Things to do in Madrid

Things to Do in Madrid with Kids: the best activites for all ages

April 9, 2016 by Cat Gaa · 3 Comments

Updated November 2025 – with kids in tow.

It’s no secret that Madrid is one of my favorite cities to visit – I love the energy, the options and the closest a Spanish city can come to my native Chicago. But it can get overwhelming as a capital city (and one of the largest in Europe!), and even more so for children. We chose to leave Madrid to head back to Seville in 2019, coinciding with the birth of our second son, but I truly love bringing my elementary school aged children to the Spanish capital often.

We love to check out what’s on during our frequent trips to Madrid, from new parks to temporary museum exhibits. And thanks to Spain’s attention to families, there is literally no shortage of things to do with kids in Madrid.

Where can I find ideas of what to do in Madrid with kids?

Start with Madrid’s official tourism page. You’ll find curated lists for family-friendly activities, ideas of what’s on and links to buy tickets. You can also drop by the tourism office in Plaza Mayor, a great place to visit in its own right.

Top things to do in Madrid for children up to 5 years old

Admire animals at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium (Casa del Campo. M: Casa del Campo, L5, L10)

This is not your ordinary zoo or aquarium, and your children will love to see animals roaming about without any chains or wiring. Conentiently located in Casa de Campo – a wonderful green lung not too far from the Royal Palace – the Zoo Aquarium is located within the city limits and on public transportation lines. The animals are mostly kept separate from the public by moats filled with water (and some that are not). There are more than 500 different species of animals who call the zoo home, including many animals native to the Iberian peninsula. The Zoo is making efforts at conservation to build populations of animals like the Iberian Lynx and Iberian Hawk.

Hours of operation: Weekdays 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weeeknds until 7:00 p.m. Longer hours may apply seasonally and on local holidays.
Ticketing: At the ticket office, but far cheaper online and prices vary by day; Adults and children 8+ are 19,90€, kids 3-7 are 16,95€ children under 3 are free. Check online for promotions and discount days.

If you’re willing to go a bit further afield, you can also check out Faunia (Avenida de las Comunidades, 28, M: Valdebernardo, L9) in the Vicálvaro neighborhood to the south. This could be an option if your kids are various ages, and kids will pay by height but are comparable to the Zoo Aquarium.

Eat chocolate con churros at Chocolatería San Ginés (Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5. M: Sol (L!, L2, L3) or Ópera (L2)

What kid can say no to fried dough? San Ginés is a Madrid institution that is open around the clock and serves up golden,crispy churros to be dunked in warm, liquid chocolate. This is one of the few places to get both porras or churros, and the former is typical breakfast fare for a madrileño.

If you’re staying outside of the Gran Vía area, simply follow the smell to your nearest churrería to take away. You typically order by the number of units that you want, so it’s a good way to practice your números. You can also get San Ginés on food delivery apps, but where’s the fun in that?

Hours of operation: Open 24 hours
Cost: A ración (6 churros or 2 porras) will run you 5,20€.

Visit Ratoncito Perez’s house (Calle del Arenal, 8. M: Sol (L1, L2, L3 and Cercanías trains)

Book online and book early! The spots fill up fast – even on weekdays.

Hours of operation: Weekdays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Weekends and holidays 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: 7€ per person. Book via whatsapp.
Note: ages 3+

Explore Madrid’s sozens of parks and gardens

You’ll surely know El Retiro, Madrid’s mythical green lung in the neighborhood of the same name. Check out the hidden playgrounds and shaded spots for picnics, or grab a bench near the arifical lake for people-watching. But don’t stop there – small pockets of green can be found everywhere, and you’re sure to find a spot to sit and have a coffee or glass of wine while your kids run themselves ragged. (M:

My kids always make a stop a the recently renovated Plaza de España (M: Plaza de España, L3). Think rope swings, towers to climb and places to hide for an epic game of Hide and Seek. Another great space for families is Madrid Río, home to biking trails, a splash pad for summer visits and 17 playgrounds scattered along the 7km park and a weekend puppet show near the obelisque (M: Marqués de Vadillo, L5, or Puerta del Ángel, L6).

Top things to do in Madrid for kids ages 5-10

My kids (6 and 8 year old boys) are at the perfect age to enjoy Madrid: still small enough to enjoy parks and playgrounds but now mature enough for cultural exhibits and workshops at museums and cultural centers. We make it a point to visit something new every time we go to Madrid – and we still have endless ideas!

Visit the Natural Science Museum (Calle José Abascal, 2. M: Gregorio Marañón, L7 and L10)

A great destination for children and adults alike, given Spain’s long history. Kids are bound to enjoy all of the dinosaur fossils, while parents tend to take in the extinct animal specimens – there are 6,000! There are three separate zones to choose from and a plethora of activities that are geared specifically toward children. Parents can bring their little ones to educational workshops and have some free time to enjoy the remainder of the museum – we lived nearby when my eldest child was a toddler, and the museum was one of our favorite rainy day activities.

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Weekends and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: General admission is 7€, kids 4-16 are half price.
Note: Museum is closed Mondays. If you need another rainy day activity, the Museo Geominero is a 10-minute walk up Calle Rios Rosas.

Museo del Ferrocaril and Metro de Madrid museums

Anyone else’s kids obsessed with anything that moves? Exactly.

Kids from 3+ will love the various museums sprinkled around the city that speak of Madrid’s railway prowess and its incredible subway system. Start at the Museo del Ferrocaril (Paseo de las Delicias, 61. M: Delicias, L3, or Palos de la Frontera, L3). There’s a small museum, but the true highlight is the covered Delicias station, home to half a dozen locomotives that speak to Spain’s rail history. Kids can climb aboard a few of them!

Hours of operation: Times vary by season. From October to May, the museum is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In the summer, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost: In situ or online. 7€ adults, 4€ for kids; under 3 are free.
Pro tip: If you visit the Mercado de Motores artisan market on the second Sunday of the month, you can enter the train pavillion at the Ferrocarril Museum for free!

The Metro de Madrid also hosts a few small museums, and they’re a treat – and free! Check out the Pácifico (L1) engine shed to see old trains or marvel at its modernist lobby, take a guided tour of the “ghost” station of Chamberí (must reserve in advance; My: Iglessia, L1) or check out the Metro’s history museum in the Chamartín station (L1, L10). Kids can grab a Metro passport in any of the aforementioned stations and mark off the sites as they go before getting a reward, redeemable at the Ópera, Sol or Plaza de Castilla Metro Stores.

Museo Nacional de Arqueología (Calle de Serrano, 13. M: Colón, L4, Retiro, L2 or Serrano, L4)

Trace the history of humanity and civilization over three floors at Spain’s recently renovated National Archaeology Museum. My 3rd grade spent three hours exploring the expansive museum, home to some of Spain’s most treasured artifacts. My six year old enjoyed the hominids, mummies and a bag of potato chips at the museum café.

Hours of operation: Open Monday-Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: 3€ adults, free for children. You can buy right on site upon arrival or online.
Pro tip: check out the museum bookstore for historically-focused books and games for kids!

Mercado de la Cebada (Plaza de la Cebada, s/n. Metro: La Latina, L5).

A staple of the La Latina area, this market is a delight for kids. Stalls hocking products from mundane to wacky as well as indoor eating areas make it a great stop for nibbles. There are always local kids running around the market or the playground right in front, and it’s one of my preferred alternatives to the touristy Mercado de San Miguel.

Hours of operation: Open Monday-Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: only what you consume.

Circo Price (Ronda de Atocha, 35. M: Embajadores, L3, or Atocha, L1 and all Cercanías lines)

Forget the animal circuses: Circo Price is the long-runnign favorite of madrileños, bringing acrobatics to a small, intimate theatre experience. You can also catch classes and workshops here – perfect for literally everyone in your family.

For shows, prices and more, check their website.

Check out the programming at Cuarta Pared, Teatro Sanpol and other children’s theaters

Madrid’s multitude of children’s theaters provide a wonderful entertainment for the child who enjoys plays and musicals – and the city is famous for theatre. The shows are typically put on during weekend mornings and tickets cost far less than most adult activities. Teatro del Arte and La Escalera de Jacob also stage their own shows for children and you’ll have a wide range of magic shows, funny stories and puppet based performances to select from! You can find shows and workshops on Teatro a Teatro‘s interactive guide.

Bonus ideas: the observation deck at the Corte Inglés Gourmet Experience or the Torre de Moncloa, rotating exhibits at CaixaForum, visiting the endless cominc book and vintage stores in Malasaña.

Top things to do in Madrid for kids ages 10 and up (including the kid at heart!)

Parque Warner (Cercanías C-3 to Pinto and bus 413 to the park)

What’s a vacation without an amusement park? Parque Warner is a wonderful destination for the child who loves cartoons, as all of their favorite Looney Tunes characters will be roaming around and signing autographs. If your kid is more of daredevil type, they will have six different roller coasters to choose from. Water rides are available too, and of course, there are a multitude of gift shops. Theaters and workshops provide visitors with a number of different shows to choose from as well. The park is located 25 kilometers south of Madrid and package deals are the best way to save money.

Hours of operation: vary by season.
Cost: Always book online, when possible, as you can save up to 50%. General admission (140cm and up) is 61.90€, Junior (100-140cm) is 32,90€ and kids under 100cm tall are free.
Tip: check local discount sites as well as PW’s web for deals and discounts. If you’re coming from out of town, there are stellar deals on accommodations and food if you book.

Check out the entertainment options at Xanadu Mall (Autovía A-5, salida 22, Arroyomolinos)

If you’ve got a car or are willing to go a bit out of your way, the Xanadu mall boasts tons of things to keep older kids busy. Think a small skill hill, endless Spanish fashion brands, food court, a bowling alley and even a small aquarium. Xanadu is about 25 minutes south of Madrid on the A5 highway.

Hours of operation:
Cost: varies depending on your activities.

OXO Videogame Museum (Plaza del Callao, Postigo de San Martín, 8. M: Callao, L3 and L5)

My kids moved from moving things (and their bodies) to being video game crazed really quickly. I’m excited to take them to OXO, a video game museum/arcade right off Gran Vía. From old school machines that we played in pizza parlors back in the 90s to endless Legos and temporary exhibits and workshops, I’m sure I won’t be able to get them out.

Hours of operation: Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: General admission is 21€, kids 5-13 are 16€, and family packs (2 adults + 2 kids) are 17.50€ a person. Prior reservation recommended.

Alternately, you could consider board game cafés like La Manuela in Malasaña (C/ San Vicente Ferrer, 29) or Replay Boardgame Café (C/ de la Ribera de Curtidores, 26, Local 3).

Walk in the footsteps of Real Madrid giants at the Santiago Bernabeu Tour (entrance is at Calle Concha Espina, s/n, M: Santiago Bernabeu, L10)

Football fans – madrista or not – will enjoy the recently renovated Santiago Bernabeu stadium tour, home to Madrid Fútbol Club. You’ll see spaces where Spanish soccer legends have trained, learn about the history of one of Spain’s most successful clubs and view the endless accolades. It can’t be missed for fans!

Hours of operation:
Cost: From 35€ online. You can also bundle experiences, like a guided tour or a game.
Tip: Do check online for game days, as some areas of the tour may be off-limits to visitors.

I, personally, enjoyed seeing Taylor Swift at Bernabeu but will stick to my hometown arena in Seville!

Take selfies at IKONO space (Calle de Sánchez Bustillo, 7. M: Estación del Arte, L1) or Sweet Space (Calle de Serrano, 61. M: Núñez de Balboa, L5, L9 or Rubén Darío, L5)

Your selfie-loving teen will have a blast at these spaces, designed for photos and goofing off.

IKONO:

Hours of Operation: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: from 15€ and more expensive on the weekend. Get your tickets online.

Sweet Space

Hours of Operation: Daily from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: from 15€ and up for adults, 12€ for kids 4-12. Free for children up to 3. Get tickets here.

Where to eat with kids in Madrid: some of our favorite places

My kids know that going to Madrid to visit family means plenty of eating out, and they often get to choose where. Madrid has every cuisine you can imagine, plus plenty fo fast food options. If your kids are adventurous, you can really go nuts here: grilled pig ear, squid sandwiches or sheep brain. Or, stick to tortilla, croquetas and montaditos de lomo, because hangry kids are grumpy travelers.

VIPS is always a big hit because their menu is extensive and rotates – it almost feels like a sleeker American diner. Apart from standard fare like burgers and sandwiches, you can usually get a half slab of ribs before a stack of pancakes or milkshake. Some VIPS also have a small kid’s corner with some games, and they pass out crayons and some coloring papers with the kids menu. Service can be slow and I find most VIPS to be dead zones for cell signal, so don’t expect to park the kids in front of a screen here. Closet to the center is at Puerta del Sol 3, or Calle Alcalá, 23, but you can find them around the city.
Bar Loreto (Calle Hartzenbush, M: San Bernardo, L2, or Quevedo, L1, L4) is a frequent stop, too, as it’s within walking distance of our home base in Malasaña. While it’s not extremely kid friendly, it’s on a quiet street off of Fuencarral, and each drink comes with a montruous plate of food. They serve a lot of kid-friendly bites, and their menú del día is heaping and cheap.
My kids are big croquetas fans, and Bodegas Rosell (Atocha / Estación del Arte, L1, or Palos de La Frontera, L3) is right around the corner from Uncle Alvarito’s house and the Puerta de Atocha train station. They’re famous for their croquetas, so don’t skip it if you’ve got a train right around lunch or dinner time!

