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Casa de Campo park  Madrid has many beautiful parks and by far the best is the amazing Casa de Campo. It’s a huge park that is actually the largest green space in Spain. It covers an area of 1,722 hectares that’s 6 ½ times bigger then Hyde Park in London and 5 times bigger then Central Park in New York!! The name Parque Casa de Campo translates to Country House Park and was originally the hunting estate for the Spanish royal family.  It’s now a popular area for locals to spend the day with their families. There are nature trails, bike paths, a zoo & aquarium, amusement park, boating lake, outdoor swimming pools, restaurants and a cable car all inside Casa de Campo! I usually walk to Casa de Campo to get lunch at one the nice lakeside restaurants or to go for a swim in the pool but I was starting to think that I was really only seeing a small corner of the park. So, we decided to hire a BiciMAD bike and go exploring. How to hire a BiciMAD bike in Madrid BiciMAD bicycles ...

I love a good terrace bar or “terazza” as it’s called in Spain. Somewhere nice to sit outside in the sunshine while you enjoy a drink or two. Going up to a hidden rooftop terrace, is even better. Away from the noisy streets and hustle & bustle, it’s like finding a secret little oasis in a big city like Madrid. There are lots of great rooftop bars in Madrid but from street level it can be hard to notice them. So, I thought I’d put together a list of my favourite hidden rooftop bars in Madrid and where to find them. The 6 best rooftop bars in Madrid El Viajero   A shabby chic, bohemian bar in a great spot in La Latina. You’ll find it on the corner of Cava Alta overlooking the colourful Mercado Cebada. The roof terrace is small and very popular so get here early to grab a seat. There is a roadside terrace or you can just wait for a roof top table to become free. Tip: They are closed on Mondays! Address: Plaza de la Cebada 11, 28005 Radio at ...

Since moving to Madrid I have spent some time working my way around the many wonderful restaurants (I know, it’s a hard life) and trying all the local food. Spain is well known for its delicious local food. If you are visiting Madrid you may have a limited amount of time in the city but a huge selection of yummy Spanish foods you want to try. This article covers my suggestions for the best food to eat in Madrid. They are available on bar and restaurant menus, are reasonably priced and dishes that locals enjoy (no tourist traps). Tapas style of dish is popular in Madrid. Locals will enjoy a quick breakfast, mid morning snack, a large lunch, early evening snack and tapas dinner. Tapas is smaller plates of food perfect for sharing and eating slowly while drinking and chatting with friends and family. A larger portions of tapas are called raciones. These are my top 12, absolute favourite, you must try, eat them or you will regret it Spanish dishes. RELATED article: A guide to eating p...

This is the perfect itinerary for what to see during a 2-day break or a weekend in Madrid. We’ve had lots of friends and family visit Madrid since we moved here. So, I’ve been busy acting as a local guide, showing visitors around the city, giving them a taste of Spain while keeping everyone entertained. A self guided city tour of Madrid This self-guided city break itinerary is perfect for starting after a nice breakfast and walking at a leisurely pace. It takes in the main sights of Madrid, the best parks and shopping areas. All contained in a very easy walking route. Follow this and you will see everything you need to during a weekend in Madrid. It also gives plenty of opportunities for a cerveza, ice cream or snack pit-stops along the way. How long you stay at each location is up you, I’m not a fan of city walking guide’s with rigid time frames. So, relax and take it at your own pace and enjoy your weekend in Madrid! *RELATED article: For ideas of where ...

Relocating to a new city is a big move. A new city, in a new country (when you don’t speak the language) is an even bigger move. Luckily, we’ve had a bit of practice at moving to new places. However, it still feels quite daunting when the day finally comes to pack up your things and get on that flight. Moving from London to Madrid was exciting for us. I wanted to share our experience so that you can see how a big move overseas isn’t as scary as it might first seem. Anyone can relocate their lives to another country if that’s what they want. Moving to Madrid I think the key to moving to another country is a bit of planning (so that you don’t feel overwhelmed). A bit of research into your new home (so that you know what to expect). Plus a lot of courage (you made the decision to move for a reason, have faith in yourself and don’t look back). We spent a lot of time on planning and researching our move to Madrid and that really helped things to go smoothly. If you...