Exploring Madrid: A Budget-Friendly Adventure
I live in Lisbon, Portugal – and have recently had the urge to explore more of my next-door neighbor. So, I planned a long weekend in Madrid, Spain.
As a food writer and photographer, indulging in culinary delights is a top priority. To balance my budget, I focused on exploring non-food-related activities that cost little or nothing, such as free museums, open-air markets, and tips-only guided tours.
Traveling to Madrid
Since I wasn’t in a rush, I decided to take the train. This option isn’t always cheaper than a flight (involving at least two transfers and a full day of travel), but it gives an opportunity to enjoy beautiful Portuguese countryside sights and a seldom-visited corner of Spain.
Accommodation, however, posed a challenge for my budget. Hotels in Madrid tend to be pricey, and booking last minute significantly limited my choices. Consequently, I opted for a small, centrally located room at a higher price.
Madrid’s taxis can also be costly, leading me to purchase a metro pass for 10 trips. Ultimately, the amount of walking I did – another free pleasure in Madrid – meant I didn’t even use all my trips.
While my overall spending exceeded that of a similar weekend in Lisbon, Madrid felt like a good value, particularly in terms of food and drink.
Pre-trip Spending
Train tickets: €77.70 for round-trip tickets from Lisbon
Accommodation: €249 for three nights in a tiny room in the centrally located Chueca neighborhood
Total: €326.70
Activities in Madrid
Friday
Snacks: I arrived at Madrid’s Atocha Train Station and bought a 10-ride metro pass (€8.60). A visit to the iconic vermouth bar Taberna de Ángel Sierra followed, where I enjoyed a Galician-style tuna empanada and a couple of glasses of vermouth for €6.50. The tradition of offering a salty snack with every drink eased my dining budget slightly.
Total: €34.85
Saturday
Breakfast: I started my day with churros and hot chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés for €5.50. After breakfast, I took the subway to Estación de Chamberí, an abandoned subway station restored to offer guided tours (free). I finished my visit with a café con leche at a nearby café for €2.50.
Lunch: A mini bar-hopping session in the Chamberí neighborhood included boquerones with a glass of beer at the seafood bar El Doble for €15.50, followed by Basque-style tapas and txakoli at Sagaretxe for €15.40.
Activities: I returned to the city center for some shopping, where I bought a pair of alpargatas (€9.75), a Spanish cookbook (€9.95), and some ingredients at a supermarket for €35.55. I also visited the Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, which is free for visitors on Saturdays from 7–9pm.
Dinner: I indulged in pimientos de padrón, eggs with mushrooms and shrimp, plus a glass of red wine at Casa Toni for €20.10.
Total: €114.25
Sunday
Breakfast: A final round of pastry and coffee at La Mallorquina cost €3.80. I then walked to El Rastro, said to be Europe’s largest flea market, where I spent hours exploring (entry is free).
Lunch and wine: During the late afternoon, I enjoyed Manzanilla with olives and a tapa at La Venencia for €7.50, followed by a traditional bowl of callos and a glass of wine at Casa Camacho for €12.
Activities: The afternoon involved a visit to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza for €13, my only paid museum visit during this trip.
Dinner: My final dinner featured cured anchovies with olive oil, bread, Asturian cider, and a delicious flan for €28.70 at Los Asturianos.
Total: €65
Monday
Breakfast: I had one last churros and hot chocolate at Las Farolas for €4.80 before my train journey back to Lisbon.
Total: €4.80
The Final Tally: €448.15
Overall spend: on the ground (€199.15) + accommodation (€249)
Note that this does not include train tickets: €77.70
