travel

5 Days in Madrid

Alex Weiker

23 Apr 2025 — 4 min read

Bar Azotea in Madrid

Madrid was my launchpad—the first destination on my journey to the UK. As soon as I landed, the surreal feeling hit: this is real. I was alone in a new country, my Spanish rusty, and the plan was explore. TL;DR and pictures at the bottom.

🛬 First Impressions & Getting Lost (on Purpose)

My first order of business? Go wander. Get my bearings and resist the urge to plan. This mission led me to a cozy café where I grabbed a coffee and knocked out a bit of work. I wanted to test the nomadic work lifestyle.

That evening, I joined a tapas crawl through Ponzano, a neighborhood off the usual tourist trail. Five bars, new tapas and drinks at each spot, and plenty of history for these 100+ year old bars. We even visited a spot featured on Phil Rosenthal’s show I’ll Have What Phil’s Having. Pro tip: wineries in Spain were painted red because: “It’s easy to find your way back when you’re drunk.”

👑 Royal History & Rooftop Views

I toured the Royal Palace of Madrid, a stunning monument to Spanish royalty. With over 3,400 rooms - I saw maybe 20 - it’s more museum than residence these days. Next door, I wandered into the Santa Maria Cathedral, then the Campo del Moro gardens to the west of the Palace and the Temple of Debod to the North, an ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in the 2nd century. This offers great views of Madrid and the palace.

The evening featured a nap, some live music, and somehow…a 3AM club night - early by Madrid standards. Madrid has a way of pulling you into the night whether you planned for it or not.

🌸 Serendipity and Slow Moments

I intentionally left time open—and I’m glad I did. Walking through parks, including a not-yet-blooming rose garden, sitting in various plazas, people-watching, and letting the day unfold became the rhythm. These were the quiet, personal moments that don’t make itineraries but stick with me anyway.

🏞️ A Day Trip to Cuenca

Cuenca was a great surprise. I wrote a separate post about it here. Check it out!

After returning to Madrid, I squeezed in a late-night work session and still made it back to a great local go-to bar because… when in Madrid…

🔁 Routine, Finally

By Day 5, I needed a mini reset. I found a gym for a lift, grabbed fresh fruit from a street market, ate in a sunny plaza, and did some work. Later that evening, a rooftop bar served up unbeatable views of Madrid. We ended the day with kebabs and great conversation in a surprisingly quiet Puerta del Sol. It was simple, authentic, and a perfect final evening.

🚄 Final Morning & Onward to Seville

Before catching my train to Seville, I played impromptu tour guide for the Royal Palace, gardens, and Temple of Debod. Shoutout to ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and the books I read to help with my understanding of the country, city, and history.

✈️ Final Thoughts

Madrid was a soft landing into my new adventure. It gave me croquettes, centuries of history, late-night music, and plenty of jamon y queso sandwiches. Whether you're just passing through or planning to stay a while, I’d highly recommend walking most places and not over-booking yourself. Allow for flexibility, because it's easy to find a random cafe or bar that looks interesting, stop for a small bite, or wind up staying out late and subsequently waking up later than normal.

TL;DR:

Royal Palace - I recommend buying tickets to skip the hundreds of people in line. There are two lines, go up to the entrance and present your ticket on the left side of the rope.
Tapas Crawl - find one on Airbnb Experiences. Did you know Airbnb offered tours and experiences? Very easy.
Cuenca or Toledo day tour (ask for Andres if possible).
Leave time for exploring and serendipitous food and drinks.

Things I missed: