In this Madrid Spain Travel Guide I’m going to share things to do and where to stay in Madrid. We stopped in Madrid on our Honeymoon and absolutely loved this vibrant city. It’s definitely a busier city with lots going on. I couldn’t believe how busy the streets were so late at night. It was obvious I hadn’t been to a big city in a little while. Although I’ll almost always opt for a smaller Spanish town or European city, Madrid was incredible and definitely worth visiting even if you only have a few days.
Things To Do In Madrid Spain
Visit Madrid Cafés
HanSo Café
We found HanSo Café by simply walking past and seeing a line up outside this Madrid cafe. Line-ups almost always mean that you won’t be disappointed because other people are willing to line up, which is rare these days. We stopped and got in line for coffee and yup, delicious! If you’re looking for a coffee to go (which tends to be rare in Spain), HanSo Café is a great option.
We only grabbed a coffee to go but the inside of this cafe was super cute and the food looked great. It was very busy and seemed a little chaotic inside because of how busy it was. In our opinion, there’s nothing better than grabbing a coffee and wandering the streets of Madrid.
Misión Café
Misión Café is a great cafe in Madrid. It’s definitely a favourite among locals and tourists. We were lucky that this cafe was located just around the corner from our hotel so we ended up going there a few times. We definitely recommend Misión Café. The coffee is great but they also have delicious food. The avocado toast is incredible and perfect for when you want a healthier option. The french toast is also amazing.
You can sit in and enjoy your coffee and meal in their cute cafe or you can grabbed baked goods to go. There’s an adjoining bakery called Bakehouse that bakes all of their pastries and breads. It’s no wonder our meals were so good with fresh baked bread being served!
The have lots of seating in the cafe. There are some tables, some chairs lined up at a high top counter, and a really unique tiered seating area. The white brick wall and modern pendant lights made the vibe of this cafe even better.
The Federal Café
The Federal Café is such a cute cafe in Madrid, Spain. The location of this cafe is amazing because it’s located right near a little park. Much to our excitement, there happened to be an art market happening right outside. If you appreciate a well designed cafe and modern vibe, this Madrid cafe is a must-visit.
Along with lots of table seating, they have really cute seats along the windows. We ordered coffees and shared the absolutely delicious french toast shown below.
Go To El Retiro Park
Another one of my top recommendations for things to do in Madrid is to visit El Retiro Park. It’s the perfect spot to wander with a coffee in hand, do a little people watching and enjoy this incredible park. There are so many different sections to this park, some busier than others depending on when you visit but we thoroughly enjoyed it.
As you can see in the picture below, there are some really incredible grassed areas where you could have a picnic, sit and read a book or simply relax.
In other parts of the park, there are street performers, snack vendors, a pond where you can rent a row boat (see picture below), and the beautiful Palacio de Cristal.
Palacio de Cristal
It’s worth heading to El Retiro Park in Madrid just to see the incredible Palacio de Cristal entirely glass building. When we were there it was closed for visitors inside but honestly, admiring this building from outside was truly amazing. I appreciate the attention to detail and incredible architecture. The glass windows looked a little bit cloudy in my pictures but this is because of the dust inside the building. I’m pretty sure they are renovating inside. I can only imagine how beautiful it will be when the glass windows are clean.
Check Out Local Craft Beer Bars
Taproom Madrid
When you’re travelling, it’s rare to go to the same place more than once because you usually want to maximize your time to explore new places. Well, this might be a first for us. We enjoyed our time at Taproom, a local craft beer bar in Madrid, so much that we went back for a second time. Not only did they have a generous selection of craft beers to choose from and trendy exposed brick vibes, the staff were awesome. We usually opt to sit at the bar because it’s the best chance to chat with the bartenders and meet the locals.
They have 8 locations across Madrid, Spain.
Visit Local Markets
Mercado de San Miguel
If you’re a foodie and want to experience different Spanish foods, baked goods or a glass of wine, all under one roof, this food market is highly recommended. Along with the vendor booths, the iron building itself is really neat.
Where To Stay In Madrid Spain
Dear Hotel Madrid: Madrid Hotel With Rooftop Pool
Dear Hotel Madrid is where we stayed and it was perfect for our needs. It’s located on a busy downtown street that’s perfect if you want to experience the Madrid nightlife or prefer the city life. The best part of Dear Hotel Madrid is the rooftop bar and pool. This truly made our trip so much better. This rooftop bar had the most incredible views of Madrid. Even if you don’t stay at this hotel, you should visit the rooftop for happy hour and take in the views. It was my favourite part of our visit in Madrid.
Petit Palace Posadad del Peine is where my parents and in-laws stayed in Madrid and highly recommend it. When we visit Madrid again, this is where we will stay. My parents were so happy with the location and being one of the oldest hotels in Madrid, if not the oldest, it’s full of character and European charm.
