Hi travelers!

We know summer is the perfect opportunity to take a quick pause on everyday life, and go off to a traveling adventure (maybe cross off that bucket list travel destinations?). Whether you choose to do a road-trip or to change time zones, let’s face it - the planning process could be a little daunting. And with so many beautiful backdrops around the world, even just choosing the right city is hard!

There is a ton of information out there to help with your travel plans, but we know that the only way of getting the right travel insights is from the locals themselves. So, since we happen to have over 1,000 culture gurus across the world, we thought we would share with you a series that can help you plan (or decide) your upcoming trip.

Our second post of the summer travel series features Madrid, Spain. Today, your virtual tour guide is Biniam - one of our SMT photographers. We asked Biniam for a local’s advice on what to do in such a highly-visited city like Madrid.

Who should visit?

Madrid is for food lovers, architecture, park lifestyle, history lovers, gastronomy courses for tourist, shopping, tapas bar lifestyle, best museums.

One thing to know before visiting?

Be aware of the summer heat, it is very harsh, especially for children

If you were visiting Madrid for a day, what is a must-do?

Breakfast with Churro and chocolate, Retiro park, Reina Sofia museum!!

What is your favorite dish to try?

No trip to Madrid is complete without tasting the city’s most famous sandwich: the bocadillo de calamares, or fried squid sandwich. Also, Tortilla, or Spanish Omelette, is a staple of Spanish cuisine and one of the most typical foods in Madrid. A popular dish among Spaniards, oreja is typically only for the boldest of foreign travellers. Oreja a la plancha, literally “pan-seared ear” is typically served as a ración, or large portion, and eaten with toothpicks. It is often sprinkled with salt or paprika and occasionally fresh-squeezed lemon.

What is your favorite photo backdrop in the city?

The photo backdrops I love are the Royal Palace, Retiro park and Sabatini Garden.

What are some travel hacks to unlock a true local experience?

You must have a traveller mind and not so much a tourist mind :)!

Here are some of our own tips for traveling to Madrid:

• Knowing a little Spanish can go a long way

• Be aware of siesta time. Smaller shops will close for a few hours in the late afternoon

• Research museum hours. Some museums are free if you go later in the day

With photographers in over 250 cities around the world, our team has not only seen traveler adventures be captured, but stories be created with them! Afterall, a photo is more interesting when you also have a story to tell.  So our on your next trip, remember to book a photo tour and get our local photographers to share more of these tips and unlock the full travel experience!