Why Madrid Deserves More Than a Stopover

When people talk about travelling through Spain, Barcelona, Seville and Granada usually dominate the conversation. Madrid often feels like the city travellers simply pass through on their way somewhere else.

I never quite understood why.

This was my second visit to Madrid, and I actually enjoyed it even more than the first.

Perhaps it was because I wasn’t trying to see everything in one visit. Or maybe it was because I already knew what to expect and had more time to appreciate the city’s rhythm. Whatever the reason, Madrid felt welcoming, vibrant and incredibly easy to explore.

We arrived by high-speed train from Granada and spent two nights in a centrally located apartment, walking to almost every attraction on our itinerary. Grand boulevards led us to elegant plazas, world-class museums, historic landmarks, bustling shopping streets and countless cafés where it was impossible not to stop for a coffee or tapas.

One of Madrid’s greatest strengths is its walkability. Many of the city’s major attractions are surprisingly close together, making it easy to explore on foot. When we wanted to venture a little further, Madrid’s excellent Metro system made getting around quick, affordable and straightforward.

Whether Madrid is the first stop on your Spanish adventure or part of your European odyssey, it’s worth allowing at least two or three nights to get a true feel for the city rather than simply ticking off its headline attractions.

In this guide, I’ll share what I learnt over two visits, where I recommend staying, how to get around, and why Madrid deserves far more than a quick stopover.

Madrid at a Glance

📍 Location: Central Spain

🗓️ Recommended Stay: 2–3 nights

✈️ Nearest Airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)

🚄 How We Arrived: High-speed train from Granada (just over 3 hours)

🚶 Getting Around: Easy to explore on foot, supported by an excellent Metro network

👟 Walking Level: Moderate to high (15,000–20,000 steps a day if sightseeing)

🌸 Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather, while summer can be very hot.

💶 Currency: Euro (€)

🗣️ Language: Spanish

⭐ Best For: History, museums, shopping, food lovers, art enthusiasts and first-time visitors to Spain

🏛️ Top Attractions: Royal Palace, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, El Retiro Park and Mercado de San Miguel

💡 Progressive Traveller Tip: Stay in the Sol district if it’s your first visit. You’ll be within walking distance of many of Madrid’s major attractions, making it easy to explore the city at your own pace.

Arriving in Madrid by Train

By the time many travellers arrive in Madrid, they’ve already explored other parts of Spain. We travelled from Granada on Spain’s high-speed rail network, a journey of just over three hours that was every bit as comfortable as we’d come to expect.

Rather than seeing travel days as time lost, I like to make the most of them. With most accommodation check-outs around 11.00 am and check-in not until mid-afternoon, travelling by train fits perfectly into the day. It’s an opportunity to catch up on a book, call family and friends back home, sort through photos from the previous destination, or simply close your eyes and relax while someone else does the driving.

By this stage of our journey, we’d travelled across Spain almost entirely by rail, and Madrid was the perfect final destination before flying on to Montenegro.

Best Areas to Stay in Madrid

Madrid is made up of distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own personality. The best area to stay depends on what you want from your visit, whether that’s walking to the major attractions, shopping, enjoying the nightlife or experiencing a more local side of the city.

Sol – Best for First-Time Visitors

Sol is the historic and geographical heart of Madrid, making it the most popular choice for first-time visitors. Staying here puts many of the city’s biggest attractions, including Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Gran Vía and Mercado de San Miguel, within easy walking distance. If you’re only visiting for a few days, it’s hard to beat the convenience of this central location.

Gran Vía – Best for Shopping and Entertainment

If shopping, theatres and rooftop bars are high on your list, Gran Vía is an excellent choice. This lively boulevard is lined with beautiful early 20th-century architecture, major department stores, restaurants and hotels, creating an energetic atmosphere from morning until late at night.

