Before our trip, several people told me they had seen little of Madrid—often because they were there for work—or that it lacked the appeal of other Spanish cities. Although Spain has larger cities with more attractions, Madrid has a charm of its own, and I thoroughly enjoyed our brief stay.

We arrived from England on Sunday evening, hungry after a day of travel. Near our hotel, Dear Hotel Madrid, we found Chalito Princesa for a late dinner. Milanesa—a breaded, fried meat cutlet—has become popular in Madrid, influenced by the city’s large Argentine community. Its generous portion was exactly what we needed. We paired it with a €21 pitcher of sangria, which was a great value and gave each of us about two glasses.

The next morning, I relaxed and caught up on some work while everyone else visited the Prado Museum—a place I would prioritize on a return trip. We later met for lunch at Mercado de San Miguel. As a tapas lover, it may be my favorite market I’ve visited. Its stalls offer everything from empanadas and cheese to fruit cups and albóndigas, or Spanish meatballs. Sampling a little of everything was a highlight. One caution: someone in our group nearly had a phone stolen outside the market, so keep a close eye on your belongings. One odd detail: to use the market’s restroom for free, you had to show proof of a food purchase. However, most vendors did not provide receipts, even though we bought several items. If you plan to use the restroom, be sure to ask for a receipt when you order.

Fortunately, we had saved room at Mercado de San Miguel. After a short walk through Plaza Mayor, we headed to Chocolatería San Ginés for churros. Open since 1894, the café became a popular stop for theatergoers. We ordered six churros with chocolate. Although I’ve had better churros elsewhere, they were enjoyable, and visiting such a historic Madrid institution made the experience worthwhile.

That afternoon, we returned to Dear Hotel Madrid. Its rooftop plunge pool was the perfect place to unwind after sightseeing, and I spent a few hours relaxing there with a glass of wine from the rooftop bar. Overall, the hotel was clean, comfortable, spacious, and well air-conditioned. In the heat, we especially appreciated the water dispensers on every floor for refilling our bottles. One unexpected detail was the family room I had booked for our group of four. I assumed it would be one large room or two connecting rooms, but we were given two separate rooms next to each other. That worked well for our group of adults, though it could be less convenient for families traveling with young children.

That evening, we strolled along Gran Vía, Madrid’s lively main avenue and the street where our hotel was located. We enjoyed window-shopping and taking in the vibrant nightlife. We had planned to eat more tapas, but our chosen restaurant appeared to be closed, so we settled on Italian food instead. Oven Mozzarella Gran Vía 55 was decent but unremarkable, and I would choose one of Madrid’s many better restaurants next time. After dinner, we returned to the hotel to rest before another day of sightseeing.

The next day, we enjoyed another leisurely morning before strolling around Madrid’s Royal Palace and gardens. Although palace tours were available, we had not researched how long they would take and did not want to wait in line for tickets, so we skipped one. We were also unsure whether the palace was air-conditioned or might feel stuffy, as Mark had found the Prado Museum. I later learned that tickets can be purchased online.

From the palace, we walked to Puerta del Sol, home to the famous 13-foot statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, which represents Madrid’s coat of arms and is one of the city’s best-known symbols. We then had a relaxed lunch at Cervecería Cruz de Malta. I ordered calamari, a popular dish in Madrid, while Mark chose a hearty multicourse meal—with spaghetti carbonara as his starter! After lunch, we visited the Alcalá Gate, an imposing stone arch commissioned by King Charles III in 1778 because he was dissatisfied with the city’s existing entrance. From there, we entered expansive Retiro Park, walking to the central pond and along the statue-lined promenade. We loved pausing in different spots to admire the scenery before continuing our walk. On a future visit, I would bring a picnic to enjoy there.

That afternoon, we returned to the hotel and relaxed by the pool for about an hour. We could not stay long because we had evening plans: a flamenco show.

The show took place at Teatro Flamenco Madrid, where we received a complimentary drink upon arrival. I thoroughly enjoyed the hour-long performance, filled with passionate, expressive dancing that held our attention throughout. I was also interested to see both men and women perform, as I had not previously associated male dancers with flamenco.

By this point in the trip, I was still happy to eat more tapas, but the rest of the group wanted a change, so we chose a Georgian restaurant. Georgian cuisine is one of my favorite types of food, and Nunuka did not disappoint. We ordered Georgian wine and a variety of dishes, all of which were delicious. Although it was not a traditional Spanish meal, we were very pleased with our choice.

The next morning, we headed back to England. Overall, I had a wonderful time in Madrid and feel there is still plenty more to explore with another day or two. It may not be as grand as Barcelona or some other Spanish destinations, but it is an excellent choice for a long weekend.

Madrid is also a convenient base for day trips to Toledo and Segovia. We did not have time to visit either, but I would definitely include them on a longer trip.