Times like these, it feels a little strange to be writing a travel blog about Madrid. And yet, there are certain activities we can already recommend for your next visit of the Spanish capital city, based on our recent trip there. We spent our days exploring downtown Madrid with #BabyTraveller Liam, and all the while I’ve told him things of when I lived here myself, some fifteen years ago, as a young student. Exciting!
These are the days: Spending an afternoon at the trendy, cosy “Toma Café”, run by my dear friend Patricia …
… and heading out of town for one day, too, visiting El Escorial Palace about one hour from Madrid.
Our journey to Madrid this time was from Seville, and it took us only about two and a half hours on the Spanish AVE high speed train. Easy, and very comfortable, also with baby on board!
Downtown Madrid stroll: Mercado de San Miguel, Malasaña, Templo de Debod.
Despite the weather (it’s a cold drizzle, and quite windy during the winter days we visit), we nevertheless find enough reasons to be joyful. The main one? It so happens that our friends Angelika and Heinz from home have chosen to spend the exact same days in Madrid as we, even taking the exact same plane home! One of life’s wonderful coincidences. Liam thus benefits from having his godmother around, and I get to show off some old navigation skills through downtown Madrid. So happy to be walking here again, and allowing ourselves to be swept up by the vibrant pace of the capital city.
Winter days in Madrid …
… we take refuge from the cold drizzling rain in the comfortably heated Mercado de San Miguel, near Plaza Mayor …
… where I just had to have “my Bocadillo de Calamares”, as I’ve already enjoyed it during my student days (only the price has risen since …!) …
… we continue with a little exploration of the downtown district of Madrid Malasaña …
… heading over to this view of “Palacio Real” – Royal Palace of Madrid in the background …
… as from this area …
… around Templo de Debod, you get to enjoy nice open views and opportunities for picnics, too (in better weather).
Don’t miss a visit to either of the two TOMA Cafés in town, picture taken with the lovely owner Patricia who is a total coffee lover and coffee connoisseur herself …
… their delicious meals and coffee roasts are a dream come true, and their cafés are always full of people from all walks of life !
Take a break from the capital city to visit El Escorial, about one hour away from downtown Madrid.
Well. The one time we chose to visit the famous Monastery and Palace of El Escorial near Madrid, it was actually closed for visits. “But … why?!”, we ask the locals, taken aback by the situation. “A member of the Royal Family died, and you have come here on the day of their state funeral … la hermana del padre del rey”. The sister of the father of the king of Spain has passed away, then. After eyeing all the security personnel around the palace, we choose instead to spend the day walking around the small town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and its parks. A lovely alternative, and having our friends with us, there is enough fun to be had for the day.
Close to Madrid, and worth the trip: El Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial …
… a walk through the local park has us distracted from the busy funeral proceedings …
… and we enjoy the quiet streets of this small town with the snow-capped mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama in the background, only about an hour from Madrid.
The day after, it’s already time to say goodbye: About to leave for Vienna from Madrid airport with our happy #BabyTraveller !
Smile even more about our trip through Portugal and Spain as a young family by reading my previous posts here:
- Lisbon. In winter. With baby. Travel tips & photos that will have you pack your bags!
- Travel Tip Portugal: Why Évora is worth the visit from Lisbon.
- Algarve in winter: Travel tips for visiting Loulé, Tavira & Sagres (with baby).
- Seville during winter. With food tour & baby. Wonderful!
- Andalusia travel highlights during winter: Marbella, Ronda, Granada & Córdoba. With baby.