We had so much more to explore in Madrid and so little time.

Here’s what I’ve posted about Madrid:

We were only in Madrid for three nights (and I wasn’t feeling too hot for one of them), so we didn’t get to experience as much as the city has to offer.

The only place we went back to twice was Taberna La Concha, which had great Vermouth and fun servers.

I’m so glad my dad suggested Museo Nacional del Prado—it’s a choose your own adventure with audio guides and worth the time.

I get the sense that our Airbnb was not legal, but that’s for a post for another day.

Overall, Madrid is the easiest city to fly in and out of in Spain, and I’m excited to visit again while coming in and out of the country.

Bronze equestrian statue of King Charles III poised mid-stride atop a weathered stone pedestal encircled by a shimmering reflecting pool in Puerta del Sol, with sunlit neoclassical facades and a flawless blue sky enhancing the majestic scene. Inviting pedestrian street flanked by terracotta and mustard-yellow townhouses whose wrought-iron balconies overflow with potted flowers; midday light casts warm contrasts as locals wander past shuttered windows, parked hatchbacks and tapas signs. Grand stone basilica crowned by three pale-yellow domed towers and baroque statues, its grey façade softly illuminated by the peach and lavender hues of a dramatic Madrid sunset. Sun-drenched historic square with manicured boxwood parterres centered on a bronze statue of Álvaro de Bazán; surrounding sandstone civic buildings display ornate stonework and fluttering red-and-gold Spanish flags while visitors gather around. Shaded residential lane edged by warm brick and cream limestone façades with terracotta roofs; scattered orange trees in wooden planters and a handful of morning walkers create a calm, lived-in charm. Buzzing avenue at dusk where ochre clouds backlight ornate belle-époque buildings; headlights, café terraces and the glowing marquee of Teatro La Latina mingle beneath leafy trees and the red-and-blue Metro sign. Slender one-way street lined with multicolored 19th-century façades, wrought-iron balconies and a vivid red tavern entrance; afternoon light picks out textures as scooters and compact cars rest between granite bollards. Bright yellow tuk-tuk tour vehicle trundles down a cobblestone alley framed by pastel apartment blocks and leafy orange trees, while casually dressed tourists explore shaded sidewalks and tapas bars. Colorful neighborhood block where a large painted rose mural and graffiti-splashed walls meet elegant balconies; scooters idle near sun-dappled benches as people chat and window-shop under a clear blue sky.