The PERFECT Trip to Madrid Spain! Best Things to Do & Eat (Travel Guide)

Summary

Two enthusiastic travelers embark on a journey to explore Madrid, Spain, showcasing the city's best offerings through a series of exciting experiences. They visit iconic landmarks like Plaza Callao, Plaza Mayor, and the Royal Palace, indulge in traditional Spanish tapas and dishes like cochinillo, cocido, and churros con chocolate, and marvel at hidden gems like the Retiro Park and the Mercado Vallahermosa. The script captures their infectious energy as they navigate the bustling streets, uncover historical treasures, and immerse themselves in the vibrant culture, providing a tantalizing glimpse into the delights that await in this captivating city.

Takeaways

• 😃 The excitement of exploring Madrid is palpable, promising a blend of top attractions and hidden gems in the city.
• 📺 Plaza Callao, likened to Times Square, stands as Madrid's busiest plaza, showcasing the vibrant city life with its crowded spaces and billboards.
• 🏠 The historic Plaza Mayor, dating back to 1620, serves as a cultural hub, offering a glimpse into Madrid's rich history with its architecture, events, and local cuisine.
• 🍖 Exploring Madrid's culinary scene reveals a mix of traditional Spanish tapas and international flavors, highlighting local favorites like sangria, vermouth, and morcilla.
• 🏛 The Royal Palace of Madrid, described as larger than Versailles and Buckingham Palace, offers a majestic tour experience, showcasing its baroque and neoclassical designs.
• 🍴 The oldest restaurant in the world, Botin, and other historic eateries offer traditional Spanish dishes like cochinillo and cocido, enriching the gastronomic journey.
• 🎨 Madrid's "Holy Trinity" of art museums, including the Prado and contemporary galleries, present a vast collection of masterpieces from different eras.
• 🍞 Churros con chocolate, a quintessential Madrid breakfast, provides a sweet start to the day at the renowned San Gines cafe.
• 🌲 Retiro Park, once royal gardens, now offers a green oasis in the city, perfect for relaxation and leisure in the midst of urban life.
• 🏖 The Temple of Debod and Principe Pio offer stunning sunset views and a historical perspective, enriching the cultural experience in Madrid.
• 🍺 The tradition of tapas crawling, moving from bar to bar to enjoy small plates and drinks, embodies the local dining culture and offers a taste of Madrid's social life.

Q & A

What makes Plaza Callao in Madrid comparable to Times Square in New York?

Plaza Callao is considered Madrid's version of Times Square due to its status as the busiest plaza in the city, the high volume of vehicles passing through (up to 51,000), its capacity to hold 10,000 people at once, and the presence of numerous billboards, making it a vibrant and bustling hub similar to Times Square.

Why is Plaza Mayor significant in Madrid's history?

Plaza Mayor holds historical significance as it was the center of social and public events in historic Madrid since its opening in 1620 by King Philip III. It was used for bullfights, fiestas, executions, and concerts, showcasing its central role in the city's cultural and social life.

What is the recommended way to experience authentic local food outside of tourist areas in Madrid?

The script suggests avoiding dining in very touristy areas like Plaza Mayor due to higher prices and recommends walking a few blocks outside of such locations to discover hidden gems that offer great prices and a much more local vibe for an authentic dining experience.

What is unique about the tapas at Miga Cana in Vallahermosa, Madrid?

Miga Cana in Vallahermosa offers traditional Spanish tapas along with specialty items, such as brioche with crab and langostine topped with a lovely lime mayonnaise, and a unique version of salmorejo made with cherries and green apple, showcasing an innovative take on classic dishes.

Why is vermouth recommended over sangria as a traditional drink in Madrid?

Vermouth is recommended as it is considered Spain's national drink, offering a traditional and authentic taste experience with its apéritif qualities and anise flavor, which contrasts with the more commonly known but less traditional choice of sangria for tourists.

What sets the Royal Palace of Madrid apart from other European palaces?

The Royal Palace of Madrid is distinguished by its size, being double the size of Versailles and almost double that of Buckingham Palace, and its extensive history and architectural design, with over 3,500 rooms and a history that dates back to its construction orders in 1738 by King Philip V.

