48 Hours in Madrid

When it comes to traveling, I always enjoy one big vacation comprised of a few mini-trips. This past summer, I got to explore Madrid, Marrakech, and Lisbon. My friend and I started off in Madrid, as it was the cheapest flight from the US, between the 3 countries. Traveling within Europe and Northern Africa was quite easy and inexpensive. If you’ve only got 48 hours in Madrid and you’re looking to make the most of it, this post is for you!

Where to Stay

With such limited time in Madrid, you definitely want to stay in the central part of the city. There is no need to lose even a second of time to long uber rides in traffic. We stayed at the Hotel Petit Palace Plaza del Carmen. When they said “petit” they weren’t joking! Our room was quite small but definitely manageable for 2 people and just 2 days. Other than the size, the hotel was great – modern, clean, and great location. We only needed uber to and from the airport. Shopping, sightseeing, and lots of restaurants were all within a short walking distance.

If you enjoy shopping, Gran Via is the place to be. But please be warned – a 4-minute walk between me and that Zara was quite a dangerous arrangement. If you enjoy a quiet vacation, consider staying in Retiro. It’s home to Madrid’s most famous park (pictured above) and it’s slightly outside of the city center to avoid the hustle-and-bustle of a major city. Bear in mind, a lot of these places aren’t too far from each other. So if you’re that relaxed shopaholic who loves sightseeing, there’s no need to feel restricted.

Where to Eat

Madrid (and Spain in general) has some of the most amazing food I’ve ever had. Paella and sangria will have you dreaming about your trip months after you’ve left. Since we were only in Madrid for a short while, we made sure to ask the hotel concierge, locals, and tourists what restaurants had mouth-watering paella. After considering our options, we went with Los Galayos. Located right in Plaza Mayor, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy lunch with a beautiful view of the city. If you’re in Madrid for 2 hours, 2 days, or 2 weeks, you simply can’t afford to leave without having authentic Spanish paella. Paella is a priority.

What to Do

If you can only go to one place while in Madrid, I highly recommend going to Parque del Retiro. It is absolutely stunning, to say the least. The 300-acre park is adorned with the most beautiful flowers and trees, with various attractions throughout. The highlight of my time at the park was renting a boat and rowing across the lake for just 6 euros. We had no time limit, so there was plenty of time to take lots of pictures and marvel at the scenery. After the boat, we walked a very scenic journey to the Palacio de Cristal. This museum had various works of art, all made of glass.

For those who’d love a hands-on history lesson, consider doing a flamenco class and dinner. The experience started off with a 1 hour long tutorial on the history of flamenco dance. We had the opportunity to practice the passionate art form, before enjoying a flamenco show over a traditional Spanish dinner. I wasn’t a huge fan of this experience, but it would be unfair not to mention that it was our first stop after a nearly 24-hour journey to Spain. Even if you don’t care about Flamenco, Viator is a great resource for finding random tours, classes, and activities to do while on your trip.

Plan Ahead!

Whatever you decide to do, be sure to plan ahead! With just 48 hours, you can’t afford to go with the flow. Hopefully, this post will give you a better idea of how you’ll spend your quick getaway in Madrid!

 

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