The Magic of Madrid

Royal Palace of Madrid: The largest place in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world, The Royal Palace of Madrid offers a glimpse into the ornate history of the Spanish royal family. We spent the entire tour in awe of the amazing craftsmanship and artwork.

Prado Museum: A wonderful experience with some of the most breathtaking artwork I’ve ever seen. If you’ve ever wanted to see the Mona Lisa, the Prado Museum has one of Leonardo Di Vinci’s earlier renditions of the famous painting, which you can see much closer to its famous counterpart.

El Retiro Park: A gorgeous park that once belonged to the Spanish royal family and is now a UNESCO world heritage site. The park is home to several monuments, gardens, and event spaces that blend nature, art, and history together that attract locals and tourists alike.

Temple of Debod: An Ancient Egyptian temple in Madrid, gifted to Spain in the 1960s.This monument also provides an amazing view of the city and is a very popular spot to watch the sunset.

Plaza Mayor: A major public plaza in the heart of Madrid that features restaurants, shops, and seasonal markets. A beautiful place to grab lunch or a snack and walk around and enjoy.

Madrid Zoo: My partner and I try to go to any local zoos or aquariums when we travel. And this zoo was wonderful. Very easy to get around, and very clean, plus there were pandas, so it was automatically 5/5 stars for us.

Sobrino de Botin: Holding the Guiness World Record for oldest restaurant in the world, this is a must-visit while in Madrid (just be sure to make reservations EARLY). Classic Spanish dishes, including a whole suckling pig, and the warmest atmosphere make this restaurant so unique.

La Casa del Abuelo: By far our favorite place for tapas, we actually went back during our trip because the food and the atmosphere was so amazing. The vermouth is a must-try along with the garlic prawns. If I could eat those every day, I would.

Restaurante Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles: A family-owned and operated restaurant famous for their snails. This one won’t be a favorite for everyone, but this restaurant is famed for its classic Spanish recipes and its owner who has been serving his classic snail dish since it opened in 1942. While we were visiting, he even stepped out from behind the counter to ensure we were getting the full experience by eating the snails right. While it’s safe to say the snails weren’t my favorite, we thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant and the experience

Museo del Jamón-Cra de S. Jerónimo: Okay so hear me out on this one. It is a chain restaurant in Spain, but it’s a good one and not like anything I’ve had in the United States. We went and ordered the Jamon sampler and Spanish cheese sampler, and I was in charcuterie heaven. Jamon is the best, and this place is a great way to get acquainted.

Bad Company 1920: A prohibition-style speakeasy with amazingly creative drinks and such a fun atmosphere. The staff stay in character the entire time and it’s an absolute blast.

Matador: Known for its classic tapas, flamenco music, and matador-themed art. This was one of my favorite places we found while in Madrid. With great food and even better sangria, this place is one I’ll be going back to the next time we’re in Madrid.