48 HOURS IN MADRID 🇪🇸
DAY 1 – Saturday
Head down to the Puerto del Sol “Gate of the Sun“ this is the very centre of Spain. The square is vibrant and full of colourful street performers creating a fabulous atmosphere. It’s a great place to start your visit of Madrid as everywhere is accessible from here. Be sure to take a photo next to El Oslo Y El Madrono – the bear and the strawberry tree, this represents the Coat of Arms of Madrid.
The best way to see Madrid is by foot…
From here visit the Museo Catedral de la Almudena, here you can immerse yourself in the origin and history of the Church of Madrid, and climbing the steps into the dome of the Cathedral you can enjoy the most spectacular views of the city.
Next door you’ll find the Baroque Palacio Real which is worth popping into, this is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, and although it’s only used now for official ceremonies there are a few rooms open to the public.
Have a wander down through the Plaza De La Villa, through the northern archway finally reaching the magnificent Plaza Mayor. There are plenty of cafes here, grab a seat and a glass of Sangria with a view of the Casa De la Panadeira (Royal Bakery) and watch the world go by for a while.
If you fancy a bit of shopping Calle De Fuencarral is great, with lots of independent shops to explore.
Tonight take a guided bike tour, a great way to see the city and hear the history, before trying some amazing Tapas in La Latina, jam packed with fabulous restaurants plus beautiful churches and great bars.
DAY 2 – Sunday
Today is a great day to spend some time at the Basilica San Francisco el Grande, it really is a wonderful sight with its magnificent dome and decorative paintings of Zurbaran and Goya. There are five Sunday Masses that you are welcome to attend.
After a hectic day yesterday, relax today in the El Retiro – Jardines del Buen Retiro de Madrid, the park was for exclusive use of royalty with sprawling lawns, a large lake where you can hire boats and now it’s open to the public it’s the perfect setting for a picnic. En-route pick up a mouth watering hamper from magasand, filled with salads, sandwiched brownies and crepes.
A must visit is the Museo Nacional del Prado, four floors of art spanning over seven centuries including Raphael and Caravaggio. Finish your day the Rastro Madrid Flea Market, it’s the largest of its kind in Europe with 3500 stall, definitely the perfect place to pick up a bargain or two.
If you need a refresher then onto the cool Círculo de Bellas Artes has a trendy 7th floor roof terrace, the cocktail list is to die for, as if the view looking right over the mountains.
Tonight try some traditional stew, callos a la Madrilena (stewed tripe) – La Bola.
I hope you’ve enjoyed your whistle stop tour of Madrid. I must say there has so much more to offer than I ever imagined, and the weather is always great too 🇪🇸
Helen x