Welcome to Yael’s guide to his favorite city in Europe (next to Paris, of course)
<aside> ⚠️ Level Expectations: It is not the most touristy place in Spain in terms of sites, say compared to Barcelona, Seville, or Bilbao. The city’s beauty lies in its vibe — it can maintain its authentic charm despite the huge number of tourists. Not to mention, it can be enjoyed on a budget, unlike other major touristy cities in Europe!
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<aside> 💵 Budget: I made my first few trips to Madrid as a student. Since then, I have never adapted the amount I’m willing to shell out during each visit. Thus, this focuses on cheap (sometimes free) or good to reasonable value-for-money suggestions.
❌ Do not expect fancy places, which by my standards, is any meal/activity above €30. I usually allot €50 per person per day for all expenses (excluding lodging & day trips)
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<aside> 👍 Tried and tested: I’m only recommending places that I have already been to 😃
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As mentioned, Madrid is not the most touristy city in terms of sites, but it’s more of enjoying the vibe! Note that while there are links, I made this list on top of my head, always in order of priority.
Madrid has a very bustling food scene, and while there are lots of tourist traps as with any other major cities, there are lots of good value-for-money options compared to more touristy major cities in Spain such as Barcelona, Seville, or Bilbao.
Madrid is a nice base for day trips in the Castilla La Mancha and Castilla y León region, which I’d describe as the “typical” image you’ll have of Spain, think of villages and cities in the middle of dry-arid landscapes that always seem to have a sepia-like filter in the background.