By Nina Stepniczka
My older brother and I visited Europe for two weeks in June to celebrate his graduation from college. One of our first stops after landing in Portugal was a trip to Madrid. Having never been to Spain, I completely fell in love with the time we spent there as it was such a new atmosphere for me. Unfortunately, we only spent around 24 hours in each city we went to (and boy, was I tired by the end of the second week). Yet, I felt as though I got a really good idea of what Madrid had to offer.
Morning: Royal Palace Tour and Breakfast Recommendations
Fresh off the train, we ran over to our early reservation at the Royal Palace of Madrid. The Royal Palace of Madrid is a must-see. We spent our morning completely enamored with all of the architecture, painting, and history. I find a lot of palaces and churches to be repetitive, but this palace was stunningly unique. (At least compared to what I have seen in other parts of Europe.) Each room had a history of its own and was covered in the most spectacular details. From ethereal cherub painted ceilings in well-lit rooms to dark rooms covered in tapestries and gold, the palace had it all.
We skipped breakfast to make it to our tour in time; however, we got churros in the afternoon at San Gines, which would make for a good light breakfast. They also make for an excellent pick me up in the afternoon since they are sugar-coated fried dough which have the thickest chocolate to dip them in. I don’t love sweets, but they were to die for. Something traditional like an omelette or tomatoes on toast would be a great option for a heavier meal.
Afternoon: Empanada Recommendation and Sandemans Tours
After seeing the palace, we walked to the Plaza Mayor where we ate empanadas we had picked up on our way. Friends recommended Empanadas Malvón, and they were incredible.
From the Plaza Mayor we began one of our two walking tours we booked with Sandemans. Sandemans provides free tours of many major European cities. The guides suggest paying them what you find their tour to be worth, so my brother and I each tipped around 5 euros to stay within our budget. They also offer tours in a variety of languages, which is helpful as a tourist. Plus, they also have tours that are great for niche historical interests (if money is not a limit). Both of our guides were incredible, and they gave plenty of history while connecting it to modern day Madrid.
Related: What to Know for the Best Walking Tour Experience in Any City
New vs. Old Madrid
We did the basic tour and a history-based tour. The basic tour covered Old and New Madrid respectively. Our first walking tour with Sandemans took us all over– the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza Del Sol, the Gran Via, and so on.We even got to go into Corte Ingles to see the city from a rooftop bar (also free!). New Madrid was fun to walk around, especially since it was so busy. It helped me to understand the appeal for people who live there now.
While New Madrid was lively, I found Old Madrid to be rich in culture. On the historical tour, we walked around the Plaza Mayor again, Segovia Viaduct, the San Miguel Market, and much more. These sights resonated with me, as they felt truly significant to the locals. We even saw Restaurante Botín which is the oldest restaurant in the world with continuous operation, and it is easy to make a reservation. If we had more time, I would have dragged my brother along to eat there. Overall, both New and Old Madrid are covered in art and created with plentiful thought behind the architecture making it a beautiful juxtaposition. I would make sure to see a bit of both if one does not sound more appealing by a long shot since they both make up Madrid together.
Evening: Hidden Gems (Nun cookies and an Extravagant McDonald’s), Tapas, and Next Time
After the tour, we stopped back at the first McCafé which had formerly been a jewelry shop. It is covered in marble and intricate embellishments.
Another hidden gem was a convent where nuns made and sold cookies called Monasterio del Corpus Christi. We grabbed two boxes of lemon cookies. While they honestly were nothing insane, it was cool to know the history behind them. We discovered this from our tour, and I felt I would have never found it without someone pointing it out. At the end of our tour the guide also gave us Tapas recommendations. He recommended Mesón das Meigas and Los Gatos. Our tapas were free (something he really emphasized) and traditional. We bought our drinks, and food followed within minutes. There are a lot of tapas places along a lot of streets, and while I cannot speak to the quality of the majority, tapas bar hopping was a very fun experience.
While ideally Madrid would be tackled in more than 24 hours, it is doable in a short period of time. The city is rich in food, experiences, sights, and culture, so it comes down to what is prioritized. I would love to go back and see a Flamenco show and try more of the food, as well as head to some art museums. Hopefully, one day I will get to, but for a quick stop on our trip, I feel as though I got a really good foundation for the city as whole.
Nina is from Virginia and is a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh. With her grandparents living in Austria, she has loved to travel since she was a pre-teen, and is now navigating how to carry that love into her adult life.
