Madrid, Spain

 
 
 

LOCATION & DESTINATION FACTS

Madrid is the capital city of Spain and located in the center of the country. The name comes from the Arabic word “magerit”, which translates to ‘place of many streams’. Madrid is one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe, and is one of the most popular destinations for tourists and university students. The city is known for its famous tapas, world-class fútbol, and their siestas.

 

MAIN ATTRACTIONS

  • Puerta del Sol

  • Plaza Mayor

  • Palace Real de Madrid

  • Parque de El Retiro

  • Museo Nacional del Prado

  • Calle Gran Vía

  • Templo de Debod

  • Mercado de San Miguel

  • Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

 

TOP 10 MUST-DO’S

  • Experience Spanish fútbol with one of the top teams in Europe, Real Madrid, at El Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

  • Order a drink at El Tigre and receive plates of the best Spanish tapas - tortilla Española, croquetas, patatas bravas, paella, & Spanish meats

  • Spend the afternoon with a picnic or paddling boats in Parque de El Retiro

  • Watch the sunset at Templo de Debod

  • Spend the evening bar hopping in Malasaña

  • Drop in and pick up a Spanish churro and hot chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés

  • Eat at the oldest restaurant in the world, according to Guinness World Records, Sobrino de Botín

  • See one of the best & most popular museums in the world, Museo Nacional del Prado

  • On Sunday mornings, visit the largest & most-famous flea market in Madrid, El Rastro

  • Spend the day shopping from Gran Vía to Tribunal

 

REVIEW

I decided to take another approach on Featured Destinations and write about cities rather than only hotels and resorts. The first one I chose to write about is probably my favorite city in the entire world. I have been five times (2 international exchanges, 1 internship, 1 semester abroad, and 1 backpacking trip). It is safe to say that I am in awe each and every time I go. One of the most important things I cherish when traveling to new places is the culture and the people, both of which are put on display in Madrid. The people are so kind and welcoming, and you can tell they take pride in their culture. It is not something I can explain, rather something that I was able to feel each time I chose to return. I have many friends in the city, ones that I have meet from those experiences but also ones that I have met that are bartenders, restaurant owners, etc.

I am a huge sports fan, and being able to tour Santiago Bernabéu multiple times and see two Real Madrid games (in which Ronaldo scored 7 goals in those games – yes, a few years back before he left for Juventus), was a dream come true. If you think we are passionate about sports in America, wait until you get to experience Spanish (or European for that matter) fútbol. In addition, Spanish food is incomparable. Their tapas are incredible and everything from paella to croquetas to tortilla Española to Spanish meats, I made sure to never miss a meal. I have a list just for tapas locations and hidden-eats that are not advertised on Yelp or Trip Advisor the way they should be.

The center of the city is called Sol, which means ‘sun’ in English. The reason it is called Sol is because the streets from the city center branch out like the rays of a sun. This makes the city very walkable. I used the metro several times to get to places I needed to on time, but on those days I did not have a scheduled or set time to be somewhere, I spent them walking. There were so many little nooks, bars, eats, and other places you run into when you just start walking. And with that, there truly is so much to see in the city - from tourist attractions to museums to sunset locations to markets – there is never a dull moment when visiting Madrid. I know after being there five times, there are still things that I never have done or seen. Madrid has a place in my heart, but I know it is an amazing destination for anyone looking to travel.

 
Ryan HarrisonComment