Traveling to a city as beautiful as Madrid never loses its charm. Experiencing it for the first time with a loved one who’s never visited this city adds a touch of magic to the adventure.
Madrid holds a special place in my heart, and with each visit, it feels like there’s never enough time to fully immerse in its countless marvels. From its ancient architecture to its enchanting streets, diverse neighborhoods, vibrant food culture, and welcoming locals, Madrid captivates all the senses.
A very walkable city, there’s something new to explore in every corner. Of course, you must visit all of the main attractions. The Museo del Prado, el Palacio Real, el Mercado de San Miguel, and a fan favorite, La Plaza Mayor. We did them all in a short two days. But the best part of our visit was getting lost in the city.
We came across a grand cathedral, La Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena during mass. If you are Catholic, religious, spiritual, or a curious tourist, witnessing a mass in this cathedral is awe inspiring. We stayed for mass and enjoyed the angelic voices of the children’s choir. It was a special moment and a highlight of our visit.
We were lucky to come across that beautiful mass on Sunday. Another perk of visiting Madrid on a Sunday is El Rastro. el Rastro is the largest and most popular open air flea market in Madrid. Located at Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores, between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo in La Latina neighborhood. This market is massive! You can find all kinds of merchandise, old and new, with 3500 stalls to explore. My favorite were the antique dealers. There were so many treasures I wanted to take home!
As tourists, we enjoy researching where the locals like to dine. Always in the hunt for that special little restaurant far from the tourist traps, where good food offers an authentic culinary experience. We found a great restaurant located near our hotel in the El Prado neighborhood. La Entretenida has a rustic and cozy ambiance and a modern and unique take on traditional dishes.
We did, of course, succumb to trying a tourist favorite. After all, we are tourists! The Botin is famous for its “cochinillo” a suckling pig slowly roasted in old ovens over oak wood. The Botin is the oldest restaurant in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. Immerse yourself in the 1700’s while you delight in one of Madrid’s traditional cuisine. Life starts late in Spain, and dinner before 8 pm is not typical. Our reservation was at 8 in the very old cavelike part of the restaurant. But, we were jet lagged and decided to dine much earlier. We were not able to eat in this rustic section, but we did visit and took some photos.
When planning our vacation, I came across a website that features secret and unknown places all over the world. Thanks to Atlas Obscura, I discovered the Monasterio Di Corpus Christi. A small sign on a massive wood door leads you to ring the bell to enter into the monastery. Here, clustered nuns bake and sell cookies that you can buy through a turnstile window, without ever seeing the nuns. I was excited to experience this little secret in Madrid. We arrived at the monastery door only to find a sign saying there were no cookies available, and to return the next day at noon. I guess we will need to try again on our next visit.
Although the weather was not the best, we were lucky to have some sunny moments during our visit. A perfect opportunity to visit El Retiro.
El Retiro Park, officially known as Parque del Buen Retiro, is one of the largest and most popular parks in Madrid, Spain. Covering over 300 acres, it offers a green oasis in the heart of the city. Originally a royal retreat dating back to the 17th century, it was opened to the public in the late 19th century.
The park features numerous attractions, including a large artificial lake, Estanque del Retiro, where visitors can rent rowboats; the iconic Crystal Palace (Palacio de Cristal), a stunning glass structure used for temporary art exhibitions, the Velázquez Palace (Palacio de Velázquez), another exhibition space, beautiful sculptures and monuments, such as the Monument to Alfonso XII and the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, and various gardens and tree-lined paths, perfect for leisurely strolls, jogging, and picnics. There were so many families and couples enjoying a picnic or relaxing on the lawn; while others were rowing on the lake or eating in the various eateries.
El Retiro is a cultural and recreational hub, hosting various events, performances, and exhibitions throughout the year, making it a beloved spot for both locals and tourists. We enjoyed a rare moment of complete relaxation during our short stay.
Leaving this captivating city is always bittersweet. While two days hardly seem sufficient, they leave you yearning to come back for more.
Road Drifters 