Comments on: what are the must-see-must-do acivities in madrid, spain?

Question: what are the must-see-must-do acivities in madrid, spain?

brandz — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:20:21 -0800

what are some of the must-see-must-do activities in madrid, spain?

By: meerkatty

meerkatty — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:26:14 -0800

The three big art galleries: Prado

Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (Where Picasso's Guernica lives.)

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (My personal favourite, as a modern art lover.)

You can buy a special ticket for all three of these galleries at a discounted price (available at any of the galleries).

By: Liffey

Liffey — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:44:43 -0800

If you're into reliquaries, the Monasterio de la Encarnacion is way cool.

Also, the Retiro has a lovely statue of Lucifer.

I second the Prado - you can't die without seeing their Flemish collection. Mmm. Bosch.

By: unSane

unSane — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:46:24 -0800

Drinking Fino and eating Pulpo a la Gallega

By: soviet sleepover

soviet sleepover — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:49:26 -0800

Wandering around the city getting lost in the foggy streets as people are setting up the huge, sprawling market early Sunday mornings. For a few blocks around one park on the edge it's all miscellaneous odds & ends--not a toro-tshirt in sight, and it's amazing! Any guidebook will be able to give you more concrete details, but watch for pickpockets!

By: delladlux

delladlux — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:59:08 -0800

Go to a Flamenco Show</a

By: xmutex

xmutex — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 21:00:51 -0800

I second the recommendation to see flamenco at Casa Patas. It's one of my favorite memories of Madrid.

By: vacapinta

vacapinta — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 21:29:55 -0800

Madrid isnt a city with monuments you have to rush and see with a pack of other tourists. The city itself is the attraction, or rather the people in it. It feels so alive and the most interesting parts of the city are not in the broad avenues but in the corners of neighborhoods like La Chueca or the area around Plaza Santa Ana, with its bars and tapa dives. Things get going late and if you really want to see Madrid, plan to have dinner around 10pm (one of my favorite places wont open its doors for dinner earlier than 9pm) and then go out afterwards to tapas bars and sample everything!

During the day make sure you hit the Parque del Retiro, walk in the park, see the Spanish families, kids with balloons, people on boats, popsicle vendors, occasional book fairs.

And yes, the museums rock. The Prado has Goya. The Reina Sofia is gorgeous. The Thyssen is a hidden treasure.

Much of the fun of Madrid, not unlike other big cities like New York or Paris, is what you stumble into.

By: bardic

bardic — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 23:58:22 -0800

A bit touristy, but fun and a short busride away is Toledo.

By: Kololo

Kololo — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:19:28 -0800

Go shopping. Then go to a bar and drink. Madrid!

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:40:49 -0800

Toledo is a very welcome break from the pickpockets of Madrid. It's very beautiful. The pickpockets seem most active on the subway (or at the entrances thereto), especially by the art museums (tourist locations).

If male, wear dull colors. I noticed that my partner and I stood out due to the colour of our jackets. Between that, our language, and his blond hair, we didn't look like locals at all.

I've said it on MeFi before: 3 days, each included an attempt to pick either pockets or bags. Madrid is not a place I recommend.

By: furiousthought

furiousthought — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 00:46:43 -0800

Also vouching for the Prado, one of the world's best museums. (Especially if you like morbid art! Goya's black paintings, and Breugel and Bosch. There's no beating it.)

By: tiamat

tiamat — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 02:20:51 -0800

Went to the Prado just a few weeks ago, it was mind blowing. Also good in Madrid is to just walk around. I don't know if you're from the US or the UK or what, but the Spanish seem to take more pride in architecture, even in the simplest apartment building, and a few hours walking around the downtown core will make you feel like you never left the art gallery.

By: mdonley

mdonley — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 02:37:25 -0800

unsane: pulpo de la gallega+++!

By: SashaPT

SashaPT — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 03:19:50 -0800

Segovia is a lovely town about an hour from Madrid, with a Roman aqueduct, beautiful churches and winding streets. Toledo is great also.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 06:13:30 -0800

Depends on when you go and what interests you have. If it is art then obviously you have 2 main choices, the Prado, and Reina Sofia although there are many other cool art museums in the city that need to be seen if you want the complete experience. I dig modern art so the Fundación Juan March was a no brainer. It has an excellent collection of all the masters of modernity. There are always changing exhibits to be found in the Biblioteca Naciónal, Telefonica, El Circulo de Belles Artes, etc that are interesting to see if you are into art.

