2 Days in Madrid – a guide for older travellers

A 2-day Madrid sample itinerary for mature travellers:¶

Day one:¶

Begin at the Madrid Royal Palace - which was one of the first places I visited. I didn't go inside, but even from the outside it was beautiful and impressive. The scale of the building and the surrounding architecture really give you a feel for Madrid's history.

From there, head towards Plaza Mayor. The square is surrounded by beautiful historic buildings and there are plenty of places nearby to stop for something to eat or drink.

Next take in Gran Vía, the main shopping district, which was one of my favourite parts of Madrid. The architecture along Gran Vía is fantastic and I loved wandering along the street, looking at the buildings and browsing the shops.

There are also lots of restaurants around Gran Vía, so it's a good place to head for dinner.

I found that simply wandering around Madrid and taking in the architecture was one of the highlights of the trip. You don't necessarily need to have a packed sightseeing schedule to enjoy the city.

Day two:¶

Santiago Bernabéu, home of Real Madrid.

The stadium itself was amazing to see. One of the highlights for me was the panoramic view across the stadium, as well as seeing the Champions League trophies. If you're a football fan, it's an impressive experience.

We paid €102 for two people to do the stadium tour, but I did feel that the tour was too spread out. It covers seven floors and there was a lot of walking between different parts of the experience. 

There is a cheaper way to get a view of the stadium.

The Starbucks inside the Bernabéu can be accessed without buying a stadium tour ticket. You can go in and walk up a flight of stairs, where you can see the pitch and stands.

So, if you just want to see inside the stadium and get that all-important photograph, you can do it without paying for the full tour.

After the Bernabéu, head towards El Retiro. A Stunning park and boating lake. An excellent change of pace from the busy city streets and a good opportunity to slow down and enjoy some greenery.

If the Santiago Bernabeu if not for you, head to The Prado Museum which houses collections of European art.

Where to stay¶

I stayed at the Meliá Castilla in paseo castellana, a beautiful four-star hotel which was a great base for exploring Madrid.

The location worked particularly well for me. It was quiet enough to feel relaxing, but still easy to get to and from the centre by bus or taxi. After a busy day sightseeing, it was lovely to have somewhere peaceful to return to.

The hotel also has a swimming pool, which was perfect for my August trip. After spending time exploring Madrid in the heat, being able to come back and relax by the pool was a real bonus - even though the water temperature was quite cold!

I also ate at the hotel for many of my meals. There were plenty of options available, which was particularly convenient on days when I didn't want to head back into the centre for food.

Travel¶

Taxis in Madrid seemed very cheap compared with London prices, so I was more than happy to use them when I didn't want to walk too far. I was also impressed with the standard of driving. The roads often seemed to have more space between lanes than I'm used to in London, and sometimes the taxis would use underground tunnels to avoid the traffic, which was an experience in itself!

The buses were easy enough to use, although some routes were better than others in the August heat. The number 27 from paseo castellana towards Cibeles was very busy and hot, as was the 203 airport express. The number 5 also took me from paseo castellan to Cibeles but was much quieter, although it took slightly longer.

I also used the number 147 from paseo castellana which took considerably longer but got me to within around a ten-minute walk of the Royal Palace.

I didn't use the Metro during my trip. I'd heard it could be very busy and very hot, so I decided that buses and taxis were a more comfortable option for me.

One of the other things I'd recommend is learning a little Spanish before you go. I can speak Spanish to a conversational standard and found it came in very handy in Madrid. Most people spoke good English, but whenever I approached someone in Spanish, they were incredibly friendly and helpful. On several occasions, people went out of their way to point me in the right direction or help me work out which bus I needed.

Food in Madrid¶

Madrid has plenty of options when it comes to food, particularly around Gran Vía, where there are restaurants and cafés everywhere.

One notable meal out for me was at Vips, just outside the hotel. It looked a little like an American diner, but it's a Spanish chain restaurant. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the food was lovely and it turned out to be a convenient option.

For me, one of the advantages of staying at the Meliá Castilla was being able to eat at the hotel on some days rather than having to travel back into the city every evening.

Quick Summary: 2 Days in Madrid¶

Day 1

• Royal Palace
• Plaza Mayor
• Gran Vía
• Shopping and Ale-Hop
• Explore Madrid's architecture
• Lunch or dinner around Gran Vía

Day 2

• Santiago Bernabéu stadium
• Panoramic stadium view
• Champions League trophies
• El Retiro
• Cibeles
• Prado and other galleries
• Relax by the hotel pool

Madrid was a fantastic short-break destination. It offers a wonderful combination of history, culture, shopping, food and some truly spectacular architecture.

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