Things to Do in Madrid
Those who know me well know that Barcelona is one of my favorite cities; in fact, if someone asked me where I would live outside of Istanbul, it would definitely be Barcelona. I believe we have a special connection, and it’s perhaps the only place where I feel at home and am not worried about traveling alone. So far, I’ve been there four times, and I hope I’ll go many more times.
When I first visited Madrid, unfortunately, I couldn’t feel that connection, but since I only stayed for two days, I thought it was too early to decide, so I’ve been waiting for the right moment to give Madrid another chance. On the other hand, there’s always been a kind of rivalry between “Madrid fans” and “Barcelona fans,”. I’ve always loved places with a coastline, and this time was no different. If I had to pick a side, you could count me on the side of the Barcelona fans.
On my second visit to Madrid, I spent 3.5 days. Since my friend and I couldn’t agree on flight times and airlines, I flew to Madrid alone. Interestingly, even though I traveled alone, I wasn’t worried at all; in fact, I found myself wondering if maybe my whole trip should have been solo. Of course, I didn’t abandon my friend with all these thoughts in mind; we met at Madrid-Barajas Airport and took the metro to our centrally located hotel, B & B Hotel Centro Plaza Mayor. When we arrived at our hotel, we were greeted by the warm hospitality of the Spanish. And when they told us there was a café with free hot drinks, snacks, and fruit available 24 hours, we were over the moon. Not to mention the little croissants and cakes that would hang in bags on our door every morning! In short, they won our hearts with these small gestures.
Plaza Mayor
After we left the hotel and headed out, our first stop was Plaza Mayor. Plaza Mayor was surrounded by restaurants and one of the most liveliest spots in Madrid. We grabbed a calamari sandwich from the famous La Campana nearby and enjoyed it in the square.
Next, we headed to the Temple of Debod to watch the sunset. On the way, we passed Casa de Cisneros at Plaza de Villa. At the time, we didn’t know it was a palace, but we stopped to take pictures because we were drawn to its beautiful architecture. Nearby, there was a toy store with such a charming facade that it felt impossible not to step inside, evoking the childlike wonder in us.
Catedral de Almudena
Our first official stop was the Catedral de la Almudena. While many cathedrals start to look similar after a while, this one is definitely worth seeing. Even if you don’t go inside, I highly recommend checking out the impressive doors. From the square in front, you can also admire the Palacio Real de Madrid and its gardens. We also passed by Mercado de San Miguel, but since we were already full, we only admired the beautiful displays of tapas and desserts. Trust me, don’t make the same mistake we did—go there hungry!
There’s usually a line to enter the Temple of Debod. While entry is free, they only allow a limited number of people at a time. We decided to skip going inside and went straight to the gathering area to watch the sunset. A friend living in Spain had warned us not to bring drinks, and we were glad we followed that advice—many locals were sneaking in beers wrapped in newspapers or plastic bags. After enjoying the sunset, we wrapped up what felt like a long first day (though it was actually quite short) and headed back to our hotel.
El Retiro Park and Palacio de Cristal
The next morning, we woke up feeling well-rested and full of energy. We grabbed the snacks left on our door, packed some fruit in our bags, and headed out towards El Retiro Park. We followed the route suggested by the friendly woman at the hotel reception, Calle de la Bolsa, and it turned out to be a fantastic choice. Along the way, we passed streets adorned with poems, charming squares with statues, and beautiful old buildings lining both sides of the road.
“In Retiro, we began by feeding the ducks before heading to the Palacio de Cristal. Admission is free, and it’s the perfect spot for photos. The exhibit inside is a bit of a gamble—depending on what’s on display! While it’s hard to find a non-crowded corner for photos, if you’re patient like we were, it’s definitely worth the effort.
The front of the crystal palace offers a stunning view of a pond, framed by trees in their autumn hues. There are distinct advantages to visiting in the fall; while the mornings and evenings can be cool, the daytime weather is perfect for strolling in just a shirt. We enjoyed a coffee at one of the cafes by the pond while watching people engage in water activities. As we were leaving the park, a jazz band was playing, and people were dancing in front of them, making for a lovely farewell.
Not far from the park, across from Atocha Train Station, there’s a street filled with second-hand bookstores. If you’re learning a new language, you’ll understand the joy of finding a book in your target language for just 1 euro. I had a hard time stopping myself from buying them all. CaixaForum Madrid is famous for its plant-covered wall, and it makes a great backdrop for photos, so be sure to stop by if you’re in the area.
Latin Quarter
Our next stop was the Latin Quarter. Though every restaurant recommended by locals looked great, almost all of them were full. After exploring a few squares and checking out the nearby restaurants, we headed toward the Lavapiés district. This area is where the more free-spirited crowd hangs out, and you’ll find many murals and Indian restaurants here. It’s also one of the dirtiest parts of Madrid.
We strolled around the streets of Madrid, trying to find the street I had visited during my previous trip—the one where people gather in the streets, street musicians play, and there are lively venues. But no luck—it felt like the street had vanished. I wished I had written down the street name back then. Fortunately, street musicians and dancers are everywhere, so we enjoyed a lovely performance and flamenco show. So, you don’t always have to pay big money for these shows 🙂
Malasaña District
The next morning was shopping morning, or rather, it was Primark hour for Semiha. In every city we visit, Semiha never misses a chance to go to Primark, and when she leaves, her hands are always full—she’s a total Primark fan. Anyway, after breakfast, I joined her for a bit, but I soon got bored and wandered through a few more stores before heading to the Malasaña district, where we planned to go after shopping. Strolling through the side streets here is so enjoyable, with beautiful boutiques and cafes around. Since the shops had worn me out, I decided the only way to recover was with a coffee, so I looked at the spots I’d marked on my map. I’d read on Spotted by Locals that there’s a café in the courtyard of Museo Romanticismo where you don’t need to pay the museum entrance fee, so I went excitedly, but unfortunately, the museum was closed 🙁
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Now it’s time for our museum visits. Many museums are free on Mondays during specific hours or all day. The first museum we visited was the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza. However, since it was about to close shortly, we couldn’t spend as much time as we wanted in this museum, despite really liking the artwork.
On the way back, we passed by Plaza de Colón, named after Christopher Columbus. The square features a monument celebrating the discovery of the Americas, which has been there since 1892, as well as the temporary Julia statue.
Reina Sofia Museum
Our next stop was the Museo Reina Sofía. We really liked some of the artwork, and there were some interesting exhibits. However, photos weren’t allowed in many areas, so it’s worth asking the staff. The museum’s courtyard was also beautiful, and seeing it in the evening under the lights made it even more enjoyable.
Palacio Real
On our final day, we had to check out of our hotel early, but since we wanted to make the most of our time, we visited Palacio Real. The interior of the palace is breathtaking. Each room is more fascinating than the last, and I couldn’t help but take photos even though it’s technically not allowed. Palacio Real is a place where you really need to take your time exploring. Once we were done with the palace, it was time to bid farewell to Madrid. Although I enjoyed my time here, my heart still leans more toward Barcelona, and I guess it always will.
You can also check out “Best Cafes in Madrid” and “Best Restaurants in Madrid” posts.
