Madrid 💃 Our Grand Spanish Finale

Madrid 💃 Our Grand Spanish Finale

After nine days of soaking up rays and generally pretending to be sophisticated Europeans in the Canary Islands – Tenerife and Gran Canaria, if you’re asking – our Spanish odyssey was drawing to a close.

Madrid, the grand dame of Spain, was to be our final hurrah. It felt rather fitting, actually, having kicked off our adventure with fleeting (but fabulous) visits to Girona and Barcelona. A nice symmetrical journey, from coast to capital.

Highlights

• Metro Magic & Taxi Tales
• Where to Rest Your Weary Head
• A Whirlwind of Culture & Cuisine
• Where to Eat & What to Do 💃 
• Book the Espahotel Gran Via
• Girona Stopover 🍲 Where to Stay
• Things We Carry on the Train/Plane
• Our Spain & Canaries Itinerary

Metro Magic & Taxi Tales

Our plane deposited us rather late in the evening at Madrid airport.

The immediate concern, as it always is when you’re jet-lagged and carrying luggage that feels suspiciously heavier than when you packed it, was how straightforward our journey into the city would prove to be.

And, of course, the perennial traveler’s question: would our chosen hotel, strategically planted on the Gran Vía, live up to its online promises? The anticipation was almost as palpable as the slight grumble in my stomach.

Madrid, it turns out, is well-equipped for the weary traveler. It boasts an extensive metro system that spiders its way from every airport terminal right into the city centre. A true blessing, especially when your brain is operating on fumes and the thought of deciphering complicated bus routes fills you with dread.

Our particular pilgrimage, from Terminal 2 to Plaza de España (which handily sits at the western end of the Gran Vía, our stomping ground), set us back a mere €4.50 each. A small price to pay for sanity, I’d argue.

The journey itself is surprisingly uncomplicated, provided you pay a modicum of attention. From the airport, you hop onto Line 8 (the pink one, for visual learners). Five stops later, you disembark at Nuevos Ministerios. This is your transfer point, where you’ll bravely switch to Line 10 (the dark blue one) heading in the direction of Puerta del Sur.

Another four stops, and voilà, you spill out onto Plaza de España (see Madrid Metro Map).

It’s almost foolproof, a testament to logical city planning. Almost. There’s always that one moment you wonder if you’ve gone the right way, isn’t there?

Harry Potter & Chucky featured among the other visitors to Madrid

For those who prefer their transfers with less subterranean navigation and more direct comfort (or perhaps those weighed down by significantly more luggage than we possessed), Madrid also offers a rather civilised taxi service.

The best bit? It’s regulated with a fixed price. A glorious €33 will get you a one-way trip from the airport to anywhere within the city limits (destinations within the M-30 ring road). This applies at any time, day or night. No haggling, no suspicious meter surges, just a straightforward transaction. A welcome relief after being fleeced by taxi drivers in other parts of the world (not that we’re naming names, of course).

This fixed fare applies to all registered taxis, so you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Madrid’s vibrant city center

Where to Rest Your Weary Head (& save some dosh)

For our three nights in the capital, we had shrewdly (or so we hoped) secured digs at the Espahotel Gran Via. Its name, as you might deduce, rather aptly sums up its location: towards the northern end of the Gran Vía, slap-bang in Madrid’s very lively city centre.

We coughed up €66 per night for a small apartment, a price that included all the necessary taxes but excluded breakfast.

This breakfast omission wasn’t an oversight, you understand. We’d rather optimistically calculated that the immediate vicinity of the hotel would be teeming with breakfast options. And, as it transpired, our optimism was well-placed. The area was practically overflowing with cafés, bakeries, and small eateries, each vying for our morning custom.

A pleasant discovery, as there’s nothing worse than being held hostage by overpriced hotel breakfast buffets when a perfectly good pastry shop beckons just outside.

Book the Espahotel Gran Via

Our studio apartment itself was, as described, compact. Think “cozy,” not “cavernous.”

But it was clean, crucially. And functional, which is really all you can ask for after a long day of sightseeing (or airport-transfer anxiety).

The crowning glory was a charming view of the Royal Palace. It added a certain regal touch to our morning coffee, even if the coffee itself was instant and brewed in a tiny kitchenette.

Ah yes, the kitchenette! This is where the Espahotel truly shone. A small, but perfectly formed, kitchenette within our room proved to be an absolute game-changer. It’s a significant bonus when you’re staying in a city where eating out constantly can swiftly deplete your travel fund.

Being able to whip up a quick breakfast, or even a simple evening meal, saved us a fair few euros and allowed us to splurge on other, more exciting things (like more tapas, obviously).

Madrid airport transfers & where to stay

A Whirlwind of Culture, Cuisine & Questionable Entertainment

Three days in a city as sprawling and culturally dense as Madrid might seem like a mere blink. And, in fairness, it is.

Our agenda was, shall we say, ambitious. We were on a mission to cram as much culture, art, and general Spanish-ness into those 72 hours as humanly possible.

First on the hit list were the big hitters: the Thyssen Museum and the Prado Museum. Because what’s a trip to Madrid without immersing yourself in masterpieces by Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco? 🖼️ (though, after a few hours, even the most ardent art lover starts to develop “museum feet” and a craving for churros.)

The majestic Royal Palace also beckoned, promising grandiosity and a peek into Spain’s royal history. One simply must pay homage to the monarchy, even if it’s just from behind a velvet rope 🥴

For a different perspective (and perhaps to give our aching feet a break), we yearned for an elevated view of the city. The Cable Car seemed the perfect solution, offering panoramic vistas and a chance to truly appreciate Madrid’s sprawling urban tapestry from above 🚡

We also harboured a morbid curiosity to visit the Bullfight Arena. Controversial, perhaps, but undeniably a part of Spanish tradition and history, whether you agree with it or not 🐂

And as the sun dipped below the horizon, our thoughts inevitably turned to evening entertainment.

A dinner and Flamenco show was non-negotiable. The passionate stomping, the intricate guitar work, the soulful singing – it’s an experience that feels uniquely Spanish and utterly captivating. Even if you’re merely nodding along awkwardly, pretending to understand the intense emotions being conveyed.

Spanish Punch & Judy – ‘Así es como se hace!’

Beyond the obvious attractions, Madrid holds a rather unique claim to fame: Botín restaurant. Founded way back in 1725, it proudly holds the title of the oldest restaurant in the world, according to the venerable Guinness Book of Records.

As a touchstone of Madrid’s traditional cuisine, it felt like a pilgrimage that simply had to be made. The thought of dining in a place that has been serving up deliciousness for nearly three centuries is pretty compelling, even if it’s just to say you’ve been there.

All these adventures, and more (because trust me, Madrid has a lot more), are detailed in our dedicated Madrid Attractions and Eating Out guide.

Read the article

Suffice it to say, our three days were less of a relaxing break and more of a meticulously choreographed sprint through culture, history, and delicious food. And frankly, we wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The energy of Madrid, the late-night dinners, the sheer quantity of art – it leaves an impression, rather like a good red wine. One that lingers long after you’ve unpacked your souvenirs and found glitter in your hair.

If you enjoyed Madrid airport transfers & where to stay, check out Airlines, Airports & Transfers. You may also like:

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