A Saturday in Madrid: 24 Hours of Fun

Happy New Year, everyone!! After a holiday in Greece with my family full of highs and lows (we got to pet a LOT of cats and ate wonderful food; I had a cold, a fever, and food poisoning in the span of two weeks), I’m back in Madrid. I have the next few days to reset before school starts again, and in that time I’ll be sending emails to some mentors scattered across the US, planning a few 2025 weekend trips, FaceTiming friends back home, and drinking in the feeling of being back in this city.

I tend to write about topics and events I find interesting, forgetting this blog is also for an audience. As per request on an Instagram poll (thanks Katelyn), this post lays out my ideal Saturday in Madrid. There have been multiple Saturdays that more or less follow this layout, and if you visit the city, here’s what I consider to be the perfect day:

Morning

If I go to bed early on Friday, showered, hydrated, and moisturized, I wake up around 8am. I like to start my weekend mornings with a glass of water, a glass of mango juice, and a cup of green tea, plus fried plantain, eggs, and fruit. I usually do laundry, clean my room, and read or write before going on a stroll to buy stamps and cards, a book, or wander aimlessly. Until I get hungry, then it’s time to meet my friends for lunch. 

Afternoon

I could recommend a number of restaurants, but one of my favorites within walking distance (about a mile) from my apartment is Picholeiros. It has a traditional Galician menu, which includes the best octopus I’ve ever eaten. Following the meal my friends and I progress to Retiro to sit in the grass, drink a Mahou, enjoy the sun, chat, and people-watch before going our separate ways. Once home, I use this time to chat with my flatmates, call my parents, and take a little nap. 

Evening

Of course, the evening has to include a football game. I’m not too particular as to which stadium in Madrid I go to; I like to experience the energy and atmosphere of different venues and supporters. After getting home from the game, I pack my overnight bag, take the metro to my friend’s apartment, and get ready to go to a bar or club. We like bachata, Latin, and afrobeats clubs like Fénix, Azúcar, Theresa Club, and Costa. 

Upon arrival at my friend’s apartment (usually via Uber unless we have an extremely early night and can catch the metro before it closes at 1am) we put on our pajamas, make popcorn, and go to sleep. The next morning, we make pancakes, coffee, and Cola Cao before getting to the activities and chores we need to complete that Sunday.

Experiencing a day similar to this by myself in any city would be fun, but it’s really the spirit of Madrid and the wonderful people I get to connect with, whether they’re friends, acquaintances, or strangers that make it worthwhile.