Growing up, I always wanted to travel the world and for years I looked forward to the traditional “second semester junior year of college” study abroad opportunity. As many 20 and 21 year old students do, I paused my life in the U.S. and moved to Madrid, Spain for 5 months to study international business & the spanish language.

It was the absolute best idea I’ve ever had. I grew as a person through new experiences, new levels of comfort, and relationships with new people. However, the city of Madrid was the foundation for it all.

Madrid is the capital city of Spain with around 3 million inhabitants. Its streets are wide, its architecture is incredible and its culture is rich. There are beautifully manicured parks, world renowned museums, grand plazas, delicious food, and a vibrant nightlife.

There’s so much to do in Madrid and it genuinely took me five months to check everything off the list of must sees, but I stretched all of the activities out because I knew I had time.

When it comes to transporting yourself around the city, I highly recommend the metro system! Financially, it’s smarter to buy a metro pass for the amount of days that you’ll be visiting instead of buying a pass every time you decide to ride it. The Metro pass will also work on busses, which can potentially provide you with a more direct route. BUT, make sure you’re watching your valuable belongings, i.e. cell phones and wallets, because some Spaniards have sticky fingers and will absolutely steal your things given the opportunity!

The most popular area is called “Puerta del Sol” and it’s a plaza in the center of Madrid. The area is the home to the Ayuntamiento (town hall) of Madrid and many shops, restaurants, and bars. Sol receives its name because the plaza is right in the middle of many different roads and from an aerial view, the plaza looks like the circle of a sun and the streets are its sun rays. Sol = sun in Spanish.

If you walk through Sol towards La Mallorquina, the oldest and most famous bakery in Madrid, the streets will take you to Plaza Mayor. Plaza Mayor is famous for its history. There was a fire years ago that burned down the square, but they rebuilt it. Only part of the original building stands now, but that part is beautifully painted. There are many restaurant options there! If you continue down the street you’ll pass Chocolateria San Gines and they’re famous for their churros con chocolate – a MUST have when in Madrid!

Continuing down this road, you’ll find yourself in front of La Catedral. It’s a grand cathedral located right next to the Palacio Real de Madrid. The cathedral is worth a walk through to see the stained glass windows! The Palacio Real de Madrid speaks for itself. It’s the home to the King of Spain and the rest of the royal family – yes, Spain still has a king! Except, he shares a lot of power with the elected President. The palace is very affordable to go inside and tour. Behind the palace you can find Jardines de Sabatini, a public garden that’s beautiful to sit in for a moment and rest your feet. If you’re in the mood for a drink, there’s a rooftop bar called La Terraza de Sabatini close by and it has an incredible view of the palace. Their mojitos are great!

My absolute favorite place to go in the city is El Parque del Buen Retiro. It’s the most famous park in Madrid and it’s easy to get lost in its beauty. There’s a gorgeous, huge monument dedicated to King Alfonso XII next to a man made lake. At all times of the day there are saxophonists playing and birds chirping. You can also pay 6 euros to spend 45 minutes in a row boat! It’s worth it. My advice is to just get lost, wander around the park and possibly end up among the rose gardens or cherry blossom trees.

If you’re a fan of classic, early European Art you HAVE to make a stop at El Museo Nacional del Prado. It holds one of the world’s finest collection of art. It has works from Goya, el Greco, Velázquez, and many others. I personally love Diego Velázquez and when I saw Las Meninas in person I was speechless. If you’re more of a modern art person, then El Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is the place for you! It’s home to a lot of great pieces, but the most famous one is Picasso’s “Guernica”. I also loved the Spanish feminist exhibit. If you’re looking for a drink or just a 360 degree view of the city, the rooftop bar Azotea de Círculo de Bellas Artes is located close by. It costs 4 euros to take the elevator up to the bar, but is 100% worth it for the view.

If you have extra time, explore the barrio de Malasaña, whether it’s to eat, shop, or drink. Each neighborhood in Madrid has a different feel to it, but Malasaña is the one that everyone seems to love. The neighborhood has a traditional Spanish feel, but with a modern twist. The streets are covered in meaningful street art, the shops are one of a kind, and the restaurant choices are diverse. My best Madrid memories come from hanging out in cafés in this area and journaling or chatting with a friend. I’m a big fan of Hanso Café and Café Federal. I recommend finding a café within the neighborhood and seeing what it’s like for yourself!

In regards to food, most places are great! It depends on the palate of who’s eating and what kind of food you want. If you want to eat a traditional Spanish meal, the restaurants are everywhere. Paella, tapas, and sangria are big parts of the Spanish tradition and are addicting. When ordering tapas, try the patatas bravas (potatoes in brava sauce), jamón y queso croquetas (a sort of ham, cheese, and potato mozzarella stick but with no mozzarella), and tortilla (a potato, egg, and cheese omelet)! You can’t go wrong with any tapa!

Bienvenidos a Madrid, I hope you love it as much as I do!