Love Letter to Madrid: Solo Trip

A key sight people like to check out is Palacio Real de Madrid, which is great if you’re into royalty, but I preferred exploring the Temple of Debod. The morning light hitting those ancient ruins while you have a cafe con leche in hand is the perfect way to get some steps in and start the day.

Take your time having lunch at one of the many street-side cafes on your way to Museo Prado (just make sure you get your timed entry ticket ahead of time.) Prado is open until 8 pm, so after it closes, meet your beau at Rural for the ultimate date night. However, on a solo trip, the waitstaff was nice enough to miniaturize portion sizes for me so that I could try more jamón. You can literally taste the acorns. There’s nothing more romantic than a solo date full of meat, if you ask me ;) Optional stop at Cafe Berlin if you still have some energy.

We looked at the art of others on your first full day in Madrid. Now you’ll make your own. No matter the season, you can always start the day outside in Madrid. Jardin Botanico is a special outpost tucked into Parque Retiro (and can be extremely romantic if walking hand in hand.) If you’re not inspired yet, you definitely will be after wandering across the way and into Llop Madrid. There you’ll find an amazing collection of objects “defined by material, form and meaning.” If you don’t find a piece you want to take home at Llop, you will have the chance to make your own at Mama Pottery (schedule ahead.) Grab a pick-me-up at Cafe del Arte before starting one of the most important parts of your trip, a tapas crawl through La Latina. Start with a sunset cocktail at El Viajero, then make your way down Calle de la Cava Baja. Make sure you stop at Taberna La Concha before ending up at your 9:30 pm reservation at Botin.

We dove right into some of THE most important parts of a trip to Madrid, ticking many must-dos off the list. Now it’s time for a hidden gem or two. It’s time to relax with a spa day in Centro. Whether you’re into Indibia, sound healing, or a good old massage, an URSO spa day is perfect for “Salus per aquam’’ in the famous above-ground bath. After all that relaxation, wander into Malasaña for some vintage shopping, stopping at Neare Clothes for your evening attire. After your costume change, check out Casa Neutrale if you’re into listening bars. They serve great tapas and amazing wine. You’ll keep the chill vibes intact and have a fun night at the same time (with or without that special someone by your side.)

If you like a grand finale with a lively night out, here we go. By day four, you’ve seen a lot of the city and earmarked some shops you may want to go back to. Gran Via is the main thoroughfare for general shopping satisfaction. To elevate your shopping experience, pop over to Salamanca for some more specialty shops. After a long day of shopping on Gran Via, you deserve a dip in the pool. If you’re staying at the Thompson, this is exactly what you can get. After a few laps, you’ll start to get hungry… Or maybe it’s the delectable scent that is no doubt coming from Mukaa, the neighboring rooftop restaurant. Lucky for you, you already have your ensemble change covered. Slip downstairs to reset before resurfacing on the rooftop to start and end your night on with this iconic view of the city.