Solo Female Travel & Backpacking in Madrid

Solo travel experience

I really enjoyed Madrid. It was safe, pleasant, interesting. So many cultural institutions plus food culture, plus walkability, plus value for money, plus good transportation, plus a nice little botanic garden right downtown. A lot to do.

Solo travel experience

Went to Madrid last month and loved! I don’t speak Spanish but understand, anyway it was really easy to communicate in English. Public transportation is very good and people is super nice everywhere. I stayed for 5 days and didn’t take any day trip. I’d definitely stay more.

Group travel experience

I went last September with a friend and had the best time. First day, we did a guided walking tour that will gave us an idea of the history of the city and its layout. Chocolateria San Gines is a must for breakfast, eating at mercado de San Miguel for dinner or lunch for the experience. We devoted another day to the museum district and Parque del Retiro, puerta de Alcalá. We did a guided tour of the Museo del Prado. We had to pay extra, but it was so worth it. They have an English version (a little tricky to find on the website). We also did Museo Reina Sofia where Picasso's most famous painting is. I really enjoyed walking through barrio de las Letras. I would have liked to stay there. Another day, we walked around barrio de Salamanca and its little boutiques. We walked everywhere. We saw flamenco and went to oldest restaurant in the world.There was so much life and so much to see.

Local experience

I lived in Madrid for a year. Definitely go to Retiro park, buy some beer from people selling at the park, and canoe in the boats on the lake. Temple de Debod, the palace, and any museums that seem interesting. Chapultepec is my favorite taco place ever! The neighborhood of Salamanca for shopping. Malasaña neighborhood for cool bars and sttreet drinking. La Latina neighborhood for good tapas. Look up the best rooftop bars too. All the little food market halls are great. Mercado de San Anton is my fav. El rastro Sunday flea market. And use the public transportation! Very efficient and easy. Uber as well if anything

Itinerary: Day 1: - Walking tour of the city - Shopping along Gran Vía Day 2: - Paddle boat in El Retiro Park - Glass Palace - Plaza Mayor Day 3: - Royal Palace of Madrid - Prado museum Safety: Madrid is a safe city and I didn't feel unsafe even for a moment. Accommodation: Sungate One, one of my favorite hostel experiences ever. Great staff, comfortable beds and great location. Recommendations: Take a couple of days to learn basic phrases that will help you in restaurants, bars, cafes.

Itinerary: Day 1: - Royal Palace of Madrid - Mercado San Miguel - Plaza Mayor - Temple of Debod Day 2: - Puerta del Sol - Prado - Retiro Park Day 3: - Malasaña - Salamanca Safety: I felt pretty safe. Madrid is one of the safest cities in the world. Accommodation: Stayed at the Cats Hostel. Great party hostel to go alone or with people. Highly recommend. Recommendations: Madrid is full of street performances and they’re really good.

Things to do: - Museo Nacional del Prado - El Retiro Park - Plaza Mayor - Royal Palace of Madrid - Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía - Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - Saint Michael Market - Temple of Debod Safety: I felt quite safe, even during the night. Just watch out for pickpockets. Accommodation: Stayed at the Hat Madrid and it was great place to stay. Excellent location and always helpful staff. Recommendations: If you have enough time definitely consider Toledo for a day trip.

Local experience

I love Madrid. Visit Plaza Mayor... there’s tons of restaurants all long the borders of the plaza serving the most amazing food. One of the delicacies from Madrid are bocadillos de calamares (fried squid sandwiches) but all food in Spain is delicious. Also, off the Plaza Mayor is Mercado San Miguel. It’s a “market” but really is a very chic place where you can eat tapas, get some wine, sit in communal tables and meet friendly people. I loved it!! There’s a stall for everything you would like to try out in Spaniard food. You must try Tortilla de patatas and Tinto de Verano.

Local experience

Take a hop on hop off bus. It’ll take you to the most important places in Madrid. Hop off where you feel most inclined. I recommend visiting the Palacio Real, the Catedral de la Almudena (where the king and queen got married), Parque del Buen Retiro, Plaza del Sol, where the Km 0 is, San Gines to eat churros with chocolate. A day trip to Toledo or Segovia or both are highly encouraged.