Visiting my daughter who is studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. We Will have two days in November to tour on our own while she is in classes. Any suggestions?? Hotel suggestions welcomed too!

Here's a good intro to fabulous Madrid: http://www.esmadrid.com/en

"Top ten": http://www.esmadrid.com/en/madrid-top-10

Depending on your interests:
- the Prado and Reina Sofia Museums (the latter for Picasso's Guernica and free entry after 19.00);
- the monasteries (monasterio real) of Santa Isabel and de las Descalzas;
- the church of San Antonio de la Florida with frescoes of Goya;
- the Escorial palace and monastery (outside the city, but easily reached by the Cercanias suburban train).

Royal Palace, if weather is good a stroll in Retiro Park

We stayed at Iberostar Las Letras on Gran via. excellent hotel and you can walk to everything.

LeenieA, we are also going to Madrid in November to visit a daughter on study abroad! Our daughter is with the Vassar-Wesleyan program at Universidad Carlos III. Where is yours?

We stayed in the Hotel Preciados and would highly recommend. Great breakfast, helpful and friendly staff, centrally located, and fairly priced. We really enjoyed the Sorolla and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums and have a drink at sunset (if it is open in November) at the roof of the Circuolo de Bellas Artes. We thorouhgly enjoyed all our tapas selections at mercdo San Miguel.

Hotels to consider:
Catalonia Atocha

Hotel Liabeny

Sidorme Fuencarral (often a great bargain).

Or if your daughter would like to spend a couple of nights with you , the Tirso de Molina Suites have a sofa bed in the living room.

CGS My daughter is with the Duke program. Where will you be staying in Madrid? I was told Hotel Adler was quite nice at $200 a night, but was hoping for something less expensive.

Thanks so much for all responses. What is a MUST see or do in Madrid in November?? A friend told me to take the Hop on Hop off bus to get a tour.

<What is a MUST see or do in Madrid in November??>

The fabulous museums.
http://www.timeout.com/madrid/art/madrids-best-museums

Flamenco in Casa Patas, Cardamomo, Las Carboneras or Corral de la Moreria. Only top of the shelf artists. http://www.casapatas.com/

A tapas tour on your own, from bar to bar along any of these routes (from Revulgo who lives in Madrid). I would perhaps suggest route 8, 9 , 11 or 12 to get a feel for the Madrid tapas culture in the heart of the city close to "everything", but lots of other great suggested routes/areas as well:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...qEvGaY_4&msa=0

LeenieA we rented an apartment in Barrio de las Letras. Does your daughter go to Duke? I'll ask mine if she has met any Duke students! Mine goes to Vassar.

November is likely to be a bit chilly, so definitely plan some inside activities.

I've used the map that kimhe posted a couple times for finding good tapas - it's a lot of fun. I take it with me every time I go to Madrid.

HOHO tours are fun - you can get a good introduction to the city and the layout that way. Some people really like them, others don't. I take them sometimes, but have never done the one in Madrid.

Check out Catalonia Las Cortes, Del Prado, 6. It's a 10-minute walk from the Prado and very close to Plaza Santa Ana. The price should be good in November. Another good option in November would be the Hotel Preciados.