Madrid, Spain - Part 1

June 16th, 2024 - Day 1 (Travel Day):

Why do we get up so early to catch morning flights? I don’t know, but I guess the ability to travel and the excitement of it all fuels the adrenaline before the sun rises and you get on that plane, or at least that’s what I think!

Well, no matter what the reason, that's exactly what we did. We left our hotel around 4:45 a.m. to head to the airport for our 7:00 a.m. flight to Madrid (MAD airport) from the (ORY airport).

🚗 Airport Transfer Troubles: A Lesson Learned

We made sure to pack all our bags the night before, so in the morning, all we had to do was get ready and head to the front of our hotel, where our “personal airport driver,” whom we had requested from the Marriott’s Village d'Île-de-France concierge desk, should have been waiting.

Unfortunately, there was no car waiting for us, so we ended up waiting another for 30 minutes before a smaller car than we had requested finally showed up and load up our bags as quickly as possible.

We learned a valuable lesson that day: it's better to call an Uber yourself to avoid any mix-ups between the driver and the hotel. This ensures you get the car you want at the time you need it. Third-party services can be unreliable and tricky, so if you have a flight you absolutely need to be on time for, take matters into your own hands. You won’t regret it, and you’ll definitely make it on time.

After cramming into the small SUV taxi, we headed to the airport. We made it in time, but the delay meant we couldn’t get the full breakfast we had planned with the original driver’s schedule. Instead, after clearing security at ORY airport, we grabbed some drinking yogurts from a quick-service shop near our gate—just enough to hold us over for the morning.

✈️ From Paris to Madrid

Once we boarded our Iberia flight, let's be honest, we were all tired, so we took quick naps during the short time we had in the air. Where we then arrived in Madrid around 9:30 a.m.

After we landed, we picked up some more food—this time, second part of breakfast consisted of delicious croissant cinnamon rolls. These were a European twist on the classic sweet roll, and they were new to us: flaky, subtly sweet, and, in my opinion, better than the traditional kind. I often find regular cinnamon rolls too sugary with how thick and fluffy they are, but the croissant version was lighter, crispier, and far more satisfying.

So, between the croissant cinnamon roll (which I’m planning to recreate for the blog so you can try it too!) and the drinking yogurts, we were fueled for the morning and off on our first day of fun in Madrid, Spain.

🇪🇸 A Dream Come True

It felt a bit surreal to be back in Madrid so quickly—just 3 hours after we had left the Spanish airport 4 ½ days ago. But it was nice to be familiar with the area, to get around easier. This helped as we headed over to the car rental section, where we picked up our Standard SUV from the Alamo rental car station. It was nice because we had booked the car through Costco Travel, which, in our experience, offers both reliable and reasonably priced rentals for travel most places you visit anywhere in the world.

The reason we chose to return to Madrid, Spain, specifically was for my dad who had served a religious mission here over 20 years ago. Ever since then, he had hoped to return to the country where he served so many people and came to love the area so dearly.

We originally had to cancel our first trip to Madrid, Spain, due to COVID in 2020. We had been so excited and had thoroughly planned every detail, but with the drastic changes that happened around the world, the dream of that trip became unreachable at that time. Still, we kept tracking flights endlessly and eventually mustered the courage to try again. In early June, we found affordable tickets with American Airlines and Iberia—and finally made the dream a reality.

💡 Smart Travel Feelings

Traveling on a budget is tough. Finding flights that don’t break the bank is even tougher. Everything when it comes to travel adds up so quickly. It takes patience and time to research and track flights, hotels, rental cars, and excursions that stay within a smart budget. That’s why I always do a lot of research beforehand and use tools like Google Flights to track airfare. It saves me time, money, and the extra stress I don’t need with everything else going on in my life.

