normanbates

hi.
im going to madrid in august,and have 4 days. from august 2 to 6 august.
1. what is your must see?
2. how to buy ticket for a bull fight?
3. im staying at agumar hotel,adr.
paseo reina christina 7. is the location ok?
4. how to get from the airport to the hotel and back to the airport, taxi, bus, metro?
thanks.

mrgrumpy

if you take a cab from the airport watch the fare i was charged 40 euros from the airport and 20 euros to the airport try and find the fare before you get in. Also do you really want to see a bull fight it will not be a very pleasant experience. All the museums in madrid are very good, prado is a bit heavy but the others are good. Just take in the architecture and tapas in the city. Location not bad, park opposite is very nice also the station is quite interesting

marybethcl

There is lots to see in Madrid. For a first-time visitor, I think the Royal Palace is a "must"--tickets available on the spot, and there are guided tours in English (you can't enter without a guide). THe Prado is also wonderful if you are an art afficionado--even if you aren't, it's worth a short visit just to take in the ambiance of this wonderful museum. Also you should definitely take a day trip to Toledo...a REAL must-see. If time permits, go to Segovia as well for day trip--this would be lovely in the afternoon and early evening, when the locals are all "out and about" to stroll, have a drink, socialize.

travel_buzzing

public transport, airport transfer info:

http://www.waytostay.com/transport-Madrid-en-214.htm

Must see- reina Sofia modern art gallery. free before lunch (2pm ish) on sunday.
good luck with the heat in august

you can also check out the street festival at lavapies (near lavapies metro) the week you're there.
try and find the cider bar/restaurant and get some cider sangria and steak with pimientos de padrón.

MFNYC

ALso Retiro Park is lovely.

Graziella5b

Suggestion, a deterrent to be over charged by the taxi would be to tell him in advance I NEED AN OFFICIAL RECEIPT ...( for my job or whatever) the official receipt is printed by the taxi, and shows everything :charge, extras, etc miles, I do not think he is going to risk that you call the police and show them the receipt.

BTW can someone confirm this to me?

What I know is that last time I asked for it, and he gave me the looks but also this wonderful slip, and everything was ok.

cruiseluv

Hola Graciela,

I think that is a fantastic suggestion which I'll put into practice next time I'm in Madrid. The only place in Europe where I have been taken advantage by a cabbie (twice!) has been in Madrid.

Also , make sure the driver starts the meter when you get into the car.

Pegontheroad

The Metro goes all the way to the airport, so you can take it both on arrival and departure. I don't live in a city with a metro, and I was very impressed.

There are bullfights on Sundays and holidays between May and October at the Plaza de Toros. I saw a bullfight many years ago and wouldn't care to see another, but attending seems to be a quintessential Spanish experience.

The Palacio Royale is interesting, and I think the Prado is a fabulous museum. If you are an art lover, the Reina Sofia and the Thyssen are also worthwhile.

One of my favorite experiences in Madrid was wandering through Retiro Park on a Sunday afternoon. There was entertainment of every type there, singers, puppet theaters, violinists, different types of bands. It was really fun and relaxing.

Check out the post office. It's unique--like a wedding cake.

If you like to party, take a nice nap in the afternoon and then go find a disco or bar about 11 P.m. or midnight and dance till dawn. Or, if you're more of an early bird, do a pub crawl, sampling tapas as you go. Be aware that Madrileños don't eat early. Nine or ten p.m. or later is the norm.

Revulgo

Paseo Reina Cristina is ok, AVE trains station and Retiro park are in nearby and Reina Cristina is also at walkable distance to Museo Reina Sofia, Botanical Garden and Museo del Prado.

Revulgo

Bullfight tickets info:
http://www.las-ventas.com/
Click on 'English' and then select 'Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas' (Madrid bullring) to see the scheduled corridas.
Click on 'Services' and read 'Postal delivery of tickets'
Tickets purchase:
http://www.ticktackticket.com/entrad...;poblacion=MAD

Nikki

The most useful guide to Madrid is on line at www.maribelsguides.com, compiled by a Fodors poster.

My favorite museum was the Thyssen. Beautiful art, beautifully arranged in a comfortable building.

We took a taxi to the airport and when the driver tried to charge us for luggage I pointed out the sticker on the side of the car that had all the rules on it. I learned this from Maribel's guide. No tip for him.

lmschmale

I lived in Madrid while in college. I'd say the musts are:

-Prado (it's free the first Sunday of every month, but unless you are looking to save money, i would NOT go at this time, there is a HUGE line to get in). There's no way you can see the whole museum. You might want to do some research before on what the top things to see there are, or buy one of those Top 10 guides on Madrid.

-Palacio Real (stop at the Catedral there, too)

-Rastro (flea market, go EARLY sunday morning before it gets extremely crowded. watch out for pickpockets)

-Thyssen - my favorite museum in the city

-Retiro (Madrid's central park - very nice to walk around. I suggest starting at the top at Puerta de Alcala and walk down at least to where the lake is)

-Plaza Mayor
-Puerta del Sol

If you're really into art you might want to also stop at the Reina Sofia. That's where Picasso's Guernica is.

For a day trip, Toledo is good but I highly highly recommend going to San Lorenzo to the monastery there - El Escorial. It's really amazing. You can easily take a bus there (maybe an hour or each way) for a few euros. We took the bus from Moncloa - I'm sure you can get a bus at other places, too. The problem with going to Toledo is the siesta -- you will have to go either VERY early in the morning or plan to get there around when the siesta ends. From 2-5pm, many of the shops and businesses will be closed. The same thing will be true in San Lorenzo -- but the monastery is open (there isn't a whole lot in that town though).

I went to one bull fight - I'd probably never go again but I'm so glad I went. It's more of a tourist thing now than a custom, but it is still part of Spanish culture.

If you are looking to save money, the subway is very easy from the airport. Otherwise, yes, I'd follow the other advice posted and ask in advance (I always do that here in NYC too!)

I hope you enjoy Madrid!

lmschmale

Apparently the free hours at the Prado have changed. The museum is now free every day Tue-Sat 6-8pm and Sunday 5-8pm. Before when it was free all day on Sunday, I tried to go once but the line was terrible and wound around the building. Since there are more free times now it might be better but who knows.

amsdon

These late afternoon/early evenings used to be the best times to go to avoid the crowds & the students, according to the security staff. Now that those are the free times .... who knows?