Is Madrid worth visiting? I would say yes. Not only is Madrid the capital city of Spain and it is quite unlike most of the other capital cities in the world that I have visited. In fact, it may well be my favorite! It is so much calmer and laid back. You can hardly tell that it is the hub of Spain.
Just because its pace is slower than other hubs like Amsterdam or Paris, doesn’t make the city any less appealing. The city has a lot going on within. From museums to parks and history, there is a lot to keep you busy. I could spend a week in this city and still feel like I could go back!
I mean, it has inspired so many people and there are so many quotes and captions about Madrid! These alone are enough to visit the city.
In fact, the best way to enjoy Madrid is at a slow pace. It allows you to feel the vibe of the city. To indulge in the cuisine. You get to tap your feet to the tango and explore the history that is so tied with this part of the world. You can spend two days in Madrid or a whole week, you will never run out of things to do!
Here are a couple of reasons why I feel Madrid is worth visiting!
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Table of Contents
Is Madrid Worth Visiting?
1. Madrid Is Cheap-ish
When you compare Madrid to other popular parts of Europe, you will find that Madrid is much cheaper. Staying on the outskirts of the city will get you cheaper and better accommodation. The city is very walkable so you won’t miss out on anything.
We stayed in the heart of the city since we did not know about how easy it was to navigate around on foot. Needless to say, we walked everywhere! We did this with two toddlers. This should give you an idea of how easy it is to move about.
Food is also pretty cheap. There are some cool fine dining restaurants in the area too. So it depends on what you want.
2. It Is Well Connected
Madrid is well connected to the rest of Spain and the rest of Europe too. It has trains that run through the city and it even has its own airport so you can fly straight into the city. This makes it one of the cool weekend breaks in Spain.
If you book your ticket in advance, you can also get some pretty cool deals when it comes to the flights. So keep your eyes peeled.
3. The Food Is Amazing
Is Madrid worth visiting? When it come to the food, the place is an amazing destination.
If you love seafood then Spain definitely should be on your bucket list. One would think that since Madrid is a distance away from the sea, seafood in general would be scarce. That however is not the case. You can still get loads of great seafood dishes here. Indulge in the grilled fish, the paella or just the seafood platters to your heart’s content because the food is pretty inexpensive.
There are plenty of other dishes that you can try in Madrid too. The chorizo or the Spanish sausage is one of our favorites. If you haven’t tried the Iberian ham then put it on your bucket list.
Is Madrid worth visiting? I would say that every foodie would say yes to that!
4. It Has Loads Of Museums
Did you know that Madrid has loads of museums? For a history nerd like me this makes it a virtual haven. You don’t have to be a history lover though. You could be an art lover, a science lover or whatever picks your fancy. There are museums for all age groups. Plus they make these museums so cool for kids too.
I highly recommend getting the audio guides. While most museums have everything in both Spanish and English, the audio guides really add to the experience.
5. It Has Lots Of Parks
Is Madrid worth visiting? It is if you love green spaces!
Another reason why Madrid is worth a visit is because of all the parks. The city is surprisingly green with gardens and parks everywhere. Many of the gardens around the monuments are open to the public. This means that you get a cool place to sit with some spectacular views.
There are quite a number of places for children to play at too. In fact, we even saw a number of small kid parks at the side of restaurants which made it really nice for us since we were traveling with two toddlers.
Is Madrid worth visiting with kids? I’m going to say yes to that too!
6. The Nightlife Is Pretty Great
The nightlife in Madrid took us pretty much by surprise. We visited during spring-summer and we found that the city was alive late at night. It did help that the sun set later than usual. In Madrid you will find that kids of all ages are up late too which is so different compared to the Netherlands.
One of the popular things to do is to sit and enjoy tapas and wine. People just hang around and chat with friends and family over the meal which is so cozy and something that we really liked. Music is a thing too!
Is Madrid worth visiting for its nightlife? Definitely! Plus if you want you can enjoy a show or a flamenco dance.
7. It Is Toddler Friendly
Is Madrid worth visiting if you are traveling with kids? Yup! It sure is!
Madrid is surprisingly kid friendly and I would go as far as to say that it is toddler friendly. Most of the museums and attractions had free or discounted entrance for kids. As I mentioned before, there are loads of parks that the kids can enjoy too.
If you are interested, you can also book tours that are kid friendly. This means that the tour is designed to engage the young travelers. So is Madrid worth visiting if you are traveling with young kids? I would say yes!
8. You Can Head Out On Some Spectacular Day Trips
Is Madrid worth visiting? It definitely is!
Is Madrid worth a visit if you want to visit a lot of Spain’s historic towns and cities? It is! In fact, Madrid is centrally located and you will find that you can head out on numerous day trips from here. You could choose to do this by car, by public transport or just join an organized tour.
Some of the iconic places to visit from Madrid are Segovia, Toledo and Avila. These however are just the tip of the iceberg!
9. The People Are Very Friendly
All in all, we found that people in Madrid (and all across Spain) are very friendly. They are extremely easy to start up a conversation with and love kids in general. You will find that during the festivals in Madrid, they will encourage you to join in and dance and sing. It is very similar to Barcelona in this aspect.
10. There Are Loads Of National Parks Nearby
One of the best things to do if you are in and around Madrid is to explore the national parks in the vicinity. The quiet peaceful hills and the green forests are great places to head to for a break from the city life.
For nature lovers, this is the true answer to the question ‘Is Madrid worth visiting?’
And there you have it. Madrid is such an amazing city. From the gorgeous parks to the amazing food, it is an amazing city to just indulge your senses.
Have we included all the reasons why you believe Madrid is worth a visit? Let us know in the comments below.
