I kept forgetting that I was going to Madrid, which is understandable since my friend and I put our trip together in less than 24 hours. I really wanted to travel somewhere during my spring break, but didn’t have anyone to go with. I was talking with my friend and she mentioned she had a few days free and wanted to go to Spain, and I said, “Well, I would love to go to Spain.” And by midnight that same night we had plane tickets and an Airbnb booked. I was going to Spain! 

Honestly, one of the best parts about studying abroad is the opportunity to travel: you can take a plane for an hour and a half and you will be in a new country with a different language and culture. 

I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do once I was in Madrid, but knew I needed some sort of plan since I was only going to be there for two full days. I did a quick Google search of “Top 10 Things to Do in Madrid” and found a few things that really caught my attention. 

So without further ado here’s what I did and ate in Madrid… 

What I Did 

Museo del Prado: If you like looking at old art from Europe then this is place for you. Don’t be fooled by it’s less grandiose exterior, as they say it’s what is on the inside that counts.

Museo Reina Sofia: I preferred this museum, just because I’m a fan of modern art. I immediately fell in love when I discovered an Alexander Calder in the courtyard. Not to miss is Picasso’s Guernica, this piece absolutely took my breath away and no photographs can do it justice (you can’t take them in front of this piece anyway), it’s a piece you have to see in real life. There were also several other of Picasso’s pieces, along with rooms on Surrealism featuring one of the more well-known Surrealist artists, Salvador Dalí.

 I also really loved a temporary exhibition (sorry!) about this artist who I never heard of, Ulises Carrión. What caught my attention was the title of the exhibition “Dear reader. Don’t read.”, which comes from a diptych he did. I’m so glad I visited because his work is a mash-up of everything I love. It’s kind of impossible to pinpoint a medium for Carrión, there was such a variety from stamp art to video to sound pieces. I think I liked him so much because he engaged multiple senses and made me think. I immediately saw his work and thought, “I get it.” Maybe not exactly what he was thinking, but his work spoke to me. 

Palacio Real: I didn’t venture inside the palace, but that was mostly because I wanted to bask in the sunshine. Of course, there are lovely grounds filled with fountains and greenery that make this the perfect spot for enjoying the sun for tourists and locals alike. I soaked up the warmth on a bench near a fountain after taking some pictures. 

La Central: My new travel goal is visit a bookstore wherever I go. This bookstore is just off the Gran Vía (the main road) and has everything you could possibly want in a bookstore. There are a variety of genres available in different languages, but where I really spent most of my time is looking at all the journal and stationary. Also, they had a section filled with things to record your travels and I wanted all of it. The cafe also looked really nice and cozy.

Libreria Mujeres: This bookstore just peaked my curiosity because it’s dedicated to female authors and feminism. The titles are all in Spanish, but it was cool to see such a wide variety of books written by female authors both Spanish and international. 

Temple de Debod: Again I didn’t go inside, but I saw it from the outside. It’s an Egyptian temple in the middle of the city. I wandered up here more for the view of the city, which didn’t disappoint. 

El Oso y el Madroño: A must-visit to prove you have been to Madrid. It’s a statue of the bear and the tree that is on the crest of the city. 

What I Ate 

Pizza Emporio Preciados: It’s hard to go wrong with pizza, even though I didn’t end up ordering it. I was attracted to this place because of their fixed lunch menu (hey, I’m girl on a budget), but the main menu looked delicious. The food was tasty and I didn’t have to eat dinner later. I ordered the soup of the day (chicken), maccehoroni bolognese, and the chocolate cake. 

San Ginés: The best place to go for dessert or an afternoon pick-me-up. It’s very popular, but definitely not overrated. Noticing my friend and I’s hesitance the cashier ordered for us, which I’m assuming is what everyone comes here for: churros with chocolate.  

TaKos: Props to my friend for spotting this place as we were walking along. It was tasty and super cheap: all that food and two bottles of water for just 9 euros.

Taberna Malaspina: Again props to my friend, the queen of Yelp, she discovered this place and I’m so glad she did. A great place to experience one of the best parts of Spain (aside from the siesta): tapas. The atmosphere was really great and the food was even better.

Notes

• As with most touristy areas it was pretty easy to navigate even without speaking the language. However, if there’s one thing being abroad has taught me it’s that learning a few key words will make your whole experience a lot smoother. 
• Buying a pass for the metro was definitely worth it when I didn’t feel like walking anymore. It’s easy to navigate too, as it’s a pretty similar setup to Paris. 
• When in doubt, Uber out.
• Pay attention to the street signs, not just for navigational purposes, but aesthetic ones.  

• I think it would be easy to spend a week in Madrid, but two days was perfect to get a taste of the city.