What better place to spend 4 days than the capital of Spain, Madrid ! Follow my four day itinerary to Madrid, Spain to make the most out of your trip !
Because I am traveling with Multiple Sclerosis, I like to plan things. I don’t want to walk from one side of the city to another so I group things (including restaurants) that are close together. If you too are traveling with Multiple Sclerosis, or are in some way handicapped, I hope this guide to the city helps you !
Day 1 Madrid
Monasterio del Corpus Christi
What better way to start your day than by ordering some sweets from nuns ? At this monastery, you will find your way in by ringing the doorbell. This bell is labeled ‘Horario : Venta de Dulces.’ Once inside, you can choose the cookies that you want. Because these are cloistered nuns, you don’t see them. Instead there is a turn table where you order and place your money. The nuns inside put your cookies on the turntable, take your cookies, and then your change. You never see the nuns, you only speak with them. What a charming treat and a great way to start your day !
Palacio Real de Madrid
The Royal Palace is the official residency of the royal family of Spain. There are over 3,000 rooms here but only 20-30 are open to the public. Which is good because just these rooms took 2-3 hours to visit !!
Lunch at Mercado de San Miguel
This is a covered market that was built in 1916. There are so many options to choose from to eat.
Catedral de Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena
This cathedral is located right next to the palace and it is free to go in.
After the Royal Palace, I was pretty tired, so I debated on whether or not I should stop here. But like all churches and cathedrals I visit, I found a pew and sat down and looked. I am not religious so I was not inclined to walk up a small flight of steps to touch the Madonna. Plus, I was tired, so I enjoyed sitting and looking.
Sunset Temple de Debod
Ok, this might be a little much for one day. It was for me, so we ended up going the next morning. I was overambitious trying to do all this in one day. With a disease like Multiple Sclerosis, plans always have to change because I never know how tired I will be. But if you have the energy, go see the sunset here. There is a great view of the city.
This is an ancient Egyptian temple that dates to the second century.
Due to the construction of the Aswan Dam, the temple was relocated to Madrid in 1960 as a sign of gratitude to the help provided by Spain.
You can visit this temple. You used to be able to line up and wait your turn, but starting in July 2024, you need a ticket. It is free but you have to reserve a time slot. So, if you want to visit, be sure to reserve your FREE timeslot in advance.
You also have a great view of the city from where the temple is located, so a great place to watch the sunset !
Apéritivo at Taberna la Concha
This bar is located on Calle de la Cava Baja. A street known for its many tapas bars. At this restaurant, they make their own vermouth. And it is delicious ! Start with a drink here then move on to another bar that serves tapas ! La Posada del Dragón is delicious and in this restaurant you can see the old city walls beneath glass floors.
Day 2
El Retiro Park
This is a nice, big park to explore. Be sure not to miss the glass house and big lake. You can even rent boats on the lake.
We went here in the morning when it is still a little cool. The temperatures in Madrid in August are brutal. And Multiple Sclerosis and heat do not mix well. Because of this, my outdoor activity was in the morning and I planned my afternoon and the hottest part of the day in an air conditioned museum.
Lunch at Rodilla
This is a small sandwich place very close to El Retiro park. I really enjoyed the sandwiches here. And it overlooked the La Puerta de Alcala, ahí está, ahí está, La Puerta de Alcalá. It’s a song. Give it a listen and míralá !
Prado Museum
This is a huge museum with a lot of great works of art to see. Plan your visit, because you won’t see it all in one day !
But take your time. It’s nice being in the air condition after being outside in the heat of Madrid !
Dinner Taberna Antonio Sánchez
This is a traditional restaurant with pictures of bull fights covering the walls. Be sure to make a reservation because it fills up fast.
Day 3 Madrid
Plaza Mayor
Have a relaxing morning in Plaza Mayor. This is the largest square in Madrid. It is tourist center, so if you eat here, it will typically be more expensive than other places. Note for travelers : If you go to very touristy areas in any city, the price will be higher !
If you must eat here, I recommend Don Calamar. Have you ever seen a calamari sandwich ? Because that’s what you must get here.
Puerta del Sol
It is here that you will find kilometer 0. And despite it’s name, it is not a door, but a plaza. You will also find the building that holds the ball that drops on NYE. My husband is from Spain, so this is what we watch at midnight as we eat our 12 grapes.
Lunch La Casa del Abuelo
There are lots of tapas restaurants in Madrid. If you go here, be sure to try the delicious garlic shrimp !
Museum Reina Sofia
Like the Prado, this is another famous art museum. My attraction to go here was mainly to see the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso. This painting portrays the atrocity that happened in the town of Guernica in the north of Spain. Franco was in power in Spain and Hitler in Germany. Franco allowed the Germans to test new artillery over the town of Guernica.
Dinner Bombilla Gastrobar
This is located in the Plaza de Santa Ana. It was very close to where we stayed so it made for a short walk home.
Day 4
TAPAS TOUR !
What better way to spend your last day in Madrid than by eating your way through the city ?? The best place to do this is on Calle de la Cave Baja. This street is full of tapas bars, and it is also full of tourist traps ! So, which restaurants to choose ?
I have not been to all of these bars, but I have heard good things. So prepare your stomachs for a day full of food.
I love this YouTube channel called Spain Revealed. I watched this video (7 Best Tapas Bars on Cava Baja | Madrid’s Most Famous Tapas Street (youtube.com)) before going to learn about the amazing tapas bars in Madrid. James and Yoly live in Madrid and have some great videos on Spain. Check out their channel before traveling to Spain !
Take a food tour with James here.
Read more about Spain in my blogs here :
Travel to Burgos, Spain, the Heart of Castille – Travel Blog (sarahallisonwonderland.com)
Best Day Trip from San Sebastián, Spain – Travel Blog (sarahallisonwonderland.com)
Best Restaurants in San Sebastian, Spain – Travel Blog (sarahallisonwonderland.com)
Solo Female Travel – Pamplona, Spain – Travel Blog (sarahallisonwonderland.com)
Day-trip from Barcelona : 5 Best Destinations – Travel Blog (sarahallisonwonderland.com)
5 day guide to Barcelona – Travel Blog (sarahallisonwonderland.com)
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