4 nights in madrid (november)

[Davehodgo]

i'm really excited i have just booked a return flight to Madrid from East midlands airport for 2p!! (although £30.00 including taxes) and the hostal is booked.

I can only fit in 4 nights and three days so this is where i need your help. Can you suggest places to visit? i want to get the best feel of the city in a short period of time. I'm looking with a view to making a move to either Madrid, Valencia or BCN in about a years time.

so i want to see some of the big tourist sites but also get a feel for the real Madrid too.

Dave:thumbs-up:

[Ben]

Hi Dave, this is a post I have to write for Notes from Madrid (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/)! Keep an eye on that site by the way, there is lot's on there already and it is about to grow fast!

So, apart from all the bars and restaurants on that site, I would recommend the following:

See at least one of the big three museums (Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia). I would go for the Prado if you like classic art, and the RS if you like modern art. The Thyssen has a bit of everything...

Next I would schedule a few hours for checking out the Retiro, better on a weekend if you like people watching, but not if you are claustrophobic. For a good look at where the Spanish go out, check out the nightlife in La Latina (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/category/by-barrio/la-latina/) and check out all the classic Madrid bars (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/category/bars/classic-madrid-bars/) mentioned on NFM (the list will grow!)

What else? Walking around is the best way to get a good feel for the city. Take a walk through Madrid de Las Austrias (the old centre), Lavapies (watch your wallet and make sure you look like you know where you are going ;) ), Malasaña, the Barrio de las Letras (around Plaza Santa Ana) - the best thing to do is to just wander around and loose yourself in the old streets of the center - you are never far from a Metro if you need to get back!

What else? Check out the Teleferico (http://www.notesfromspain.com/2005/08/05/podcast-no-11-the-teleferico-de-madrid/) (really, it is quite bizzare!), the Botanical Gardens, the Rastro market (http://www.notesfromspain.com/2006/10/02/notes-from-spain-podcast-48-the-rastro-market/) only if you really love markets and don't mind crowds... go very early and look out for the famous Madrid pickpockets (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/2007/04/24/pickpockets-in-madrid-and-the-rastro/) again...

Also with four days you could easily head out to another town for a day to see a bit of the surrounding countryside... I like El Escorial (take the bus, not the train), or Segovia (long train ride though until they open the AVE highspeed connection...) Aranjuez is boring and Toledo very very touristy...

If I think of anything else I'll let you know!

[José Miguel]

Davehodgo,
Download the Maribel's Guide to Madrid. Very useful and it's free!
http://maribelsguides.com

[Jules]

....the Rastro market (http://www.notesfromspain.com/2006/10/02/notes-from-spain-podcast-48-the-rastro-market/) only if you really love markets and don't mind crowds... go very early and look out for the famous Madrid pickpockets (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/2007/04/24/pickpockets-in-madrid-and-the-rastro/) again...



:eek: :eek: How nice to be reminded of this!! :D :D

[Davehodgo]

yeh they sound great Ben! will check out notes on madrid. if anybody has anymore places please let me know?

2x more questions, being an ignorant englishman what is the weather likely to be like in madrid in november? do i need some woolies? went to barcelona in feb 2 years ago and it was quite warm in the day, although the spanish were dressed up with scarfs you could spot the brits because they were in t shirts it was like summer for us. i'm aware the weather is different from the coast but how much different?

Can you also tell me how frequent the transport from MAD to the city centre is? bus? metro? one of the draw backs of having such a cheap flight is that i have to leave my hostal at about three in morning for 6.30 am flight would it best to book a taxi on my way back?

guys thanks for your replys so far, can't wait to eventually see madrid!!:thumbs-up:

[gary]

i'm really excited i have just booked a return flight to Madrid from East midlands airport for 2p!! (although £30.00 including taxes) and the hostal is booked.

I can only fit in 4 nights and three days so this is where i need your help. Can you suggest places to visit? i want to get the best feel of the city in a short period of time. I'm looking with a view to making a move to either Madrid, Valencia or BCN in about a years time.

so i want to see some of the big tourist sites but also get a feel for the real Madrid too.

