Madrid city centre?
Jul 26th, 2016, 08:31 AM
#1
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Madrid city centre?
Hi
With flights at a low, we're thinking of going to Madrid for a week in October. We've never been to Spain, and chose Madrid because we can take day trips by train, and won't need to rent a car.
We have some interest in museums, but really like old cobbled streets, local markets, city green spaces and parks, outdoor cafes to sit and enjoy an afternoon, ambling around enjoying the architecture and ambience. Not so much major shopping unless it's local stores.
Paris is a city we love because it has all those things within a reasonably small area, but we want to try s new city. In our experience London doesn't have one defined city centre. So my question is, is Madrid more like Paris or London regarding the centre.
I find Paris a very comfortable city, London more of an effort, if that makes any sense? With only a week, it would be ideal to walk out of our apartment or hotel and walk a different direction each day.
That brings another question, based on our interests, any particular area we should be looking for. We are young seniors, and won't be hitting up any bars, so not looking for a young, hip, loud, tacky area.
With flights at a low, we're thinking of going to Madrid for a week in October. We've never been to Spain, and chose Madrid because we can take day trips by train, and won't need to rent a car.
We have some interest in museums, but really like old cobbled streets, local markets, city green spaces and parks, outdoor cafes to sit and enjoy an afternoon, ambling around enjoying the architecture and ambience. Not so much major shopping unless it's local stores.
Paris is a city we love because it has all those things within a reasonably small area, but we want to try s new city. In our experience London doesn't have one defined city centre. So my question is, is Madrid more like Paris or London regarding the centre.
I find Paris a very comfortable city, London more of an effort, if that makes any sense? With only a week, it would be ideal to walk out of our apartment or hotel and walk a different direction each day.
That brings another question, based on our interests, any particular area we should be looking for. We are young seniors, and won't be hitting up any bars, so not looking for a young, hip, loud, tacky area.
Jul 26th, 2016, 08:45 AM
#2
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I'll be honest, I don't think of Paris vs. London the way you do, so hard to say. I think London has a city centre just as much as Paris, for example, and both have neighborhoods going out from that. I also don't know what you find uncomfortable about London vs. Paris so I'm at a loss.
If I had to guess, I'd say you personally might think of Madrid more like London in the ways you are naming, but it's just a guess. I really can't tell. It certainly has an older center like all big cities do and then neighborhoods going out from that. I personally like to stay in the area fairly near the Opera, others like the are around the older barrio de las Lettres (closer to the museums) or Santa Ana Plaza. Madrid has 28 districts which are divided further into barrios or neighborhoods like La Latina, Lavapies, Asturias, etc. HEre is some description
http://www.esmadrid.com/barrios-de-madrid
I would suggest Las Lettres might suit you.
If I had to guess, I'd say you personally might think of Madrid more like London in the ways you are naming, but it's just a guess. I really can't tell. It certainly has an older center like all big cities do and then neighborhoods going out from that. I personally like to stay in the area fairly near the Opera, others like the are around the older barrio de las Lettres (closer to the museums) or Santa Ana Plaza. Madrid has 28 districts which are divided further into barrios or neighborhoods like La Latina, Lavapies, Asturias, etc. HEre is some description
http://www.esmadrid.com/barrios-de-madrid
I would suggest Las Lettres might suit you.
Jul 26th, 2016, 09:27 AM
#3
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I haven't been to London or Paris, so I can't make a comparison, but Madrid is a nice city. It is very walkable, has some neat neighborhoods, and a lot of stuff to see. Getting around on the Metro is very easy. And there are a lot of cafes with outdoor seating, so no problem finding plenty of places to sit and hang out in the afternoon.
Jul 26th, 2016, 09:47 AM
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Have been all three many times and we are returning to Madrid this September. We have stayed in different areas, this time we will be in Chueca.
As noted above Plaza Santa Ana is good central location. 15 minute walk to the Prado and Retiro, many restaurants right put the door.
There is an extensive subway system and please note that night life in Madrid starts around 11 PM and ends around 4 PM so there will always be people around Santa Ana.