Salamanca – Best for Luxury and Boutique Shopping

Salamanca is one of Madrid’s most elegant neighbourhoods, known for its wide boulevards, designer boutiques, gourmet restaurants and sophisticated atmosphere. Although it’s a little quieter than the city centre, it’s well connected by Metro and ideal for travellers looking for a more upmarket stay.

La Latina – Best for Traditional Madrid

For a taste of old Madrid, La Latina offers narrow cobbled streets, historic squares and an abundance of traditional tapas bars. It’s a wonderful neighbourhood for wandering, particularly in the evenings and on weekends when the area comes alive.

Chueca – Best for Cafés, Dining and Nightlife

Chueca is one of Madrid’s most vibrant and welcoming neighbourhoods. Known for its boutique shopping, stylish cafés, excellent restaurants and lively nightlife, it’s a great choice for travellers who enjoy a modern, energetic atmosphere while still being within walking distance of many of the city’s main attractions.

My Recommendation

For first-time visitors, I’d recommend staying in Sol.

Arlie and I stayed at Coqueto Apartamento en el Corazon de Madrid, just a short walk from Puerta del Sol, and it proved to be the perfect base for exploring the city. We walked to almost every attraction on our itinerary, returned to our apartment for a break during the hottest part of the day, and headed back out each evening for dinner. Staying in such a central location meant we spent less time travelling and more time enjoying everything Madrid had to offer.

If I returned to Madrid again, I’d happily stay in the Sol district. For me, it offers the best balance of convenience, atmosphere and easy access to the city’s major attractions.

Plan Your Must-See Attractions… Then Embrace the Unexpected

When planning any city, I always start by deciding what I absolutely don’t want to miss. Once those key attractions are locked into the itinerary, everything else becomes a bonus.

That approach leaves room for the unexpected discoveries that often become the highlights of a trip.

On our way to the Prado Museum, Arlie and I wandered past the historic Palace Hotel Madrid. We hadn’t planned to stop, but the elegant façade tempted us inside for a a peak.

It turned out to be one of those wonderful travel moments you simply can’t plan.

As we sipped our cocktails beneath the magnificent stained-glass dome, the bartender proudly shared the hotel’s remarkable history. Opened in 1912 at the encouragement of King Alfonso XIII, the Palace quickly became one of Europe’s grand hotels and welcomed royalty, artists, writers and politicians from around the world. It was also one of Spain’s most modern hotels of its day, with a private bathroom and telephone in every guest room.

During the Spanish Civil War, however, its role changed dramatically. The luxury hotel was transformed into Hospital de Base No. 1, with almost 800 hospital beds filling its rooms. The magnificent glass dome that now overlooks guests enjoying cocktails once illuminated operating theatres, allowing surgeons to continue working when electricity failed during air raids. Two bombs struck the building during the conflict but, remarkably, neither exploded. After the war, the hotel was painstakingly restored to its former grandeur.

Knowing that history made our visit even more memorable. What had started as a spontaneous stop for a cocktail became a fascinating lesson in Madrid’s past.

It’s a reminder that while planning the essentials is important, leaving a little space for unexpected discoveries can be just as rewarding.

Our 2-Day Madrid Walking Itinerary

Our two days in Madrid combined iconic landmarks, world-class art, great food, shopping and a few unexpected discoveries. Staying in the Sol district meant we could walk to almost everything, only using the Metro to reach Madrid’s elegant Salamanca neighbourhood.

Day 1 – Historic Madrid, Royalty and Local Flavours

☀️ Morning – Puerta del Sol

We began our day in Puerta del Sol, the symbolic heart of Madrid and one of Spain’s busiest public squares. Home to the famous Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue and Kilometre Zero, it’s where many of Spain’s national roads begin and a natural starting point for exploring the city.

☕ Mid-Morning – Coffee and Shopping around Gran Vía

From Sol we wandered towards Gran Vía, Madrid’s famous shopping boulevard. Lined with grand early 20th-century buildings, theatres, department stores and cafés, it’s one of the city’s most vibrant streets. We stopped for coffee, enjoyed a little people-watching and browsed both Spanish and international fashion stores before continuing on.

