Where to eat?
One of the best things to do in Madrid is eating:) The FOOD is delicious and cheap. If you are on a budget I recommend 100 Montaditos. You can choose from a wide array of mini ‘bocadillos’ with anything (tuna, sausage, goat cheese, ham, and much more) that cost from 1 € to 1.5 € and the drinks are also 1.5 €. I had a jug of ‘tinto de verano’ (a mix of red wine and lemonade) for 1.5 €.
If you are looking for a more quality eating experience, then I would recommend to eat at one of the Spanish restaurants in the neighborhood of ‘La Latina’. There, you will find more typical ‘tapas’ such as ‘pimientos del padrón’ (roasted green mini sweet peppers – only a few will be spicy), ‘chipirones’ (fried mini squid), ‘orejas de cerdo’ (pig’s ears – a delicatessen among the elderly and the youngs), and many more delicious things.
Speaking about food, did you know that it is very typical to have a ‘bocadillo de calamares‘ in Madrid? Well, then head to the Plaza Mayor and buy one from any bar and have it in this majestic square. You can feel like a local.
Where to go?
Parque El Retiro
El Circulo de Bellas Artes
You can access their rooftop with a lift for spectacular views of the city. This was recommended to me by someone from Madrid and it was great!
Sabatini Gardens
Whether you are a fan of the royal family and whether you are not, this is a place to see. If you don’t want to get in the palace you can still stroll around its impressive gardens, originally designed solely for the royal family use. Head down there at any time of the day and you won’t be disappointed.
Temple of Debod
Just after the Sabatini Gardens, you will find this Egyptian temple, reconstructed in Madrid in the big Parque del Oeste. This was given to the Spanish people from the Egyptians as a gift in exchange for the dam that was constructed in the Nile. The temple would have been flooded so the Spanish are doing a very good use of it. Another free and spectacular thing to do in the core of Madrid. The views on the city are also breathtaking. Being there raised my interest in knowing how many millions people live in the capital of Spain. I was impressed to learn that 10 millions souls call Madrid their home. Did you know that though? It comes just after London and Paris in the ranking of most populated cities in Europe. However, I find that it is an underrated city.
Tales from a Red Suitcase 