If your travel dreams are made up of charming cities, exploring art museums and sampling local delicacies, then Madrid is the perfect little getaway for you!
Do you dream of one day checking off all those European Bucketlist items? One of the biggest perks of spending a semester abroad volunteering with ILP is that you have weekends free to jet off and explore all of the hidden gems that Europe has to offer!
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Madrid is easily one of the dreamiest, classic European cities that visitors love to come experience! Its delicious food, charming architecture, enchanting museum exhibitions and luscious green parks make it a picture-perfect place to explore. We're going to give you the ultimate Madrid guide so you can hit up all the bucketlist worthy spots during your weekend getaway!
If you want to kick off your trip by truly feeling like a local, make sure to visit Chocolatería San Ginés for breakfast! An 8-minute walk from the Royal Palace (more on that below) is a super famous and charming little café that has been around for 125 years! They serve up delicious crispy churros and thick hot chocolate 24/7 so you are in for a treat at any hour!
Address: Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5 28013 Madrid Spain
Everyone who is anyone will know about La Mallorquina bakery. A darling little shop filled to the brim with fresh pastries, there is no better way to start your day than with one of their famous lighter-than-air fluffy pastries stuffed with custard called vanilla napolitanas!
Address: Plaza de la Puerta del Sol8, 28013, Madrid
Want to eat lunch at the oldest restaurant in the world? Just a one minute walk from Plaza Mayor you’ll find one of the most iconic restaurants in Madrid! According to the Guinness Book of World Records Sobrino de Botin is the longest-running restaurant in the world! They even still use the original wood fire oven from 1725 when they first opened. The menu includes dishes from all over Spain from gazpacho to delicious seafood straight from the coast!
Address: Calle Cuchilleros 17, 28005 Madrid Spain
San Miguel Market is one of the oldest and most popular food markets in Madrid! Here you will find tons of local delicacies to sample. As you walk up and down the aisles you’ll find everything from Spain’s famous mouth-watering tapas to stuffed olives, cured hams, meats on skewers, seafood dishes, paella and croquettes, to heavenly flaky pastries. It’s open every day from 10am to midnight so it’s a perfect place to explore for lunch or dinner!
Address: Plaza de San Miguel, s/n 28005
In general, Madrid is a very walkable city! Most of the famous landmarks are just a few minutes away from each other by foot which is just part of what makes it such a popular city for travelers.
If you're headed further in the city though, you can also ride the metro or wave down a taxi.
Spain is a monarchy! It’s officially called the Kingdom of Spain and the royal family, The House of Borbón has been reigning since 1700. Although they have no political power, they are adored by the people and play an important cultural role.
The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in Madrid, but because it is really only used for ceremonies it is totally open to the general public to visit! The Royal Palace is Western Europe’s biggest royal residence and it was built in the 1700s. Make sure to explore the inside to experience the history of the palace, and see beautiful paintings by famous Spanish and Italian artists! You can even check out an exhibit that features a collection of royal clothing and jewelry.
On your way from the Grand Palace make sure to stop by The Catedral de Almudena! One of Madrid’s most grand churches. This is where King Felipe IV and Queen Letizia got married in 2004. Go inside to discover stunning Gothic-inspired interior and incredible brightly-colored contemporary murals.
Plaza de Cibeles is an iconic square, one of the best-known and most beautiful historical monuments in Madrid. Surrounded by intricate tall white buildings is the gorgeous Cibeles fountain, which is one of Madrid's most famous landmarks. The fountain has stood in the center of this emblematic square since 1782. It depicts the goddess Cybele atop a chariot drawn by two lions. The Cibeles Palace (the stunning wedding-cake like building) was once the headquarters of the Spanish postal service. Today it has been transformed into Madrid’s City Hall building (which means it is strictly businesses, so it's probably not a place you want to go inside) but it is a picture-perfect place to take some cute group photos from the outside!
You definitely don’t want to miss taking a stroll down Plaza Mayor. One of Madrid’s most emblematic (and Instagram worthy) squares, it is full of vibrant colors, charming balconies and super cute cafes. It was built by King Phillip the III who is featured riding his horse in the middle of the square.
Parque del Retiro is the most famous park in Madrid. It was once exclusive to Royals, but lucky for us it opened up to the public in the late 1700’s. Today Retiro Park is a dreamy green oasis where you could easily spend an afternoon, taking a stroll with peacocks through the maze-like gardens, having a picnic, rowing a boat across the lake, or you can even opt to take a grand tour of the park by segway!
Eventually, find your way to The Crystal Palace, a charming, fairy-tale-like building entirely made up of glass that sits upon a little sparkling lake. Make sure to go inside to admire the art exhibitions, and see the golden sunlight streaming through the glass panes.
See an Egyptian temple in Spain! The Debod temple was a gift to the city of Madrid by the Egyptian government. It was originally constructed in 2nd Century B.C. and thousands of years later it was transported to Madrid and rebuilt stone by stone! It is a magical place to watch the sunset and see the colors of the sky reflected in the pools.
This is the heart of Madrid, with lots of cute little shops and trendy restaurants. Whether you are looking for souvenirs, clothes, unique jewelry or even gourmet foods, you'll be able to find it here! There are tons of shops here with different price points so it is perfect for travelers of all budgets! Puerta Del Sol is a bustling walking street that has a super fun and lively atmosphere all day and all night. Here you will find the iconic statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, which is the symbol of Madrid.
El Prado is one of the top art museums in the world. Basically, you can think of it as the Spanish equivalent of the Louvre in Paris! It is one of the most beautiful places you can visit in Madrid and a must-see for anyone who appreciates the arts. Here you will find a large collection of art by masters of the Baroque and Renaissance era. It is easy to get lost wandering around the halls while you admire each piece, and you could definitely spend a whole day here!
This huge museum houses a collection of over 20,000 works of art. Among this impressive collection is Guernica, Picasso’s most famous painting. The Reina Sofia Museum opened in 1990 and is known as Madrid’s Spanish contemporary art museum. If you are a lover of modern art and architecture then this museum is the one for you!
The Thyssen-Bornemisza art museum is part of the “Golden Triangle of Art” which also includes the Prado and the Reina Sofia galleries. The Thyssen-Bornemisza museum features 1000 different paintings, from the German Expressionism period, the Russian Constructivist period, and also American art from the 19th century! This incredible collection features pieces from Van Gogh, Renoir, Durer, Titian and many more!
Because Madrid is a major city, it's well connected and easy to visit by air from just about anywhere in Europe.
Good news for our Romania volunteers: there are direct 3-4 hour Ryanair flights from Bucharest to Madrid! You can also check Wizzair for flights from several other Romanian cities.
There's so much to see and do in Spain! You have more than a few picks if you have extra days to see more.
This coastal city is only 5 hours by bus, but there are often very cheap flights available too that are worth looking into that will get you there real quick. We've often seen budget routes on Vueling. And we've got a full blog post to help you plan your trip to Alicante.
Another nearby coastal city and this one has such a modern edge that you just have to see for yourself. There are lots of options for your transportation whether it be by bus, train, or flight. There are typically budget options that take more time vs options that cost more, but that get you there in just over an hour. Here's a post all about Valencia.
Another favorite and one we definitely recommend not missing, especially if you love art and architecture. Bus and train routes are available if you're not in any rush, but can often take 7+ hours. There are direct budget flights that will get you there real quick though! Check out our full post to help you plan your trip to Barcelona.
Come Volunteer in Europe with us!
Are you ready to see the world and make a difference while doing it? Fill out an application now to volunteer with ILP for your semester abroad!