visiting El Retiro Park. A UNESCO world heritage sight once belonging to the Spanish monarchy has now become a public park for everyone to enjoy. In the beautiful, El Retiro Park you can rent a rowboat and take it in the blue pond.

If you are not into rowboats El Retiro is still definitely worth a visit. Walking around the beautiful park is so fun and relaxing!

El Retiro is surrounded by wonderful cafes. I loved the nearby cafe - Plenti for a latte and pastry.

Malasana District

The Malasana District is a 20 somethings dream as it is the best place in the city for nightlife. This neighborhood in Madrid filled with cafes and unique stores. Many people love The Malasana District for the night life while others love it for the food. You can find everything in The Malasana District!

Cathedral del La Almudena

While in Europe you must see a gorgeous cathedral, and it doesn’t get much better than the Cathedral Del La Almudena. This is the most important religious building in Madrid as it is the only Spanish cathedral to be consecrated by a pope and is in the primary religious centre of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

You will save money if you book the Cathedral and Palace here before arriving.

Royal Palace Of Madrid

Next door to the Cathedral Del La Almudena is the Royal Palace of Madrid. The Royal Palace of Madrid is my favorite place in Madrid. The palace is one of the residences of the Spanish Royal family. I would recommend visiting at sunset because it just makes it that much more beautiful. You can buy a ticket to go inside or you can enjoy the spectacular view from the outside.

The ticket to see the inside is definitely worth the money. You get to see the palace interior, the historic furniture, and art from Spain's past.

Where To Dine in Madrid

Best Coffee In Madrid

One of my favorite things in the world is coffee and Madrid did not disappoint. Here are some cafes that I loved:

Ruda – Ruda is a small coffee shop with comfortable seating and a lovely atmosphere. 

Acid – Acid is a cozy minimalist cafe.  I would suggest Acid if you want to sit and chat.

Hola – Hola offers an amazing turmeric latte in the best atmosphere.  

Natif (photo above) – Natif was definitely my favorite. Great coffee, food and atmosphere.

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Best Tapas In Madrid

Casa Jaguar - Serving up insanely good Latin dishes, Casa Jaguar is perfect for a night out because they have amazing food and drinks. Make sure to book a table in advance because Casa Jaguar is so good that it will book out.

San Miguel Market (photo above) – You have to check out San Miguel Market in Madrid. San Miguel Market has a ton of vendors that serve up amazing tapas. From spanish classics to decked out hot dogs San Miguel Market has everything you can think of. If you are not hungry San Miguel Market should still be added to your Madrid itinerary because it is lovely just to look at and explore.

Best Restaurants In Madrid

Cebo - If you are looking for a ritzy dinner in Madrid than Cebo is for you. This Michelin Star Restaurant will make you fall in love with fine dining. A Reservation is needed at Cebo.

Mano de Santa - Mano de Santa has an amazing atmosphere. Great for a late night meal and drinks. You need a reservation at Mano de Santa.

Best Tours To Take In Madrid

Wine and Tapas Tour - One of the best ways to experience any city is by taking a food tour. You will get to try the local food and get a walking tour at the same time. I loved this wine and tapas tour while I was in Madrid. I got to try all of the local spots that, otherwise, I would not try.

Cooking Class - Have a go at a cooking class in Madrid. Learning how to properly make Spanish food was super interesting, there are so many more steps to preparing a dish than you wouldn't think. I loved this class making paella with bottomless pairing wine.

Flamenco Show - Your trip to Spain is not complete until you see a Flamenco Show. I loved this one!

Avila and Segovia Tour - If you have an extra day in Madrid checkout two of Spain's oldest cities, Avila and Segovia. I did not have enough time in Madrid to visit Avila and Segovia, but if I had another day it would have been my first choice. This tour has great reviews and is reasonably priced.

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Madrid Wrap Up

I hope this guide to Madrid will help you plan the best trip to Spain. Spain is a lovely country to do a multi-city trip. If you are planning on visiting more cities other than Madrid I would recommend adding Seville and Barcelona to your Spain itinerary.

Written By Daisy MacLellan

This post all about Madrid was written by Daisy MacLellan. Daisy is the owner and main content writer of Daisies Abroad. She is from Boston, Massachusetts an loves her pomeranian, Latte. You will find Daisy exploring different countries or in a local cafe blogging.

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HAPPY TRAVELS:)

-Daisy