Anybody been to Madrid?

[anonymous-user]

My post from a previous topic a couple of weeks ago....

• Art - Prado (shut on Mondays if I recall) - Goya & classical stuff
• Park/monuments - Parque del Retiro
• Palace - Palacio Real
• Art - Reina Sofia - Picasso's Guernica, modern art
• Art - Thyssen Borne...something - more modern stuff
• Footy - Bernabeu stadium tour (really good)
• Nights out - tapas crawl - superb fun, how the locals do it, Plaza Santa Anna (Huerta) was great, Calle de Cruz also, Chueca is an area with lots to eat & drink
• Architecture - Plaza Mayor (old), Puerta de Europe (Modern), Casa de Campo (park and classic)
• Bull-fighting/Architecture - Plaza de Toros
• The Madrid Bear statue - Plaza Puerta del Sol (some good Tapas places round there too)
• Market - El Rastro
• Shopping - posh stuff in Salamanca, more 'Spanishy' stuff in Huerta and Los Austrias

[Jaguar steve]

Heads up - article on Madrid in todays Telegraph.

[bob1179]

Madrid is a great city, I was there yesterday!

As mentioned, the Royal palace, Plaza Mayor, Retiro, Gran Via, Atocha railway Station, the Del Prado are all lovely. Lot's of really good bars and restaurants and it it isn't that expensive. Lot's of pick pockets though.

[Urban Sports]

I got back from 3 days in Madrid this week, it was absolutely amazing, we had a hotel on the Gran Via which was a top location right in the centre, not cheap but well worth it.

The city is breathtaking and was very very busy. We bought a 2 day tour bus pass for 25 euro each which was well worthwhile as you can hop on and off and is a great way to see the city.

As well as the bus we did plenty of walking and as others have said The San Miguel market is the absolute highlight, we went 2 days on the run for lunch, absolutely superb mix of food and drink.

We were OK in terms of pickpockets but somebody staying our hotel had been pocketed on the metro after being in the city for less than an hour

If you like tapas you are fine although there are some very good restaurants that don't just do tapas but you really have to seek them out.

The poverty on the street is startling, beggars everywhere, so much more so than any other city I've been to. It's also a very very loud city, as they all are I suppose but more so here, there is a permanent noise of helicopters, sirens and protesters marching, which all adds to the atmosphere if I'm honest.

Didn't really spend much time in Plaza Major I couldn't stand the permanent touting for business.

Overall I enjoyed it as much as Barcelona but it is a very different city, I would certainly go back again with no hesitation.

[Pothole]

S7Paul said:

The Royal Palace is a "must do",

don't be tempted to look through any keyholes in the palace. A (gorgeous) policewoman pulled a gun on me for doing so!

[pincher]

Any more recommendations for hotels? I'll be flying in on 14th Feb at lunchtime with my son, going to see Real vs Deportiva at 6:00pm and plan on going back to the Bernabeu on the Sunday to do the stadium tour and flying home again in the evening.

Torn between being near the stadium and being near the Plaza, so we can grab some food after the game so any suggestions are welcome

[AMG01]

Also interested in any tips, booked my brothers stag do for last weekend in April. So looking for bars/clubs etc

[pincher]

I ended up booking the Vincci Soho hotel in St Ana plaza, near the Playa Mayor on the recommendation of a colleague. Told him that if it is rubbish, he owes me lunch. An expensive one

He seems confident though!

[BlackST]

If anyone does go to Madrid go to Museo del Jamon. Brilliant place with a great atmosphere we found when we went.
Bocadillos with all the spanish hams, wine and beer. Pretty cheap too. Full of spanish people too so not just some tourist trap. We found it by walking past it and having a look in. Glad we did.
Just off the Plaza Mayor.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g18...