Madrid, Spain

[caxt]

If all goes well I plan to visit my friend studying in Madrid this summer for three to four days. I was hoping some people on here would have some good ideas for lodging, food, fun things to do, and travel tips.

I would love to hear about the “can’t miss” places and things to do in Madrid.

Could really include anything, from opera to clothing stores.


My tentative budget (in dollars) is:
1500 for the plane ticket
800 for three nights in a good hotel
600 for adventure/food/souvenirs

 

[Xericx]

I stayed at H10 Hotel Del Reina on the Gran Via. It was convenient and modern.

Restaurante Botin, oldest restaurant in the world. I enjoyed the meal, its a little overpriced.
Some pics: http://www.styleforum.net/t/223357/spain-in-august/75

some more tips in that thread.

Chocolates and Churros @ chocolateria san gines.

Tapas crawling

Jamon Museum (several locations) is fun for a quick bite, but if you're getting Belotta, I'd go somewhere else probably.

The Real Madrid stadium tour is really cool




If you want to party with hot 20 year old girls from around the world, do a pub crawl. I did one from www.madride.net and I had a blast. There are several of them around and it helped navigate and I didn't know spanish.

 

[ehkay]

tapas in la latina
mercado de san miguel
an asador

 

[caxt]

Thanks for pointing that out, looks like you had a blast.

Did you end up going to a bullfight?

 

[Xericx]



Thanks for pointing that out, looks like you had a blast.
Did you end up going to a bullfight?

No. I believe they are only on Sunday afternoons for the main one, we were tired to go take a train so we skipped it. I figured I would get bored after about 10-15 minutes of watching them tease the bull too.

Sundays there's a large outdoor marketplace (Rastro Market) but its mostly junk, but interesting people watching and its crowded.

 

[ter1413]



I stayed at H10 Hotel Del Reina on the Gran Via. It was convenient and modern.
Restaurante Botin, oldest restaurant in the world. I enjoyed the meal, its a little overpriced.
Some pics: http://www.styleforum.net/t/223357/spain-in-august/75
some more tips in that thread.
Chocolates and Churros @ chocolateria san gines.
Tapas crawling
Jamon Museum (several locations) is fun for a quick bite, but if you're getting Belotta, I'd go somewhere else probably.
[COLOR=FF00AA]The Real Madrid stadium tour is really cool [/COLOR]
If you want to party with hot 20 year old girls from around the world, do a pub crawl. I did one from www.madride.net and I had a blast. There are several of them around and it helped navigate and I didn't know spanish.

+1. a friend told me to check it out prior to my trip and i hesitated....but i ended up going. had a great time. check out some museums also(prado). buy some vino from the local stores and enjoy......

 

[SergioFM]

Thanks for pointing that out, looks like you had a blast.
Did you end up going to a bullfight?

Whatever you do, I hope you don't see that.

There's lots to do here, just as in any other major world city. If you have any preferences I'd be glad to point out what might be of most interest to you.

 

[darnelled]

The art museums are incredible.

 

[SergioFM]

Yes, Reina Sofia which is the modern art museum is my favorite. I go there 3 or 4 times a year to check out the temporary exhibits which are usually quite interesting. BTW I always go on saturday afternoons as it's free entrance.

Another interesting museum that usually doesn't get much publicity is the Museo Naval, or Navy museum. It houses replicas of the Spanish armada throughout it's whole history ranging from pre-Columbus times to the current aircraft carrier. This one is always free entrance but it only opens from 10am to 2pm.

 

[ter1413]



The Real Madrid stadium tour is really cool

(from my trip)