Why is the Mercado de San Miguel considered touristy, and what alternative was suggested?

The Mercado de San Miguel is considered touristy due to its popularity among visitors seeking fresh goods and tapas, leading to a less authentic experience. As an alternative, the script suggests visiting other markets like Mercado Antone Martin or Vallahermosa for a more authentic local experience.

What historical events took place in Retiro Park, Madrid?

Retiro Park was originally built by King Philip IV in 1640 as private gardens and opened to the public in 1838. Historically, it has seen significant events, including being the site of the 1808 battle against Napoleon and playing a role in the uprising that started the Spanish Civil War in 1936.

How does Get Your Guide enhance the travel experience in Madrid?

Get Your Guide offers an online booking service for various tours and experiences, allowing travelers to easily book guided tours, such as to the Royal Palace, and skip lines for attractions. This enhances the travel experience by providing convenient access to educational and immersive activities.

What culinary recommendation is given for a traditional and heavy Spanish meal?

For a traditional and hearty Spanish meal, the script recommends trying cocido, a stew made with chicken, various pork cuts, potatoes, and garbanzos, cooked in a clay pot over coals for five hours, embodying a warming and filling dish typically enjoyed in the winter.

Outlines

00:00

🏰 Exploring Madrid's Charm and Cuisine

The script opens with an enthusiastic welcome to Madrid, promising a blend of popular attractions and lesser-known spots. The narrators share their awe at the city's vibrant Plaza Callao, likening it to Time Square, and highlight the historic Plaza Mayor, known for its significant past events and current tourist appeal. They caution against dining in the touristic areas, suggesting instead that visitors seek out local gems for authentic experiences. The journey continues to various markets, including Vallahermosa for international cuisines, and introduces traditional Spanish dishes, emphasizing the importance of trying local drinks like vermouth over the more well-known sangria. The segment concludes with a guided tour of the Royal Palace, sponsored by Get Your Guide, showcasing the palace's grandeur and recommending early booking for a complete experience.

05:03

🎨 Cultural Deep-Dive: Palaces, Cuisine, and Museums

This section delves into the rich history and cultural offerings of Madrid. The Royal Palace, described as larger than Versailles, offers an insightful tour revealing its luxurious interiors and architectural marvels. Dining experiences at historical restaurants like Botin and Posada de La Villa showcase traditional Spanish cuisines, including cochinillo and cocido. The narrative emphasizes Madrid's commitment to preserving its heritage, from the world's oldest restaurant to meticulously restored buildings. The exploration extends to Madrid's Holy Trinity of art museums, starting with the Prado Museum's vast collection spanning centuries of artwork. The day is sweetened with a visit to San Gines for churros con chocolate, a Madrid staple. The script captures Madrid's blend of monumental history, culinary delights, and artistic treasures, inviting viewers to experience the city's unique allure.

10:07

🌳 Madrid's Green Heart and Artistic Soul

The journey continues with an exploration of Madrid's natural and artistic splendors. The narrators visit Retiro Park, a sprawling green oasis offering a serene escape from urban life, and share its history as royal gardens turned public haven. The script highlights the Prado Museum's inability to accommodate filming but teases the upcoming visit to a more modern museum with works by Dali and Picasso. A traditional breakfast of churros con chocolate at San Gines introduces another facet of Madrid's culinary scene. The narrative emphasizes Madrid's rich history, from the construction of iconic streets and monuments to the strategic significance of the Bank of Spain. The segment concludes with an appreciation for Madrid's capacity to blend historical preservation with natural beauty and artistic expression.

15:09

🌇 Sunset Views and Tapas Trails

The script captures the essence of Madrid's vibrant nightlife and culinary scene, beginning with a trek across the city to Principe Pio for stunning sunset views and the historical Temple of Debod. The narrators emphasize the city's parks and green spaces as vital parts of its charm. The evening continues with a tapas crawl, a traditional Spanish practice of enjoying small dishes and drinks at various bars, showcasing Madrid's dynamic food scene with innovative takes on classic dishes. The journey concludes with recommendations for experiencing Madrid's tapas culture authentically, suggesting a move from bar to bar to sample local specialties and ending the day with a reflection on the city's ability to offer unique, memorable dining experiences.

