¡Vamos, España! – 8 Days, 4 Cities, and a Lot of Tapas

The journey started, as many of ours do, at the bus stop under the SNP bridge. Unfortunately, sleep hit us hard, and we missed our bus. But hey, what's a travel story without a hiccup or two? The next bus cost us an extra 35€, but we made it to Vienna airport in time to enjoy a free breakfast – thanks, lounge perks!

We boarded our Ryanair flight and after three smooth hours, landed in Madrid.

Day 1 – Madrid Madness

We hopped on the bus 203 (5€ each) to Cibeles, and from there found our cozy apartment on Via de la Libertad. Surprisingly, early check-in at 11:30 – winning!

We hit the streets right away:

1. Señor Perez’s metro house – Metro Banco de España station. (Legend says he claimed he lived in a subway entrance to protest rent prices. It’s art... or madness?)

   

2. Another Señor Perez location " Casa Rentoncito Perez"(C. de San Vicente Ferrer, 48, 28004 Madrid, Spain)

   

We recharged at El Duero with 2 cañas (7.10€ total) and boom – free tapas (patatas bravas + salchicha). Classic Madrid.

After a Mercadona pit stop, siesta time. Then, golden hour: 3. Gran Vía stroll – Madrid’s version of Broadway, alive with lights and people.

4. Plaza de España

5. Templo de Debod – an actual Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in 1968. Yes, really. Sunset spot level: legendary.

Wine from DIA supermercado and straight to bed.

Day 2 – Runner’s High + Shopping Therapy

Post-siesta energy burst = 10K run in Retiro Park (yes, we earned those jarritas afterward). 🏃🍺

Showered and ready, we set out on a mini mission: 6. Mural El Beso – sadly not there anymore 😢 (was once an iconic street art kiss in Lavapiés)

7. Madrid Cathedral – Officially called Almudena Cathedral. Took 110 years to build. Worth the wait.

8. Royal Palace of Madrid

9. Bar Padrao Cops – 2 rounds of cañas + free tapas (chicken sandwich + steak sandwich, 13€ total incl. tip)

10. Prepping for the Maluma concert that night at Movistar Arena.

Let’s just say the @superuniq t-shirts were a hit.

Day 3 – From Hangover to Cádiz

Maluma baby got us good. Groggy checkout, but we made it to Atocha station and caught the pre-booked train to Cádiz (~5 hours).

Our apartment on Calle Soledad was a charming base. We had a late lunch and headed to: 11. Playa La Caleta – This beach has film credits, including a James Bond scene. Also, the sunset drumming crowd is unbeatable.

Day 4 – Cádiz in Full Glory

Refreshed and ready for adventure: 12. Iglesia Santa Cruz – The city’s original cathedral, built in 1262.

13. Teatro Romano de Cádiz – One of the oldest Roman theaters in Spain, rediscovered only in 1980s.

14. Mercado Central – Go for the tuna, stay for the vibe.

15. Castillo de San Sebastián – A fortress on an islet, reachable by foot.

16. Parque Genovés – Tiny jungle vibes in the middle of the city.

17. Castillo de Santa Catalina – Another beachside fortress, now used for art and exhibits.

18. Paseo Santa Bárbara

19. Lost in Cádiz alleys – the best way to explore, really.

Day 5 – Gibraltar: Quick but Worth It

Caught the Comes bus at 11:00 (Platform 2) to La Línea. Arrived by 15:00 – just a few hours to explore!

20. Botanical Garden – Small but lush, and great escape from the concrete.

    

21. Europa Point – Lighthouse + Sikorski Memorial. On clear days, you can see Africa.

    

    

After 17:15, entry to parts of The Rock is free! We hit: 22. Great Siege Tunnels – Dug by hand in the 18th century. The view? Jaw-dropping.

Stocked up at Morrison’s, open until 11pm (travel hack - alcohol sales stop at 10pm – beware!).

Day 6 – Gibraltar > Malaga

We used our final 2 hours in Gib wisely: 23. Catalan Bay – a mini paradise with rainbow houses 🌈. Once a Genoese fishing village.

Walk back to La Línea took 45 mins. Border crossing = potential 20-minute delay (if planes are landing).

Boarded Avanza bus to Malaga (~2.5 hours).

24. Checked in at our fave Khors Apartments (hello again!)

25. Birthday dinner at Tasca Laska – cañas, tapas, arroz con pollo.

    

26. Night walk on Playa de la Misericordia – beachy bliss.

    

Day 7 – Run, Tapas, Semana Santa

Another 10K run by the beach.

Then the main event: 27. La Fábrica – croquetas + patatas bravas that fed a small army.

28. Mirador de Gibralfaro – steep hike, but the view… totally worth the sweat. Also, the site of a fortress from the 14th century.

We joined the crowds in Malaga city center for 29. Semana Santa:

• Processions

• Nazarenos

• Massive carriages carried by heroic local squads

  

  

  

Day 8 – Malaga Finale

Checked out, loaded up at Mercadona, and headed to: 30. Paseo de Antonio Banderas – beachside reflections and journaling. Yes, the actor. Yes, he’s from Malaga. We wrote down our goals until May 18 – time will tell how many we tick off!

If you're ever wondering whether to do a whirlwind week from Madrid to the south coast and across Gibraltar – the answer is YES. Just don’t miss your first bus like we did 😉.