Exploring Madrid While On My Gap Year Abroad

My Spanish Adventure

Hello! I’m Pluto, a gap year student studying abroad in Seville, Spain. I’ve been here for a few months already and I’m excited to share my journey and experience living here. There is so much to love not only about Seville and its beautiful culture but the whole of Spain. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time traveling during my year abroad and in this blog, I will share about one of my favorite places I’ve visited, Madrid.

A spontaneous trip to Madrid

One of the many benefits to taking a gap year abroad is the ability to travel around the area where you're staying. Living in Seville, Spain, the place I always find myself wanting to go back to is Madrid. I visited Madrid last semester on a whim, when I decided to take a weekend trip there. I had almost no idea of what I wanted to see or do, just that I wanted to explore Madrid.

Museo del Prado

My number one must-see location in Madrid has to be Museo Nacional del Prado. In my opinion, it's one of the best art museums I’ve ever been to. I was able to get in for free when I went because I went one hour before closing. If I could go back, I would absolutely dedicate an entire day to exploring the museum and I fully intend to do just that next time I visit!

Palacio Real

Another amazing site I visited during my trip to Madrid was the Palacio Real de Madrid. As the name suggests, it is the royal palace of Madrid. As I walked up to the building, before I could even set foot inside, I was amazed by the beautiful architecture. The inside was a marvel of its own with each room having its own style while remaining cohesive as a palace. There was so much amazing history throughout the entire building, and I felt I was really able to take my time and appreciate each detail.

Exploring the streets

Something else I did during my trip was take time to just explore the streets and wander around. I would walk around the streets and just try to take it all in. It’s really amazing to discover a new city and find cool spots you might not have noticed otherwise. I found many talented artists, skilled street performers, and all different types of markets. Taking the time to explore a new city is one of the best ways to truly get to know it.

Making new friends

One unexpected thing this solo trip allowed me to do was make new friends. I met some very nice girls at the hostel I was staying at and we walked around town and had dinner together. We were from all different walks of life and even different countries, but we had a common interest in travel and happened to be visiting Madrid at the same time. It is amazing how quickly friendships can form from a simple connection like being in the same place at the same time.

Solo travel reflections

As nervous as I was to take my first ever solo vacation, I found once I got past all the nerves and what-ifs, it was an amazing and unforgettable experience. I would say it is one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Madrid truly is a beautiful city with a fascinating history and vibrant culture. I look forward to the next time I find myself on a trip there.

If you are interested in taking a Gap Year Abroad in Spain you can apply here or schedule a call with an Enrollment Coordinator to talk through any questions you may have.

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