Don’t skip plaza life, either! One of Spain’s national treasures is the park-bar combo. Local families snag a table at an outdoor eatery near a playground so that kids are entertained and parents can actually eat their food warm. We pop down to Plaza Dos de Mayo (M: Fuencarral, L1 and L10) and camp out at Madriz for some apertivos, but there are two pizza places anchoring the expansive square, as well as a few other places to nip in for a bite. Come early – these are prime real estate! Other ideas are Plaza de Olavide (M: Iglesia, L1), where restaurants ring a spacious plaza with fountains and playgrounds, or Plaza de Santa Ana (M: Sol, L1, L2, L3 and Cercanías trains) near Puerta del Sol.

What do you do with kids in Madrid?

If you liked this post, you can consider purchasing it on GPSMyCity, a GPS-enabled tour guide that’s available offline. Your euros go right back to helping this site stay up and running! I’ve also got a post on what to do with kids in Seville.

Filed Under: Daytrips Madrid, Habla de Tu Ciudad y Vive de Ella, Madrid, Things to do in Madrid · Tagged: Madrid

Autonomous Community Spotlight: Madrid

April 2, 2015 by Cat Gaa · 6 Comments

Not one to make travel goals, I did make one when coming to Spain: visit all 17 autonomous communities at least once before going home. While Madrid, Barcelona and Seville are the stars of the tourist dollar show (and my hard-earned euros, let’s not kid around here), I am a champion for Spain’s little-known towns and regions. Having a global view of this country has come through living in Andalucía, working in Galicia and studying in Castilla y León, plus extensive travel throughout Spain.

Admittedly, Madrid and I did not get off to a very good start. I’d already been in Valladolid on a study abroad program for a month, and we were rushed around the capital for ten hours – we visited Plaza de España, Plaza de la Villa, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and the Prado Museum, and then were given a mere free hour to see something else. I found the capital uninviting, lifeless and a bit dull (Tens-Years-Later Me is kind of mad that I could have cared less about seeing the Prado because I just wanted an ice cream cone).

Over time, Madrid became more than just a stopover between flights for me – I spend more time in La Capital than elsewhere in Spain, have friends and family there and find the city to be the injection of urban life that I need every so often.

Name: La Comunidad de Madrid

Population: The urban area of Madrid itself is the third largest urban area in Europe, with over 6.3 million inhabitants.

Provinces: Just one, with the administrative capital located in the Spanish capital.

When: 3rd of 17, June 2005

About La Comunidad de Madrid: Located smack dab in the middle of the country, the autonomous community named for its capital city is one of Spain’s most illustrious, and usually a place where visitors hit.

Before the mid 16th Century, the city of Madrid was little more than a speck on the map and a town principally known in the farming trade. Felipe II (Spain’s greatest monarch because of his choice of haberdashery) moved the capital from Valladolid and made Madrid the center of his extensive empire, as the area had long been a favorite for nobles and was geographically sound.

Long before becoming Spain’s most important city, Madrid had inhabitants dating from Lower Paleolithic and saw a surge in population during the Roman Empire when it formed part of Lusitania. Populaton and importance fell once the Visigoths moved in.

Because of its location, sandwiched between the Castilles and Al-Andalus, the region saw power change hands between Christians and Moors – in fact, the name comes from Arabic Mayrit and originated around the 9th Century, forming part of Al-Andalus until the 1083 reconquest allocated it to the Castillian kingdom, where it had territorial independence.

Madrid began to grow after its appointment as the seat of the Kingdom of Spain, and in the 1830s, a province of the same name was founded, shifting the political strong arm from Toledo. This act eventually led to a dispute between the pre-establish autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha and its northern neighbor, and the Comunidad de Madrid was, in fact, the last of 17 to be created.

Must-sees: Dios, what shouldn’t you see in Madrid? It seriously has something for everyone and is Spain’s pulsing, passionate heart.

Within the capital, there are an abundance of world-class museums – the Prado, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen make up the so-called ‘Art Circle’ – as well as historical sites like the Royal Palace and adjacent Almudena cathedral. Spain’s version of Broadway is here. The government sets up shop in Moncloa. Every national highway passes through the Puerta del Sol. The Buen Retiro park is captivating at any change of the season.