👑 Afternoon – Royal Palace of Madrid

A pleasant walk brought us to the Royal Palace of Madrid, Europe’s largest functioning royal palace with more than 3,000 rooms. Although Spain’s royal family no longer lives here, the palace is still used for official ceremonies and state occasions. We loved wandering through the grounds and timing our visit to enjoy the warm late afternoon light over the palace and gardens.

🍽️ Evening – Plaza Mayor

For dinner we returned to Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s magnificent 17th-century square, once used for royal celebrations, markets, bullfights and public ceremonies. Today it’s one of the city’s liveliest dining precincts. While enjoying dinner, we watched a talented group of breakdancers perform in the middle of the square, creating a fun atmosphere that made the evening even more memorable.

🍷 After Dinner – Mercado de San Miguel

Just beside Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel was the perfect place to finish the evening. This beautifully restored market is packed with tapas bars, seafood, cheeses, cured meats, desserts and local wines. We shared a few small plates and enjoyed a cocktail while soaking up the lively atmosphere. It’s an excellent way to sample a wide variety of Spanish cuisine in one location.

Day 2 – Boutique Shopping, Art and Madrid’s Green Heart

🚇 Morning – Salamanca District

After catching the Metro, we headed to Madrid’s elegant Salamanca district. Known for its designer boutiques, luxury brands and beautiful tree-lined streets, it’s quite different from the historic centre. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s a lovely area to wander and admire the architecture.

🚇 Metro Back to the Prado District

🍸 Late Morning – Palace Hotel Madrid

On our way to the Prado Museum, curiosity drew us into the magnificent Palace Hotel Madrid for a cocktail beneath its spectacular stained-glass dome. The bartender proudly shared stories about the hotel’s remarkable past, including its role as a military hospital during the Spanish Civil War. It became one of those unexpected travel moments that neither of us had planned but will always remember.

🎨 Afternoon – Prado Museum

The Prado Museum is considered one of the world’s greatest art museums, housing masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and many other European masters. Rather than trying to see everything, we focused on the works that interested us most, making the visit much more enjoyable.

🌳 Late Afternoon – El Retiro Park

A short walk from the Prado Museum brought us to El Retiro Park, Madrid’s green oasis. Once the private gardens of the Spanish monarchy, it’s now one of the city’s most loved public spaces. We particularly enjoyed wandering through the Japanese Garden before strolling beneath the tree-lined avenues. After a busy couple of days exploring Madrid’s streets, museums and shopping precincts, it was the perfect place to slow the pace and simply enjoy the city’s quieter side.

Progressive Traveller Tip: Park Amenities

One thing I did notice during our time in Madrid was that public toilets were relatively scarce compared with many other European cities. Fortunately, most cafés, restaurants and major attractions have customer restroom facilities, so it’s worth planning a coffee or lunch stop if you think you’ll need one.

If you’re visiting El Retiro Park, you’ll find convenient underground public toilets on Paseo de Fernán Núñez, making it a handy stop before continuing your walk through the gardens.

Madrid’s Food Culture: What We Learnt Along the Way

By the time Arlie and I reached Madrid, we’d already travelled through Seville, Córdoba and Granada. We’d eaten in small family-run restaurants, tried plenty of tapas and visited food markets. By then, we’d worked out what we enjoyed most and stopped feeling like we had to eat tapas at every opportunity.

To be completely honest, tapas were a little hit and miss for us. Some were exceptional and among the best food we ate in Spain, while others were disappointing. One thing became obvious fairly quickly though—the places packed with locals were usually worth stopping for.

Instead of searching for the “best tapas”, we found ourselves gravitating towards Madrid’s jamón bars, delicatessens and fresh food markets.

