Warm culture, amazing architecture and sexy Spaniards, Madrid is a city that everyone needs to visit once in their life. Spain’s capital is full of awesome things to seedo, and whether you’re looking for some banging bars or a rustic museum, Madrid offers it all.
Aim to spend at least 3 days on your trip here to do it justice, and if you’re smart with your money you can scrape by on $30-$40 per day. Couch surf, cram yourself in on a dorm or search for well valued wimdu apartments in Madrid to save your well-earned coin on accommodation then head out to check out these 5 things to do in Madrid:
1) Eat in the oldest restaurant in the world:
Beat your mates in your backpacking bragging competition with this little gem, La Casa Botín on Calle de los Cuchilleros has been serving famished Spaniards since 1725, the waiters are dressed to the hilt complete with bow ties and tuxedos. Try try try to make a reservation a couple of days in advance, it gets busy. Expect to pay about $20 for a main course, around $50 for 3 course meal – not bad for the story you’ll have.
2) Meander through El Retiro park:
Madrid’s very own central park offers a chance to kickback, grab an ice cream and slow down the manic pace normally whizzing around Madrid. When waltzing around be sure to check out El Angel Caido, one of the few statues of the devil in the world. Also, the Palacio de Cristal is another worthy site within the grounds, as is the mausoleum of King Alfonso XII. There’s even monuments and fountains here to fill your afternoon with ease.
3) Watch Real Madrid play:
Ok, so I’m a huge footy fan but even if you’re not, this is quite a spectacle. Arguably the biggest club in the world (Liverpool might edge it :P) playing in one of the biggest stadiums in the world, the Santiago Bernabeu. If you’re lucky enough to be there on game day, head down to the stadium and try to scalp a ticket, expect to pay $100 minimum though. Ouch. Alternatively, you can take a tour of the stadium during the day instead.
4) Plaza Mayor:
Quite simply a must-see for all backpackers in Madrid. The square was built way back in the 17th century, today it’s lined with cafes and street stalls waiting for the thousands of tourists who come and see it every day. The Christmas market here is one of a kind.
5) The Palacio Real, the Royal Palace: Where the King of Spain calls home although bizarrely he never stays here, this is the biggest palace in Europe with over 2000 rooms. The place is filled with art and old relics so give yourself a couple of hours at the very least to roam around.
Spain is a great destination for backpackers and no Euro trip is complete without it. So when you reach Spain, don’t miss it’s awesome capital. Viva La Espana – Happy travels!
Remember, never travel without travel insurance! And never overpay for travel insurance!
I use HeyMondo. You get INSTANT quotes. Super cheap, they actually pay out, AND they cover almost everywhere, where most insurance companies don't (even places like Central African Republic etc!). You can sign-up here. PS You even get 5% off if you use MY LINK! You can even sign up if you're already overseas and traveling, pretty cool.
Also, if you want to start a blog...I CAN HELP YOU!
Also, if you want to start a blog, and start to change your life, I'd love to help you! Email me on johnny@onestep4ward.com. In the meantime, check out my super easy blog post on how to start a travel blog in under 30 minutes, here! And if you just want to get cracking, use BlueHost at a discount, through me.
Also, (if you're like me, and awful with tech-stuff) email me and my team can get a blog up and running for you, designed and everything, for $699 - email johnny@onestep4ward.com to get started.
Do you work remotely? Are you a digital nomad/blogger etc? You need to be insured too.
I use SafetyWing for my digital nomad insurance. It covers me while I live overseas. It's just $10 a week, and it's amazing! No upfront fees, you just pay week by week, and you can sign up just for a week if you want, then switch it off and on whenever. You can read my review here, and you can sign-up here!