Looking forward to spending a week in Madrid for Christmas 2021! It’s been more than 20 years since I’ve been to Spain, so I’m sure it will be a whole new world this time around. (Not to mention that the world HAS changed quite a bit going on two years into the pandemic…)

>> Visit my Madrid Photo Galleries.

Map of Spain

Things to Do in Spain

  • Madrid – Visit the “golden triangle” of museums – my favorite is the Reina Sofia which houses Picasso’s Guernica among many other treasures. Marvel at the architecture, laze around in beautiful parks, or crawl your way through a tapas bar – or five! Walk in the footsteps of Cervantes as you stroll through the literary quarter of the city or visit the Don Quixote statute in Plaza Espana. I also loved the gourmet food halls such as the Mercado de San Miguel or the Gourmet Experience on the top floor of El Corte Ingles Gran Via (especially the wine bar), which is one of the best sunset views in the city. 
  • Wine Tastings
  • Take a food tour
  • Take a cooking class

What to Eat in Spain

  • Local products to take home food souvenirs recommended by the folks at Devour Madrid
  • Tortillas (Spanish omelette) 
  • Tapas 
  • Jamon, chorizo, fuet and all things charcuterie!
  • Olives
  • Regional cheeses – we had an amazing cheese board at La Canibal, where they also have a great selection of craft beers and wines from local producers on tap!
  • Pastries – like the cream or chocolate napolitana from La Mallorquina
  • Churros + chocolate
  • Cookies from the cloistered nuns at Monasterio del Corpus Christi – you can see videos of the secret ordering process toward the end of my Madrid photo gallery

What to Drink in Spain

  • Wine
  • Sherry
  • Vermouth – I enjoyed way too many of the delicious local vermouth styles, especially the sweet (red) vermouth with some olives and pickled anchovies on the side – heavenly! I’ve previously only had vermouth in cocktails (including my favorite, the Manhattan) but I grew to love them sipped on the rocks with orange (for sweet/red vermouth) or lemon (for dry/white). 

Spain Resources

  • Spain Revealed (YouTube) – Hands down the best videos for any topic you can imagine relating to food, history and how to experience Spain like a local. We bookmarked MANY of their recommendations and can vouch for them whole-heartedly!
  • Culinary Backstreet’s City Guide: Barcelona – Culinary Backstreets hosts food tours for visitors and their team members are always up to date on the latest in the local food scene. Food tours are one of my favorite ways to dive into the food, culture and history of a destination.
  • Serious Eats – Spain – A wealth of information on all things related to cuisine and recipes of Spain. 
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