This weekend has some interesting Carnival activities going on in the city. Go to Plaza Mayor for the bulk of them. Any Spanish festivals are worth going to so make plans to go see them. The highlights of my time in Spain was always the festivals. Probably the best and most colorful go during the Easter week. See the website of the Ayuntamiento for the latest info. In Plaza Mayor there is a tourist center that can provide you with good info and recommendations.

Architecturally, the city is top notch although you have to travel around quite a bit to get to the best places. I like Torres Blancos, the Kio Towers, the Faro de Moncloa, etc. Get an architecural guidebook for the best help on this.

If you like history then go see the palace, Retiro park, there are good historical museos, maybe estación Atocha, Plaza Mayor, and most parts of the old city in el Centro.

I could give tons of ideas for food, of course you have to eat some serrano jamon at El Museo de Jamon, you have to eat churros y chocolate, have some excellent vino español, and try some absinthe.

Try narrowing down the things that really interest you or you'll be spinning around too much. Madrid is a huge city with so much to do that your head will explode.

By: lampoil

lampoil — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 06:52:02 -0800

amen, Kololo. Also, stay out all night dancing, then sit in San Ginés eating chocolate con churros with everyone else in the world until the metro starts running again. It's a coffee shop that's only open from 7pm to 7am! yay, Madrid!

On Sunday mornings, I love going to El Rastro, a weekly flea market that goes on and on and on. It's very crowded, so don't take anything with you. Stick your money and key (and mobile, if you have one) in your front pocket, wrap a jacket around your waist, and go. I like going alone, but if you go with someone, just make sure it's someone you can handle crowded shopping with.

Drink Albariño, Rioja, Sangria or beer! (It's yummy and cheaper than CocaCola). And cafe con leche! Oh, how I wish I had some right now. Eat olives. See Flamenco--it's the best! If you smoke, don't bring ciggies with you, they're crazy cheap there! El Escorial is a nice day trip for those looking for something touristy. It's got that European small town thing that Madrid doesn't.

By: AJaffe

AJaffe — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 08:27:19 -0800

My wife and I went to this out of the way club called Gruta 77 (on Avenue Nicolas Morales) and saw one of Marky Ramone's offshoot bands. Dozens of friendly leather-jacketed kids who knew every word to every Ramones song, but not a word of English otherwise...

By: zonkout

zonkout — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 09:06:40 -0800

I second El Rastro, especially the junk shops near the Puerta de Toledo metro stop.

Check out La Filmoteca if you have time. It is a short walk from the Reina Sofia museum.

Centro Cultural Conde Duque is off the beaten path and often has great exhibitions. And Templo de Debod is within walking distance.

I lived in Madrid for 10 months in 2000 and never had anyone try to pick my pockets (I have dark-blond hair and wear only bright primary-colored clothes). Just be aware of your surroundings (wherever you travel).

By: essexjan

essexjan — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 10:41:33 -0800

If you can get tickets, go and see Real Madrid at the Bernebeu.

By: anjamu

anjamu — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:03:35 -0800

Buy cookies from nuns near Plaza Mayor (Rick Steves has instructions; that whole tour has some good stuff).

Chueca is full of tiny, funky boutiques; the designer shopping is in Salamanca. Both are worth checking out.

All of the art museums are awesome; the archeological museum is pretty neat too. A friend recommended the Museo de las Americas as being amazing. Parque del Retiro is worth a walk around, and so is the palace.

And just go to bars, eat tapas, and stay out late. The best tip I can give you is to eat on a Spanish schedule and not a tourist one. You'll have so much more fun that way.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 17:06:22 -0800

A couple more things I remembered were the Medina Mayrit arabic baths along with a very excellent arabic restaurant. I went there on New Year's eve. It was a fantastic experience. Make reservations early.

Also one of the best restaurant experiences was Teatriz which is just amazing for the ambience and it's food. You'll never go to anyplace like this ever. Book reservations early because it is very hard to get in. Check out the downstairs bathroom for a very challenging experience. It's worth going to just for that alone.

If you can find it, then try to get inside Las Cuevas de Sésamo on Principe 7. It's a cool hidden underground taberna. It's probably the best place to experience Sangria and was a popular hangout for the literary elite back in the days.

By: brandz

brandz — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 19:51:06 -0800

thanks for all the great suggestions. i will highlight my lonely planet guidebook with all your ideas...and see as much as i possibly can.