One Day in Madrid – Day trip from Barcelona

---

What do you do when you only have 8 hours in Madrid? 

We asked ourselves this question when we went on a day trip to Madrid during our last vacation in Barcelona. And in this blog post we have summarized this day for you and which sights we visited in which order!

Arrival & Transport

We took the train from Barcelona to Madrid which took us around 2 1/2 hours. It can easily be booked via Omio and we paid around 50 euros per person for the whole journey starting in Barcelona-Sants. Furthermore, the train ride is really beautiful. You travel through the middle of the mountains and can even enjoy the sunset on the way back. 

Within the city, you don’t necessarily need a train ticket, as many things are within walking distance. However, a train ticket is actually very cheap – a 10-yourney ticket costs only 6 euros and can be shared by several people. So, if you want to cover longer distances and save time, we can highly recommend that.

Museo Nacional del Prado & Puerta de Alcalá

From the train station Atocha, you can either walk or take the bus to Puerta de Alcalá. On the way, you will see the Museo Nacional del Prado, making it the perfect starting point for your exploration tour. From here you can now walk down Calle Alcalá to your next destinations.

Palacio de Cibeles

The first thing you will see is the Palacio de Cibeles. This Palace is a monumental building that has been the seat of Madrid City Council since 2007. For 3 euros you can even go up to the viewing platform and enjoy the view of the city center.
Directly in front of it there is a small park with a beautiful fountain, which invites you to relax and enjoy the sun.

Puerta del Sol

La Puerta del Sol is one of the main squares in Madrid. It’s the starting point of many beautiful streets and there is always a lot going on here. Here you can simply admire the beautiful buildings or stroll through the stores before moving on to Plaza Mayor.

Plaza Mayor

Our favorite place in Madrid was definitely Plaza Mayor. This square is simply beautiful with its archways & small alleyways, pigeons flying through the square and musicians in every corner. You can also find several restaurants here, also some with acceptable prices – perfect for a sangría and a lunch break.

Mercado de San Miguel

Right next to the Plaza Mayor you will find the Mercado de San Miguel. The small market hall offers every Spanish delicacy and is the perfect place for your dessert. Unfortunately, it can get a little crowded due to the narrow aisles, so make sure you take care of your belongings here.

Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena

If we walk a little further, we come to the last two highlights of the city. First, we come across the 
Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena. It is located right next to the palace and does not require an entrance fee. However, you should make sure that you are dressed appropriately for a church.

Palacio Real de Madrid

Our last destination is probably one of the most important in the whole city: El Palacio Real de Madrid. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest in Western Europe and one of the largest in the world. An entrance costs 16 euros per person for one visit, but from Monday to Thursday, between 16:00 and 18:00 (October-March) and from 17:00 to 19:00 (April-September), admission is free for citizens of the European Union and residents. Due to time constraints, we only visited the palace from the outside. You have a wonderful view of the suburbs of Madrid, and you can even see some mountains. The palace and grounds are truly breathtaking!

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

What should not be missing on a vacation with a football fan is of course the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The stadium has been completely renovated in recent years and now has a modern look. You can reach the stadium via line 10 from Santiago Bernabéu metro station and a tour costs 35 euros per person (booked online or on site). It is definitely impressive to see, but you have to take into account that it takes some time. If you have the opportunity to see a game, it’s surely a great option aswell, but that’s more of a bonus if you have time to spare.

---

To sum up, we can tell you that a day trip was completely sufficient for us. We had enough time to discover Madrid and explore the best spots. The other way around, you can of course also do a great day trip to Barcelona while being in Madrid. The train tickets are not expensive and really easy to book via Omio. This way you can see two Spanish cities in one trip!