Dave:thumbs-up:


Cava Baja - Nuff Said

;D
:cheers:

[eldeano]

Can you also tell me how frequent the transport from MAD to the city centre is? bus? metro? one of the draw backs of having such a cheap flight is that i have to leave my hostal at about three in morning for 6.30 am flight would it best to book a taxi on my way back?

All you need to know here.
(http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?Language=ES_ES&pagename=subHome&MO=1&SMO=1&SiteName=MAD&c=Page&cid=1049727006245)

[gary]

yeh they sound great Ben! will check out notes on madrid. if anybody has anymore places please let me know?

2x more questions, being an ignorant englishman what is the weather likely to be like in madrid in november? do i need some woolies? went to barcelona in feb 2 years ago and it was quite warm in the day, although the spanish were dressed up with scarfs you could spot the brits because they were in t shirts it was like summer for us. i'm aware the weather is different from the coast but how much different?

Can you also tell me how frequent the transport from MAD to the city centre is? bus? metro? one of the draw backs of having such a cheap flight is that i have to leave my hostal at about three in morning for 6.30 am flight would it best to book a taxi on my way back?

guys thanks for your replys so far, can't wait to eventually see madrid!!:thumbs-up:

Metro when its running - taxi at night, from Plaza Mayor to MAD cost Que and I €24 last April at 3am.

I refer you to this post... (http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/06/07/guest-blogging-no-taxis-for-gary-child/)

[Palmerito]

Forgive me for piggy-backing on this post. Is anyone able to answer Dave's question about what to pack for November? I also am visiting Madrid next month (October 9 - 18) and am very curious about what clothes to take as I want to pack the least amount I need but still be prepared.

Is October too cool to take only a light coat? Also, I'm going to an opera at the Teatro Real. Is a coat and tie required or may I wear just a nice dark sweater with dark pants and shoes?

[gary]

this might help

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/images/country/barcharts/TT004240_madrid.gif

[Palmerito]

Thanks, Gary! Looks like I'd better take my umbrella if nothing else.

[Ben]

A light coat should be Ok for october. I'm not sure about dress code for the Teatro Real, you could write to them (http://www.teatro-real.com/Informaci%F3n%20y%20venta/Informaci%F3n%20pr%E1ctica/Contactar) and ask, but I'm fairly sure it's a smart-casual affair...

[gary]

Thanks, Gary! Looks like I'd better take my umbrella if nothing else.

55mm of rain is not a great deal compared to Brit standards and in England it would just drizzle all month, my experience of rain in Spain is that it comes down in stair rods for a few hours then clears up - though in one of the Podcasts it had rained stair rods for a week. I imagine an umbrella would be of less use than a newspaper and a comfy bar to read it in.

[Davehodgo]

thanks Gary looks like its cooler BCN then. i may bring a scarf just in case.......

I'm doing madrid on a shoestring budget

flight 2p = £30.00 in airport tax

Hostal victoria = 37 euros a night for 4 nights

so as you can tell i'm tight lol, not really just poor! can you tell me some good restaurants with authentic spanish cuisine and a reasonable price.

mucha gracias

[Ben]

This restaurant (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/2007/02/20/restaurante-marsot-typically-fine-family-fare/) is very simple and very traditional, and cheap!

[Jules]

This restaurant (http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/2007/02/20/restaurante-marsot-typically-fine-family-fare/) is very simple and very traditional, and cheap!

Had a very enjoyable and filling lunch there last time we were in Madrid.

[gary]

can you tell me some good restaurants with authentic spanish cuisine and a reasonable price.

mucha gracias

In Barcelona try
Maians
Carrer DE Carles 28
Barceloneta

its a restaurant that certainly isnt set up for the tourists

See this post for link (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showpost.php?p=32836&postcount=20)

And if you want pretty good food very cheap Theres a place called Els Tres Tombs on the massive junction near Mercado de St Antoni almost any hour of night and day - try the chocos. Again no tourists - a working market cafe.