20:10

🍴 Culinary Finale and Historical Reflections

In the final segment, the script focuses on a last culinary adventure in Madrid, highlighting the Asurian dish cochopo at a recommended local spot. The narrators share interactions with locals who affirm the quality of the dining experience, suggesting a broad range of dishes beyond the highlighted veal dish. The segment also touches on desserts from Galicia, emphasizing the richness of Spain's regional cuisines. A brief, humorous confusion about the Hagia Sophia reflects the script's casual tone. The segment concludes the Madrid journey with a nod to the city's historical depth, culinary richness, and the warmth of its people, encouraging viewers to explore beyond the surface of tourist spots for a more authentic experience.

Keywords

💡Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor is a central plaza in the city of Madrid, known for its historical significance and architectural beauty. It was first opened in 1620 by King Phillip III, who is commemorated with a statue in the center. Historically, the plaza has been a hub for various events, including bullfights, fiestas, executions, and concerts, with balconies surrounding the plaza for spectators. The script mentions its transition from a historical center to a tourist attraction, with hotels, bars, and shops around it, highlighting the evolution of public spaces in cities and their role in both local culture and the tourism industry.

💡Mercado de San Miguel

The Mercado de San Miguel, located next to the Plaza Mayor, is described as a historic market in Madrid where visitors can find fresh goods like meats and cheeses, alongside many tapas restaurants. Although it offers a nice atmosphere, the script notes it as very touristy, suggesting a preference for more authentic local experiences. This highlights the contrast between tourist attractions and local hidden gems, emphasizing the search for authenticity in travel experiences.

💡Royal Palace

The Royal Palace in Madrid is depicted as an architectural marvel and a significant historical site. It's described as the largest palace in Western Europe, surpassing even the size of Versailles and Buckingham Palace. Built on the site of a ninth-century Islamic fortress, it showcases baroque and neoclassical designs. The Palace's size, history, and the opulence of its interior, with hand-painted frescoes and massive chandeliers, underscore the grandeur of Spanish monarchy and the country's rich history. The script's mention of its guided tours and the limited filming permissions inside adds a layer of exclusivity and intrigue to the visitor experience.

💡Tapas

Tapas are a variety of small, savory Spanish dishes, often served as a snack with drinks, or with several dishes making up a full meal. The script emphasizes tapas as a quintessential part of Spanish cuisine and culture, mentioning traditional dishes like sangria, paella, and more innovative ones like brioche with crab and langostine. The mention of tapas highlights the diversity of Spanish food and the social aspect of eating in Spain, where moving from bar to bar ('tapear') to sample different tapas is a popular way to enjoy food and company.

💡Retiro Park

Retiro Park, as described in the script, is a vast, lush green space in Madrid, offering a tranquil escape from the urban environment. Originally the private gardens of King Phillip IV, it was opened to the public in the 19th century. The park's history, size, and beauty, including manicured gardens and fountains, underscore its role as a vital public space for relaxation, leisure, and cultural events. The script's reference to Retiro Park illustrates the importance of green spaces in urban settings for enhancing quality of life.

💡Prado Museum

The Prado Museum is one of Madrid's most renowned art museums, holding a vast collection of European art from the 12th to the early 20th century. The script mentions the museum's long lines and the advantage of using services like Get Your Guide to skip these lines, highlighting the museum's popularity and cultural significance. The inability to film inside adds a note of exclusivity and preservation to the experience, urging visitors to see its collections in person. The Prado Museum represents the rich artistic heritage of Spain and its role in global art history.

💡Cocido

Cocido, mentioned as a traditional stew in the script, is a quintessential Spanish dish made from a variety of meats, vegetables, and chickpeas, slow-cooked together. It's highlighted as a hearty, comforting meal, especially suitable for the colder months. The script's focus on cocido at a historic restaurant underscores the significance of traditional cuisine in cultural identity and the pursuit of authentic local dining experiences by travelers.

