My unsolicited solicited advice: The most touristy places to visit in Madrid while on a budget

While living here for two years, my grandfather, aunt, mom and dad, and several friends have come to visit me. This obviously means that I've had the pleasure of giving them a tour of the city. The. Same. Old. Tour.

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I know just about every touristy spot here, and I've basically memorized the route and dialogue of the free walking tours. If you look up on Google "things to do in Madrid", all the typical stuff is covered: Plaza Mayor, la Chocolatería (Churrería) San Ginés, Puerta del Sol, El Mercado San Miguel (disgustingly overpriced market place for delicious Spanish tapas), el Restaurante Botín (the oldest continuously opened restaurant in the world), El Palacio Real, La Opera, La Catedral de la Almudena, el Parque del Retiro, el Museo del Prado, el Reina Sofía, el Thyssen, el Teleférico, and finally, el Faro de Moncloa.

I am going to tell you my personal opinion on the "must-see" places listed above.

Plaza Mayor

As everyone will tell you when you go to Plaza Mayor, "You must eat the bocadillo de calamares (calamari sandwiches) here, it's tradition". Ok, first of all, I love calamari, but putting fried calamari in more bread is kind of a too-dry snack. Not to mention that these calamari sandwiches are overpriced in Plaza Mayor, which probably explains why us tourists are constantly being lured there. It'll cost 3. 50€ there, but you shouldn't have to pay more than 2. 50€. Don't get me wrong, Plaza Mayor is a nice square, but that's all it really is. A square. Haunted by a the creepiest shiny goat-dog creature that asks you for money.

I seriously have no idea what this thing is, but it seems to enjoy hanging around popular places in Spain. I saw it in Seville too.

Anyway, go to Plaza Mayor, learn about its history (it used to be an execution square), and marvel at the pretty buildings. But if you want to try the calamari sandwich, go anywhere but there. You can go down a few side streets and find a place selling them for 2. 50€ or 2. 70€. Please, 3. 50€ for a dry sandwich is ridiculous.

La Chocolatería San Ginés

Nearby Plaza Mayor is Puerta del Sol. On the way there, stop at Chocolatería San Ginés, the best churros place in Madrid.

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I have no reason to tell you to avoid going there, unless you have diabetes or something. The chocolate here is what really separates San Gines from the other churros places. It's thicker, richer, and really distinct. You use it to dunk the churros and you can drink it too. You can choose to order churros or porras (the thicker fried dough version) with or without the chocolate, but come on. Getting churros/porras without the chocolate like getting a hamburger without fries, or a salad without dressing. For 4€ you can get 6 churros or 2 porras with the chocolate.

Oh and I almost forgot: best part is it's opened every day 24/7. Yup, you can come here at 4am to fulfill your churros cravings. Perfect for breakfast, snack, and dessert.

La Puerta del Sol

After you stuff your face with churros and the thickest richest chocolate ever, hobble your way to Sol, an even bigger square than Pl. Mayor. There you'll find a bunch of stores, street performers, human statues, and people dressed up as Minnie Mouse (and other Disney favourites) forcing you to take pictures with them and then calling you a modafo*a when you explain to them that you don't have change to give them.

At Puerta Del Sol, you'll find the statue of the Oso (bear) and Madroño tree, which is the symbol of Madrid. There's also the huge Apple store where you can get free wifi. Sol is the place where everyone goes on New Years Eve to countdown and see the ball drop. Like a mini-Times Square (you have the people in Disney costumes to top it off).

If you're at Sol, I recommend: La Mallorquina. Hands down best pastry ever.

Read my other article for more details.

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El Mercado San Miguel

Also near Pl. Mayor is the Mercado San Miguel. If you're hungry and poor, don't go here. You'll leave with your belly half full and your wallet empty. Don't get me wrong, it's really good food, but way overpriced. Tourist trap, yay! If you're rich and don't care, then knock yourself out. I'm writing this for my fellow tourists who are on a budget.

Cheap eats

If you want to get drunk and eat on the cheap, but you don't want to get your beer at the supermarket, you can get half liter jugs of beer for 1. 5€ at 100 Montaditos. It's a super typical chain restaurant, you'll see it everywhere and probably get sick of it. They also have mini sandwiches for 1-2€ each, which isn't bad for a snack, but I don't recommend it if you're starving.