After months of planning, researching, and booking every detail with my mom, finally being on the trip felt surreal. I was overwhelmed with a mix of exhaustion and excitement! I felt like Paris seemed to fly by in a blur, and suddenly being back in another European country felt almost unreal all over again. But there’s nothing better than experiencing something new, exploring unfamiliar places, and sharing the adventure with my family.

So, once we landed, we rented a car and drove into the city to find our Airbnb. It was located northwest of central Madrid, right above the Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid), with a beautiful view overlooking Parque del Oeste (West Park).

Since we couldn’t check into the apartment until 4:00 pm (16:00), we dropped off our bags at the front desk, where the staff kindly stored them for us, and we headed out to explore the city for awhile.

⛪ Church at Puerta Bonita & Bagels for Lunch

Our first stop was a church in Puerta Bonita, a place my dad had attended many times during the two years he lived in Madrid. One of the top things on his list for this trip was returning to that area—and sharing it with us. The entire meeting was in Spanish and had a warm, lively atmosphere that reminded me more of gathering of people in South America. Even though I couldn’t understand everything, it felt good to be in a familiar, welcoming space surrounded by kind people.

After church, we grabbed lunch at a cozy breakfast bagel spot called Mazál Bagels & Café in Chamberí, Madrid. The menu was full of so many delicious options—hot and cold bagel sandwiches, breakfast plates, French toast, pancakes, and a wide variety of drinks.

Here’s what we ordered:

• Mom – Bagel, Egg, and Cheese (with cheddar and turkey bacon) on a plain bagel

• Dad – Bagel, Egg, and Cheese (with cheddar and smoked ham) on a sesame bagel

• Me – A Simple Bagel with Avocado + Feta Cheese (basically avocado toast on a jalapeño + cheese bagel)

• Little Sister- Bagel, Egg, and Cheese (egg, cheddar, and smoked ham) on a plain bagel

• For the group – side of fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries, and blueberries)  

The food was wonderful and refreshing! Everyone agreed—the eggs were fluffy, the bagels had a perfect tender chew, the cheddar cheese was perfectly melty, and the meats added just the right amount of salt to the sandwiches. For me, the standout was the creaminess of the avocado paired with the saltiness of the crumbled feta, the freshness of microgreens, and the subtle heat from the toasted jalapeño-cheese bagel.

The fresh fruit on the side was heavenly too. We eat fresh fruit every day at home, so we’d definitely had been missing it up to this point. The combination of fruit, eggs, avocado, microgreens, and bagels was both comforting and satisfying. Since we hadn’t had a full, proper breakfast yet all day, this one really hit the spot for everyone.

We even got to enjoy our meal in classic diner style—sitting at bar stools along a counter. My sister was thrilled that the bagel shop also had ketchup so she could drown her egg and cheese sandwich in it, just like she always does. We love that kind of familiarity at food locations while traveling.

🚙 Exploring Madrid

After stuffing ourselves with breakfast sandwiches and fruit, we got in the car and drove around the northwest corner of Madrid, taking in the parks, buildings, statues, and so much more. We were trying to kill a bit of time before we could check into our apartment rental, but it felt amazing to be exploring another country like Spain—especially from the comfort of our own car.

And speaking of that: renting a car in Europe (or any foreign country) isn’t scary at all! It was actually quite easy, and it gave us so much more freedom to move around and experience the city from the street level, rather than just underground on the metros. It’s also cost-effective when traveling with a group or family. There’s also something special about having your own space and watching the world pass by as you drive from place to place!

That why, thanks to our wonderful little rental car, we got to explore a bit more of Madrid before heading back to our Airbnb. It was finally after 4:00 p.m. when we checked in and got access to our penthouse apartment—our bags were already brought up and waiting inside the front door which was also a nice bonus. That made it so easy to just crash for a bit and get comfortable after an early morning and a full day of travel so far.

🏡 The Perfect Find in Madrid

Finding that penthouse rental on Airbnb was truly a miracle—all the credit goes to my mom for discovering it and securing the booking before it was gone. It did take time to search, compare options, and make the decision, but her effort paid off. And it ended up being the perfect home base for our stay in Madrid!