💡Churros con Chocolate

Churros con chocolate, a popular Spanish snack or breakfast item consisting of fried dough served with thick hot chocolate for dipping, is depicted as a must-try delicacy in Madrid. The script's mention of San Gines, a renowned establishment for churros, highlights the culinary tradition and the city's vibrant food culture, offering insights into local customs and preferences.

💡Gran Via

Gran Via is mentioned as one of the busiest streets in Madrid, known for its shopping, dining, and vibrant nightlife. The script's comparison of Plaza Callao to Times Square, with its location along Gran Via, underscores the area's significance as a bustling urban center and a popular destination for both locals and tourists. This illustrates the role of major streets and plazas in shaping the character and social life of a city.

💡Sangria and Vermouth

Sangria and vermouth are presented as iconic Spanish drinks, with sangria being a popular choice among tourists and vermouth highlighted as the national drink, enjoyed before meals as an aperitivo. The script's mention of these beverages not only introduces viewers to Spanish culinary traditions but also to the social and cultural practices surrounding food and drink in Spain, offering a taste of local life.

Highlights

I'm so excited. I'm so excited.

We are so excited to be showing you around this city over the next few days and showing you some of the best things to do, eat, and see.

We're gonna be showing you some of the top spots as well as a few hidden gems, here that a lot of people don't know about.

Right now we are standing in Plaza Callao, which is like their Time Square. It is the busiest Plaza in the entire city.

No trip to Madrid would be complete without visiting the Plaza Mayor or the main square.

If you're looking for more of an authentic experience, I highly recommend going to some of the other markets that are around town, several of which have now been turned into more international indoor food, markets.

One food from Spain that I absolutely love is morcilla, which is blood sausage.

This morning we are headed to the Royal Palace with a two hour guided tour that we booked with Get Your Guide.

We've learned that the palace is the largest in Eastern Europe. It is double the size of Versailles.

Today we came to one of the historic restaurants in Madrid. Botin is known for being the oldest restaurant in the world and the Guinness Books of World Records.

If you thought what we showed you was opulent, let me just tell you. The other rooms that we couldn't show you were so much more grand and ornate and incredible.

Madrid has a Holy Trinity of museums where you can find three fantastic art, museums that are world renowned.

Nothing quite kicks off a morning in Madrid like churros con chocolate.

I think this might be my favorite thing that we've done in Madrid so far.

It's absolutely beautiful. Can you imagine just getting to stroll this as your private residence have been a King or a Queen or in those days is insane.

10 out of 10 experience. This park is absolutely lovely. Such a hidden oasis to get you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

There's a beautiful park here. It's also a really cool Egyptian temple called the Temple of Debod.

I'm really looking forward to the sense that I think it's going to be epic.

Transcripts

I'm so excited. I'm so excited.

Oh my gosh. Welcome to Madrid.

We are so excited to be showing you around this city over the next few days and showing you some of the best things to do, eat, and see.

I'm speechless.

This thing is massive.

We're gonna be showing you some of the top spots as well as a few hidden gems

here that a lot of people don't know about. Oh my God, look at that.

I think this might be my favorite thing that we've done in Madrid so far.

Right now we are standing in Plaza Callao, which is like their Time Square.

It is the busiest Plaza in the entire city.

As many as 51,000 vehicles pass through these intersections and it can hold

10,000 people at one time. There are billboards everywhere.

It is absolutely packed with people. It is such a vibe.

It's also right along Gran Villa, which is one of the busiest streets in Madrid,

and it is just a short walk to the Plaza Mayor.

No trip to Madrid would be complete without visiting the Plaza Mayor or the main square.

This first opened in 1620 by King Phillip III.

They have a statue in the center dedicated to him.

And this plaza was the hub for everything back in historic Madrid.

They would use this for bull fights, fiestas, executions, also concerts.

There's balconies surrounding the entire plaza that they would watch these events from.

Now they are hotel rooms that give you eight gorgeous vantage point.

And below you'll find tons of cute little bars and restaurants and shops.

