5 Top Tips for a Weekend in Madrid

1. Learn basic Spanish

Because Spanish is such a widely spoken language, many Spaniards speak a limited amount of English. More importantly, I strongly believe that when you travel to a new country you should embrace and participate in that country’s culture as far as possible, and a huge part of this is language. So get on Duolingo, Drops, Memrise or whatever works for you and learn the basics.

2. Stay near the city centre

Puerta de Sol is in the centre of the city and has the highest concentration of hotels so I highly recommend this as a spot for first-timers. La Latina is a great place for budget travellers and those who enjoy nightlife. If you’re coming to Madrid primarily for the art and culture, Huertas is the place for you. Finally, if you’re into shopping, try Plaza de Espana, a more modern, commercial district

3. Come with an empty stomach and lots of energy

Madrid is lively, energetic and loves its food. Do not come to this city to relax, come to enjoy life and eat a lot. Also remember that the Spanish eat late and noon is a bit of a food dead zone. Lunch runs from 2 - 3.30pm and dinner from about 9pm. A hot tip: when you inevitably need a break in the day I recommend visiting one of Madrid’s parks and plazas and people-watching. Have a look there for my top Madrid food destinations for first-timers.

4. Watch the weather

Madrid is all about open spaces, parks and plazas. Some of my favourite moments in the city involved sitting in the sun, nibbling on a snack and watching the world go by. Don’t fret if it’s raining - good options on wet days include visiting the Royal palace, Mercado San Miguel or any of the city’s art galleries. Alternatively you can just park in a restaurant and have a long, leisurely lunch. Have a look at my top recommended tourist spots in Madrid for more.

5. Avoid tourist traps

There are a lot of these in Madrid. The biggest culprits are the bars and restaurants in Plaza Mayor. Some of these restaurants might be decent but it’s difficult to pick out the good from the frozen tapas. Also, if restaurants have their menu printed in 5 languages on a board the front of the shop, it’s not a great sign. Another great way to do a tourist-trap test is to check whether the eatery is full at 6pm (likely a tourist trap) or 9pm (likely the locals). Some websites say that Mercado de San Miguel is also a tourist trap and know it’s not the cheapest place but if you do it right and you want to taste small portions of very different types of food at once it’s not a bad option.