It just goes to show: when you put in the effort to research rentals in the best areas of a city, it makes your stay more confident, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable. A well-located, thoughtfully chosen place can elevate the entire experience of any time, in any country in the world!

With all that being said, the apartment turned out beautifully. It had two bedrooms (one with a king bed and the other with two twins), two full bathrooms (each with a sink, toilet, and shower), and a modest kitchen equipped with a stove, sink, oven, refrigerator, freezer, and dishwasher. There was also a balcony shaded with a woven awning, a simple outdoor table, a cozy living and dining room area, and tons of natural light coming in through the many windows in every single room.

🛒 Settled In & Grocery Run

After we got settled in and explored each corner of the apartment, my little sister and my dad both fell asleep for a quick nap in the afternoon. My mom and I used that quiet time to plan dinner and start building a grocery list for a quick store run later that evening for everything we needed.

My dad had a little FOMO, so I’m pretty sure he was sleeping as lightly as possible. As soon as my mom and I finished our grocery list and were heading out to walk to a nearby store, he was suddenly up and ready to join us within minutes. All I know is he loves Madrid, and I guess even something as simple as walking around and picking up groceries was too exciting to miss for him. My little sister, on the other hand, was completely wiped out, so we let her sleep and locked the door behind us when left.

The first store we tried was closed, so we headed north to a DIA grocery store that was thankfully open 😊. Even though it was a lot of walking, the warm afternoon summer sun on our faces made it pleasant, and the quiet neighborhoods we strolled through were colorful and full of life.

The store didn’t have a huge selection, but it had just enough for what we needed: cereal and milk for breakfast, drinking yogurts, juices, water, and all the ingredients for a simple salad dinner. I really enjoy grocery shopping when we travel—especially in Europe—because people tend to buy just enough for the day. It keeps things fresh and reduces waste, which I love.

After getting the groceries, we meandered our way back to the apartment, where we found my little sister awake and—of course—hungry and ready for dinner.

🥗 Simple & Delicious: A Family-Favorite Salad on Vacation

As I mentioned earlier, we’d planned on making salads. One of our family favorites is a honey mustard harvest salad, but with a few ingredients unavailable, we adapted and made a simpler version: lettuce, seasoned steamed cauliflower, fresh red bell peppers, crisp sliced cucumbers, and a Dijon-jelly mustard dressing (I know it sounds a little weird, but trust me—it’s delicious!). We also picked up a loaf of fresh-baked bread, which we dipped in olive oil we had brought with us all the way from a little shop in Aux-de-Provence, France.

Between the fresh bread and olive oil, the vibrant salads, and the sweet fruit, dinner on the covered patio turned out to be absolutely perfect. I love traveling, but there’s something incredibly satisfying about cooking your own, healthier meals—especially with fresh, local ingredients. For me, having a kitchen while traveling makes all the difference. It gives you the freedom to eat well, experiment with ares flavors, and feel a little more at home. If you can, try booking a rental with a kitchen on your next trip—you might be surprised how comforting it is to cook a familiar meal in an unfamiliar place. I absolutely love it and so does everyone I’ve ever traveled with!

🌅 Evening Stroll in Parque del Oeste

After dinner, we headed over to Parque del Oeste, which was just a few steps from our apartment. Let’s just say—this park was lively on a Sunday night in June. We strolled through the warm, golden light of the setting sun, which cast a beautiful glow over the trees, lawns, and garden beds surrounding all the walking paths in this area.

There was a live music concert going on while we were there, but honestly, the atmosphere wasn’t ideal for us—it was super loud and overcrowded with a younger, party crowd. So we choose to wander away from the noise and found a quieter area of the park, where we could enjoy our evening stroll in peace, look out at the city, and enjoy the summer sunset final glow.

