A Spring Trip To Madrid & Benidorm

As you have probably understood by previous posts and by other stories you might have heard about Sweden, the winters up there really do take a toll on people. I'm not the one who hates winter: I love it when the snow comes, I think it is super cozy to cuddle up inside drinking hot tea and the chilly air outside feels refreshing after extremely hot summers like the ones I am used to. But the fact is that winters in Sweden are very long. You tend to reach a point of despair, in which you start wondering if it will actually EVER go away.

After my first winter in Sweden, I certainly had all those mixed feelings about it. It was still very exotic and fascinating for me, but I sure could use some sunshine to get reminded that there still is warmth somewhere in the World. Plus, my wanderlust was starting to itch again, of course. That is when we started planning a spring trip to Spain - and what a great idea it turned out to be.

I had been looking forward to visiting Madrid for the longest time. I had only visited one place in Spain before and that was Santiago de Compostela, so the capital of my neighboring country was obviously very high on my travel bucket list. The following train ride from Madrid to the gorgeous Costa Blanca was an alluring prospect as well, so the whole adventure felt truly exciting.

When we woke up in the Spanish capital, we went straight to exploring mode and found a delightful city with tons to offer. Here are some of the many things worth seeing while visiting Madrid:

• Gran Via

This is probably the most photographed and famous street in Madrid, so as soon as you start researching about it you will see how much of a landmark it really is. Even if you don't know much about Madrid yet, you are likely to have seen plenty of pictures of Madrid featuring the extremely famous Metropolis Building on Gran Via.

Madrid's first skyscraper is also located at Gran Via: the Telefonica Head Office building.

Strolling down this remarkable street is probably the best way of kicking off your visit to Madrid and getting feeling of the city's vibrant and cool atmosphere.

Gran Via in Madrid

• Puerta del Sol

Being one of the busiest and most popular places in the whole capital, Puerta del Sol is a square that you certainly don't want to miss if you are visiting Madrid. Apart from beautiful arquitecture and a vibrant city atmosphere, you will be able to experience something very unique: being at Spain's km 0. While at the square, look for a sign on the ground, stating "Origen De Las Carreteras Radiales". It is the reference for the numbers of streets all over Spain, so it is indeed a unique place to step on.

After finding the Km 0 mark on the ground, admire the buildings around you. The square is full of beautiful and important buildings worth noticing, such as the Office of the President of Madrid (at the building where the old Post Office used to be located).

Apart from that, notice the "Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree" as well, which is a very famous statue worth taking some time to admire. It is a reference to the symbol of a bear and a strawberry tree that is known for first appearing on the coat of arms of Madrid during the 13th century. That historical symbol is believed to be related to issues between the city and the Church regarding the possession on land and animals. When the problem was eventually solved by a decree, the symbol of the bear (symbolizing the animals) and the tree (symbolizing the land) was used as a way of declaring the issue resolved. After that, it became Madrid's official emblem.

• Palacio de Cibeles

This famous Palace composed by two buildings is also a landmark of Madrid, being featured in some of the most beautiful pictures of the capital. The white buildings stand in one of Madrid's historical centers and today it houses the City Hall and a cultural center, but previously the emblematic buildings housed the telephone and telegraph headquarters and the main post office of the city - thus being known in the past as the Communication Palace.

Nowadays, most tourists simply admire the Palace from across the road, with the beautiful fountain in front of it making the building a truly wonderful sight. But visitors can go inside the Palace as well and enjoy several amazing experiences during their Madrid trip. On the 6th floor, visitors of the Cibeles Palace can enjoy a great meal at the Cibeles Palace Restaurant or a relaxing cocktail at the Cibeles Terrace.

For those who are only interested in the gorgeous view provided at the top of the Palace, they can head to Madrid Viewpoint which is located at the Palace Tower and offers an extraordinary panoramic view of the spanish capital. If the opportunity to experience a privileged panoramic view of Madrid caught your attention, read more about it here for practical details on how to get there and book one of the free tours of the viewpoint organized by the cultural center located at the Palace.

Palacio de Cibeles in Madrid

• Royal Palace of Madrid

Another must when in Madrid is a visit to the Royal Palace. As many would argue, no trip to the Spanish capital is truly complete until you see the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family in Madrid.

This outstanding Palace has almost 3.500 rooms and it is the largest functioning Palace in Europe, attracting around 1.5 million visitors per year. Even though the Palace is the official residence of the Royal Family, it is not in fact the place where they reside. With the Royal Family choosing a more humble Palace outside of Madrid, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open for visitors in all its splendor. Due to the overwhelming amount of rooms in the Palace, only a certain amount is open to the public at any given time - with an certain route being made available to tourists and being changed every couple of months.

It is a building which is extremely rich in its Historical and Cultural value, so you are willing to pay for exploring it, make sure to check more information about it here. If you're looking to keep it a very frugal trip, if you are lacking time to explore the Palace's indoors or if you simply don't think it is worth it to go in, make sure to at least visit it from the outside, as it is an impressive sight on its own.

Royal Palace of Madrid

• Plaza Mayor

Arguably the most famous square in Madrid, "Plaza Mayor" is one of the many places that you should definitely include on your itinerary. It is very close to the square "Puerta Del Sol" and you are sure to stumble onto it one way or the other while walking around that area of the capital. Choose one of the 9 beautiful arches that give entrance to the square and prepare to be amazed.

Dating back all the way to the 16th century, having gone through a series of destructive fires and been the stage of events as bloody as executions, the "Plaza Mayor" square is now a place for locals and tourists to walk around, eat and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. If you visit during winter, you might be lucky enough to catch the cozy Christmas Market that this unique square hosts.