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If you don't care about what kind of snack food you're eating and you just want beer and lots of random food, go to El Tigre. You can get a half liter of beer or other drink and a plate of random finger food: Tortilla (spanish omelette with potato), cheese, bread, more potatoes, ham, croquetas (cheese/ham filled puff balls), all together for around 5€. Not bad I guess.

The two main problems at El Tigre is you can't choose what they give you, they just slap the food randomly on the plate, and the place doesn't have a lot of seating so usually you end up standing at your table. It's also usually packed at night and on the weekends.

My favourite chill/social/not fancy place so far is La Risueña. It's like 2 minutes walking from Sol. They have specials on Tuesdays, 7€ for 5 bottles (20cl) of beer and 2 plates of your choice of finger food. The nachos and cheese (not featured in these pictures) is probably my favourite.

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Now that hits the spot!

Speaking of Tuesdays, if you're a Taco Tuesday fan you can get a taco and a beer at any Taco Bell in Madrid for 1. 50€. But that's not Spanish or touristy, so, moving on.

El Restaurante Botín

Also located near the Mercado San Miguel. Known for being the oldest restaurant (continuously running) in the world. Never been there, but I can tell you that if you're on a budget you can say Hasta La Vista, Baby. I'm sure it's amazing quality and you might be impressed, and it's something to put on your life résumé "I've eaten at the oldest restaurant in the world". Yay! Up to you if you want to try it; maybe I will one day (when I get invited).

El Palacio Real, La Opera, La Catedral Almudena

• El Palacio Real (Royal Palace), La Opera, and La Cathedral Almudena can all be visited at the same time since they're basically all facing each other. I've never been inside the Palace, but it's on my to-do list. The view on the outside is beautiful in itself.

Read my second article for some special less crowded places to view the palace.

• The Opera is also an amazing building, and if you're an opera fan or at least if you appreciate the arts, I'd recommend trying to see a show although they're quite expensive. You can go inside or even on the website to inquire about cheap tickets (sometimes there are last minute offers for students).

• I especially love the Cathedral. It's nothing special looking from the outside, but I think the inside ceilings are spectacular. Since the Cathedral was finished relatively recently in 1993, there's a touch of modernity and colorful designs on the ceilings, which is a nice contrast mixed with the traditional look. Oh, also it's free to go in the Cathedral, so do that.



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El Parque del Retiro

The Parque del Retiro is the most typical park where everyone goes to. I really enjoyed renting the row boats in the center pond/lake. It's usually 4, 50€ per boat for an hour (but nobody is timing you so you can stay some more time if you want), and up to four people can fit comfortably on the boat.

This is the center pond/lake, with the well known monument. Ignore the dead pigeon. I thought it was a cool picture. Don't worry, there aren't usually dead pigeons in the water.

I like Retiro park because it's lovely, well kept, but it's full of people. Sometimes too many people to be able to enjoy it. If you want a more private park, go to Campo del Moro (my favourite) or to the Casa de Campo. Read more about these recommendations here.

El Prado, La Reina Sofía, El Thyssen

Museums! The Prado, The Reina Sofía, and the Thyssen are the most well known museums in Madrid. They're definitely good to see.

Free times to go are:

• Prado Museum - Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 8pm, or Sundays from 5pm to 8pm.
• Reina Sofia Museum - Monday to Friday from 7pm to 9pm, Saturday from 2. 30pm to 9pm, or Sunday from 10am to 2. 30pm
• Thyssen - Monday 12-4pm

El Teleférico

The Teleférico is the cable car ride that takes you from Moncloa to the middle of nowhere in Casa de Campo (it's like a naturey park), round trip for 5, 90€, and one way for 4, 20€. I'm kidding, it's not the middle of nowhere, there's a restaurant/cafeteria at the terminal and you can see a nice view of Madrid from there. If you're really into cable cars, I recommend taking the ride one-way, doesn't matter if you're taking it to the Casa de Campo or if you're taking it to Moncloa. Either way, you should walk it at least one way. Why? Read my second article.

Faro de Moncloa

Last on my list here is the Faro de Moncloa. It's a viewpoint of the city. You pay 3€, go up the elevator, and have a panoramic view of the city with a map pointing out to you what's what.

I think it's pretty overrated but if you want to see the city without walking, then go for it. But not on a cloudy day.

You see all these things, and you've basically seen the whole city, right?

Wrong! Check out my Part 2 article: My top 5 secret untouristy tourist places to visit in Madrid while on a budget.

Title says it all. Well I guess they're not secrets anymore after you read them.

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