We started and finished our Spanish summer vacation in Madrid, mostly because it was the cheapest flight to Europe in August. We planned the rest of our trip around it! On the front end, we just flew into Madrid airport and got our rental car to start the adventure. On the way back, we spent one night in Madrid before heading back home. Our time there was short, and we could’ve easily stayed longer with plenty to do.
WHAT TO DO:
Reina Sofia: By far, one of the best art museums I’ve been to. It had quite a mix of styles of art, including some very bizarre stuff. One highlight is the famous La Guernica. The museum had a large outdoor courtyard, but the nicely air conditioned indoor space provided respite from the sticky hot August weather. I am dreaming of that heat right now as we prepare for more winter weather in D.C. this weekend! Cue the urge to book future travel for something to look forward to. Italy summer 2022, here we come! Tip: There are times when the museum is free to enter, but the line was LONG. With Quinn in tow, we didn’t want to wait in the sweltering heat to save a little $.
Prado Museum: We didn’t make it, but they have El Greco, Velázquez, Rubens, and Goya. There are also opportunities to enter for free, but check for updated times on their website.
La Casa Encendida: This sounded really interesting. It’s an art/cultural exhibit space.
Plaza de Espana: In typical Pastrick travel fashion, I insisted on a long walk to see this. After a sweaty walk when we were on the verge of being too hungry, we came upon a massive construction site. We are 0 for 2 in seeing Plaza de Espanas in Spain (see our Sevilla trip)…
Royal Palace: They also have limited times where entry is free, but confirm on their website. I wish we had made it here, looks amazing!
TIPS:
August is obviously peak tourist/vacation season for Europeans, and it is HOT. Thankfully it didn’t feel oppressively humid and there was a light breeze, but be prepared.
Wander the streets for hidden art everywhere!
WHERE TO EAT:
Sanissimo: Gluten free and vegan options that were hearty enough for Steve
Pum Pum Cafe and Bakery: We went to their tiny bakery outpost for gluten free avocado toast and lattes. So millennial of us, but whatever. The walls were all glass doors slid open to make it a breezy indoor/outdoor space. Blink and you’ll miss it since it is so well tucked away.
If we had more time, I would’ve gone to Amazonico, a jungle-themed restaurant, and El Imparcial for their (dog friendly!) brunch. There are 2 food markets, San Miguel and San Fernando, that have a number of options in one place. We were not on Spanish time, so these spots weren’t really open when we were awake and hungry, though!
A friend who studied in Madrid suggested a number of rooftop spots (360 Rooftop Bar, Azotea del Circulo, and Nice To Meet You) but they would probably be more fun without a baby! Charming Quinn photo to make up for it:
WHERE TO STAY:
Hotel Urban: The hotel was very nice and conveniently located. They have a rooftop with a small pool. Public parking was easily accessible on the same block, although it took us a few tries to navigate the turns and make it into the garage. It was a short drive to the airport, making it easy to fuel up, drop the rental car, and get in the airport without stressing about traffic. I blame it on being overtired, but we COULD NOT figure out how to turn the lights off in the hotel room. To the point that we had to call someone up from the front desk. Talk about embarrassing. That was a first! Poor kid apologized profusely for them not explaining it at the front desk, but really, we were just idiots.
TRANSPORTATION
We had our rental car in Madrid, but parked it and left it. The city was hilly, but walkable. There is an airport express bus, taxi/ride share, and metro option. See a recap of San Sebastian, Bilbao, and traveling to Spain with a baby here. For older Spain recaps, see: Cordoba, Los Alcores, and Sevilla. Stay tuned for one last Spain recap: Valladolid!
