Madrid is the perfect city to spend an afternoon, weekend, or full week! We spent time in Spain’s capital city during our study abroad program. Here are our 8 favorite things to do in Madrid!
1. Visit El Corte Inglés
Visting the rooftop restaurant at the top of El Corte Inglés Callao is a true treat! Order from a variety of restaurants and then choose a window seat to get the best views of the city!
2. Explore Parque de El Retiro
Retiro is the Central Park of Madrid. Explore the fountains and grounds on an afternoon stroll with some helado!
3. Eat amazing Mexican food near Gran Via
Hear me out, I know you aren’t thinking of Mexican food in Spain. But, Takos al Pastor is one of the best places we ate in Madrid. Brian has attempted to plan other trips to Europe with a stopover in Madrid so we can have lunch here. The lines will be long, but the wait is worth it!
4. Visit Ancient Egypt in the heart of Madrid
This was one of the coolest things we saw in Madrid. Temple of Debod dates back to the 2nd century B.C and the site in Madrid offers amazing sunset views in the summer. The temple was a gift to Spain from the Egyptian government after the construction of the Aswan Dam threatened to flood the site. Check out more information from Madrid’s Tourism Board.
5. Tour Estadio Bernabéu
Futbol in Europe, is there anything better? La Liga teams boast amazing stadiums, much bigger than NFL Stadiums in the United States. Bernabéu provides a unique experience to see the entire stadium, from the history of the team to the locker rooms. If you love sports, you should definitely add Bernabéu to your list of things to do in Madrid!
6. Stop by Sobrino de Botín
The oldest continually operated restaurant in the world, Sobrino de Botín is known for it’s suckling pig, a traditional Spanish dish, and its appeal to the rich and famous. Ernest Hemingway mentioned the famous restaurant in his novel, The Sun Also Rises.
7. Wander around Madrid’s many plazas
Madrid is the perfect city for wandering. Walking around the city provides many opportunities to stumble across any of the plazas full of restaurants and shops. The most famous being Puerta del Sol in the heart of the city. From there, it’s a short walk to Plaza Mayor, which used to host bull fights, executions, and soccer matches. It’s also famous for its Christmas market in December.
8. Visit Madrid’s many museums
As much an art city as it is a city for the history lover, Madrid boasts three of the worlds finest art museums in an area of the city known as the Golden Triangle of Art. Check out Museo Nacional Centro de Reina Sofia for Spanish Art, Museo del Prado for European Art, and the Thyssen for a more general collection of art. These three musuems are a great way to enjoy a rainy day!