I am still reminiscing about my trip to Madrid last November and thought why not write a blog about it for anyone going this year. It is such a beautiful city with a lot to see and do. If you are an art lover, the museums in Madrid are top notch. Also if you are more of style and shopping kind of person, this city will definitely carry your style at a great price too!

How many days should you stay in Madrid?

I stayed for 10 days but that was a stretch. I would say 5-7 days are enough to see the city.

When to visit Madrid? 

Madrid has quite hot summers and very cold winters. The fall season (September – November) are the best times to visit.

Where to stay?

I stayed in two hotels in Madrid:

• Hotel Preciados fantastic location near Gran Via and other interesting spots
• Barceló Emperatriz great hotel near Salamanca.

I also recommend staying in Salamanca district itself quite nice upscale area. Villa Magna is a great option but can be a bit pricy.

What to do?

Here is a list of things I did or wanted to do when I was there:

• Chill at the El Retiro Park. The park is beautiful and right in the middle of the city.
• Visit the Reina Sofía Art Museum. Honestly I am not an art person but I had to go see some of Picasso and Salvador Dali work. Note that they have some free of charge admission hours (check it on their website).
• Explore the area around Plaza Mayor specially the Mercado de San Miguel market which opens till late at night.
• Enjoy ‘Gourmet Experience’ with views at the top floor of El Corte Ingles on Gran Via.
• Walk among tourists in Puerta del Sol. The plaza is lively and full of cafes and shops.
• Have a unique dinner with a flamenco dance show.
• Visit the the Real Madrid stadium.
• Tour the royal palace of madrid or just chill in its park and take breathtaking photos!
• Lots & lots of shopping. Check out our Madrid shopping post for more info.
• Attend a show. Madrid is a central hub and carries a lot of shows. I attended the Cirque Du Soleil TOTEM show while I was there. Check what the city offers around your travel time here.

Toledo Day trips

one of the most popular day trip destinations is Toledo. It is a historic town and takes around 1 hour to reach by train. The train leaves from Atocha station in Madrid.

Toledo is known for combining monuments of Islam, Christianity & Judaism all together because of its rich history. It is elevated so the weather is extra beautiful and has a nice touristic vibe. The town is kind of small with medieval streets so be prepared to walk everywhere.

the verdict: if you are not so keen on history or have a limited time in Madrid, Toledo is not for you.

All in all I really enjoyed my time in Madrid and I hope you do too ?.