My first trip to Spain took me to Granada, but a few years later, I found myself back in the country—this time in Madrid. And Madrid gave me a completely different version of Spain.
Granada had felt intimate, historic, and almost magical. Madrid was bigger, busier, louder, and full of energy. There were rooftop views, a professional photoshoot, flamenco, late nights, and one very confusing encounter with Madrid’s public transportation system.
Basically, Madrid kept me on my toes.
If you’re planning a Madrid solo travel adventure, here’s what stood out from my trip and why Spain’s capital is a city I’d happily explore again.
Accidentally Staying Near the Santiago Bernabéu
Sometimes you carefully research the neighborhood you’re staying in…and sometimes you book an Airbnb and discover later that you’re staying near one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. Oops!
My Airbnb was close to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. I hadn’t intentionally chosen the area because of the stadium, and at first it didn’t really affect my plans.
Until game day.
I was trying to get around the city and couldn’t understand why the bus I was waiting for wasn’t showing up like I expected. I watched my phone as the arrival times kept changing, and still no bus. Eventually, an older gentleman explained what was going on. There was a Real Madrid match. Suddenly, everything made a lot more sense. LOL
It became one of those little travel moments that reminds you that a city isn’t operating around your itinerary. Madrid had plans of its own that day.
Today, Santiago Bernabéu is served by Metro Line 10 as well as numerous bus routes, and Madrid’s tourism office notes that stadium operations change on match days.
Travel Britten Tip: If you’re staying near a major stadium or event venue, check the local event calendar before heading out. Even if you’re not attending, a big event can affect how you get around.
Turning Madrid Into My Own Photoshoot
One of my favorite things I did in Madrid was something I hadn’t really done on my previous trips: I booked a professional photoshoot through Airbnb Experiences.
As a solo traveler, getting good pictures of yourself can be a struggle. You either become very comfortable with a tripod, master the timer on your phone, or hand your camera to a stranger and hope for the best.
So having someone else take the pictures for once? Absolutely worth it.
We shot around central Madrid, including Plaza Mayor and Plaza del Callao. Instead of rushing between landmarks trying to check things off a list, I got to slow down, walk around the city, and actually pay attention to my surroundings.
Plaza Mayor was especially beautiful. It’s right in Madrid’s historic center and is one of those places where just walking through the square feels like part of the experience and because I was traveling alone, the photos became something else too: proof that you don’t need to wait for someone else to take the trip or to actually be in the pictures from it.
Finding Money Heist in Plaza del Callao
One of the stops during my photoshoot was Plaza del Callao. If you’re a Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) fan, this one is fun.
Callao was actually used as a filming location for the series. Madrid Film Office lists Plaza del Callao among the show’s official Madrid locations, and the square is where the famous scene involving thousands of €50 notes raining down was filmed.
It was actually the photographer’s idea to check out this location! Even if you didn’t visit specifically because of a movie or television show, suddenly realizing, Wait…I’ve seen this before, gives the place another layer.
Callao also sits right off Gran Vía, one of Madrid’s most recognizable streets, surrounded by shops, theaters, cinemas, restaurants, and some seriously impressive architecture.
Seeing Madrid From the Rooftops
Madrid looks good from street level. But Madrid from a rooftop? Even better.
I joined a rooftop bar crawl (also courtesy of Airbnb Experiences), which turned out to be such a fun way to experience the city. Instead of spending the entire evening in one place, we moved around, had drinks, met people, and got to see Madrid from above.
For a solo traveler, activities like this can also solve one of the trickier parts of traveling alone: figuring out what to do at night.
You can absolutely go to a bar alone, but sometimes it’s nice to have a built-in group. A walking tour, food tour, bar crawl, or other small-group experience gives you the chance to meet people without having to awkwardly walk up to strangers and announce, “Hello, I need vacation friends.”
Although, to be fair, that might work too!
Experiencing Flamenco in Madrid
One experience I knew I wanted in Spain was flamenco.
In Madrid, I went to an Essential Flamenco performance at Tablao Torero, an intimate cave-live venue, and the setting made the whole experience even better. The acoustics, the music, the movement—it felt completely different from watching a performance on a large stage.
Madrid has a long flamenco tradition, with performances ranging from larger theaters to smaller tablaos and intimate venues throughout the city.
What I remember most wasn’t one particular song or dance. It was how powerful everything felt when you’re sitting close enough to hear the dancers’ feet hitting the floor. Some travel experiences are difficult to appreciate until you’re actually there.
For me, flamenco was one of them.
Madrid at Night Was Half the Fun
One thing Madrid made very clear: this is not a city that shuts down early.
Between the rooftop crawl, flamenco, busy streets, and simply wandering around central Madrid, some of my favorite memories happened after the sightseeing portion of the day was technically over. That’s something I’ve learned to appreciate more about traveling. Not every memorable experience needs to have a ticket, monument, or famous landmark attached to it.
Sometimes it’s just being out in a city you don’t live in, realizing it’s late, looking around and thinking: I’m really here. Madrid gave me quite a few of those moments.
What I’d Know Before Visiting Madrid Solo
If I were planning another solo trip to Madrid, I’d leave plenty of room between the things I had to do and the things I could discover once I got there.
Central Madrid is particularly good for exploring on foot. Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Callao, and Gran Vía are all within the broader central area, making it easy to combine several sights without spending the entire day moving between opposite sides of the city. Madrid also has an extensive Metro system for longer distances.
I’d also check whether any major football matches, festivals, demonstrations, or other large events are happening during the trip. My Bernabéu experience taught me that lesson. LOL
For evenings, I wouldn’t automatically stay in simply because I was traveling alone. A group experience can be a great middle ground when you want to enjoy Madrid’s nightlife but don’t necessarily want to navigate it completely by yourself.
And finally, I’d schedule less. Madrid has enough going on that you don’t need to manufacture every minute of your itinerary.
Is Madrid Good for Solo Travel?
Based on my experience, yes.
What I particularly liked was having options. I could spend part of the day wandering around on my own, book an experience when I wanted company, sit somewhere and people-watch, take photos, go sightseeing, or join a group at night.
That flexibility matters when you’re traveling solo.
You don’t have to choose between spending the entire trip alone or attaching yourself to a tour group for five days. You can do both! Independence when you want it and company when you don’t.
That’s one of the things I love most about solo travel in general.
Granada Started It. Madrid Kept It Going.
My first solo trip to Spain began in Granada, and that city will always have a special place in my travel memories.
Madrid was different.
There was no Alhambra overlooking the city or Sierra Nevada framing the background. Instead, Madrid gave me crowded plazas, rooftop views, flamenco, football-day confusion, professional photos, late nights, and another reminder that I genuinely enjoy figuring out a new city on my own.
Granada was where I first fell for Spain. Madrid made me want to keep coming back.
And as it turned out, I wasn’t finished with Spain yet…