We're not personally dining or drinking at any of them just because it is a very

touristy area and the prices are higher and if you just walk a few blocks

outside of the plaza,

you can find so many hidden gems with great prices and a much more local vibe.

A lot of people like to go to the Mercado de San Miguel,

which is right next to the Plaza Mayor.

It's a historic market where you can find fresh goods like meats, cheeses,

tons of little tapas restaurants. It's a really nice atmosphere,

but it's very touristy. If you're looking for more of an authentic experience,

I highly recommend going to some of the other markets that are around town,

several of which have now been turned into more international indoor food

markets. There's Mercado Antone Martin, but today we came to Vallahermosa,

which is on the north side of town. Our first stop of the the day is Miga Cana.

You can get a lot of the traditional Spanish tapas here.

They also have specialty items,

so we ordered a brioche with crab and langostine,

which is crawfish and a lovely lime mayonnaise.

And we got salmorejo which is a cold soup made normally with tomatoes,

garlic bread and olive oil.

This one uses cherries and it has green apple in it. I'm very excited about it.

Mm-Hmm, what'd.

You do? Did you make a mess? Oh my God, stop making a mess.

I can't not make a mess. You know who I am.

This is like a monster sandwich.

I'm not quite sure if I should just eat it or cut it. I'm just going to eat it.

I have radish in there some lettuce. Ooh, really good .

There's a lot of traditional things you should try when coming to Spain.

Sangria and paella I think are the first thing that comes to everybody's mind.

Sangria is delicious and you can definitely order it here,

but vermouth is actually their national drink,

so I highly recommend trying either white or red vermouth that kind of has like

a little bit of an apertivo anise

flavor to it gets your digestive juices flowing and it's really,

really refreshing and delicious. It smells like a Christmas day.

It does smell like Christmas.

Mm.

One food from Spain that I absolutely love is morcilla,

which is blood sausage.

It's kind of an off-put thing to hear for people who are not familiar with it,

but I promise it is so tasty. They add rice and spices and put it in a casing.

This one does not disappoint in any way, shape, or form.

Speechless. This thing is massive. We love Spanish food,

but this is week seven for us being in this country and this is a really great

international market with a lot of food to offer than just traditional Spanish

tapas. We came to a pastrami spot. We got this spicy Serrano pastrami.

They use a really high quality brisket for this and they brine it themselves for

five weeks. Look at that.

This

morning we are headed to the Royal Palace with a two hour guided tour that we

booked with Get Your Guide.

Who's the sponsor of this video?

Get Your Guide is eight online booking service that offers thousands of

different experiences and tours and cities across the world.

Anytime we visit a new city, we always make sure to check get your Guide.

They offer everything from cooking classes and food tours,

sightseeing and history, and we've used them in Barcelona and now in Madrid,

and we always love our experiences.

We're gonna have links for all of the activities including this exact tour in

the video description below. So when you're visiting Madrid,

you can make the most of your time in this beautiful city. I think the.

Tour is starting.

I'm so excited. I'm so excited. We've been on a.

Bridgerton kick,

so I'm like very time period oriented with this and I feel like I'm living a

little bit of my Bridgeton life.

We've learned that the palace is the largest in Eastern Europe.

It is double the size of Versailles.

It's almost double the size of Buckingham Palace.

It doesn't look that grand from the outside. Well,

I mean it does look very grand from the outside. I was about to say ,

But it's deceiving because there's four levels below the ground,

which is why it is one of the largest palaces.

They used to have 6,000 people working here in order to make this palace be

a reality. The king and queen actually don't live here today.

They have a separate residence. They do come back here for formal events,

but they stopped living here in 1931.

We're only gonna be able to film in the two first rooms and they're gonna be

visiting 25 other rooms on this tour,

which you're not allowed to take pictures or videos there.

Spain's Royal Palace was built under orders from King Philip V in 1738 was built

on top of the former site of a ninth century Islamic fortress.

The building was built with baroque and neoclassical designs by three Italian

architects.

It took 18 years to complete and when finished occupied over 1.4 million square

feet, no expense was spared on the palace's design.

Nearly every room had hand painted frescoes on the ceilings gilded in gold and

massive chandeliers. Over its 260 year history.