As noted above Plaza Santa Ana is good central location. 15 minute walk to the Prado and Retiro, many restaurants right put the door.
There is an extensive subway system and please note that night life in Madrid starts around 11 PM and ends around 4 PM so there will always be people around Santa Ana.
Jul 26th, 2016, 09:47 AM
#5
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Madrid is quite unlike either Paris or London. It is beautiful, super easy to navigate, and based on your interests, I think you will enjoy it. It is a great city for walking. We have stayed in a couple of other places, but though it can be a bit noisy, I enjoyed one time when we stayed right near Plaza Mayor.
If you get tired, taxis are cheap and efficient.
Madrid has great Flamenco music venues (not for dancing so much as music). However, go to Plaza Mayor in the late evening and you may be lucky to see dancers and musicians and sometimes, some good artists.
From your description of what you like, you would probably like Seville a lot. Google some images. Consider 3 days in Seville and 4 in Madrid with a day each for Toledo and Segovia.
You will love walking in Toledo and Segovia, both a very few minutes train or bus from Madrid.
Consider spending a night in Toledo. It is magical.
Retiro Park is a nice green space for walking or boating for an afternoon in Madrid.
Museums may not be your thing, but the Prado in Madrid has world class collections. If you have any interest at all in painting, you should go. Also, in Toledo, see the El Greco museum.
If you get tired, taxis are cheap and efficient.
Madrid has great Flamenco music venues (not for dancing so much as music). However, go to Plaza Mayor in the late evening and you may be lucky to see dancers and musicians and sometimes, some good artists.
From your description of what you like, you would probably like Seville a lot. Google some images. Consider 3 days in Seville and 4 in Madrid with a day each for Toledo and Segovia.
You will love walking in Toledo and Segovia, both a very few minutes train or bus from Madrid.
Consider spending a night in Toledo. It is magical.
Retiro Park is a nice green space for walking or boating for an afternoon in Madrid.
Museums may not be your thing, but the Prado in Madrid has world class collections. If you have any interest at all in painting, you should go. Also, in Toledo, see the El Greco museum.
Jul 26th, 2016, 09:53 AM
#6
Original Poster
I think of Paris as radiating out from île de la cité, and île st. Louis. We very, very rarely used the Metro, walking pretty well everywhere. I know there are tons of attractions and sights further afield, but I'm talking about enough to see and do within a walkable distance from a centrally located accommodation.
London we took the tube quite a few days, the areas just seem more spread out to me.
No right or wrong, just my perception. That might clarify a bit what I'm asking.
Thanks.
London we took the tube quite a few days, the areas just seem more spread out to me.
No right or wrong, just my perception. That might clarify a bit what I'm asking.
Thanks.
Jul 26th, 2016, 01:07 PM
#10
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I can recommend Petit Palace @ Retiro Park, just far enough away from the center to be quiet at night....small hotel with friendly staff. A/C wasn't the greatest but that shouldn't be a worry in October.
http://www.petitpalace.com/uploads/g...ltad-plaza.JPG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGsLIDAjsSo
http://www.petitpalace.com/uploads/g...ltad-plaza.JPG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGsLIDAjsSo
Jul 26th, 2016, 01:23 PM
#11
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There are lots of things in Paris to see that aren't around the Seine, so I think ultimately it was just your decision as to what you wanted to see in Paris that meant you could walk to everything. That was what I didn't understand, what you did there. Even the Eiffel Tower is pretty far from Ile de la Cite that most people don't walk to it, let alone Sacre Coeur, the Marmottan, etc.
Now I would guess if you are in Madrid a week you will want to see more than what you can see walking around Retiro Park, but I could be wrong (like El Escorial, or the area north of Retiro Park where the Sorolla museum is, etc. (Salamanca, more of an upscale area). I don't walk all across Madrid from Retiro Park to the Opera or Palace usually, for example, but you could, of course. It is only about 1.5 km. It's just that I'm going around all over when sightseeing, so have to preserve my energy some. You can do a lot right in the center if you want to walk to things. But I suppose you will want to do some day trips, say to Toledo or Segovia, those are good options.
