Curator’s statement
Spain is the perfect overseas vacation spot for families who enjoy late-morning starts and activities lasting long into the evening. Madrid has it all- history, parks, museums, sports, shopping, and is easily navigated on public transportation, or on foot. It’s a wonderful jumping-off spot for exploring nearby cities, as well.
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Day 1: Walking tour of Madrid
Fairytale house in the Royal Garden.
Take a walking tour around the old city, and get your bearings. Enjoy exploring the area around the Palacio Real and Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena. Be sure to get lost in the fairytale houses in the Royal Garden. Grab a bocadillo de calamares (calamari sandwich, a local favorite) at Casa Rua before a short siesta. Check the calendar to see which of the city’s museums may have free admission hours, and swing by before a late dinner at Taberna Pedraza.
Day 2: Palacio Real
Throne room, Palacio Real
Buy tickets in advance for the Palacio Real, and opt for an earlier time slot to avoid the crowds. After oohing and saving over the royal regalia and throne room, walk through the Catedral next door. Wind you way north to take in the Temple of Debod. Take the metro to the Alsonso Martinez station, and walk 5 minutes to the Mercado Barceló — at the bar upstairs, order the menu del día (3-course prix-fixe meal for 13 Euros). Consider splitting up for the afternoon — shoppers can participate in retail therapy on Gran Via, while sports enthusiasts can tour Estado Santiago Bernabeu. Meet up for dinner at Sobrino de Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world.
Day 3: VIP guided tour through Las Ventas
Las Ventas bullring at La Plaza de los Toros
Sleep in. Everyone else was up late, so enjoy the morning with a café con leche and a manolito. Take a VIP guided tour through Las Ventas, the famed bullring at La Plaza de los Toros, where you’ll not only get a close-up look at the ring, world-class education on bullfighting, but can give it a try yourself in a VR video game. Complete your bullfighting immersion by strolling through the museum. Find a local shop for more bocadillos (jamón, or ham this time) and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the Prado, possibly the world’s most impressive art museum.
Pro tip: If you pre purchase tickets online, you’ll need to exchange your voucher for physical tickets at the ticket desk. Back to the Mercado Barceló for dinner, this time for the tasting menu at the bistro on the first floor (optional wine pairing for only 11 euros? Yes, please!).
Day 4: Bus tour to Segovia
Roman aqueduct in Segovia
Madrid is perfectly situated for day trips in the surrounding area. Consider a guided bus tour to Segovia (home of UNESCO's Roman aqueducts and the inspiration for Snow White’s castle), Avila (beautiful walled city) or Toledo, each of which is an hour’s drive from the city.
Need to know
Madrid is very much a cashless city. However, it’s a good idea to get a few Euros on arrival from an ATM, with your debit card. This will cost much less than with a credit card, or through a currency exchange counter. Start with 10–20 and break them early in your trip.
Unless you’re planning to take 5+ trips per day on public transport, buying a multi-day tourist transport card is more expensive than what you’ll actually need. Buy several multi-journey cards, and reload them as necessary.
Walking after dark is practically Spain’s national pastime — it’s extremely safe to walk to and from dinner without any concerns.
For more inspiration and travel recommendations, check out our Madrid page.
Travel Advisor
Jill Vollbrecht
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