I'm going to Madrid this week for a few days break. Any suggestions on what to do, eat or drink?

Question

And I've never been to Spain, so very excited!

Answer 1

ive just come back from a week in madrid in february, madrid is an amazing city there is so much to see and do...

i would recomend first doing the city bus tour, i would get the ticket for a couple of days as it is only a couple off euros more...and then this will give u an idea were evrything is location wise, and u can hop on and off the bus as u like to look at stuff.

also, wen u first arrive make a stop at the tourist information, they are very helpful and just ask for some information on what there is too see, were to eat, drink etc...they were so helpful and gave me loads of info on what to do and were to go

there is something for everyone, i went to look at the football stadium, although not cheap to get in it is defo worth a visit, then there is plaza mayor which has a lot of little shops and cafes off it to have a look around. there are the churches and the cathedrals, the prado museum is a great day out for anyone who is interested in art...go and have a lookin the old part of the city, there are loads of liitle sidfe streets with lots of charcters, and things to look at..

the flamenco bars are worth a visit, u get a meal included with the price of the show and are a good way to spend a night out...

the nightlife in madrid is amazing as too is the food, and which ever corner u turn around u will be sure to find something that appeals too you

hope this helps and have a fabtime in madrid..im very jealous i wish i was going back

Answer 2

I can relate with your excitement. I am going to Madrid too in a couple of days for the first time. I have never been to Spain so I have been doing my homework. I dont know how long you plan to stay but either way I suggest you buy a Madrid Hop on Hop off buss pass. This will allow you access to over 40 museums. It will take you all around Madrid and you can get off where ever you like. It will also give you access to theme parks, the zoo, theatre's, and alot more. There are different prices depending on how long you plan to stay. We have also paid for a night tour. This will take us to bars and restuarants we would never go on our own. I think its around $70 for this.

Tapas and beer are very good and cheap in Spain. I heard the food is great and the night life never ends out there. Take alot of B complex vitamins to give you energy. You might be up ALL NIGHT LONG.

Now if you plan to be there on a Sunday try to make your way to the flee market. It opens in the morning and sales alot of great stuff for good prices. Toledo is an hour away so a tour would be a great idea. You can visit 'The Valley of the Fallen'. Just make sure you bring a camera with alot of memory space. Anyway, let me know if you have any questions. We are leaving the day after tomorrow. Girlfriend get away. I hope you have as much fun as we plan to have.

This is a website I think should help. You will find the Madrid card here. If you will be there for a couple of days I suggest you purchase the 3 day. It is $102 and allows you entrance almost everywhere. Anyway thats the most expensive one. Have fun.

Answer 3

If you're never been to Spain don't get the wrong idea about it: Madrid it's only one city.

There are at least five cities in Spain better than Madrid to visist as a tourist or (most important) to live in: You should try Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Granada, Salamanca, etc, etc, etc...

I won't say Madrid it's ugly but the main attractions are: traffic jams, noise, pollution, dirt, old people, small town wannabies, etc.

Answer 4

If you like Paella (rice with vegetables and fisch or meat) try in the restaurant "Arroceria Gala", is located in Calle Moratin 22, a place near calle huertas which is full of "bares de copas" where you can drik "combinados" (coke+ rhum, coke + whiskey ect)

you have to take a photo of Madrid from the "teleferico" in Pintor Rosales so you can see Madrid from the hight. Near of it there is the debod temple (an egyptian one) and of course the area near the royal palace

Answer 5

Do both. Madrid  bars tend to serve tapas ( small plates of food) when they serve a drink. Eat whilst you are drinking and you will enjoy the Madrid experience far more. Have a great time!

Answer 6

It kind of depends on what you like.

The Prado is a great art museum right in the centre of Madrid.

You could also go to Calle Serrano, the most famous shopping street in Madrid with all the designer stores.

Chueca is the coolest area for trendy bars etc.

Plaza de Sol is the most famous square to go for a beer.

You should definitely try and see one of the famous Semana Santa processions. A bit spooky but very typical in Spain.

To eat traditional Madrid food, you should definitely try Jamón Serrano (ham) or if you have a good budget, you should try Jamón de Bellota or Pata Negra (ham from pigs only fed on acorns).

Tortilla de Patata (Potato omelette) is a good tapa and so are fried almonds and anchovy stuffed olives.

Cocido Madrileño is probably one of the most traditional dishes. It's kind of like a stew with chickpeas and meat and vegetables.

In Semana Santa, you should also try some of the traditional sweets like "mona con huevo", a pastry with a hard-boiled egg, torrijas (fried bread with sugar and cinnamon).

Remember in Spain, they put meat with everything and some dishes have things like ears, snails and brains in them so you have to either cast your sensitivities away or not order meat dishes!

You must definitely try a wine from Rioja or Ribera del Duero.

Rioja is the most famous wine region in Spain although Ribera del Duero is favoured by connoisseurs.

Also, everyone drinks cañas (which is a draught beer) so have some of those too.

Have one on me too and have a great time!

Answer 7

Find someplace NOT touristy to have your first Paella.  I found out that a lot of those places buy it in a box, and just heat it up!  (I was so very diappointed).  Ask if it's "Casera" (made in house).

Don't mess around with sangria.  It's little more than garbage can punch made ONLY for the tourists.  Ask for a glass of Tío Pepe (dry sherry) if you think you'll like it, or a nice tinto (red wine) or cerveza with your meal.  Almost everything is good, but you could try "Pulpo a la Gallega", or, really, almost anything is going to be good.  For eats, there's a place you see in all the travel shows.  I refer to it as "tapas Row", it's on the low outside of the Plaza Mayor.  Casa Botín is on that street...very famous as the oldest restaurant in Europe.  We finally figured out where it was on our way BACK from dinner the last night in Madrid.  If you're IN Plaza Nueva, exit by C/Toledo, and turn left around the outside of the Plaza.

Also, if you can find your way to Plaza de la Puerta Cerrada (a little further from the Plaza in the same direction,) look for a little, dark bar called "El Rey del Pimiento".  Nice little place.  Good people (friends of ours)  Very local.

You have to do the Prado.  If you like more modern art, you should go to the Reina Sofía, and if you want to see a good mixture of different styles, the Thyssen Bournemezsa.  The Palacio Real is really good!  And you should try to get to the Retiro Park.  Lots more to do and see...the bullring is really pretty, but those are pretty much the top attractions.

Answer 8

Drink ... Lots!

Eat... even more!

Heres a list of tapas bars where you won´t get:

a) Ripped off

and

b) bad food

http://www.madrid-guide-spain.com/madrid...

Answer 9

go for the traditional tapas!!!