We visited Madrid as part of a two-week trip to Spain with four stops (Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Barcelona) in March 2025. It rained a lot and felt moody which I really liked because it felt like an invitation to sit down, have a cup of coffee, and read. Madrid and Barcelona are very different from one another and I was glad we visited both on this trip!

Our family has visited Barcelona twice together. The first time we visited (2018), our son was only 5 years old and my husband was there for work. That trip lit a spark for me—not only because of how it expanded my own understanding of the world—but because I saw travel opened up something for my son.

I lived in Chicago for almost twenty-five years and developed a short list of favorite coffee shops, bakeries, and restaurants. These are the spots our family looks forward to going back to when we visit and the recommendations I share with friends!