Several months ago, I traveled to Spain. My itinerary included Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid. What a wonderful trip, each city had its own unique character! Of the three cities, Madrid was my favorite and I couldn’t wait to get back. This trip, I was only able to squeeze in one weekend. If you are interested in reading about my previous trip to Spain you can learn more here. Let’s start with where to stay!
Where to Stay: Leonardo Hotel Madrid City Center
Selecting the right place to stay is key, especially when time is limited. This trip I wanted to spend more time in the City Center and wanted to stay in a hotel within walking distance of the center. I found the Leonardo Hotel City Center Madrid and am grateful that I did! Taking a red-eye flight from the US, I arrived four hours ahead of my check-in time and was dead tired. Much to my delight, my room was ready when I arrived at 11:00 am – what a treat! The room was nicely appointed and included all the comforts one could need – free wifi, air conditioning, tv, hairdryer, refrigerator, and safe. Several rooms even have balconies that overlook the city. Oh, and don’t forget to visit the fabulous restaurant and lounge on the first floor, I had the most amazing chocolate cake. Within a short walking distance from the Leonard Hotel Madrid City Center is the historical Madrid main street, The Gran Via, Plaza Colon and Paseo Castellana. The San Bernardo metro station is less than ¼ mile away, should you choose to venture further outside the City Center. Service at the hotel was beyond amazing! Leonardo Hotels have locations in 14 countries, with two properties in Madrid. I would definitely recommend this hotel, especially with this opportune location! The heart of the City Center is only a leisurely 25-minute walk from the hotel. I can’t wait to stay at another Leonardo Hotel soon! Additional locations and information about this outstanding hotel can be found here.
Day 1: Arrival and About-the-Town
As soon as I arrived in Madrid, I caught a taxi to the hotel at a flat rate of thirty euros. Once at the hotel around 11 in the morning, I settled into my room, refreshed and then headed off to my first tour of the day. My first stop was the Hop On & Off bus tour from the hotel – only a ten-minute walk from the pickup spot. This was my very first time taking a Hop On & Off bus tour; and it definitely will not be my last. The tour takes you on a route that includes stops at 27 sightseeing spots in Madrid! I didn’t have much time during my last trip to visit the Mercado San Miguel, so I made it my first stop this trip.If you haven’t had the opportunity to take a Hop On & Off tour, I would highly suggest trying one. I was surprised how informative it was. I was able to experience and learn about an historic city and culture all while relaxing on a comfortable bus. For lunch, I planned to stop at Mercado San Miguel, a food market with some really affordable prices! The last time I was there, I purchased a full-sized bottle of champagne for only five euros. Mercado San Miguel is one of my favorite places in Madrid.
After lunch, I hopped back on the Hop On & Off bus and headed back to the hotel for a nap. The last tour of the day was an evening Wine & Tapas Walking Experience. You can find similar tours with several price options from either Viator or Get Your Guide, which is the tour I booked. For only $22 (prepaid online) you can to eat and drink as much as you want for two hours! It was totally worth it. There was a large group and we went to three local tapas bars where we enjoyed wine, sangria, and beer! If you are interested in learning more about Tapas and the culture, I suggest booking one of these fun and informative tours! It was a perfect ending to a great day!
Day 2: Toledo
The second day I woke up super hungry, since all I had the night before was Tapas (small plates), so I went straight to a cafe called The Fix. It is a quaint and affordable coffee shop, perfect for breakfast! After coffee, I was on the way to my next tour; a day trip to Toledo! I booked a tour called “From Madrid: 5-Hour Toledo Tour & Zip Line Experience” from Get Your Guide. The entire experience was a little longer than five hours. The tour includes a private coach bus to and from Toledo, an hour-long guided tour and then the opportunity to explore the rest of the city on your own. The zip line experience was fun, but it was short. If you have been zip-lining before, I would not recommend this part. The city itself is like an immense museum, home to some of Spain’s top monuments. Toledo is also known as the City of 3 Cultures. For an extended period, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish residents lived together peacefully within its walls. The city’s old buildings incorporate both old Gothic and Renaissance architecture amongst quaint narrow streets and alleys. Since the city is so well-preserved, it is listed as both a National Monument and a World Heritage City by UNESCO. The tour was fantastic! I can’t believe how much I learned about the local culture; it was amazing!
By the time I arrived back in Madrid, I was exhausted and decided call room service and have dinner delivered. If you have ordered room service before, you know it is easy to get sticker shock. I could not believe how great this hotel is because everything on the room service menu was under ten euros! Yes, you heard me, it was that affordable, unless you are buying a bottle of wine then obviously it was more. My favorite dish was their chocolate cake! It was delicious.
Day 3: Parque del Oeste and Farewell
I decided to sleep today and ready myself for a 10-day trip to Ireland with many early morning tours to kick-off the trip. By the time I awoke, it was time for lunch. I found a cute sushi restaurant only a five-minute walk from the hotel called Sushita Cafe. If you like sushi, I definitely recommend this restaurant. After lunch, I went to explore Parque del Oeste one of the City’s parks. It is a gorgeous park! Just walking in a peaceful park can be great. One of the monuments in the park is the Temple of Debod, an Ancient Egyptian temple. I mentioned the Temple of Debod in my blog post on The Best Instagram Spots in Madrid, you can find it here. Later that night, I ended up at a cute burger bistro called LA H ES MUDA near hotel. It was super affordable for dinner and the burgers were great too!!
Such a great weekend! I also recommend the sights I blogged about during my first visit in Madrid! There are also many great things you can do during in a weekend stay. Remember, you can always read my last blog post about my 8-Day Spain Itinerary here, and The Best Instagram Spots in Madrid here for more details about Madrid.