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Trip Report
Madrid and San Lorenzo July 22
A long weekend trip to Madrid. Besides seeing Madrid we also stayed in a very cute village San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Here you find an impressive old Montserrat.
+ 5
Highs & Lows
Spanish tapas
In July it gets really warm in Spain
Itinerary Overview
We arrived on a Thursday night, it was excellent because both the roads and the airport were not full, from there we took an Uber to get to our hotel, it was 20 minutes away. Here we received a code to open our hotel room. We slept here for two nights and the hotel room was nice and clean, it had everything for a comfortable stay.
We mainly visited the high lights of Madrid, which I highly recommend. Also, we just had delicious breakfasts and tapas in cute restaurants, you will find them everywhere! In each tourist area there are many varieties of food where you can find classic dishes to try.
After two days in Madrid, we went to San Lorenzo. The main reason was to go to a wedding there, but we also enjoyed San Lorenzo. After two nights we took a taxi directly from this place to the airport and flew back to Amsterdam.
Madrid City trip
1+The Spanish course was very good, but to be honest, I think the level was a bit high for me. If you are very beginner, make sure you take a beginner course. I thought I had chosen this, but for me it was quite difficult. Spanish has quite a few complex things which if you do not have previous knowledge will cost you a lot, but despite this, knowing and understanding a little of the language helps you to have a more fun visit.
I would recommend staying with a local family if you get the chance. I had breakfast and dinner with my host family, got a private room and a lovely woman! People are usually very friendly and helpful, they are always attentive to everything that can be offered to you and are a great guide to better orient yourself.
The hostel afterwards was also very nice. Lots of nice people. I would recommend it too! It is perfect for a sunny day
San Lorenzo de El Escorial A Spanish wedding
1+From Madrid we went by bus to San Lorenzo. It's easy to do it and it is much cheaper than taking a taxi or Uber, the journey is not that long and the road is good, it is a comfortable trip.
So the reason we visited this place was mainly for a wedding. However, I loved it more than Madrid to be honest. This is because this is a more authentic place than the capital Madrid, it is also quieter and since it is not so touristy, you can get much more out of it in every way.
We went to the Monastery. It is a large building and it will take around 2.5 hours to walk around the rooms and the small park around it. It's quite impressive and there are some great paintings to see.
Also, you have many restaurants. So we basically ate at a restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You have many small bakeries where you can get a very cheap breakfast.
Q & A
What would you have changed?
I would not go to the center of Spain in July. It was pretty warm there and made me feel I wanted to have a beach or pool to swim in. We went in July because of the wedding.Anything go wrong during the trip?
My flight was cancelled, but luckily I could rebook it to a day ahead. Luckily, the room in the available in Madrid was available for that same day.Restaurant recommendations?
I would suggest to just walk through the streets of Madrid and San Lorenzo, because there are SO many places to go! Hence, I cannot recommend one specifically. Just go and see it yourselves!Tips you would give a friend?
Stay a bit longer in Madrid and San Lorenzo. I would suggest staying at least 3 days in both places.Packing tips?
Nice walking shoes! I always recommend to walk through cities so be prepared for that.Transportation Tips?
Taking the bus from Madrid to San Lorenzo is easy and worth it. If you decide to go from San Lorenzo to the Airport I would recommend taking a taxi, but check if you can share it with others to lower the costs.
Lodging
Airbnb, modern room
Airbnb. It was really nice. There are many nice hotels to find!