image
Parque Retiro visitors sit on sculpture steps on a fall afternoon.

Explore Madrid

Full disclosure: I’m highly biased about this city. Madrid has everything – nature, museums, culture, food and tons of excitement. For someone like me who loves being in the center of the action, It was the ideal study abroad city. Because I stayed in Madrid for much longer than a weekend, I’m going to describe a few of my favorite spots.

First, Parque Retiro – a huge park with a Crystal Palace, peacock garden, rose garden, sculpture garden, boats on the water and so much more. I loved coming to Retiro to read, chat with friends and just walk around. It’s so beautiful and such an easy metro stop, especially from line two.

Casa De Campo is also lovely to walk through and much less touristy than Retiro. You’ll eventually reach a small lake surrounded by restaurants and coffee stands, and you can rent boats here just like at Retiro. I enjoyed long runs and semester reflections with friends at the Casa De Campo lake.

Malasaña district is the best area for college students (I did live there, so this is again my biased opinion). It offers a wide variety of bars, coffee shops and thrift stores, all within walking distance from nearby universities. Ojalá, a beach-themed bar with a floor of sand, and Federal Cafe, a must-go spot for coffee, brunch, and study dates, are just two daily Malasaña highlights.

If you’re lucky enough to visit Madrid on the second weekend of the month, check out Mercado de Motores: an indoor/outdoor market in an abandoned train station. Local jewelers and artists sell their work at affordable prices, and the options are less picked-over than at the popular Sunday market, El Rastro.

Eat as many patatas bravas as you can, order a tinto de verano (or two or three) and dance all night in this vibrant capital city.

Recommendations

Public transportation

  • You can use the metro, bus, train, or taxi to get around the city. The metro is fast and efficient, with 13 lines and over 300 stations. You can buy a single ticket or a 10-trip ticket, or use a tourist travel pass for unlimited rides.

Hostels

  • Sungate One: A cozy and social hostel in the heart of the city, near Puerta del Sol. It offers free breakfast, free dinner, free walking tours, free pub crawls, free laundry service, free luggage storage, free Wi-Fi, free lockers, free towels, free earplugs, free coffee and tea.
  • Ok Hostel Madrid: A modern and stylish hostel in the lively La Latina neighborhood. It offers free breakfast, free dinner (with optional sangria), free walking tours, free pub crawls, free Wi-Fi, free lockers, free towels, free linens and free maps.
  • Way Hostel: A funky and friendly hostel in the vibrant Tirso de Molina area. It offers free breakfast, free walking tours, free pub crawls, free tapas tours, free flamenco shows, free Wi-Fi, free lockers, free towels, free linens and free maps.

Restaurants

  • Restaurante Botin: This is the oldest restaurant in the world, dating back to 1725. It specializes in traditional Spanish cuisine, such as roast suckling pig, lamb and garlic soup. It is located near Plaza Mayor and has a cozy and historic atmosphere.
  • La Bola: A family-run restaurant that has been serving authentic cocido madrileño, a hearty stew of meat, vegetables and chickpeas, since 1870. It is located near the Royal Palace and has a rustic and charming decor.
  • Casa Lucio: A famous restaurant that attracts celebrities and politicians with its signature dish of huevos estrellados, fried eggs with potatoes and ham. It also offers other classic Spanish dishes, such as croquettes, tortilla,and bacalao. It is located in the La Latina neighborhood.

Nightlife

  • Teatro Kapital: A huge and famous nightclub in Madrid that has seven floors with different music styles, such as house, hip hop, salsa, karaoke and pop. It also has a cinema, a terrace and a VIP area. It is located near Atocha train station.
  • El Junco: A cozy and cool jazz club in Madrid that hosts live music every night, featuring local and international artists. It also has a DJ set on weekends, playing funk, soul, disco,and house. It is located near Alonso Martinez metro station.
  • Espit Chupitos: All over Europe, Espit Chupitos offers more than 600 different types of shots with quirky names. Some of the shots include group games and competitions. Go with your friends to kick off a memorable night.

Excursions

  • Royal Palace: The official residence of the Spanish royal family. Admire its lavish rooms and artworks on a tour.
  • Prado Museum: One of the world’s finest art galleries. See masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya and more.
  • Flamenco Shows: Watch a live show of this passionate dance and music at a traditional theater.

Safety

  • Be aware of pickpockets, especially in crowded areas such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor,and Gran Via. Keep your valuables close to you and do not leave them unattended.
  • Avoid walking alone at night in dark or isolated streets. Use public transportation or taxis instead.
  • Beware of scams, such as people offering you flowers, bracelets or CDs for free or for a donation. They might try to distract you or charge you more than expected.