After walking for a bit, we made our way back to the apartment and started winding down for bed. This Sunday in Madrid was truly wonderful—a perfect Father’s Day for my dad, who finally got to return to a city he had missed over the years. It was awesome to experience it all with him, but it was especially nice being able to see everything with the family!

June 17th, 2024 - Day 2 (Walking + Walking)

Well we were in Madrid, our Airbnb apartment rental has a few standout features that made for very peaceful night’s sleep. The windows had metal shades that locked into place, completely blocking out any outside light. This was perfect for sleeping, because even after the sun rose, every room remained pitch dark. Combined with the quiet neighborhood where the apartment was located, it created an ideal environment for uninterrupted rest all night and morning long. We aren’t the type to over sleep in, so we didn’t sleep too far past sunrise.

Thanks to our kitchen too, being stocked with basic necessities like bowls and spoons, we were able to have a quick breakfast of milk and cereal before heading out on foot to explore Madrid for the day.

Staying in an Airbnb or apartment rental in a city really does enhance the immersive experience. You get to live like a local — walking everywhere, seeing more, and soaking in the historical culture woven into every block around you. That’s why I loved our apartment: it was just outside the busiest parts of Madrid, making it a peaceful place to be, but it was also close enough to reasonably walk to the city’s iconic sights.

🛍️ Strolling Down Madrid's Gran Vía

Once we were ready and out on the Madrid streets, our day began with a walk northeast toward the famous shopping street, Gran Vía. Known for its stores, restaurants, and landmark buildings, Gran Vía translates to “Great Avenue” in English, which is the perfect name for this pedestrian driven area. The architecture was stunning: a collection of warm white buildings with ornate facades and intricate detailing. The height of the connected buildings and the elegance made the street feel especially grand and vibrant.

As we strolled down the impressive avenue, we stopped at a variety of stores, but of course, our favorites were Zara and Zara Home. The styles there as we shopped felt so natural and comfortable — both in the fashion and the home goods. Plus, since Zara is a Spanish brand, prices are significantly cheaper than in the U.S., making it a worthwhile stop and a great place to shop to bring a few things home.

Even though the Gran Vía area is busy, the wide sidewalks are designed to accommodate the larger crowds. This makes it feel less overwhelming and easier to enjoy the atmosphere — from the sunny weather to the storefronts and that unmistakable Spanish charm that surrounds you.

🥐 Bakery Stop & Retiro Park

After a couple hours of walking and shopping, we headed toward Parque de El Retiro and Puerta de Alcalá, stopping at a bakery called Maison Kayser for a quick snack to hold us over while we explored the park.

We kept our order simple: an almond-filled croissant for my little sister, a chocolate éclair for my dad, and a cinnamon croissant roll for my mom and me to share. This felt like the second half of our breakfast since we didn’t eat much cereal earlier. It was delicious — and gave us the energy boost we needed to keep moving and enjoy every moment we could on our walk through the beautiful Retiro Park.

Retiro Park is one of the largest parks in Madrid, covering 350 acres. We wandered through its vast landscape, admiring the fountains, plazas, Estanque Grande del Retiro (the Great Pond), Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace), and La Rosaleda de El Retiro (Retiro’s Rose Garden), among a lot of other sights.

I personally loved the Crystal Palace and the Rose Gardens the most out of the entire Retiro Park.

I simply love how the Crystal Palace is beautiful from the outside. This grand building was constructed in 1887 and was designed after the Crystal Palace in London. Now, this impressive glass structure functions as an art exhibition space. But, while we were there, the building was closed for the season for referbmishment. It was still amazing to see from the outside, and we loved exploring the little lake area across from it, which was full of tortoises sunbathing in the afternoon heat.

The Rose Gardens were also amazing in June, as they were in full bloom. It was truly remarkable how many roses the garden featured, with an impressive spectrum of verties and colors. The white stone statues splashing water along the rose-trimmed paths created a scenic space to wander around and take in the beauty of nature all around you.