Lunchtimes were spent browsing markets like Mercado de San Miguel, selecting local cheeses, cured meats, olives, fresh bread and something sweet to share over a bottle of Spanish wine. On another day we’d call into one of Madrid’s famous jamón bars, where windows were lined with hanging Iberian hams and locals stood shoulder to shoulder at long counters enjoying paper-thin slices of Jamón Ibérico, a glass of wine or a beer and a quick bite to eat. These casual lunches became some of our favourite food experiences because they felt authentic and gave us the chance to sample a wonderful variety of local produce.

In the evenings, we preferred sitting down in a restaurant, ordering a leisurely meal and reflecting on everything we’d seen during the day. It became a rhythm we both enjoyed—simple lunches, relaxed dinners and the freedom to experience Madrid’s food culture in different ways.

Progressive Traveller Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Try Something Different

One of the biggest lessons I learnt on this trip had nothing to do with famous attractions.

I’d order a coffee and it would arrive differently from what I expected. I’d point to a pastry behind the glass, only to be handed something completely different. At first it caught me by surprise, but I soon realised that was part of the adventure.

I never sent anything back. Instead, I embraced it and hoped I’d stumbled across a delicious new favourite.

More often than not, I had.

Travel has taught me that you don’t have to understand every menu or order perfectly every time. Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you never intended to make.

What Surprised Me Most About Madrid

After travelling through Seville, Córdoba and Granada, Madrid immediately felt different. As Spain’s largest city and commercial centre, it has a more cosmopolitan feel, with wider boulevards, international shopping, elegant business districts and a faster pace than the historic cities we had just visited.

What surprised me most, though, was that despite its size, Madrid never felt overwhelming. Staying in the Sol district meant we could walk to almost every attraction on our itinerary, while the Metro made it easy to explore neighbourhoods further afield, including Salamanca. Everything felt organised, accessible and surprisingly easy to navigate.

Another pleasant surprise was how comfortable I felt exploring the city. Having visited Barcelona several times over the years, I’ve become accustomed to being especially mindful of my belongings in busy tourist areas. Madrid had a noticeably different feel. The same was true in Seville, Córdoba and Granada. Arlie and I happily wandered the streets during the day and into the evening, enjoying cafés, restaurants and neighbourhoods without feeling like we constantly needed to be on guard. As with any major city, sensible precautions are always worthwhile, but throughout our time in Madrid we felt safe, welcomed and comfortable exploring independently.

Perhaps the biggest surprise was just how much I enjoyed my second visit. Without the pressure of trying to see everything, I found myself appreciating the simple moments just as much as the famous landmarks. Stopping for a coffee, wandering through elegant streets, discovering the history of the Palace Hotel or relaxing in El Retiro Park all became highlights in their own right.

Madrid reminded me that some cities don’t need to shout to make an impression. They quietly grow on you, and before you know it, you’re already looking forward to coming back.

Practical Tips for Visiting Madrid

🎟️ Take Advantage of Free Museum Hours

Several of Madrid’s major museums offer free entry during certain times of the week.

• Prado Museum – Free entry Monday to Saturday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and Sundays and public holidays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
• Reina Sofía Museum – Free during selected evening hours and Sunday afternoons.
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum – Free entry on selected days and times.

Keep in mind these sessions are popular, so arrive early and expect queues.

🎫 Book Popular Attractions in Advance

The Royal Palace, Prado Museum and some special exhibitions often sell out, particularly during spring, summer and school holidays. Booking online before you arrive can save both time and disappointment.

🚇 Use the Metro

Madrid’s Metro is clean, affordable and easy to navigate. While you’ll probably walk to many attractions if you’re staying in the city centre, the Metro is the quickest way to reach neighbourhoods like Salamanca or to travel to and from the airport.

🚶 Wear Comfortable Walking Shoes

Madrid is surprisingly walkable, but you’ll quickly discover that a full day of sightseeing can easily add up to 15,000–20,000 steps. Comfortable footwear is essential.

