We wanted to hit up both Madrid and Barcelona in just a week! It was a quick visit to each place, but man, we loved both cities and were super glad to have experienced a little bit of each. We flew from New York-JFK to Madrid-MAD with Iberia Airlines. The business class seats were comfy, and the food was so good! I’d definitely recommend this airline to anyone. The one negative was that the center seats entertainment systems didn’t work, but the single side seats did. They did reset the entertainment system twice to no avail, but we slept for most of the flight thankfully. Tip: Download some movies on your iPad if you are nervous about this happening, especially with younger kids. My kids ended up doing crosswords/puzzles and sleeping.
We arrived at 7 am from our flight, and did our best to stay awake until night time to reset our internal clocks. We checked into the Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid, quickly unpacked and freshened up and started our touring. We booked the connecting family rooms to get some space and 2 bathrooms.
Quick 3 day Tour Itinerary
Day #1 Our first tour on our arrival day to keep everyone awake was the Eco Tuk Tuk Tour. This tour was great to sit back and relax and learn about all the different areas in Madrid. Our driver, Carlos, was great at giving a great history tour and driving the zombies in the back around safely. LOL. The meeting place for the start of the tour was walkable from our hotel, and was in front of the Royal Palace Madrid.
Viator Tour: Express Tour of Madrid Eco Tuk Tuk
Day #2 was a blast! We took a private tour of Segovia and Avila to check out the outskirts of Madrid, and then we dove into an awesome Madrid Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour for dinner. Both were booked through Viator. Our guides were super fun and made sure to include the tweens in everything, keeping them engaged and having a good time!
Viator Tours: Private Day Tour: Segovia and Avila with hotel pick up & Madrid Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour
Day #3 Our last day in Madrid kicked off with a tour of the Royal Palace and Prado Museum. We had a 4-hour tour starting at 10 am, so we figured it was best to head to the train station at 5:30 pm for our train to Barcelona right after checking out of the Hyatt.
Viator Tour: Private Visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid and Prado Museum
Restaurant Suggestions:
- San Gines- 100 year old Churro spot
- El Chulo de Madrid
- La Casa del Abuelo – best shrimp in garlic butter
- Pez Tortilla
- Casa Gonzalez
- Los Galayos- delicious Basque Cheesecake, known for their suckling pig recipe
- Cerveceria La Campana- Plaza Mayor- famous Madrid Calamari Sandwich
Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, an art lover, or simply looking for a new adventure, Madrid has something for everyone. From its stunning architecture to its lively nightlife, this city will leave you wanting more. Plan your trip to Madrid and experience it for yourself!
Head with us to Barcelona via the Iryo Bullet train booked via Trip.com. On time and very efficient.
Train Tickets: Madrid to Barcelona Iryo Bullet Train
Need to keep in touch while traveling? Nothing better than Airalo. An eSim card for your unlocked phone. We loved it and used Google Maps and What’s App to get around and communicate with our tour operators and family was a necessity.
Have you been to Madrid before? Share your favorite experiences and recommendations on my Insta page @journeyology101. Check out my Viator Shop for more tours if you have more time!!
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