Dining in Madrid is an absolute treat as well, from its typical taverns serving up fried calamari and grilled pig’s ear to swanky gastrobars and fusion restaurants. In Madrid, I get all of my favorite international cuisines, like Thai and Korean, and it’s a place where Old Man bars are the real deal – and vivan las tapas gratis (I don’t care if they’re day-old microwaved bravas – free is free!) If you’re new to Spanish gastronomy, consider a tapas tour or sip a vermouth while feasting your eyes and tummy on a food market.

If you’re able, consider a day trip out of the capital. Segovia and Toledo, two medieval cities, are on the cercanías commuter line, as is Alcalá de Henares, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of Spain’s own Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes. You can also check out delightfully charming towns like Chinchón or Buitrago, contemplate Spain’s Golden age at El Escorial or reflect on its darkest days at Valle de Los Caídos. If sport is more your thing, the comunidad has loads of hiking trails and a ski resort.

My take: While most who have made Spain their home claim that there’s far more to Iberia than its capital (I myself am of this camp), there’s no sense in skipping it. Madrid has everything – culture, art, gastronomy, nightlife and a handful of day trips. If Puerta del Sol is Kilometer 0, the rest of Spain seems to spiral around it.

I’ve probably spent more than two months in Madrid collectively and in every season. After exhausting all of the touristic options, one of my favorite things to do is pick a neighborhood and spend time popping in and out of shops, sampling treats at bakeries and sitting in sun-filled cafés.

Madrid always seems to embrace me when I’m there, even if it’s just a quick trip to El Diamante for a bocadillo de calamares before hopping a plane back home. I know Malasaña and La Latina as well as I know Barrio Santa Cruz, can name Metro stops and their corresponding colored lines and beeline right to my favorite international food joints. Madrid is an old, familiar pair of blue jeans for me. But the trendy kind.

Outside of Seville, it’s probably the only place I’d willingly move to in a heartbeat.

Have you ever traveled around the Madrid province? What do you like (or not) about it?

Filed Under: 17 Spanish Regions, Daytrips Madrid, Featured, Madrid, Spain Travel, Things to do in Madrid, typical Spanish, Where to Eat in Madrid · Tagged: 17 Spanish Regions, Spain

Tapa Thursday: Vermouth

March 5, 2015 by Cat Gaa · 7 Comments

My biggest ambition in life is to become a Spanish abuelo. Who wouldn’t want to spend the days leisurely reading a paper in the bar down the street, sucking down a vermouth while looking adorable? I’ve already got the vermouth obsession down, after all.

My first taste of vermouth was actually on a food tour. I didn’t think I’d learn anything I didn’t know about Spanish cuisine, but an early stop at the Mercado de San Miguel’s vermouth bar proved that I had a lot to learn, and a new favorite beverage.

Vermouth is making a comeback hard in Spain, much like G&Ts not so long ago. Pop-up bars called vermuterías, tastings and pairings and even the Adrià brothers of El Bullí fame are spearheading a sort of vermouth renaissance. While this beverage never really disappeared, it’s become the drink of choice for hipsters and for me anytime I’m in Madrid or Barcelona.

On my last trip to the Ciudad Condal, I happened upon a small bottega, or local watering hole, where vermouth was poured from a tap in the wall. No frills, no sky-high price tag, despite being a mere 150 meters from tourist hell. The girl behind the bar filled my glass, shoved a few mussels and a toothpick my way and charged me 1,85€. Other patrons trickled in, drinking the sweet wine by the glass or simply asking the bar keep to fill up old water bottles.

The Novio even came back from the capital with a gift from my soon-to-be familia política recently: a bottle of vermouth with its flavorless soda water.

What it is: Fortified wine has been drunk for more than three millennia, often for medicinal purposes. Its name comes from the German ‘wermut,’ or wormwood,

At its most basic, vermouth is a young fortified wine brewed with aromatic herbs like cardamom and and cinnamon and occasionally its namesake, wormwood. Sweet varieties also contain a fair amount of sugar – around 20% – whereas dry vermouths contain less than 4%.

Goes great with: Vermouths come in sweet and dry varieties, but salty snacks like potato chips, cured meats, olives or mussels in azabeche sauce are tart and will offset the sweetness or bring out the dry flavors. Typically, vermouth is consumed much like fino sherry wine in the South – as a before-meal drink, and most often at the weekend.