💧 Carry a Reusable Water Bottle

Madrid’s tap water is excellent to drink, and you’ll find public drinking fountains in many parks, including El Retiro. Refilling a water bottle throughout the day is an easy way to stay hydrated, especially during summer.

☀️ Don’t Underestimate the Summer Heat

Summer temperatures regularly exceed 35°C, particularly in July and August. Start sightseeing early, take advantage of air-conditioned museums during the hottest part of the day, and plan a leisurely lunch before heading out again later in the afternoon.

👜 Stay Aware of Your Belongings

Although we found Madrid to feel relaxed and welcoming, it’s still one of Europe’s major capitals. As with any large city, keep an eye on your belongings in crowded areas, on public transport and around popular attractions.

💳 Contactless Payments Are Widely Accepted

Credit cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, from restaurants and cafés to Metro stations and small shops. Carrying a small amount of cash can still be useful for markets or the occasional independent business.

💡 Progressive Traveller Tip

Don’t try to see everything. Choose the attractions that genuinely interest you, leave time to wander, stop for a coffee or a leisurely lunch, and be open to unexpected discoveries. One of my favourite memories in Madrid wasn’t on my itinerary at all—it was walking into the historic Palace Hotel for a cocktail and learning about its fascinating history from the bartender.

Final Thoughts

Madrid was the perfect way to conclude our time in Spain. It surprised me with its walkability, elegant neighbourhoods, vibrant food culture and the ease with which we explored the city. After travelling through Barcelona, Seville, Córdoba and Granada, it offered a different perspective on Spain—more cosmopolitan, yet just as welcoming.

What I’ll remember most, though, isn’t just the Royal Palace, El Retiro Park or the Prado Museum. It’s sharing those experiences with my best friend of nearly 50 years.

Arlie and I laughed until our sides hurt, walked countless kilometres in the summer heat, occasionally became hot and bothered when things didn’t quite go to plan, and probably enjoyed one glass of Spanish wine more than we intended on more than one occasion. Through it all, we smiled, adapted and simply enjoyed every moment of the journey.

Our time in Spain came to an end when we flew out of Madrid to Montenegro, where my husband Paul joined us for the next chapter of our European adventure. As we left Spain behind, I realised it wasn’t the famous landmarks I’d remember most. It was the conversations over long lunches, the laughter after taking another wrong turn, discovering places we hadn’t planned to visit, and the privilege of sharing another unforgettable adventure with one of my oldest friends.

Years from now, I may not remember every street we wandered or every attraction we visited, but I’ll always remember the laughter, the friendship and the experiences we shared. For me, that’s what travel is really about. The destinations may inspire us, but it’s the people we travel with who create the memories that stay with us forever.

Continue Exploring Spain

Madrid may have been the final stop on our Spanish adventure, but it was only one chapter of an unforgettable journey.

Over several weeks, Arlie and I travelled across Spain by high-speed train, discovering vibrant cities, remarkable history, spectacular architecture and some of the best food we’ve enjoyed anywhere in Europe. Each destination had its own personality, and together they created an itinerary I’d happily recommend to anyone visiting Spain for the first time.

If you’re planning your own Spanish adventure, these guides may help you build the perfect itinerary:

• Barcelona – Make the most of a 12-hour stopover and discover why this vibrant city deserves much longer.
• Seville – Explore colourful streets, magnificent architecture, flamenco and one of Spain’s most captivating cities.
• Córdoba – Visit the spectacular Mezquita-Catedral, wander the historic Jewish Quarter and discover why Córdoba deserves more than a day trip.
• Granada – Experience the breathtaking Alhambra, the Albaicín and the unique atmosphere of Sacromonte.

One of the things I loved most about travelling through Spain was how easy it was to move between cities. The high-speed rail network made each journey comfortable and efficient, allowing us to spend less time travelling and more time exploring. If you’re visiting Spain for the first time, I’d encourage you to experience more than one destination—you’ll quickly discover that every city has its own unique story to tell.