Madrid: the perfect destination for a city trip
Posted on April 11, 2023
Madrid: the perfect destination for a city break. With its rich history, (football) culture, delicious food and beautiful green surroundings, there is much to discover in the Spanish capital. In this blog, we share our seven highlights.
Transport & Accommodation
From Amsterdam, we flew to Madrid with KLM in early March 2020, not knowing that this was the last weekend you could travel freely in Europe before the COVID pandemic really started. Looking back on this trip, some sights had been closed anyway.
We stayed at the Acta Madfor, a nice hotel opposite a large Principe Pio shopping centre and also close to public transport.
Palacio Real
Madrid’s Royal Palace, also known as the Palacio Real, is a must-see attraction. The palace has more than 3,000 rooms and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world. So during our visit in March 2020, the palace was unfortunately already closed due to corona.
Templo de Debod
Templo de Debod is a beautiful Egyptian monument, near Palacio Real. In addition, it is a beautiful point to enjoy the view over the city of Madrid. You can visit the temple for free and then also take a guided tour!
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is one of Madrid’s most iconic squares and an absolute must-see for any visitor. It used to be the location for bullfights, processions, markets and other festivities. Today, Plaza Mayor is home to many restaurants and cafés where you can enjoy a snack or drink on one of the terraces while people-watching.
Prado Museum
You can't leave Madrid without taking a look at the Prado Museum . This museum houses more than 8,000 works of art, including works by painters such as Goya, Veláquez and El Greco. Order your tickets online here.
Retiro Park
If you like parks, then it is Retiro park is highly recommended. The park has a beautiful lake, a rose garden and a glass palace where exhibitions are regularly held. It's the perfect place to relax after a busy day of sightseeing. We spent quite a few hours here in the sunshine while enjoying coffee.
Atlético Madrid
Madrid has two major football clubs! Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, we visited a match of the latter club! A very enjoyable experience, thanks to the enthusiastic supporters who performed the most beautiful club songs throughout the match. Would you also like to visit a football match? Then keep an eye on the website a few months in advance.
Mercado de San Miguel
Madrid is known for its delicious food and drinks and one of the best places to enjoy them is the Mercado de San Miguel food hall . Located in the heart of the city, this covered market offers a wide range of local specialties such as hams, cheeses, tapas, wines and desserts. You can enjoy a meal at one of the high tables or at the bar, or you can stroll through the various stalls and be seduced by the smells and flavors of the delicious dishes. We scored a delicious bag of churros!