Now I would guess if you are in Madrid a week you will want to see more than what you can see walking around Retiro Park, but I could be wrong (like El Escorial, or the area north of Retiro Park where the Sorolla museum is, etc. (Salamanca, more of an upscale area). I don't walk all across Madrid from Retiro Park to the Opera or Palace usually, for example, but you could, of course. It is only about 1.5 km. It's just that I'm going around all over when sightseeing, so have to preserve my energy some. You can do a lot right in the center if you want to walk to things. But I suppose you will want to do some day trips, say to Toledo or Segovia, those are good options.
Jul 26th, 2016, 10:27 PM
#14
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Madrid is both majestic, world class museums, wonderful parks and gardens, yet the centre of town is composed of what feels like several villages with very different identity and vibe.
I use to stay in heart of town Plaza Mayor/Plaza Santa Ana, in the Barrio de las Letras district. Close to the major museums, the Royal Palace and the oldest part of town, the so called Madrid de las Austrias:
http://www.timeout.com/madrid/things...s-los-austrias
http://www.gomadrid.com/activity/itinerary_1.htm
Barrio de las Letras/Literary quarter is all the narrow, cobbled streets you could want, great cafés, tapas bars, restaurants and home to some of the best flamenco venues in the country: http://www.spain.info/en/lugares-int...as_letras.html
The Barrio de las Letras borders La Latina and Lavapies with the local atmosphere Plaza Tirso de Molina etc. etc.: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/m...atina-lavapies
And a few metro stops away, you'll find respites such as the Chamberi district: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/m...atina-lavapies
Here's an intro to some of the most central districts: http://www.timeout.com/madrid/things...of-the-barrios
I use to stay in heart of town Plaza Mayor/Plaza Santa Ana, in the Barrio de las Letras district. Close to the major museums, the Royal Palace and the oldest part of town, the so called Madrid de las Austrias:
http://www.timeout.com/madrid/things...s-los-austrias
http://www.gomadrid.com/activity/itinerary_1.htm
Barrio de las Letras/Literary quarter is all the narrow, cobbled streets you could want, great cafés, tapas bars, restaurants and home to some of the best flamenco venues in the country: http://www.spain.info/en/lugares-int...as_letras.html
The Barrio de las Letras borders La Latina and Lavapies with the local atmosphere Plaza Tirso de Molina etc. etc.: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/m...atina-lavapies
And a few metro stops away, you'll find respites such as the Chamberi district: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/m...atina-lavapies
Here's an intro to some of the most central districts: http://www.timeout.com/madrid/things...of-the-barrios
Jul 26th, 2016, 11:36 PM
#15
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... and here's the Chamberi link: http://moving2madrid.com/neighbourhood-chamberi/
Jul 27th, 2016, 12:10 PM
#16
Original Poster
Wow, thanks for the information!
Las Letros seems like a good location to stay in.
Re accommodation: as this is a spur of the moment decision to go, I need to keep costs down, hopefully to about €500-600 a week. Is that possible? Obviously not luxury at that price, but clean and safe, with a bit of charm thrown in.
Apartments are good, but a basic hotel suits us fine too.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Gracias
Las Letros seems like a good location to stay in.
Re accommodation: as this is a spur of the moment decision to go, I need to keep costs down, hopefully to about €500-600 a week. Is that possible? Obviously not luxury at that price, but clean and safe, with a bit of charm thrown in.
Apartments are good, but a basic hotel suits us fine too.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Gracias
Jul 27th, 2016, 06:06 PM
#19
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If you wish to be closer in (bit more noise than Petit Palace, however) then look at Hostal Adriano which is central (letras) but on a quiet-ish side street. Rooms at the front will have better views but a courtyard (rear) room will be very quiet. They do have private baths, and it should fit your price range in October.
Jul 27th, 2016, 09:20 PM
#20
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Hostal Adriana is a good option. You should also have a look at Hostal La Perla Asturiana, next door to Plaza Mayor, private bath, wifi etc, and within the price range. http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/la-p...ana.en-gb.html