🎶 Exploring, Music, & Shopping

Plus, while we were in Retiro Park, we got to see a unique musical artisan performing recognizable songs on crystal glasses. He was amazing and kept routinely playing his masterpieces for strangers passing by to enjoy. The only time he stopped was to dip his fingers in a glass of water before continuing to make beautiful-sounding music! We had to stop and watch in amazement at this man’s extraordinary gift—it was quite entertaining.

Overall, the whole park was massive and had so many different sections to walk through and enjoy nature, right in the middle of a city like Madrid, giving a space to step aside and appreciate the little things.

After the park, we were a little sweaty and hungry, so we walked northwest toward Mexcalista for lunch. On the way, we stopped at a shop called The Spanish Farm. This was a cute Spanish store featuring products naturally found around different parts of Spain. We only got a couple things to try - smoked Spanish paprika and olive oil. But, they had a range of products, we just didn’t have a lot of room to pack too much home, so we picked up those two items and enjoyed browsing the rest of the store before we left.

🌮 A Delicious Discovery: Mexcalista

Finally, we made the longer walk back to Mexcalista, a stylish little Mexican restaurant situated in central Madrid. We absolutely loved this restaurant and the food! I found it using Google Maps, and the reviews and photos helped us make a quick decision to stop in while we were in Madrid.

What We Ordered:

• Mom: Enmoladas with Chicken (corn tortillas, chicken, mole sauce, cream, and sesame seeds)

• Dad: Swiss Enchiladas (corn tortillas, chicken, green tomatillo sauce, cream, melted cheese, and red onions)

• Me/Little Sister: Nachos (corn tortilla chips, guacamole, onion, cilantro, lemon, bean purée, and melted cheese)

• For the Table: Rojo Salsa and Still Bottled Waters

The food was so flavorful and creamy. The cheese served on most of their dishes was velvety, but not overly salty. I was also impressed with the plating and presentation of each dish when it was placed on the table. They were presented in a clean, colorful, and in a very appealing way. Their guacamole, salsa, and sauces were flavor-packed with peppers, spices, and herbs that warmly tingled the mouth.

Overall, the restaurant was just fantastic—air-conditioned (which was perfect in the heat of Madrid), and the service was quick. My mom loved her mole chicken enchiladas, which is impressive because she doesn’t usually like mole, but the chocolate flavors in the sauce were warm and rich without being bitter. My dad loved his Swiss enchiladas, especially the tender chicken that fell apart in the mouth and paired wonderfully with the silky cream sauce and gooey melted cheese. My little sister and I enjoyed the crunchy-yet-gooey nachos topped with the silkiest white cheese! Wow—I know they’re just nachos, but paired with the creamy bean purée, buttery guacamole, and crispy corn tortilla chips, everything came together for the perfect bite topped with a bit of their flavorful salsa.

🍫 Heat + Melty Chocolate

From Mexcalista, we headed to Late & Late Chocolate in central Madrid. This is an artisan chocolate shop full of nut-, fruit-, and crème-filled chocolate creations. Everyone knows that I don’t love chocolate, but we stopped here for the rest of the family to pick up some chocolate for the chocolate lovers, but as we continued toward Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, the hot June weather started to melt it! Haha, we didn’t fully think through that one!

Pro tip: If you’re going to buy chocolate in the summer in Madrid, make sure to either eat it right after you purchase it or run it back to your rental or hotel to keep it cool and prevent it from melting in the heat well you continue to explore.

🏛️ The Plazas

With that in mind, we made our way to Plaza Mayor, a public space located in central Madrid. This square is nestled among restored rustic buildings, outdoor patio dining areas, and a range of shops that lean a bit more on the "touristy” side. My dad had spent a lot of time here in the past, meeting many wonderful people, so being back was especially meaningful for him.

