Day 1
Our flight got a bit delayed because of the intense fog. I'm not sure what time we arrived at Madrid Barajas airport, but I can tell you we only had lunch at 4 pm 😂Anyway, arriving at the airport, we chose to take the subway to the city. The pro is that you only need one subway card. Doesn't matter if you are traveling with another person, you can purchase both tickets on the same card. The huge con is the airport fee. You pay 3€ per person when leaving the airport, and another 3€ per person when you return to catch your plane home.
After that, we went to Nuevos Ministerios and then changed the line to Plaza de España. Our Airbnb was near Gran VÃa, and we had to check-in at 4:30 pm, so we decided to grab lunch at Taco Bell. Compared to Portugal, Taco Bell was a bit more expensive, 2 menus cost 15,5€.
To check-in, the host was there to welcome us. It was a building with multiple rooms and some common areas, such as a kitchen. The rooms also had private bathrooms, which is a plus for me. However, the biggest plus was the view!
The room was "Habitación Centrica Luminosa 3". The mattress was very comfortable and the whole room was pretty cozy, however, I woke up two nights with the noise of a phone vibration on another room, which was kind of annoying because I always thought it was my phone - and my alarm - and then it was kinda hard to go back to sleep. 😅
We noticed that we had a Carrefour at the end of the street, so it was a good idea to buy some drinks and food. After a moment of procrastination at the Airbnb, we finally left to start exploring!
I had everything planned, but everyone knows that you don't always stick to the plan, and some things are outside your control. The first stop was Plaza de España and... it was closed. The whole place was being renewed and under construction.
We headed to Templo de Debod, a donation from the Egyptian government to the city of Madrid. The temple was moved and rebuilt stone by stone, to keep the original look. (Let me confess I was expecting to see it surrounded by water... but again, some things can't be planned)
Our next stop wasn't on the plan, but we stopped for a while in a cute garden with a view for the Palace. It was already getting dark, so we only had time to take a look at the Royal Palace entrance and Almudena Cathedral.
Tip: It's free to visit the inside of the Cathedral.
Tip: You can visit the Palace for free if you're a European Citizen.
You can enter between 4 and 5 p.m.
While we were deciding where we were going to have dinner, we took a walk inside San Miguel Market. After that, we ended up having dinner at 100 Montaditos, a place with small sandwiches and some food to share, like fries.
Tip: on Sundays and Wednesdays everything costs 1€!
Day 2
Even though we only left the Airbnb around 10:30 am, it was very cold and foggy. Our first stop was El Corte Inglés - I know it's a weird thing to say, but trust me, the terrace has an amazing view and it's free!
The rest of the morning was spent wandering around the Malasaña neighborhood and its adorable streets.
We went all the way until Moncloa and then had lunch at Taco Bell in Gran Via, again. Instead of ordering two menus, we bought the potatoes with cheese and bacon to share, and one item from the discount section for each.
After lunch, we made a quick stop so I could leave my camera at our Airbnb because we were going to a concert later. Instead of having to return all the way to the room and go to the venue, I chose to keep walking without my camera. The venue was near Ponte de Segóvia, and it has a beautiful view of the Palace and Cathedral. It's a different perspective, and I wasn't going to see it if it wasn't for the concert! 😂
Our last stop of the day was Chocolateria San Ginés, where we ate the typical and delicious churros with hot chocolate, after Hollywood Undead concert. 6 churros and a cup of hot chocolate cost 4,5€ (you'll get thirsty, but don't worry, you can get a glass of tap water for free).
Day 3
Our third day was spent walking around Madrid. There are several transportations you can catch, but I believe the best way to see a city if by foot.
We kept going straight until we arrived at Goya's neighborhood, which is named after the painter Francisco de Goya.
After that, we decided that we would grab something and have lunch at Retiro's park. During our walk from Goya's neighborhood to Retiro, we saw a store with ham sandwiches (that were really big!) and the sandwich + drink was 3,5€.
Our next stop was the Atocha Station. You might think it's weird to visit a train station, but it is completely stunning and different from everything I've ever seen! Also, there used to be turtles living there, but I was glad to see that they were moved to a sanctuary.
Our next plan was to arrive at the Royal Palace on time for the free entrance. Unfortunately, we didn't notice that the last entrance was 1h before closing time (6 p.m.), and we arrived 10 minutes late... it was completely frustrating, but here are some pictures I took on the way:
Our plan to visit the Royal Palace failed, and my plan B, which was to visit Prado's museum during the free hour, also failed. Why? Because the Prado was located near Retiro, where we were initially, but after our walk to the opposite side, I wasn't feeling like walking everything back again, nor taking a subway/bus. Instead, we just wandered around the La Latina neighborhood, where you can find the prettiest facades.
Sobrino de BotÃn, according to Guinness, is the oldest restaurant in the world. Also, the painter Francisco de Goya worked there and the restaurant was visited/mentioned by multiple famous writers, like Ernest Hemingway.
Day 4
It was our last day in Madrid. Our flight was at 17:40, so we still had time to walk around the city. We started at Puerta del Sol and the famous "Km 0" mark.
After that, we went to Plaza Mayor and returned to the Airbnb to check out.
For lunch, we went to A Coruña CervecerÃa Restaurante. I ordered a "mini tortilla" with cheese and ham, for 3,5€, it was delicious and definitely not "mini"! 😂 My boyfriend chose "huevos rotos con jamón", for 6,9€, and it was also delicious!
After that, we still had a few time left, so we walked around the area, including Plaza de Oriente (last picture).
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After that, we went to Plaza Mayor and returned to the Airbnb to check out.
For lunch, we went to A Coruña CervecerÃa Restaurante. I ordered a "mini tortilla" with cheese and ham, for 3,5€, it was delicious and definitely not "mini"! 😂 My boyfriend chose "huevos rotos con jamón", for 6,9€, and it was also delicious!
After that, we still had a few time left, so we walked around the area, including Plaza de Oriente (last picture).
I hope you enjoyed this post and make sure you comment, subscribe to my mailing list and check my social media to get updated! Don't forget to pin the image below to read this later!
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