Madrid, Spain is the Perfect Composite of History, City Life & Nature

What do you of when you think of Spain?

Is it the sangria? The tapas? Flamingo dancers and salsa? Money Heist?

Spanish culture is diverse and beautiful, and although typical cities like Barcelona is great for a taste, I think if you truly want to see the Spanish way of life—you have to visit Madrid.

Madrid is truly probably one of my favorite cities. It’s glamorous but classic. It’s rich with history and brimming with arts, nightlife, gastronomy, and green space. There’s a reason why an increasing amount of television shows are filmed here.

Check out some of the reasons why you should consider putting Madrid on your European itinerary.

History

• The world’s largest palace: The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest palace in the world (that’s right, it’s not Versailles!)

• The oldest restaurant in the world: Sobrino de Botin is dubbed as the oldest restaurant in the world by Guinness World Records

• Take a free walking tour: Guides are a reliable and fun way to learn about the history behind the major sites and monuments of Madrid. For example, I learned the origins of the word “tapa” and where to buy cookies made from secret nuns in the city.

• Temple de Debod: The only remaining temple left in Madrid transported from Egypt. Tip: See it during sunset.

• Plaza de Cibeles: The most famous intersection of streets: in the middle lies the Cibeles Fountain, a 1782 sculpture of the goddess Cibeles. It is considered to represent the city of Madrid itself.

Art

• Prado Museum: Houses the world’s richest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish paintings
• Sofia Reina: Inaugurated in 1990 and named after Queen Sofia. Home to famous Picasso paintings
• Thyssen-Bornemisza: Private collection of 775 paintings. An overview of western history in chronological order.

Gastronomy

• Heartier dishes: You’ll find heartier dishes in Madrid, as it tends to get a bit colder than the coastal cities in Spain 

• Meats are common— try El Senador for the best suckling pig dish

• Food Markets—You can’t miss San Miguel Market, a beautiful indoor food market where you can try a variety of traditional tapas and wine. For an Asian-influenced food hall, try the funky Yatai Market. Check out the stunning Saint Ildephonsus Market that boasts three floors, a cocktail bar and international food stalls, and an outdoor Terrazza.

• Affordable Set Meals: One thing I love about the city, is the number of restaurants that offer 3 course set menus for lunch. Some of these are as cheap as 12 euros. Ginger is an elegant, white-tablecloth restaurant that has lunch menus for only 11.95 euros.

• Churros: You obviously can’t miss having churros for dessert. You’ll find many restaurants dedicated to churros on the streets, but the one I tried from San Miguel Market was delectable. Make sure to get it with the hot chocolate—it’s so thick that it tastes like someone just melted chocolate into a cup.
• Tourist Traps: I would avoid touristy restaurants at all costs. A safer bet is to go to restaurants tucked in neighboring streets and not anywhere near the main road. Especially avoid any restaurants in Plaza Mayor.

City-life

Informal Co-working Spaces: As a bustling metropolitan city, Madrid is home to a lot of people working from their laptops. Early morning you’ll find cafes and fast service restaurants like Honest Greens brimmed with eager laptop nomads and coffee meetings.

Rooftops: Madrid is famous for its gorgeous rooftops. Generally, it’s a 5-10 euro fee to get up there, but the views are totally worth it. I recommend Hotel Riu, go during the daytime and observe the beautiful skyline views.

The rooftop at the Cirqulo de Bella Artes is adjacent to the Metropolis building. It’s divided into two sections with a savvy bar decored with neon lights. I loved the green space element and lawn beds. Perfect place to wind down, or get some work done.

The Hat is a hostel that has a cute, low-key rooftop bar. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset over the city.

Shops and Nightclubs: Walk along the main street filled with well-known brands and local ones. These open late and lead up to Puerto de Sol, which is the main public square in the city. Madrid is also well known for its great nightclub scene. You’ll find a concentration of clubs around the Centro.

Green Space

El Retiro Park: The green oasis of the city, Retiro boasts over 125 acres of green space, with statues ornamenting the lanes, as well as a man-made lake and home to Palais de Cristal.

Atocha Station: Yes, they found a way to incorporate greenery into a train station. Find the famous indoor garden that is built at the center of Atocha station. Trains here will take you anywhere within Spain.

Conclusion

Madrid is the perfect place to be if you love the busy city energy, but also like to relax by being submersed in nature, enjoy great food and an exciting nightlife. If you’re ever planning a trip to Spain, this is a city I would not miss.