how to spend a weekend in madrid

madrid. the beautiful capital of spain is a city that is worthy of way more than a weekend of exploring. you can, however, get to see a lot of the sights in madrid and get a good taste for the city in a weekend. this is what we considered a great itinerary!

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day 1: secret food tours madrid

on this secret food tour a guide will take you around to multiple different locations to try local favorites that include food and drinks, savory and sweet. our guide ari was great and also shared the history of madrid with us as we walked past countless old restaurants and historic sites.

these tours are a great way to try a lot of different dishes and get a real taste of the local flavor. our group was small, just us and a family of four. this made for a nice personal setting where we could all talk freely, ask questions, and have the feeling of a private tour.

we did this tour over lunch our first day in madrid and it was perfect because we didn’t have to think about where to eat for that first meal in a new city. we were also given a handful of restaurant recommendations for the rest of our time in town as well as tips for visiting other local attractions.

day 1: sandemans free walking tour

free walking tours are a great way to get the history of a city and country while seeing the highlights and familiarizing yourself with the city. it is about three hours of standing and walking, so make sure you have good shoes and are prepared.

how do free tours work? you sign up and join the tour for free, and then at the end of the tour you pay the guide what you think the tour was worth and what you can afford. these tours typically don’t include entrance into any sites, but do pass by the outside of many and you still learn the history behind them.

our tour took us by plaza mayor, the royal palace, the cathedral, and the old main plaza of madrid while teaching us the complex history of the spanish empire and how madrid came to be the capital of spain.

day 1: tapas for dinner

by now your feet are tired and you should have worked up an appetite again. it is probably too early for dinner in spain, but find a spot that looking inviting and sit and have a drink and snack before enjoying some spanish cuisine for dinner.

ordering tapas is a great way to try multiple different small plates to be able to taste as much as you like. relax and take your time eating because once you have a table it can be yours for the night.

day 2: churros and chocolate

this is a popular dish in madrid and is great as a sweet breakfast. there are countless spots you can get this and i recommend asking a local for their favorite spot.

day 2: cathedral almudena

this cathedral in spain doesn’t look like a typical cathedral from the outside. according to our free walking tour guide it had multiple people working to finish it throughout the years.

this cathedral has an amazingly colorful ceiling. it is truly like nothing else i have seen before. visiting the cathedral is free. you can pay for a museum entrance if you want more.

day 2: san miguel market

for lunch today head over the san miguel market. this spot is great for foodies in madrid. it has traditional flavors with a modern twist. everything from savory and sweet to drinks!

it is a beautiful building that has been restored and re-opened recently with beautiful and fancy foods. it is nice to be able to try lots of different foods all in one place.

day 2: retiro park

you can also get your food to go from the market and take it over to have a picnic in retiro park. this is a huge green space in madrid and you can easily spend a few hours there.

this is a spot frequented by families and couples a like. there are multiple crowded spots as well as spots where you can be alone with nature. while you are in the park be sure to stop by the crystal palace and the alfonso xii monument.

day 2: prado museum or reina sofia museum

there are some amazing art museums in madrid. while we were there we visited the prado. both museums have free hours almost every day during the last two hours they are open.

free hours are a great way to get some culture while still saving money. just be sure you get to the museum to line up at least 30 minutes early. we got to the prado about 45 minutes early and there were already about 100 people in line.

day 2: tapas at el tigre

for dinner tonight head to el tigre to get some free tapas! there are still a few spots in madrid where when you order a drink you get tapas for free! el tigre is one of those spots that isn’t very far from puerta del sol.

we ate here our last night in madrid. it is a busy spot with standing only and they only take cash! you order a drink and get a huge plate of assorted free tapas.

they also have a menu you can order from with really tasty dishes on it.

day 3: hiking guadarrama national park

so i know this is a weekend guide, but if you have another day near madrid i highly recommend getting outside of the city to see some nature.

you can take a bus from madrid for about an hour and get off in a cute little mountain town near the ski resort. from there you can hike multiple different paths up or down the mountains.

we did an air bnb experience with a group of 12 and went on a 10 mile hike and saw some beautiful spanish mountains. it was perfect for a break from the city and a good workout too.

this itinerary only scratches the surface of the great things to do in madrid and there is so much more if you have more than just a few days to spend in this city.

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what is your favorite thing to do in madrid?

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