Girls Abroad: A Hen Party in Madrid

Hen parties can be a tricky to organise and difficult to get right. Everyone has their own ideas of where it should be, and what activities should be done.

Disclosure: This is where I should say no strippers were involved, so if you were hoping to see some well-hung guys with well-oiled torsos, I’m sorry to disappoint, you won’t find them here – but hold on, that doesn’t mean you should stop reading!

In true fashion, most of the decisions were left up to the bridesmaids, so all I needed to do was pack enough clothes for a long weekend. Some of the games I wouldn’t have personally chosen myself nor for the bride, while others such as the Flamenco class I absolutely loved.

I usually travel really, really light, but given that this was a hen party, I threw in a pair of heels and a few more flimsy dresses than usual.

I was more than happy to hear Madrid had been chosen for the hen party. A few ideas had been thrown in the air, but Madrid appeared to be one of the few European places where none of us had been before. Well, this wasn’t exactly true. One of the girls had been to Madrid on a business trip but said it didn’t count because she saw little of the city outside of meetings.

The bride-to-be was my good friend Harriet. It wasn’t our first time away together; we’ve explored the romantic city of Prague, been sick on a boat ride in Kos together, and travelled around the States on the Greyhound back in the summer of 2008. Needless to say she’s a good travel partner, and those are the kind of friends you hold on to, right?

Our hotel in Madrid

All eight of us stayed at Melia Madrid Princesa. It’s a large 5-star hotel, but its clever design and cosy atmosphere makes it feel more like like a boutique hotel.

I’d definitely recommend staying here if you’re travelling in a larger group. I shared a Grand Premium Room with Ruchi, who was the Maid of Honour, and Chehraz, who was another bridesmaid.

I’m ashamed to say we didn’t even make use of the hot tub in our room, despite swooning over it when we arrived. The rooms had a modern and clean finish, and the Henry Mooresque sculptures in the room were a stylish touch. It’s the sort of room best suited for couples because there are a few areas of exposed glass where some people would prefer privacy, including a large window from the bedroom overlooking the hot tub – oou la la!

Hen party antics

We all met each other through Harriet so this hen party was a good reason to give something back to the bride-to-be. I think hen parties are as much a celebration of getting married as they are about female bonding and being silly.

Yes, we drunk cocktails from an obligatory penis straw.

For us Brits, apparently a hen party isn’t a hen party without sipping from a willy straw. Classy, eh?

They were everywhere. And no, they were certainly not my idea.

In the spirit of a hen party, we played a deck of ‘Dare Cards’. Basically, they have been designed for public humiliation. Whatever is written on the card, you’re supposed to follow through with it.

Unluckily for Harriet, she had to walk around Madrid donning a moustache for 60 minutes.  

Organising a private flamenco class

A highlight of the trip was a flamenco class. Harriet loves to dance so we figured we’d surprise her with the private class for us all. She absolutely loved it, and so did everyone else.

No prior experience was needed to partake. We didn’t have any experience of Flamenco but it didn’t stop us getting stuck in. Expect your first introduction to be hysterically bad. I learnt that flamenco is all about the arms and hands – the devil really is in the detail.

I won’t give any names away but some of us took longer to get the moves than others…. (ok, it was Ruchi). Let’s just say her talents lie elsewhere haha.

This is something I’d definitely recommend for a girlie weekend.

Treats & Foodie Fun

One of the best things about Madrid is its diverse culinary offerings. It’s all about the lively atmosphere of its markets, tapas bars, and traditional restaurants. 

Madrid is synonymous with tapas culture which is perfect when travelling in a group – it’s all about sharing small plates and tasting new flavours.

I couldn’t get enough of the gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp).

Madrid also has a selection of roof top bars from where you can watch the sunset. They’re also the best places to capture that all important light at golden hour. Be sure to check out La Terraza de Óscar located next to Plaza Pedro Zerolo, and the 360-degree view from Azotea del Círculo also offers a perfect backdrop to enjoy a cocktail or too.

Enjoying Madrid’s cultural offerings

The initial thing I found surprising about Madrid was how different it is to Barcelona.

Somehow Madrid feels more real to me. Don’t get me wrong, Barcelona is absolutely beautiful, but it’s more geared towards tourists. Also, the pace of life feels different. Madrid is slap bang in the middle of Spain and it has the energy of a bigger city. When you head out to dinner, you feel like you’re also dining with locals.

The thing I liked most about Madrid is that there is always something to see and do, just like London, Paris and Berlin.

There’s still so much I need to see, specifically the museums, it’s astonishing just how many art galleries you can find. It was a shame to miss so many of them but I was happy to squeeze in time to visit the world famous Prado, and come face to face with Goya’s masterpiece, Saturn devouring his Son, one of my all-time favourite pieces of art.

It’s located next to the city’s largest park as well, so you could easily squeeze in a visit to both, even if you’re on a time-crunched trip like a hen party.

So would I recommend Madrid for a hen party?

Absolutely!

There’s an abundance of nightlife, and plenty of things to do through the day. If you want to go shopping, visit museums, relax in a picturesque garden, or enjoy cocktails on a rooftop bar, then you can do all that in Madrid.

The hen party itself was amazing, the bridesmaids did a super job organising everything to ensure Harriet would enjoy herself. During the trip there was a high emphasis on food, and rightly so, you don’t come to Spain’s capital and expect to lose weight. We indulged at any given opportunity, especially as we had tapas and drinks included in the price at our hotel.

Check out the amazing wall garden at CaixaForum.

Exploring the ground of the beautiful Parque del Buen Retiro, which translates to Park of Pleasant Retreat’. 

You might also like: Top 24 Things to  See and Do in Madrid – City Guide

General information

Are you planning a hen party in Madrid?

If you still haven’t made up your mind, you might also find my blog about a hen party in Edinburgh that I went on useful.