The Palace has undergone only minor cosmetic changes,

very much looks as it would have under King Philip V's rule.

That tour was absolutely fantastic.

We were only able to show you a fraction of what we even saw.

I don't even think we saw a full 1% of the 3,500 rooms here.

If you thought what we showed you was opulent, let me just tell you.

The other rooms that we couldn't show you were so much more grand and

ornate and incredible.

The amount of money and work and care that went into crafting these rooms is

unreal. You definitely have to come see this for yourself.

These tickets sell out really fast.

This is something you want to book before you arrive and I definitely recommend

the 9:45 AM tour.

It's the earliest tour they open at 10:00 AM you can also upgrade to do a

kitchen tour because the kitchen was a completely separate area.

Downside that's only offered in Spanish three times a day. Don't forget,

we'll have a link down below for you to book this tour yourself.

Today we came to one of the historic restaurants in Madrid.

Botin is known for being the oldest restaurant in the world and the Guinness

Books of World Records. It's been open for over 300 years.

They specialize in cochinillo which is a baby suckling pig that is slow roasted.

It comes from the region of Segovia.

We've tried it there at one of the famous restaurants and it is absolutely

incredible. We weren't able to get a reservation there,

so you do want to book early if you'd like to dine there. Instead,

we came to Posada de La Villa to try cocido and it's one of my favorite things

to eat in all of Spain, but I don't think a lot of people know about it.

It's a traditional stew in all the ingredients like chicken ro,

a bunch of different type of pork and they put potatoes and garbanzos.

They just put it in this old clay pot and cook it over coals for five hours.

This is a really cool building. It was built in 1642.

It was the old mill for this area and it went abandoned first several years

until a developer put millions of dollars rebuilding it and turning it into this

restaurant and they've done such a beautiful job.

It feels like you're stepping into a restaurant from 1642.

But if you also want to try Lechazo, they are known for that at this restaurant.

It is a slow roasted lamb, which is a specialty of this region as well.

We've had lechazo before and it is magnific,

but cocido is going to be a belly buster. It is a very heavy plate.

These croquettes are good.

The soup or the sopa is the first course and it comes with little flat noodles

called fideaus. This is my favorite part of the soup honestly.

I could just have the broth. Oh,

so you just get a lot of fat in the mouthfeel,

but it's so light and refreshing at the same time.

We're gonna have so much leftovers. This,

this whole pot is just the first course of this and it's at least half

full.

This is not something you'd want to come to order in the summertime though.

It is a very warming meal. This is typically bound in wintertime. This is

enough to feed four people. , this plate is massive. We have cabbage,

chicken, chorizo, morcilla (blood sausage), potato, carrot,

actual bones with bone marrow,

and then we have some pieces of really juicy fat bacon with garbanzos.

You can mix it with the soup if you'd like or you can just eat it separately.

Everyone has their own little method of eating cocido.

I don't even know where to begin. The garbanzos are,

I think the best we've had with the cocido. They're really flavorful.

We didn't even put a dent in it. It's ridiculous. I'm so full. Yeah.

We did get a doggy bag though. Yes! We're taking this home.

It's gonna be like lunch for two days.

We're going to have a chupito and then siesta.

Two hours later.

Madrid has a Holy Trinity of museums where you can find three fantastic art

museums that are world renowned.

We're gonna be going to two of them today starting at the Prado Museum.

We just arrived and the line to buy tickets is literally around the building.

It is massive, but because we use Get Your Guide,

we get to skip the line and go straight in and I'm pretty sure the tickets are

like the same price. If not like a Euro difference. Well worth it.

We can't film here unfortunately.

We will be able to show you some of the artwork from the next museum.

We're going to. This one is known for older pieces from the 13th, 14th, 15th,

16th century, and I have collections from all across the world.

This museum is massive.

We spent about three hours in there with an audio guide and we only saw one

floor.

I would plan to spend all day or much longer than three hours 'cause we only

scratch the surface.

The next museum we're gonna be going to has a lot more modern contemporary

artists. You'll find things like Dali, Goya, Picasso, which we really enjoy.