Plaza Mayor in Madrid

• Atocha Train Station

If you are going to catch a train at Atocha Train Station in Madrid, you are in luck, as you will be greeted by a truly special and transportation hub. Even if you don't have a train to catch from there, research about this exceptional Train Station because you might want to head there anyway.

Seen from the outside, the building is a beauty in itself. It is Madrid's largest Train Station and its iron architecture is truly mesmerizing, making it famous as "The Iron Heart of Madrid".

Nowadays, Atocha Station is 3-in-1: it contains two modern stations and the old 19th century station, which is now used as a very unique garden instead of serving its initial purpose of a Train Station. Where the old platforms, tracks, trains and passengers once stood, there is now a lush tropical garden waiting to be discovered. With a central nave made of iron and glass, the conditions were ideal for such a garden, as if a giant greenhouse was coincidentally and convenientely already in place for all those exotic plants to grow in. Now visitors can see 260 species and more than 7000 plants coming from all over the World to live at Atocha Train Station. That's pretty special, right?

• Retiro Park

This green oasis at the earth of Madrid is a place where locals and tourists spend hours enjoying the gorgeous surroundings and the endless relaxing activities that would make anyone forget that they are in the middle of a metropolis.

From monuments to gardens and even different exhibitions, there really is something for everyone at El Retiro.

If you like activities involving water, you can enjoy the lake by renting a rowing boat and admiring the views.

For visitors who are more into architecture, the Velázquez Palace and the (extremely famous) Glass Palace might be of higher interest. Such buildings could be of interest for visitors interested in culture as well, since they are both used as exhibition venues by the Reina Sofia Museum nowadays.

Glass Palace in Madrid

At the park there are even monuments like the "Monument to Alfonso XII", which is interesting to see and even offers an observation deck where visitors can enjoy wonderful views of the park.

If, on the other hand, you are more interested in Nature, simply strolling around will put you right at your element as you will be able to enjoy more than 15.000 trees and even the one that is considered the oldest tree in the whole city: a nearly 400 years old Mexican Conifer.

With so many interesting things to see, don't assume that you will be able to visit the park in a couple of hours. It could be feasible, if truly necessary, to make it in and out in such a short period of time but that wouldn't allow you to see more than one or two points of interest in the park, as it is spread over such a large area and just walking around proves to take way longer than visitors first predict. If at all possible, allow at least a whole morning or afternoon to truly enjoy this wonderful place at the Spanish capital.

After exploring the beautiful city of Madrid and the many things it has to offer, we were glad to move on to the next part of the adventure: a beautiful and relaxing train ride to Alicante. Departing from Atocha Station, we headed to the spanish countryside in all the comfort that the Renfe trains offer and in some hours we were at gorgeous Costa Blanca. Suddenly we could feel the gentle breeze of the Mediterranean on our faces and stroll down the "Esplanada d'Espanya", surrounded by palm trees.

From Alicante we moved on to Benidorm where we would spend some wonderful days enjoying the glorious sunshine and exploring the region.

Soaking up the sunshine that I had missed so dearly

• Balcon del Mediterraneo

This is probably the most photogenic place in Benidorm. Going down the stairs towards the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, you will reach a white platform that allows visitors to get one of the best views of Benidorm and its beaches. The surroundings are also enchanting and worth taking a minute to appreaciate, with pure-white handrails contrasting with the gorgeous blue of the Costa Blanca water.

• Levante Beach

Being the main beach in Benidorm and extremely popular with both locals and visitors from all over Spain and the World, Playa del Levante really doesn't disappoint. With almost 2 amazing kms of sand, beach goers can enjoy some of the highest standards at this beach: clean sand, nice temperatures almost year-round and turquoise waters that are usually at very comfortable temperatures.

Even if you are not into staying at the beach all day long and going for swims, make sure to at least walk alongside the famous Playa del Levante to enjoy its beauty.

• Poniente Beach

Playa de Poniente is the second largest in Benidorm and it is just as popular and crowded as Playa del Levante. The water and sand are nice as well and the great location right at the center of Benidorm definitely make it well worthy of a visit, either for a day at the beach or for a stroll down the promenade alongside the coast.

Poniente Beach in Benidorm

• The Cross of Benidorm

Situated at the top of the Sierra Gelada Natural Park, this famous cross offers amazing views of the city of Benidorm. Many visitors hike all the way but if you are looking for a faster and more comfortable way of getting there, it is possible to drive almost all the way to the cross (only the last 100 meters or so have to be done on foot).

• Villajoyosa

If you are in for a day-trip, make sure to check out a cozy town at a mere 20 minutes away from Benidorm: the picturesque town of Villajoyosa - Spanish for "Joyful Town" . There, you will be able to see the famous colorful houses that symbolize the popular town of Villajoyosa and that, according to the legends, once helped the fishermen find their way home when returning from the sea late in the evening.

Apart from that, you will be pleased to find an amazing beach right in front of the town, that is close to the standards of the Levante Beach, even though it is much smaller.

The beach at Villajoyosa

If you are into sweets, you might find it interesting that this town is famous for its chocolate as well, due to the spanish chocolate brand "Valor" that even has a chocolate museum in Villajoyosa. There, you will be able to learn more about the History of the brand and the chocolate-making techniques used - and, best of all, it's free to visit. You can read more about it here, but spoilers alert: all you need to do is get a ticket from the machine located at the entrance, in order to ensure your spot.