Day 2: Madrid

Tips:

• To visit Palace Royal, plan to get there at 10am before the tour buses start to arrive.
• You can watch a colourful changing of the guard on the first Weds of every month at 12pm (except in August and September).
•  Free admission to the Palace for EU Citizens on Monday to Friday from 4-6pm Oct to March (bring your passport or ID card if planning to visit during this time).

Day 2: Exploring Madrid

You can cover most of the capital’s main monuments and architectural highlights in just a day, so on day 2 of your trip to Madrid it’s all about whizzing around the sights.

Start your day experiencing historical Madrid at the Temple of Debod, before walking to the Royal Palace. You can get there via bus, or on the Metro to Plaza de Españaor. If travelling on the road by bus, keep an eye out for some of Madrid’s quirky art work…

Temple of Debod

Of all of Madrid’s fascinating sights, the Templo de Debod stands out as one of the most incongruous. It’s an Egyptian Temple, posted high on the edge of the Parque del Oeste.

It was sent to Spain block by block in 1968 as a gesture of thanks from the Egyptian government to Spanish architects in the Unesco team, who worked to save the monument after the creation of the Aswan Dam.

The temple is open to enter at certain times and also makes a spectacular trip if you manage to visit after sunset, because the temple itself is lit at dusk every night.

The gardens of the Parque del Oeste are not to be missed. If visiting during Spring you’ll be lucky enough to the rose gardens and cherry blossom in bloom.

Palacio Real

This one-time Royal residence is now only used for official state functions.  When visiting the grounds you can almost step back in time to imagine how previous King of Spain Felipe V, devised a plan to build a Palace that would dwarf all its European counterparts.

You can take a self-guided or guided tour inside to admire the lavish furnishings.

Chocolateria San Gines

Hidden beneath a back street, the experience here begins as soon as you start walking up the Pasadizo San Gines, with the echos of a local musician playing his guitar. This famous chocolateria has a real ‘no frills’ attitude to service, and you have to remember to pay and order before you sit down, despite there being no signs – so keep this in mind!

Chocolateria San Gines is the best place to eat churros in the city. In operation since 1894, the staff have perfected a smooth operation towards delivering this hot, fresh, sweet treat and mastered the art of creating scrumptious churros using pre-sweetened dough…

Open 24 hours a day, it’s too tempting not to enjoy one of Madrid’s signature treats – the churros are perfectly served and ready to dip into a pot of rich, dark chocolate!

Parque de El Retiro

Retiro Park (as it’s known locally) is the city’s best loved park and a well-known destination to explore on a sunny day. Inside the park there’s many beautiful sculptures and monuments waiting to be discovered, as well as street performers entertaining!

Historically known as the “big pond” – this green space has existed since the seventeenth century but was exclusively for members of the Monarchy only. It wasn’t until 1830, that the park was made accessible to the public. You’ll see the lake filled with rowing boats, as boat hire is available from Monday to Sunday (10:00am to 8:30pm).

The park offers a relaxing escape and is a perfect place to retreat to if you want to grab a picnic and admire the city’s green space.

Palacio de Cristal (“Crystal Palace”)

The “Crystal Palace” was originally a greenhouse built in 1887. It is now managed by the Reina Sofia Museum, and often plays host to various art exhibitions.

The Gin Club

Tucked away behind the Gran Vía is this gem of a bar offering an exclusive, chilled-out space for G&T’s fans to sample some of the best gins on the market.

It’s modern yet sophisticated, with over 40 gin brands on the menu – all paired with their own bespoke trimmings and hand mixed expertly into the most perfect G&T.

Evening meal: Restaurant Botín

For a traditional meal, book ahead at Restaurant Botín. Famous for holding the title of the world’s oldest restaurant (according to the Guinness Book of World Records).

Located off a quaint street called Calle de los Cuchilleros, this eatery dates back to 1725, and has a wealth of history – including being Ernest Hemingway’s favourite restaurant!

Spreading across four levels, it looks deceivingly small from outside and is authentically decorated with wooden panels and beams to create a charming ‘old world’ atmosphere.

If you dine upstairs you are likely to be seated next to Botín’s old cast iron ovens that have been roasting famous meats for over 300 years.

The most popular item on their menu is Botín’s suckling pig (cochinillo) and lamb (cordero lechal) dishes, which are both slow roasted and served with roasted potatoes.

I recommend Restaurant Botín as the no.1 ‘must visit’ restaurant for first-time visitors in Madrid. Book a table ahead to avoid disappoint, as it’s very popular with the tourists and locals alike – even the traditional Spanish deserts are too good not to try!