We browsed a few of the touristy shops, but for most of the time we just found a stone bench near one of the statues, sat down, and people-watched. Sometimes, sitting down and soaking in the atmosphere is the best way to truly appreciate a place—and a trip in general.

Both Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are great open plazas to visit while in Madrid, Spain. They offer historical architecture, cobblestone streets, iconic fountains and statues, and of course, that authentic Spanish city atmosphere and vibe.

🍉 Discovering The San Miguel Market

Another area, located just outside Plaza Mayor is a food venue called The San Miguel Market. It’s the perfect place to stop for a quick bite and to experience the impressive cuisine being crafted right before you from the shops featuring food from places all around the world. This market is more focused on prepared food items than raw ingredients, making it ideal for grabbing something to eat on the spot, instead of shopping for items to cook with later.

We loved walking through the entire market, taking in the aromatic scents of global cuisines offered at every corner of the bright glass-covered space, adorned with ornate metalwork. The whole experience was lively and vibrant. Our favorite spot ended up being the fruit bar kiosk, which offered a fresh and flavorful break from the heat for my family.

They had so much fruit—oranges, kiwis, strawberries, melons, mangoes, pineapple, watermelon, grapefruit, etc. They offered containers that you could fill with whatever fruits you wanted, in whatever amounts you liked, until your container was packed with the freshest, juiciest, and sweetest fruits. Since we were there during the summer, all the fruit was perfectly in season and absolutely amazing when we snacked on it all 😊

We got our fruit to go, because after a full day of exploring a small portion of Madrid, we were ready to head back to our Airbnb apartment for the evening and make a light dinner of scrambled eggs with red peppers, fresh fruit from the market, bread and jams, and cold milk.

👑 Site Seeing & Packing Tips

That’s exactly what we did—stopping briefly to see the Palacio Real de Madrid from the front, with its traditional royal guards seriously guarding the doors and gates. It was a fun sight to behold with some of the Spanish traditions on full display. You really get to appreciate the customs and traditions that the Spanish hold dear—an expression of pride in their long standing heritage.

We also stopped by a local grocery store on the way back, where we picked up eggs and bread for dinner. Like I mentioned earlier, I love the ability to walk to a grocery store just to get what you need each day. It’s such a refreshing way to shop—buying only enough to feed the family without a lot of waste.

After our full day of walking, our legs were tired and we were all a little sweaty from the day’s heat, so getting back to our air-conditioned apartment rental felt absolutely heavenly and revitalizing.

Packing Note: Summers in Madrid are the complete opposite of Paris, so packing for Madrid means bringing much lighter, cooler clothes to beat the heat. Our first leg of the European trip—Paris—required jackets and thicker clothing to stay warm in the cooler temperatures. With how each area in Europe being so different, be sure to check the weather based on the location you’re traveling to. It’s essential for packing the right items for convenience and comfort. Knowing what to expect ensures a smoother, more pleasant trip.

🍽️ Dinner & The End

After we got back to the apartment, I swapped my sweaty walking shoes for my sandals. I also, highly recommend bringing both sandals and walking shoes on any European trip—it gives you flexibility depending on the day's needs. For me, sandals are the best way to relax after wearing tennis shoes all day, especially in a hotel or rental where you may not want to walk barefoot on unfamiliar floors 😊 Taking your shoes off after a full day of walking... now that is one of the best feelings!

Also, our apartment kitchen like I’ve said before, was perfect for making a quick dinner, which we enjoyed outside on the covered patio in the warm evening air. There’s just something special about eating dinner as the sun sets—when the air is still warm but starting to cool after a long summers day, and you're surrounded by nature. I also truly love summer, traveling, sunsets, good food, and spending time with my family.

After our yummy dinner and lots of laughter about the day’s adventures, we cleaned up and got ready for bed. It was honestly one of the funnest days—nothing too rigidly planned, but just detailed enough to enjoy so many of the beautiful experiences central Madrid has to offer 😊