How To Spend One Day In Madrid

On my way home after hiking the Camino de Santiago, I made a stopover for one day in Madrid. Here I had less than 48h to spend so I filled my day with some quality sightseeing and culinary treats. Unlike sightseeing in Rome or my previous trip to Athens, I feel Madrid is not the “traditional” capital I would choose for a sightseeing heavy city break. However, there are a few things worth visiting as the city has an incredibly lively atmosphere with excellent food and interesting architecture. I had a great time and if I had to relive the day it would look as follows:

Starting The Day In Madrid

9am: wake up at one of Madrid’s überstylish hotels. Barceló Imagine, H10, the NH collection or Tryp are all great choices when staying in Spain’s capital. A great hotel can make all the difference and excite you to start the day, plus all of these are located centrally and are within easy walking distance to all the actions in the city.

My stop for breakfast was the Australian café Antipode in Calle de San Bernardo Street, which unfortunately hasn’t survived the pandemic. The café offered healthy vegan and classic breakfast options. Avocado on toasts with poached eggs, porridge, homemade granola or pancakes. Literally, anything from the menu was a winner for me. I ordered a variety from the card such as their tropical oats and matcha pancakes. Add a berry smoothie and freshly pressed orange juice for a perfect start to the day.

Please note: Antipode is no longer open. I haven’t been back to Madrid so for now I can’t make an alternative recommendation. Maybe you found one on your Madrid stay? Let me know in the comments!

Lunchtime In Madrid

At 12pm it is time to give my mind some “food”. Museo Reina Sofia, the local art gallery with contemporary paintings and displays of Miro, Dali, and Picasso, would be my address. The museum is renowned for showcasing a fine collection of Surrealism and Cubism. Two art movements for which Spain is well-known. On Level 2 I would admire Picasso’s Guernica or engage in Miro’s sculptures in the museum’s courtyard.

2h at the museum is enough time to see everything. Afterwards, it is time to stroll along Calle de Bellevue and admire some beautiful architecture whilst aiming for the centre. There’s some incredible architecture, especially the countless old skool cinema buildings or the Telefonica building on Gran Via.

The latter was inspired by New York architecture and applies a world metropolitan touch to the city skyline. Pass by Plaza Major the beating heart and Plaza Sol to see Spain’s geographical centre the Kilometre Zero. Then catch a first glimpse of the hustle and bustle of Gran Via, Madrid’s major shopping street.

Spending The Afternoon Roaming The Streets Of Madrid

It is an unwritten rule that one can’t go to Spain without indulging in Churros. Churroria Chocolateria San Gines is THE address in Madrid. The place exists since 1894 and offers outdoor seating. This is excellent for people watching. I ordered a batch with the classic hot chocolate dip, a bottle of water and paid 6.50 € in total.

For the late afternoon, I can recommend a sightseeing bus tour. The tour starts at Museo Prado and I found 4pm a great time in the day to do this little trip around town. For around 2h I enjoyed circling the city twice.

You will not only love the ride in the sun but also spot major sights such as the Royal Palace, The Egyptian Temple of Debod, the Neptune Fountain or Plaza de Cibeles…. and bypass a couple of nice restaurants, too, which are worth checking out later for dinner.

A Memorable Night In Madrid

6:30pm – Time to head to the rooftop bar and take in those stunning views over the city. ME Madrid in Plaza Santa Ana is the right place if you, like me, love spectacular views and an easy-going atmosphere. I loved their mocktails which were all delicious whilst listening to chill out beach tunes. Good vibes, great conversations, excellent views, and interesting people.

I decided to hit the stores on the Gran Via for a short late evening shopping tour before dinner. At around 8:30pm most places are empty and easy to browse.

Dinner is rather late in Spain, so at around 9:30pm, I can recommend checking out Ôven Mozarella Bar – a quirky Italian at the end of Gran Via. Although the place is a small chain, it charms with a calm and modern ambient and affordable prices. I tried their pasta bake and my dessert wasn’t too bad either. I could easily spend the entire evening here, have casual chats or hang out with friends. It is a fantastic place with lovely food and a feel-good atmosphere.

The city is still alive at 11pm. I would take a final stroll before bedtime and admire the buildings, which are all lit up now.

Thanks so much for reading. If you’d like to support my blog & research you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.

Till next time,
Carolin

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