Life is about the journey, not the destination, as the cliché goes. I’ve found that the same rings true for the act of travel itself. Jetting off to an unfamiliar place always evokes a sense of excitement, and when done with a good friend in tow — especially if the voyage is centered around a shared passion or hobby — all the better. For me, this recently looked like hopping a flight to Madrid for a 48-hour whirlwind concert trip for none other than the Eras Tour.
Photo: gallks/Shutterstock
Why It’s Worth It to Travel Abroad for a Concert (Hint: It’s About Far More Than the Music)
Although traveling for concerts is no new phenomenon, Taylor’s global tour has shot concert travel into the stratosphere. AP News reported that Americans accounted for 20 percent of ticket sales at her Paris shows in May, as well as 10,000-plus places at her subsequent Stockholm show alone. (Side note: I fully hear, appreciate, and can even agree with some of the arguments surrounding the reasons for not doing this — carbon footprint, environmental impact, and simply leaving tickets for locals in said cities — but this is a personal essay about the positive reasons for doing so, so don’t @ me).
Contrary to the millions of die-hard Swifties around the world, I wasn’t necessarily planning on traveling for the concert. However, on a rainy Saturday in April, I found myself watching the recorded version on Disney+, and gave into the curiosity of looking up tickets for upcoming dates. I texted my friend Courtney, who had deemed the idea of getting to the show as a pipe dream for months, and proposed the idea. “I’m supposed to be in France around that time anyways,” I said. “Well, I mean, I have miles to use,” she replied. “But I can’t imagine there’ll be any affordable tickets.”
To our complete and utter shock, there were. A quick search on viagogo, the European equivalent of StubHub, revealed tickets in Lisbon and Madrid were less than $200 — $168 in the latter, to be exact. We decided to spring for Madrid (and spend a little more for better seats, as the price difference was marginal). In just a few simple clicks, we were set to go to Spain in less than three weeks’ time.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of traveling for the concert, a bit about my relationship with my friend Courtney: we both work in the same industry, and we’ve been friends for about six years. She’s one of my most trusted pals, makes me laugh like no other, and is truly one of the most loyal and reliable friends I’ve ever known. The past few years have brought some big personal changes to our lives, namely hers, in that she’s gotten married, had a beautiful son, and moved out of the city to the suburbs. Although I don’t see her as much as I’d like, she remains one of my nearest and dearest friends, and any opportunity to spend time with her is one that I immediately jump on.
Vicki Denig, left, and Courtney at a Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert in Madrid. Photo: Vicki Denig
So when traveling to Spain for 48 hours was on the table, how could I not take the plunge? Sure, I was beyond excited to see the Eras tour, but the chance to really spend quality time with one of my best friends and reconnect after a few distant years of the pandemic, in one of our favorite European cities nonetheless? I couldn’t sign myself up for the jaunt quickly enough.
Traveling to Madrid for Taylor Swift
The day of departure, we met at JFK airport clad in tacky-yet-comfortable leggings (we’re post-30 and geriatric, cut us a break) and backpacks filled with beads. Yes, we were those people. We caught up briefly over exuberantly priced airport beverages, boarded our flight a little less sober than we started, and began our journey to the land of tapas and sangria. The flight itself included numerous additional beverages, borrowing bracelet-making supplies from teenagers, and playfully fighting over wasting beads (“that phrase requires too many vowels, we’re running low!”).
Photo: Vicki Denig
Once in Spain, the following two days were filled with sun, strolling, and simply enjoying the company of a dear friend grown slightly distant. We wandered the streets of Malasaña, grabbed wine and cocktails at some of the city’s most famous haunts (shoutout to La Venencia and Salmon Guru), and stuffed our faces with patatas bravas; tortilla española; and foamy, ice cold Estrellas. The irony of it all? It took traveling 3,500+ miles overseas to realize that despite our recent life changes, the seeming “distance” between us actually wasn’t, and isn’t, so distant at all.
Photo: Vicki Denig
The night of the concert, we boarded the subway with anticipation and headed out to Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. We were slightly worried our tickets wouldn’t work, as Ticketmaster had stated that the name on the ticket needed to match the person entering—though thanks to the Gen Zers on TikTok, we learned this likely wouldn’t be an issue (again, cue geriatric millennials over-agonizing about every last detail). We approached the venue with hearts racing, and breathed a huge sigh of relief upon being told to proceed through. The next 3.5-plus hours were filled with singing, laughing, and even a few tears (if “All Too Well 10 Minute Version” doesn’t get you, do you even have a soul?). By the time the show ended at midnight, drenched in sweat and lower backs aching, we somehow yearned for more.
Photo: Vicki Denig
We left Spain with hearts singing, literally and figuratively, and still talk about the concert almost daily nearly three months later. The concert certainly offered one of the most fun nights I’ve had in recent memory, but the reconnection it brought to my friend — and the ripple effects still being felt — were worth every penny. Would I do it again? Let’s just say I’m ready for it.
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Why you should consider traveling to Madrid for a concert
It’s relatively easy to get to from most major U.S. cities: Contrary to some of the more northern and western European cities, Madrid is one of the closer cities to get to from the continental United States. For example, the flight time from NYC to Madrid clocks in right around the same as that to Paris or London (about 7 hours). Best of all, many major US cities offer direct flights to Madrid, meaning no lengthy layovers (or added stress about connections, lost luggage, etc.)
- Your money will go much further than in other European cities:
- There are plenty of places to discover beyond the concert venue:
- You’ll get to enjoy one of the best food and beverage scenes in all of Europe:
As much as I love Paris, London, Copenhagen, and other Scandinavian cities, Madrid is significantly cheaper, meaning that scoring comfortable accommodations will run you a lot less — and, most importantly, your food and beverage budget will feel seemingly limitless.
Whether visiting museums or strolling through lush city parks is more your thing, the good news is that Madrid has something for every type of traveler. If you’re the former, be sure to hit Museo del Prado and/or Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas while in town, and if you’re a nature lover, El Retiro park promises to leave a lasting impression. For those looking to simply get lost in a neighborhood filled with concept stores and hipster coffee shops, Malasaña is where it’s at.
One of the greatest joys of visiting Madrid is simply getting lost in its streets, posting up and random tapas bars, and eating as many croquetas, boquerones, and servings of pan con tomate as you could possibly desire — all washed down with an ice cold Estrella or generous pour of tinto de verano, of course. 