Te Dejo Madrid

You know it's a great birthday celebration when...

As Shakira sings, Te dejo Madrid, I'm leaving you Madrid. Indeed, I may have left only a week ago but this city has made an everlasting mark on my heart and memories. From biking around the plazas to feasting on paella and churros, cheers-ing with sangria and soaking up the sun and views, this was an adventure of a lifetime.

We were surprised to learn there is an Egyptian Temple in Madrid, known as the Egyptian Temple of Debod given to Spain as a thank you gift for helping rescue several Egyptian temples from flooding.
The temple is free to enter and beautiful at sunset. Dress by Kaufman Franco.

My friend Priyanca (@priyanca on Instagram) and I booked this girls trip as a last minute spontaneous birthday celebration.

Making our Vespa dreams come true. Dress by Kaufman Franco.

We searched for the cheapest flights by looking at airports all around and not just Philly. As a result, we flew out of JFK nonstop with Iberia and American Airlines, having booked through Expedia (I even had some credit from last year's Iceland trip!). Going forward we each downloaded the apps Skyscanner and Hopper to keep an eye on future flight deals to plan our next adventure.

Embracing my inner Carrie Bradshaw in Retiro Park's Rose Garden. Skirt by Chicwish, shoes by Cole Haan.

I am a huge planner and loved putting together our itinerary, which I am excited to share with everyone. While we did not get to do everything including visit some of the restaurants or attend the Flamenco show, I felt like this was a great tentative schedule for any of you looking to visit Madrid. Thank you to everyone for all of your recommendations, including the Prado and Reina Sofia Museums (free entrance in the evenings)!



Thanks to the points on my Chase credit card, I booked a few tours while in the city. One of my favorite ways to see a new place is on a bike (we booked ours with BravoBike Tours). We cycled through all the main landmarks, learned a little bit of history, and got our exercise in (which made up for the 6.5-hour flight).

The Iconic Metropolis building

Hola Madrid!

Biking past the cathedrals

BRB office relocation to the Crystal Palace in Retiro Park. Dress by Shein. Shoes by Rothys.

Side note - the Chase Sapphire Preferred is literally the best credit card ever. Highly recommend it if you have a lot of upcoming travel plans (i.e. applying for residency and have interviews lined up all over the country). This credit card will practically pay for itself in the end. My biggest regret in medical school is not getting it during my fourth-year interviews. You can apply by clicking HERE and earn 60,000 bonus points.

We had enough time later in the week to make a trip through IBE Tours to one of the most dreamy places I have ever visited: Toledo. It was like El Greco’s painting had come to life. We even got to do a wine tasting.

This is not a painting. It's real. This is Toledo. I'm speechless.

Red, white, sparkling? My answer is yes.

I love doing tours because you get to meet other incredible people and discover even more amazing places. Shoutout to our new friends Jess and Amanda, who introduced us to Dear Hotel Madrid's sky lounge Nice To Meet You. It was a wonderful way to celebrate my birthday with new and old friends.

A girls trip with one of your best friends means unforgettable memories! Dress by Yumi Kim.

I made sure to schedule in some downtime, which was perfect to enjoy all the amenities of our hotel. Pestana Hotel, located in Plaza Mayor, was brand new when we arrived, having opened one week prior.

The staff was so friendly and helpful. I wish this hotel was located in every country I visited!

We loved the location as it was within walking distance of everything including great restaurants and markets like the Mercado San Miguel (highly recommend trying some Gazpacho).

The Spanish love their eggplant fries and honey

Be sure to stop by Mercado San Miguel to try all the flavors of Madrid.

We booked through Expedia and got a great deal as they were running a grand opening promotion. I loved that the hotel included a rooftop pool with a view and a spa (including a sauna). 

Best way to wake up on your birthday! Swimsuit by Shein.

Recently, the World Health Organization declared physician burnout is an occupational phenomenon. A spa getaway is a great way to reset and re-center, especially when combatting burnout.

Of course, one of the best parts was the breakfast buffet in their beautiful terrace restaurant.



We ate like royalty including endless coffees in whatever style we wanted, eggs served however we wanted and a delicious assortment of fruits, pastries, meats, and cheeses.

When it comes to travel hacks for packing, the two most helpful tips I can offer are: compression bags and a foldable backpack (Amazon has some great options). These two came in handy when fitting everything in our luggage and even later for visiting the parks and plazas.

My favorite spot in all of Madrid was hands down the Crystal Palace in Retiro Park (free entrance to the park and palace). Made as a greenhouse for plants from the Philippines, it is now part of the Reina Sofia Museum, housing a variety of installations and exhibitions.

Looking back, I wish we had a little more time to explore - I’d love to have toured inside the palace and catch a Flamenco show. I could spend a year in Spain and still not see it all. I guess that just means we will have to return soon!