Nothing quite kicks off a morning in Madrid like churros con chocolate.

This sweet treat is very famous for breakfast.

It's deep fried dough that you dip in this thick, sweet, rich,

beautiful chocolate. It is heaven.

We came to an institution which is San Gines.

This has been here since 1894 and is by far the most famous spot for

getting churros con chocolate.

Normally you'll find a line that goes around the block, so be prepared to wait.

But luckily we came around 11:00 AM on a Tuesday and it's not too busy.

We were able to snag a spot. Hmm,

. It's so delicious. Oh my gosh. .

I might like this one more. Really? You get more chocolate on the surface area.

Ah. I would suggest if you're not a chocolate lover, skip this dish.

But if you like a sweet treat.

The

City of Madrid dates back to 865 AD so there's a lot of history here,

but most of the buildings that you're gonna see date back to the 17th and 18th

century.

We're walking right now on Calle Alcala,

which is one of the most historic streets.

It's also where you'll find a lot of the important monuments for Madrid,

like the Bank of Spain and the Cibeles Fountain.

You haven't watched Casa de Papel.

It's a fantastic show that is based here in Madrid where they break into the

Bank of Spain and the Mint.

There really is a gold vault below the Bank of Spain,

about 37 feet below the fountain,

which holds like billions of dollars in gold.

We're gonna get out of this crazy intersection and head to Retiro Park,

which is like the central Park of Madrid.

Being in Retiro Park is so refreshing.

We've spent now two weeks in the city and Madrid and Barcelona are stunning,

but they are completely cement cities,

which is massive buildings and you just don't really get much nature.

And this is over 300 acres of lush trees,

beautiful manicured gardens and fountains.

It is a true oasis in the city.

Retiro Park was actually built by King Phillip IV in 1640.

This was his private gardens. They had his Duke purchased the land,

which at the time that it was purchased,

made up about half the size of the city of Madrid. And then in 1838,

Queen Isabelle decided to make it open to the public,

opening the nine gates in the park.

You'll just find people from all walks of life's tourists,

locals walking their dogs, people having a nice little picnic,

people doing yoga in the park. It is absolutely beautiful.

I think this might be my favorite thing that we've done in Madrid so far.

If you're looking for a really romantic like day date,

you could easily pack a little picnic,

grab some jamon and cheeses and a bottle of wine.

Come have a little lunch here or snack here and then go for a row boat ride

on the lake.

The rose gardens here alone are just breathtaking.

Can you imagine just getting to stroll this as your private residence have been

a King or a Queen or in those days is insane. The gardens have changed a lot.

This whole area has changed a lot over the years.

It used to be like interconnected waterways and canal systems mostly,

and there was some areas of greenery in between.

The King even had gondolas shipped in from Italy so he could traverse the

waterways. They would have plays here. What a grand time. Only for the wealthy,

though. So really not that grand of a time.

10 out of 10 experience. This park is absolutely lovely.

Such a hidden oasis to get you away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We're now heading all the way across town so that we can get to an iconic

spot for the sunset, but it's gonna be a long haul to get there.

There is a metro system in Madrid, but it's not the most well connected,

especially compared to like Barcelona. You can also take the bus,

you can rent bikes. There's like e scooters that you can rent as well.

And of course you can take a taxi or Uber. We're going to take the metro,

but it will include like a 40 minute journey to get there.

At least we're walking through the park. I'm not mad about that.

It's absolutely beautiful. ,

we made it to Principe Pio, which is the highest point Madrid,

giving you absolutely stunning vistas of the city.

And of course one of the reasons it is such a popular spot for Sunset.

There's a beautiful park here.

It's also a really cool Egyptian temple called the Temple of Debod.

This was built in Egypt in the second century and it was gifted to Madrid and

Egypt where it was located.

They were building a dam and it was gonna be flooded, so a donation.

It was rebuilt stone by stone here in the city center and opened in 1976

to the public. It faces east and west just as it would've if it was in Egypt.

I'm sure that has something to do with the original purpose of the temple. Oh,

and another fun fact. This part has a lot of history to it.

This is where the 1808 battle took place against Napoleon.

