✨
This wasn’t my first time in Madrid.
I’d already visited many of the city’s major attractions on a previous trip, so this visit was much more relaxed. Instead of trying to see everything again, I focused on a few places I hadn’t visited before, and, of course, finally tried Madrid’s famous calamari sandwich.
While Madrid mostly served as a base for my day trip to Toledo, I still managed to discover a few new favourites.
✨ At a glance
📍 Time spent: 2 nights (During day: 1 day in Madrid, 1 day in Toledo)
🗓️ When I visited: January
🚶 Getting around: On foot + metro
👤 Travel style: Solo
🎨 Best for: World-class museums, art and day trips
✨Madrid (2 nights)
I’d already visited Madrid before, so this time I wasn’t planning to see all the major sights again. The main reason I added it to my itinerary was surprisingly simple: I wanted to try Madrid’s famous calamari sandwich.
🌟Where I stayed
room00 Gran Vía Hostel
A great location within walking distance of most of the places I wanted to visit.
🌟What I did
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
This ended up being my favourite part of Madrid.
The museum is home to many important works of modern and contemporary art, including Picasso’s Guernica, one of Spain’s most famous paintings.
Painted in 1937 in response to the bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, the artwork has become a powerful symbol against war and violence.
I’d seen countless photos of it before, but nothing compares to standing in front of it in person.
The painting is enormous, and seeing it up close was surprisingly emotional.
🌟Where I ate
Bar La Campana
Probably the biggest disappointment of my entire trip.
Located just off Plaza Mayor, Bar La Campana is famous for its bocadillo de calamares, and there was a long queue when I arrived. After seeing it all over social media, I was really excited to try it.
Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype.
The calamari wasn’t crispy at all and didn’t taste particularly fresh. The bread was soft and slightly soggy, and the sandwich was handed to me in a paper bag that had clearly been prepared in advance. That might explain why it lacked freshness.
I absolutely love calamari, so this was a real disappointment.
I honestly wouldn’t recommend it.
The patatas bravas, however, were much better and definitely the highlight of the meal.
🌟Would I recommend Madrid?
If it’s your first visit to Spain, absolutely.
For this particular trip, though, Madrid mostly served as the perfect base for visiting Toledo and seeing Guernica.
🌟My highlights
🏰 Must-see: Museo Reina Sofía
🏰 Most memorable moment: Seeing Picasso’s Guernica in person
🏰 Most overrated: Bocadillo de calamares at Bar La Campana
🚄 Day trip to Toledo
I spent my second day taking a train to Toledo.
The journey only takes around 30 minutes from Madrid by high-speed train, making it one of the easiest and most worthwhile day trips from the capital.
I bought my ticket the day before without any issues.
🌟First impressions
I absolutely loved Toledo.
The city feels like stepping into the Middle Ages, with narrow cobbled streets, historic buildings and beautiful viewpoints around every corner.
It’s quite small, so it’s easy to explore in a day, although be prepared for plenty of hills.
🌟Museo Cromática
One of the more unusual museums I visited during the trip.
It’s dedicated to the history and craftsmanship of stringed instruments, with beautifully decorated guitars, lutes and other rare pieces on display.
I enjoyed it because it was something different, but I wouldn’t call it a must-see. If you have extra time, it’s worth a visit.
🌟Catedral Primada de Toledo
This was easily the highlight of Toledo.
As the seat of the Archbishop of Toledo, it’s considered one of the most important cathedrals in Spain and is often referred to as the country’s “Primate Cathedral.”
The Gothic architecture is stunning, and the interior is incredibly detailed. Every room seemed to reveal another masterpiece, from the richly decorated chapels to the impressive altarpiece.
It’s definitely worth visiting, even if you’ve already seen other famous cathedrals in Spain.
🌟Museo del Greco
I visited the museum out of curiosity, but it ended up being my least favourite attraction in Toledo.
Since I’m not particularly familiar with El Greco’s work, I found myself walking through it quite quickly.
If you’re interested in his paintings, you’ll probably appreciate it much more than I did.
🌟Where I ate
La Malquerida de la Trinidad
I came here to try carcamusas, one of Toledo’s most traditional dishes.
It’s a slow-cooked pork stew in a rich tomato-based sauce.
Personally, it just wasn’t for me. I’m glad I tried it, but the flavours didn’t really match my taste.
🌟Would I recommend Toledo?
Definitely.
Its medieval atmosphere, beautiful cathedral and compact historic centre make it one of the best day trips you can take from Madrid.
🌟My highlights
🏰 Must-see: Catedral Primada de Toledo
🏰 Best experience: Wandering through the medieval streets
🏰 Most unique museum: Museo Cromática
🏰 Skip if you’re short on time: Museo del Greco
✨Madrid & Toledo Gallery
Leave a Reply