Hey! Welcome to RPMatt, today I’m going to give some tips that I learned on my solo trip to Madrid. I went for a short weekend from London, so I was essentially there 24 hours. Still, I had a blast and was able to make a few friends as well as see most of the things in Madrid I wanted to see. So, here is my guide to Madrid Solo Travel.
Where to stay
If you’re alone in Madrid, you’ll find that you are far from the only one. There are a ton of hostels in the city center for just the occasion. If you’re not interested in a hostel, there is an array of hotels as well, but I personally stayed in a hostel as it seemed pretty good and I thought it might be a good way to meet people.
This wasn’t my first time staying in a hostel, but it had been awhile. I stayed at The Hat Hostel Madrid. It was pretty nice, had free walking tours, a rooftop bar, and a Sangria workshop in the evenings. I met a few of my bunk mates but didn’t really hang out with any of them, unfortunately. More on that later. It was really close to Plaza Mayor and the San Miguel Market. I would definitely recommend this hostel.
There are also other hostels such as…
Cats Hostel – This was a close second for me. Good location in similar area, but maybe more touristy. Courtyard looks nice and seems to be highly rated
Bastardo Hostel – Looks like a vibe and a half. Pretty solid reviews too
What to do
In Madrid, there is something for you. It doesn’t matter if you like history, architecture, parks, museums, or partying, you’ll be able to find something to do.
I mostly enjoyed the architecture, parks, and partying. The activity I am most glad I did as a solo traveler was the Madrid Bar Crawl. I paid twenty euros for a spot on this, which included free shots at every place we stopped (5 in all). We went from 10PM to 5AM and I met lots of cool people, particularly a group of Germans who were staying at the same hostel and I ended up hanging out with the rest of my trip.
Besides that, I would definitely recommend a visit to the Royal Palace and the viewpoint of the Park below it. Plaza de Espana nearby was also very cool and all the winding streets in this area had lots of bars, restaurants, and tavernas. For quick bite to eat and a tasting menu of many Spanish dishes, check out the Mercado San Miguel.
Finally, take some time to go to La Parque de el Retiro and the Museo de Prado. The park is impressive, with well-groomed hedges and trails, marble statues, and a large reflection pool in the middle. Then, the museum is also impressive, full of many works of Goya, as well as a near perfect copy of the Mona Lisa done by one of Da Vinci’s apprentices.
General travel tips for Madrid Solo Travel
Just make sure you recognize that the Renfe ticket is different than the main metro and you should be good to go. At the airport, it’s a bit confusing because the metro and Renfe commuter trains start at the same place. However, be clear of which Ticket you need because they are separate.
I started off in the metro, so I bought a 10 trip ticket for eight euros. However, when I needed to switch to the Renfe commuter train, I had to buy a different ticket for it to work. These tickets were purchases based on the destination.
Also, if you have a priority pass or other airline status that gets you into lounges typically; I would highly recommend the airport lounge in Terminal 4S (which you will likely fly out of). It was very nice, with large windows facing the runway and mountains in the distance, as well as good snacks that they rotated through my time waiting there. I used my priority pass that I have as part of my American Express Platinum benefits. However, you can also use many different airline status’ to get you in, just check before you go.
Conclusion
This is a bit of a short guide to Madrid Solo Travel. There are two reasons for that. First off, I was only there for a short time, so my direct experience isn’t much help and I don’t want to set you off on the wrong path.
The second reason is that Solo Travel is different for everybody. I personally think that it’s best when you show up with a loose plan, if any, and let the experience take you wherever it leads. Even though you’re alone, you might find that it’s less lonely than you thought. It’s much easier to make friends with strangers when you’re not with somebody else already.
If you enjoyed this post, please check out some of my older posts below!
Chasing Northern Lights in the Paris of the North
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