Leaving behind beautiful Barcelona, we boarded Spain’s high-speed rail and made our way to Madrid, the country’s capital. While Barcelona is dripping with Gaudí’s colorful imagination, Madrid feels different. Sitting at the geographic center of Spain, Madrid is the heart of the nation’s history and culture.
Puerto del Sol
Speaking of hearts, every visit to Madrid eventually leads to Puerto del Sol, the symbolic center of the city. This bustling plaza isn’t just where thousands gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve each year; it’s also home to the famous Kilometer Zero, the point from which Spain’s national roads are measured. Standing watch over the square is one of Madrid’s most beloved symbols: the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (El Oso y el Madroño). The statue represents the city’s coat of arms and has become one of the most photographed landmarks in Spain. Folks line up to rub the tiny bears tail for good luck.
Plaza Mayor
Just a short stroll away sits the magnificent Plaza Mayor, one of Europe’s great public squares. Surrounded by beautiful red buildings and lined with cafés and restaurants, it once served as the center for public markets, celebrations, and royal events. For us, it was the perfect place to grab a drink and soak in the atmosphere. There’s something about sipping a glass of sangria while watching the world wander by that makes you feel like you’ve officially settled into Spanish life, even if it’s just for a moment.
One unexpected stop along our walk was the memorial marking the site of the assassination attempt on King Alfonso XIII in 1906. As the royal wedding procession passed through Madrid, an anarchist threw a bomb hidden inside a bouquet of flowers from a nearby balcony. The king and queen survived, but many innocent bystanders lost their lives. The memorial is one of those places you easily walk past if not for the great guide books of Rick Steves.
Royal Palace
One of the undeniable highlights of our time in Madrid was touring the Royal Palace. With more than 3,400 rooms, it’s the largest functioning royal palace in Europe. From glittering chandeliers and hand-painted ceilings to priceless artwork, intricate tapestries, and furniture fit for, well… a king. While Spain’s royal family no longer lives here, the palace is still used for official state ceremonies.
Not everything we discovered was historic, though.
Pérez Ratón
Scattered throughout the city are small bronze statues of Pérez Ratón, Spain’s version of the Tooth Fairy. Instead of a fairy collecting children’s lost teeth, Spanish children leave them for a clever little mouse. Finding references to him throughout Madrid was a fun side adventure.
Casa de Botín
After our less-than-successful taste of tapas in Barcelona, we were ready for a more satisfying food experience in Madrid. We found it at Casa Botín, recognized as the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant. Established in 1725, the restaurant has served everyone from royalty to famous writers—including Ernest Hemingway. Our meal here was fantastic.
Tender roast suckling pork was the star and a dining room that felt like stepping back three centuries—it was exactly the kind of meal we had been hoping to experience in Spain. We left full and happy.
No trip to Madrid would be complete without a stop at Chocolatería San Ginés, the city’s legendary destination for churros con chocolate. Since 1894, locals and tourists alike have lined up for crispy, freshly fried churros paired with a cup of thick, velvety hot chocolate made specifically for dipping. It was rich, indulgent, and absolutely worth the hype—a sweet ending to our time in Spain’s capital.
Madrid will win you over with grand plazas, royal palaces, fascinating history, and just enough quirky traditions to keep you smiling. We arrived with a sightseeing checklist and left with full stomachs, sore feet, and enough stories to fill the ride to our next destination. Madrid definately stole a little piece of our hearts.
If you enjoyed this post, check out our other posts on our visit to Spain including; Barcelona, Seville (coming soon), and Andalusia (also comng soon) for more travel inspiration.
Happy adventuring, Rochelle