Where to find it in Seville: I have yet to find vermouth anywhere but the grocery store, and even then, it’s commercially branded martini mixes. I’ve yet to try smaller specialty shops, though sherry seems to be preferred to vermouth in these parts. You can find it for sale in 2.5 liter jugs at Bodegas Salado in nearby Umbrete for 7,20€.

Are you a vermouth drinker? Any preferred watering holes, whether in Seville or further afield?

Filed Under: A Few of My Favorite Things, Bars, Featured, food, gastronomy, Madrid, Street Food, Tapas Thursday, Things to do in Madrid, typical Spanish, Wine · Tagged: Spanish Food, Tapas Thursday

Is a Madrid Holiday Right for You?

December 5, 2014 by Cat Gaa · 12 Comments

You’re destined for Madrid – a city that’s vibrant but demure, traditional but avant-garde, a big city with a small-town feel.

Ok, not that small, but per tradition, many madrileños stick to their neighborhood, making Europe’s third largest city feel like an overgrown village.

Madrid is a city that’s got one foot firmly planted in the past and the other, striding forward in the future. From its humble beginnings as a farming town to a bustling capital, this city of more than three million is Spain’s financial and cultural hub, boasting world-class museums, stellar nightlife and plenty of Spanish charm.

Madrid truly is a haven for just about anyone – if you flipar for art, Madrid has three of Spain’s most celebrated museums. The Reina Sofia is an enormous contemporary arts collection, including Picassos’s celebrate “Guernica.” The Museo Nacional del Prado boasts fine art from Velázquez, Murillo, el Greco and Goya – and those are just the Spanish painters. The private collection at the Thyssen is also noteworthy, and the three make up the Triángulo del Arte perched on the east side of the center. Then add the dozens of playhouses, a world-class symphony and flamenco shows, and you’ll have an art hangover.

If gastronomy is more your flavor, La Capital has plenty of them to choose from. Visitors absolutely must make a stop to the Mercado de San Miguel for an introduction to the art of tapas, washed down with a glass of wine. The city has several fine dining establishments, as well as hole-in-the-wall favorites. The unofficial snack? A fried calamari sandwich from El Brillante, situated just in front of the Atocha train station.

Shopping lovers should head to Gran Vía or Calle Fuencarral for specialty shops, or catch the el Rastro flea market on Sunday mornings in the La Latina neighborhood. History buffs will love Madrid’s traces of the Hapsburg and Borbón dynasties, its Egyptian temple and the sprawling palace.

Madrid is also a great landing point for visiting other points of Spain and other parts of Europe – all of Spain’s major highways begin and are measured from Puerta del Sol, which also hosts an enormous party on New Year’s.

My advice? Ditch your map and choose a neighborhood. Stop into wood-paneled bars for a caña, or small draft beer, a slice of fluffy potato omelet and a taste of Old Madrid. Café Comercial, despite rubbing elbows with some of the city’s hippest bars and boutiques in Malasaña, is a great spot for jazz, great service and a sweet vermouth, a gato’s drink of choice. Or, head to trendy Alonso Martínez and window shop. Take a stroll in the Buen Retiro park and admire Gran Vía when dusk falls before dancing in a disco until six in the morning and ending the night with churros and chocolate at the city’s most loved churros place, Chocolatería San Gines.

I have to admit that Madrid and I got off to a rocky start – I found it a bit too sprawling, too presumptuous and too full of itself. Local gatos, as they’re called, steered clear of tourist-packed Sol and the streets spiraling out from it, and it was a sticky hot day.

But once I’d moved to Spain, Madrid became a frequent stopover on flights back home to Chicago. I take the train up for conferences and concerts, to visit friends and new babies. Slowly, the madrileño vibe oozed into my heart, and it’s now one of my favorite weekend destinations in Spain.

Should you travel to Madrid? Sin duda – it’s one of Europe’s most complete destinations.

Please check out this quiz to see if going to Madrid is right for you. Wyndham Resorts that are in Spain could be great for your next holiday vacation to get away from the normal and visit the extraordinary.

This post was brought to you by Wyndham Resorts, but my MAD love for Madrid is all my own.

I’ll be spending quite a few weekends in Madrid as the Novio works there for a few months. I’m looking for hidden gems to add to my list of favorites, so leave me comments below por fi!

Filed Under: contests, Daytrips Madrid, Featured, Madrid, Mercado San Miguel, Spain, Spain Lists, Spain Travel, Things to do in Madrid, Travel in Europe, Where to Eat in Madrid · Tagged: Madrid, Spain travel