Madrid

Tysonator

Tysonator

Tysonator

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Hi,

I am hoping to go to Madrid, Spain early next year. I have google the city and seen the top ten sights.
What do you suggest I should also check out while I am there.
I was reading that there is a roof top bar top far from the main square !
has any one been there ?

Cheers
 
Been to Madrid and loved it.

A visit to the Prado is an absolute must as it is one of the greatest museums in the world. You can spend a whole day in there. So don’t miss going and be selective in what you see.

Be a tourist and see the Palacio Real, you have to walk around Plaza Mayor. Walk around the Los Austrias district and sample the tapas bars.

Have a walk in Retiro Park. Go to Madrid Zoo and see the two giant pandas, apparently they’ve just had twins. You could even try and get a ticket to see Real Madrid play at the Bernabeu.

If you have the time then visit El Escorial, it is a little outside Madrid but you won’t be disappointed. Toledo also makes for a great day out.
 
The park/Zoo was a good day out. We also made sure the hotel we got had a pool/bar on the roof, very good for chilling out on an afternoon/evening after tramping around the streets seeing the sights.
 
Madrid is an awesome city.

There is a little restaurant near the Bernebau, can't think what it is called now, but it is Nautical themed and does the most amazing tapas from the Pais Vasco region of Spain. I'll find out the name and post back in here.

Other than that, check out the Prado, avoid the Sol area at night (Full of prozzies and bars designed to rip touristas off).

Pick up a copy of Time Out Madrid, brilliant book and will give you some tips on great restaurants, etc.
 
Madrid is more about food, drink and culture rather than major sights (eg. Barca, Rome etc). It's also better to go a group as tend to have a bit more fun that way, eating and drinking etc. Buy a Metro 10 ticket booklet when you arrive at the airport instead of individual tickets as its much cheaper.

Sol square is probably the main focal point in the centre of town and there are loads of restaurants and bars leading off that. If you can, its good to have an idea of the bar/restaurants you want to go because otherwise like any big city you end up wondering around and not really knowing which restaurant or bar is good or bad. Make sure you sample the Spanish food. Just off the NW corner of Sol square is little bar where everyone goes to get their crocquettas around 7pm. Very tasty. They're made out of flour and milk and start the evening off nicely.

There's an area that I think its NW of Sol which is about 3 or 4 streets which has loads of authentic spanish bars and restaurants. It's a great place for soaking up the Spanish culture. There's also the obligatory Irish bars (3 of them) off the SE corner of Sol square if you need to catch any Premier League footie! There's another long street where there are a lot of Spanish bars and 'nightlife' type bars. Let me know if you need the street names of any of these places.

Palacio Real is alright and the outdoor cafes around there are nice and chilled out (water mist jets come out of the canopys to keep you cool in the summer). People go on about Retiro park but its just a park - no big deal, though its a nice place to recharge your batteries. Toledo is definitely worth a day trip as is the Bernabau.
 
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Bes said:
avoid the Sol area at night (Full of prozzies and bars designed to rip touristas off).
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Sol is fine. Everyone comes out at night to Sol - grannies, families, little kids etc. Saying that Sol should be avoided is like saying Picadilly Circus and Covent Garden should be avoided. There's really no trouble at all - pizzed up people having a punch up at night simply doesn't exist in the centre of Madrid; it just isn't part of Spanish culture. It's lightyears safer than London. Loads of nice outdoor restaurants in the squares between Sol and Placa Mayor. Not a rip off at all. Yes, you do get some rough prozzies hanging about at night, even on the main shopping streets and nr Gran Via but its not as if they cause you any hassle.

The thing I would say though is that if you're staying in the centre of Madrid (which is pricey - about 100 euros for a basic double room) make sure you get a room that is double glazed and air conditioned, or facing away from the street, otherwise it can be very noisy.....
 
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Well Strangly enough, I was hoping to book 4 days, 3 for Madrid and one for a train ride to Toledo for the day.
The idea of a roof top pool / bar hotel is novel. Also booked some thing simular when I was in Barcelona this year.
I will be taking my trusty EOS 7D with me and I take there is lots to snap ! ?
 
simulatorman said:
Been to Madrid and loved it.

A visit to the Prado is an absolute must as it is one of the greatest museums in the world. You can spend a whole day in there. So don’t miss going and be selective in what you see.
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Agreed. If you see nothing else, see the Goyas and the Bosch stuff: no matter how many times you've seen photos of The Garden of Earthly Delights, nothing compares to the real thing. And track down Breugel's The Triumph of Death.

If you have the time then visit El Escorial, it is a little outside Madrid but you won’t be disappointed. Toledo also makes for a great day out.
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Agreed too.



M
 
Bumping this because I didn't see the point in making another thread, doubt much has changed in two years :p

I'm going to Madrid for a week next month, just reading around on what to do. Is the stadium worth going to? Tours are only €16.
 
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