When I first went to Madrid, I didn't just go as a traveller, but more as a fan based on reviews I'd heard from others (plus the football team I support). But what I found there was more than football and the hype, I saw the architecture, the beautiful that originate from the medieval perdio and as a history geek, this was my spot for sure.
I'm Moroccan, and travelling to Spain made me see the Arabic influence from the times of Adalusia back from the beautiful museum that you can visit and cosy tents where you can eat, there is really something for every type of traveller and personality.
Back when I travelled to madrid, I was working of the week in a physically demanding job and living in Amsterdam which is a busy city, made me want to run to a village to find some calmness. I found myself landing in a small village called Toledo with a breathtaking view over the beautiful landscape, seeing how the locals of the the Spanish villages lived and trying their traditional food (paella being my fave) and just enjoying the break I needed from a busy life.
As a Madrid fan, I definitely recommend to take part in the Bernabeu tour, for those who have a little more time on their hands, watch it in the stadium and cheer along.
Suggested daily budget – I would recommend around 40/50 euros per day for Madrid city, but for Toredo, it’s relatively cheaper and costs could go down to 20/30 euros per person (for food and activities).
Hostels would cost you around 25 euros and hotels would cost you from 35 to 70 euros per night, depending on how luxurious you want your travel to be.
Be safe:
Like every other country, keep your valuables close to you, there can be a lot of pick pockets around so be cautious.
Public transport –
I mainly used public transport which cost me no more than 30 euros in total during my entire 7 day stay. Ubers are also generally cheaper here in comparison to the rest of Europe.
Cash or Card –
Bring both. Some local shops prefer cash, especially in Toredo but all major credit and debit cards are widely accepted along with apple pay.
