4 days in Madrid - What do you recommend I do/see?

Question

Thanks, Monbon24.

Can anyone recommend any restaurants?

Answer 1

To be original I recommend you to take notice of:

the traffic chaos, noise, pollution, old people, pickpockets, urban disorder, extreme weather (0ºC in winter, 40ºC in summer) and all these amazing things you will find in old Madrid.

Spain is different (you can say that again!)

Answer 2

Go downtown around Sol and GranVia at night, make sure you see El Palacio Real, and all the great museums like Reina Sofia, and also El Rastro is a big flea market that's only open on Sunday mornings- I think it closes at 2 or 3 pm.

Well, Molertol...I live here in Madrid and I love it... so you could say all the bad things that are true about any big city, but yeah the people are great, there are tons of fun things to do, so just don't judge it on your experience of a few days.

And yeah, it's really not that cold right now. It's actually pretty nice.

Answer 3

There is a great restaurant down near Sol called Las Cuevas ..  Defintely see the Prado, Sol, Plaza Mayor, Walk up the Gran Via.. shop at the Corte Ingles ....  Take a walk trhough the retiro on a SUnday ...  Visit the Rastro

Answer 4

El Prado Musuem and a day trip to Toledo if you have time.

Restaurants (From Penelope Casas)I  would suggest you try what has become my routine every time I am there: roast lamb at Posada de la Villa in Old Madrid; a meal at Lucio's, also in the Old Quarter, where every celebrity and head of state goes to dine, but the food remains simple and down to earth (I particular like the huevos estrellados, pollo al ajillo and arroz con leche). Zalacain, is still the finest and most elegant restaurant in the city (with an extraordinary wine list and Spain's top sommelier, Custodio); and for unbeatable seafood, La Trainera. For an excellent cocido, try centuries-old La Bola. And for tapas, Lhardy (croquetas, tea sandwiches and sherried consomme), La Fabrica (Jamon Iberico) and Bar Cervantes (canape de gambas al ajillo), all near the Palace Hotel, and el Bocaito and Cazorla for Andalusian-style tapas. Que aproveche!

Places I've been to El Pescador, Goizieko Wellington, tapas bars around Plaza Santa Ana

And http://travel.nytimes.com/2005/06/05/tra...

Answer 5

The Prado is a must-do, and I'm jealous if you get to the Reina Sofía, I tried two or three times, and each time it was closed (bad timing), and if you're into art, there´s also the Thyssen-Bornemisza.  The Palacio Real is also a must, plus the Retiro Park, there are a couple of neat spots to stop at, otherwise, a walk through the main pathway is nice.  

Yes, the Rastro closes up around 2:00 (siesta) and there´s also a stamp and coin market at the Plaza Mayor (also a good spot to go have lunch or supper) on Sundays.  

There are some other parks, there's a really pretty botanical garden (I think it´s on the East side, in newer part of town, but I have only seen photos, so do a search).  

There's the Templo de Dobod, an Egyptian temple that (I think) was removed before the flooding of Lake Nassar, and moved to Madrid.  Shopping on the Gran Vía.

Another side trip, if there´s time, is Segovia, about an hour by train, and one of the iconic castles of the world...absolutely spectacular!

Answer 6

take a tour to nearby, Toledo, Segovia, if you like lamb..any restaurant is good, visit the Alcazar , have fun at Calle Huertas, lots of pubs and restaurants