Europe: Spain (Madrid)

Madrid: Spain’s Capital City

Madrid is the first foreign city I ever visited back in 2013, and I keep coming back here. I love the Buen Retiro park with its paddle boats, the Palacio de Cristal behind it, the Plaza Mayor town square, and the nearby Oso en el Madroño (Bear in the tree, symbol of Madrid). And my absolute favorite is the Palacio Real, one of the most opulent palaces I’ve ever seen.

I always take a picture with my foot on Kilometer Zero, the origin of all roads in Spain. It also doesn’t hurt that our former exchange student Celia and her family live in Madrid, which was the reason for our visit in 2018 when our kids were just 4, 6, and 8. Together, we toured the stadium and trophy room of Real Madrid, one of Spain’s best professional soccer clubs.

There are also a lot of great day trips from Madrid. Segovia, the town with the best preserved Roman Aqueduct, and Toledo, a medieval city, are my two favorites.

Plaza Mayor

This old town square has restaurants, souvenir shops, and a candy store that I love. It’s also the site of meetings and protests. Yes, the restaurants in the Plaza are a little pricier and more touristic, but I still enjoy a good calamari sandwich while people watching.

Palacio de Cristal

The Glass Palace behind the gardens of the Retiro park is in the shape of a Greek cross. It is used as a museum to host different art exhibits. It’s great to visit… but it does get a little hot in the middle of the day during the summer for obvious reasons. Plan accordingly.

Parque de Buen Retiro

If you find yourself in need of a rest from the busy city life, go the the Buen Retiro park! Here’s their website where you can see all the photos and activities: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/estanque-grande-de-el-retiro

Kilometer Zero

From kilometer zero, all highways in Spain originate. It makes a great photo op on any trip!

Palacio Real

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the royal family but is only used for state visits and official ceremonies. It has over 3,000 rooms, and each one is opulently decorated with gold leaf, silk, porcelain, and other luxurious materials. It can be overwhelming to the senses, but the visit is worth the 14 euros (7 for kids!) for admission.

Palacio Real

This chandelier is just one example of the elaborate decor in the palace.

Segovia

This is the ancient Roman aqueduct in Segovia. This town is so safe that I stayed out late even though I had six kids with me. We walked, ate gelato, and watched the locals unwind. There’s also a great castle here!

Toledo

There are so many awesome lookout points for seeing the medieval sections of Toledo. If you go, be sure to see the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Iglesia de Santo Tomé, and the Alcazar de Toledo (a castle fortress).

Iglesia de Santa María

I love this church because it has been a mosque, temple, and cathedral. There are styles and remnants from each group that has used this unique building for worship and gathering.

Food in Madrid

Spain is famous for its hams (jamón ibérico and jamón serrano especially), cheeses like queso manchego, calamari sandwiches, tapas (small shared plates, which can be anything from octopus to stewed ox tail), and churros and chocolate. Spanish food is fresh, mediterranean cuisine at its finest.