Three Perfect Days: A trip to Madrid

Begin day one with a light breakfast of coffee and pastries at El Patio Vertical, a small café across from CaixaForum Madrid. The cultural arts center has rotating exhibits inside but also dons an incredible “vertical garden” sprawling along the entire side of the building. The intricate greenery winding up the wall is a beautiful breakfast view.

Madrid is a city of creativity and art, flourishing with museums and exhibits of all kinds. My personal favorite is the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Named after Spain’s former queen, this museum houses 20^th century works from revered Spanish artists like Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. Among its collection is the museum’s crown jewel, Picasso’s infamous Guernica, which depicts civil war-torn Spain after the tragic Guernica bombing.

Another great option is the sprawling Museo Nacional del Prado. You can easily spend hours wandering its cavernous galleries and showrooms, which house the world’s most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings from greats like Francisco de Goya, El Greco and Diego Velázquez, including his most well-known work, Las Meninas. If you’re looking for an art museum that is actively participating in modern conversations and debates, I recommend checking out the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza. It houses a range of works created between the 13^th century and the present day but is often praised for its dedication to exploring diverse topics, like gender equality and climate change, through expertly-curated rotating exhibits and events.

Ready for lunch? Head to Los Rotos, a tapas bar on Calle de las Huertas. While the restaurant has a well-rounded tapas menu, its specialty is huevos rotos, which literally translates to “broken eggs.” Enjoy Madrid’s take on the dish, sunny side-up eggs with fried potatoes and your meat of choice, like jamón serrano or chorizo. Pair it with wine or a local Mahou beer for the perfect meal.

After your sobremesa chit-chat, head to the Real Jardín Botánico, right next to the famous Parque de El Retiro. Here, it's a choose-your-own urban nature activity. The Jardín Botánico has various outdoor gardens, greenhouses and walking trails, while El Retiro boasts an impressive rose garden, a lake with rowboats to rent and the Palacio De Cristal, a glass atrium modeled after London’s Crystal Palace, featuring marble sculptures and occasional art exhibits.

Afterward, stroll along the Calle de Alcalá, one of Madrid’s longest streets lined with monuments. Snap your obligatory “I went to Madrid” photos with the triumphal arch Puerta de Alcalá, the iconic Fuente de Cibeles and the Palacio de Cibeles, the city’s former palace of telecommunications. Another famous street is Gran Vía, a hub for shopping and nightlife.

All that walking probably has you craving dinner and a chair, so head over to the Círculo de Bellas Artes cultural center for Azotea del Círculo, a rooftop restaurant and bar with striking skyline views, especially at sunset. This spot gets packed, so a reservation is highly recommended. Start with a glass from the extensive wine collection, dive into chef Manuel Berganza’s vibrant menu and end the night with an indulgent dessert.

Start your morning with a Spanish staple: churros. And with two popular churrerías, Chocolatería Valor and Chocolatería San Ginés, just blocks away from each other, stop at both and participate in two of Madrid’s most colorful debates: Valor versus San Ginés and churros versus porras. Traditionally, Churros and porras use the same batter, but porras are much thicker and straight-shaped. I am personally a porras fan, but there is no wrong answer here.

As you have after-breakfast friendly arguments over churro preferences, walk to the Puerta del Sol, one of Madrid’s most iconic plazas. There, you’ll see Spain’s Kilometer Zero marker, Madrid’s representative statue called El Oso y El Madroño and the Instagram-worthy Tío Pepe neon sign advertising the popular sherry wine brand. If you have the time and stomach space, stop at the Pastelería La Mallorquina for divine baked goods and chocolate truffles, like napolitanas, pastries filled with cream or chocolate. The small bakery has no seating, so after you order step out to the plaza to enjoy your sweets outdoors. While there, buy a box of Violetas, Madrid’s well-loved hard candy flavored and colored by violet essence. They’re a great gift to take home.

Madrid’s other bustling square, Plaza Mayor, is equal parts iconic and beautiful. Grand balconies sit above restaurants and bars with outdoor seating spilling into the square. Once you’re ready for lunch, just outside the plaza you’ll find Cervecería La Campana, a go-to spot for traditional bocatas de calamares, large baguettes filled with fried calamari. I recommend a squeeze of lemon on top. Wait for a table or order at the takeout window for quick service.

If you’d prefer more of a sit-down, hearty meal, try Cocido Madrileño at Lhardy Restaurante. Cocido Madrileño, a traditional Spanish stew-slash-soup, is topped with chickpeas, vegetables and meat. There are dozens of versions, but the spread of fix-ins usually includes chickpeas, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, chicken, jamón fat (tocino), chorizo, morcilla sausage and beef shank. Traditionally, the broth comes separate from the toppings, making it customizable by preference. I usually go for chickpeas, potatoes, chicken and beef shank.

After lunch, stroll over to the magnificent Royal Palace of Madrid to explore its opulent halls and grand chambers. Immerse yourself in the intricate architecture and rich history of this iconic landmark. Each room tells a story, showcasing exquisite art and lush furnishings that reflect the palace’s regal heritage.

End the day with dinner and a show at Corral de la Morería, one of Madrid’s most renowned Flamenco tablaos. Feast on modern renditions of classic Spanish fare while dancers bring the soulful art form of Flamenco alive around you.

For your final day, head to the Malasaña neighborhood to Lolina Vintage Café, a bright, funky breakfast spot known for their toasts. Then, head down the block to Libros Para Un Mundo Mejor, which translates to “Books for a Better World.” This cozy secondhand bookstore is filled with fun Madrid-themed cards, stationery and stickers made in-house. You might see the friendly house dog, Lola, or the shy but adorable store cat if you’re lucky.

Spend the rest of your morning walking around Malasaña’s colorful, unique streets and neighboring Chueca, Madrid’s LGBTQ+ epicenter. Powerful street art decorates streets filled with small businesses and cute boutiques. If you’re shopping in this area, walk down Calle Fuencarral, an iconic shopping street which splits the two neighborhoods.

Once you’re ready for lunch, head to Mercado San Antón, a gourmet food hall in Chueca. While you can truly choose your own adventure here, I recommend stopping at El Bar de San Antón for croquetas de jamón, a well-loved tapa of fried croquettes filled with bechamel and serrano ham. Order generously; you’ll probably want to eat twenty by yourself.

After lunch, take a leisurely walk down the Gran Vía to visit the Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple rebuilt in a lush park in Madrid. Next door is the massive Parque del Oeste, with an impressive rose garden.

About a ten-minute walk from Templo de Debod is the Príncipe Pío metro station. Hop on the 10 metro line towards Tres Olivos. Take the 10 until the Santiago Bernabéu stop, which leaves you just a few minutes' walk from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of the Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. If you’re in Madrid during the season, you should definitely get tickets to a match, even if you’re not the biggest soccer fan. It’s an unparalleled atmosphere of spirit and energy as a fandom renowned for their devotion vibrates the entire stadium with their chants. Even if you can’t catch a game, the stadium houses a museum and a large official store for merch.

To wrap up your final night, head to Cazorla Restaurantes on Calle de San Germán for some late-night tapas. This spot is open until midnight and features tapas from all over Spain, particularly the southern region of Andalucía. Try gambas al ajillo, a garlic shrimp dish or rabo de toro (oxtail).

Madrid is a special city filled with art, music, architecture, sport and camaraderie. From staring in awe at paintings in El Reina Sofía to cheering with the roaring crowd after Real Madrid scores a goal to eating Cocido Madrileño at my grandparents’ house, anything I do in this city always fills my cup and warms my heart. I’m confident you’ll experience the same kind of magic while visiting Madrid.

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