Last Updated on 6 February, 2021
Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a vibrant metropolis that offers amazing architecture, plenty of history, world-class galleries, epic nightlife, and it’s also a culinary capital of Europe!
It’s the largest city in Spain and one can spend days exploring it, but for me, it was a quick stop after visitingย Barcelona and soaking up the Balearic sun in Ibiza. And if like me, you also only have a couple of days to experience it, here’s a suggested itinerary.
Day 1
Do aย free walking tour
On short trips, especially in a large city like Madrid, I highly recommend doing a free walking tour if there is one. Free doesn’t actually mean it’s entirely for free. It means that you pay the guide whatever you think he/she is worth. That way they make sure they deliver the best service they can, making the whole experience very informative and sometimes also funny. Iย recommend booking the tour with SANDEMANs New Europe which I have used before and really liked.
You will see buildings like the Royal Palace. The Palace is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family and is the largest functioning Royal Palace and the largest by floor area in Europe.
Another stunning building that you will see is Almudena Cathedral – Madrid’s grandest church situated next to the Royal Palace. And many more!
Read More:ย 11 Best Things to do in Barcelona, Spain
Buy cookies from the secret cookie place
There is a place in Madrid where secluded nuns bake cookies throughout the summer and sell them from September to keep their convent running. And apparently, they aren’t just regular cookies, they are treats baked from recipes passed down from generations, and they’re made exclusively by nuns who avoid being seen by the general public.
This one is a fun and unusual activity as I haven’t seen anything like this in an any other country. Even if you’re there during summer and cannot buy the cookies, you can at least have a mini adventure trying to find the place! It’s located on Calle del Codo.
Grab food at Mercado de San Miguel
You will most likely be pretty hungry and tired after all that walking. I highly recommend eating at San Miguel Market, a place where I spent a lot of time when in Madrid. There you’ll find a large variety of delicious tapas, croquettes, fresh seafood and champagne, excellent cocktails, lots of fruit and desserts! It’s perfect for any time of the day.
The market is so good that even Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall have visited it.
Day 2
Take a lift to Faro de Moncloa
To enjoy the city from up high, take a lift to the 92 metres high observation deck for some of the best views of Madrid.
Go to Mirador Madrid for 360ยฐ panoramic views
For some more panoramic views of the urban landscape of Madrid, go to an observation deck located on the 8th floor of the Cibeles Palace. You can access the viewpoint by climbing 88 steps from the 6th floor.
Find Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue
As I was walking the streets of Madrid, I started noticing the symbol of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree on the ground pretty much everywhere. It turns out that it’s Madrid’s official symbol. The theory is that following the 13th-century dispute over hunting rights on the land that was owned by the church, an agreement was reached that the church owned the soil, but the people of Madrid owned everything above the ground. Then, the symbol of Madrid was born – a Bear (the church’s emblem) sniffing a tree – go find it!
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Watch the sunset at the Temple of Debod
Although you can visit the temple located in Cuartel de la Montaรฑa Park at any time of the day, the best time to go is just before the sunset. It’s situated on a hill and looks out over Casa de Campo (Madridโs biggest park) which makes it the ideal spot to watch the sunset.
The Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple dating back to the 2nd century BC donated to Spain by the Egyptian government to save it from floods following the construction of the great Aswan Dam.
If the weather is warm enough, take a stroll and pass the Royal Palace – it looks stunning in the moonlight.
How to get there:
MadridโBarajas Airport is the main international airport located 12km (7.4mi) from Madrid city centre. You can grab the metro, the bus, the train or a taxi.
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