City Break Madrid – Living In The Costa Blanca

You might think that once you have decided to buy a villa in the Costa Blanca your wanderlust will be satisfied. However, it is still nice to travel and see other places, and living in the Costa Blanca is perfectly located to visit so many other wonderful places in Spain. Where will you begin your adventure in your new home country? Perhaps a good place to start is the Spanish capital Madrid.

Ways to get there

It is very easy to travel to Madrid when you buy a home in the Costa Blanca, the roads in Spain are excellent and traffic is usually not too heavy outside of high season holiday periods and rush hour. The journey by road is approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes but, you can also get a transport with a bus from Calpe to Alicante station followed by a 2.5-hour train journey to Madrid. However, there are also frequent flights from Alicante Elche or Valencia airports to Madrid, the choice is yours.

Accommodation

Like most cities Madrid can offer many different types of accommodation and there will be something available for all budgets. Whether you prefer to stay in a luxurious 5-star hotel or boutique guesthouse or a more economic accommodation with Airbnb, visiting the Spanish capital need not be an expensive excursion.  If you want to get the best from your short break away from your home in the Costa Blanca, consider the time of year before making your booking. Spring and Autumn offer pleasant warm weather for exploring the city in comfort. The summer months are hotter but, the city might be full of lively festivals and interesting events. Also check the map when booking any accommodation so that you can be sure that you will have easy access to the city centre and places of interest.

What to see in Madrid

The city has an artistic heritage, and the famous Prado Museum displays masterpieces by Goya, Veláquez and El Greco, this is a place that should be on every visitor’s must-see list. Seeing some of the historic works at the museum may also give you a glimpse of the history of where you have now made your home in the Costa Blanca. There is one painting by Valencian born Domingo Marqués Francisco showing the door way of the palace of Marquis of Dos Aguas in Valencia, Pinazo’s Floreal shows a more traditional rural scene from the history of the land of Valencia with young girls and a boy in regional dress carrying local flower and fruits, perhaps they are off to market or making an offering to their towns patron saint in this joyful picture of spring in the Costa Blanca.

Madrid’s royal palace is opulent with stunning architecture and offers a glimpse into the life of the Spanish monarchy and you can see the pageantry of the changing of the guard if you are there at the right time of day.

Relaxation, Entertainment and Dining

The Buen Retiro park has a lake with beautiful gardens where you can relax in between sightseeing and perhaps enjoy renting a rowboat to sail around the lake. Enjoy a live flamenco performance in a Tablao (traditions venue for this wonderful dance show), the music and rhythm of this traditional, passionate dance are enchanting. There are, of course, some flamenco shows occasionally available to see on the Costa Blanca but, it is not the areas traditional dance so do take the opportunity to see this. In the narrow streets of the La Latina or Lavapiés neighbourhoods you can enjoy a hopping between traditional bars and sampling a wonderful selection of tapas. The city offers a vast number of dining options but, if you stick to where you can hear locals having a good time you will eat well and at reasonable prices.

Other Interests – Living In The Costa Blanca

Indulge in the traditional breakfast of chocolate with churros, these deep-fried dough sticks are dipped into thick hot chocolate a decadent but, delicious way to start your day!!! When you live in the Costa Blanca you will become used to bargain hunting in local Rastros (flea markets) but, the largest one in Europe is held in Madrid every Sunday morning and sells antiques, collectibles, clothes and all sorts of interesting items. The city has a lot of rooftop bars, and these are the perfect places to enjoy a cocktail in a vibrant atmosphere with wonderful views of Madrid as the sun sets.

Tips for your Trip

If you haven’t already learned some Spanish when you bought a villa in the Costa Blanca try to learn a few phrases now and take a phrase book with you, interacting with the locals anywhere in Spain will be very much appreciated. Buying a city pass can help you save on entrance fees as well as providing free use of public transport and, of course, wear comfortable shoes to fully enjoy walking around the city and sights. Once you have had lunch give yourself a break until the cooler late afternoon hours and join the locals by taking a siesta to recharge your batteries.

Conclusion

After a busy city break you will be happy to return to home to your villa in the Costa Blanca with wonderful memories of an exciting new experience in Madrid. Now take a relaxing swim in your pool and start to consider which part of Spain you will want to explore next!!!