There was like mass executions when Napoleon's troops came in against the

rebels.

This is also where the uprising happened that started the Spanish Civil War in

1936. Once again, I am impressed with the Parks of Madrid for sure.

This is a lovely green space.

There's a lot of people just reading this chilling out after work.

I'm really looking forward to the sense that I think it's going to be epic.

Now it's time for some tapas and some drinks. So tapas,

you're supposed to move from place to place.

It's actually a verb tapear which is to go from place to place eating small

snacks and having a drink with each one.

You can absolutely go and just sit down and order a bunch of tapas at one place,

but it's really not how the locals consume tapas.

You're supposed to move from bar to bar,

eating tapas and having a drink at each place and asking what their specialty

is. There's tons of like local traditional tapas that you can order.

A lot of the restaurants will put like a spin on it. For example,

this place we order croquetas,

which normally comes with bechamel and jamon inside and they deep fry it.

These however are made with blue cheese and sun dried tomato.

We've never seen that before, so we had to order them.

This place is known for their tortilla de patatas.

But they only serve it in the morning to early afternoon. So unfortunately,

we are not going to taste test that. It's one of our favorites to eat. Hmm,

funky .

Our second stop on our tapa crawl is down at the street, Cava Baja.

There's so many different tapas restaurants that you can come to making it a

really popular place to do a tapa of crawl and most of the restaurants on the

street are absolutely fantastic. We came to Casa Lucas,

we've been here many times before. They're known for the croquetas,

but today we got their other specialty, which is the Rabo de Toro.

In other words, the bull tail. It sounds like a really odd piece of meat to eat,

but is actually quite tender and delicious and it is a byproduct of bull

fighting. They put it on a puree of potatoes with some olive oil and crushed up

pistachios. Just as good as I remembered.

Our last stop is Huevos de Lucio. They have two sides. Actually.

We recommended this spot from our friends, Carmen and Poeo.

They specialize in huevos rotos.

Which is french fries with two beautifully fried eggs on

top that you end up cutting or breaking, which is roto.

And then you just cut it in all of the juice from the huevos like kind of sops

into the french fries. It's heavenly. They normally have this for dinner.

This is a very typical dinner dish if you were just in a traditional Spanish

home and we ended up adding chistorra,

which is a special type of sausage from Basque Country.

It looks like little chorizos but it's not .

It's so simple, which I think is the beauty of it.

It's our last day in Madrid, so it's our last chance to enjoy Spanish food.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm not ready for it. We came to El Cogoll de La Descaraga.

It's a cute little restaurant, just a three minute walk from the Plaza Mayor,

which is I think somewhat of a hidden gem among tourists.

This came as a recommendation from our Uber driver who has not steared us wrong

so far. I'm excited. It's like perfectly tender

has just the right spice level. We ordered cochopo which is an Asurian dish,

which is a region in Spain.

They take two very thinly pounded veal slices and then they stuff it with cheese

and ham. So it's almost like a schnitzel and a cordon blue,

but Spanish style. And then they bread it and they fry it.

It is absolutely fantastic and this place is known for it. Oh my God,

look at that! Wow.

We ended up having someone watching us as we were talking on YouTube who was

like, I just wanna let you know this truly is my favorite place.

I'm from Madrid, this is one of my favorite places to visit.

She did recommend trying to steak or any of the mariscos. Also,

if they have pulpo, or octopus, for the day, you should ask for that.

So don't just go for the cochopo,

although it is fantastic and if you've never tried it,

it's a great place to do so. But they have a lot more to offer here.

And the owner, Miguel, here is the sweetest.

He is so friendly and brought us more desserts.

So these are two are desserts from Galicia. Both are made from almendras,

or almonds. It's called Teja,

which is like the roof tiles they use here in Spain because it kind of resembles

that. And the other one is called the Tarta de Santiago. So good!

Oh.

But now we're off to eat. San Fran in the house.

San Fran in the house, bro. The Hagia Sophia or not Hagia Sophia.

That's in Istanbul.

Oh my God. Okay.

. I.

I didn't understand that part. We're just gonna act like did.