The Ultimate Girls’ Getaway Guide to Madrid
Update your passport, grab your gal pals, and book your flight for the ultimate girls’ getaway to Madrid. This gorgeous city is the capital of Spain and is filled with historical monuments, beautiful parks, and a rather lively nightlife.
Visit the Royal Palace, stroll through the Buen Retiro, sit and soak up elegant and sometimes quirky European art at the Prado Museum all while hanging out with your best girlfriends.
While you are out sightseeing and soaking up the sun and culture be sure to drop your bags at a Madrid luggage storage locker to ensure your things are kept safe and secure. Pick them up again before heading back to your hotel for the night.
What to Do
Boredom is not a possibility when you and your girls are partying in Madrid. If you do find yourself getting bored, you are obviously doing something wrong and need to revamp your itinerary.
- Royal Palace of Madrid is where the Spanish royal family resides when they are in Madrid. It is used mainly for state ceremonies and public tours. With 3,418 rooms in the palace, you can easily spend several hours exploring. Skip the long lines and get your tickets online so your girls’ trip is not mainly spent standing in line.
- Museo Nacional del Prado is a must-visit since it is the national art museum located in the heart of Madrid. The best part about the Museo Nacional del Prado is that admission is free after 6:00 p.m. But, you do have to stand in line in this case. If you prefer to visit during the day and do not mind paying for your tickets, order them online and go straight in without waiting.
- Teatro Flamenco Madrid has affordable tickets where you and your besties can sit back, enjoy classical Spanish music and watch flamenco dancers swirl and spin in time to the castanets. Get your tickets early and even check into taking a flamenco dance class! All the girls can learn the art of seductive dancing while in Madrid.
- Casa de Campo is the largest park in Madrid and is at least five times larger than Central Park in New York City. Stop by one of the local cafés for takeout, bring a blanket, and have an impromptu picnic in the park. The well-manicured green spaces are ideal for sitting back, relaxing, and scoping out the locals. Snap some fun photos for your social media to commemorate your time in Madrid with the girls.
- Teatro Kapital is probably the largest nightclub in the city and is the hottest spot for locals and tourists. Head to Teatro Kapital sometime between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. to enjoy the biggest crowd and loudest music. Dance the night, or should I say early morning, away on one of seven dance floors at Teatro Kapital!
Where to Stay
There are so many different places to pick from when looking for accommodations. Find a hotel where you and your girls can be pampered when not out on the town or look for a more economical hotel that is located near the city’s centre.
- Hotel Artrip is located in one of the hottest neighbourhoods and offers free WiFi and luxury amenities. You can walk to several of the main tourist attractions from Hotel Artrip. Stroll through the lobby and check out the work of several local artists. Make your reservations online to ensure your rooms are ready when you arrive.
- Hotel Exe Moncloa offers an actual gourmet market on the first floor where you can find exotic and local snacks and wines along with some interesting souvenirs to commemorate your girls’ getaway to Madrid. Spend time on the roof terrace with its views of the Guadarrama Mountains or relax by the pool when you are not gallivanting around Madrid! Check availability online.
- Catalonia Las Cortes is the place to stay when you want to feel like royalty. The Catalonia Las Cortes is a refurbished 18th-century palace with amazing breathtaking old-world architecture but with modern conveniences. After spending time exploring Madrid, relax in the lobby, and enjoy free snacks or head up to your room to relax and dish about your adventures. Book your stay online.
- Hotel Preciados offers convenience. It is located within walking distance of many of the theatres and big museums. Public transit is also minutes from the hotel. Relax with your pals while enjoying the free minibar after a day of exploring. Grab dinner at the elegant restaurant at Hotel Preciados and then sit and enjoy the architecture of the 19th-century hotel that has been refurbished. Check room availability online and book your stay.
Where to Eat
Madrid is filled with delicious eateries that range from quaint street food to fine dining. Enjoy tapas with your gal pals or sit down to a full tasting menu at a Michelin-star restaurant. Your taste buds will love you as you eat your way through Madrid!
- Coque is a two-Michelin-star restaurant that offers a full or half tasting menu from one of the top chefs in the country. Dress up and laugh the night away while sipping wine and dining on exquisite cuisine. The menu does change daily so you never know what will be offered. Reserve your table online to avoid waiting for a spot to open.
- Tinto y Tapas San Pedro is a rather quaint little restaurant that offers delicious tapas that are cheap and fast. Stop in for a quick lunch or a snack on the go while you are out sightseeing. The empanadas are delicious and make the perfect snack or grab a pizza to share with the girls before heading back to the hotel.
- Restaurante Membibre offers traditional Spanish dishes that will leave you wanting more and more. Have each of your friends order a different dish so you can all sample more of the cuisine. Make your reservations online and prepare to take your taste buds on an adventure. Try the mollejas, or sweetbreads, or one of the game dishes they are best known for.
- Carmencita Bar is actually an American restaurant where you can sit and relax if you are feeling a bit homesick. Dine on Eggs Benedict, with a Spanish twist, while sipping mimosas. Carmencita is a popular little place so you need to book a table to ensure you are not left waiting for a long time.
Whether you and the girls are planning the ultimate girls’ getaway for a weekend or an entire week, you will find plenty to fill your time and broaden your cultural experiences. Visit museums and historic memorials during the day and then hit the clubs at night.
Remember, siestas are a real thing in Madrid, so many shops close between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. giving you plenty of time to rest and relax before gearing up for lively and eventful nights!