OK our trip is booked. Always like to find at least one quirky off the beaten path thing to do. Any suggestions? Like to do at least one local kind of thing, or ruins or? . In Granada we will go hiking one day. In Madrid we thought of Cuesco but it might be too much traveling for a day trip--- thanks.

I am having trouble coming up with ideas that are not known by most locals and many travelers. I mean, we could recommend restaurants that are patronized by locals for the most part, and not inundated with tourists, but locals from both cities will know of all the hiking trails, ruins, etc, in their area. I'm not even sure there are what you are calling ruins in those cities, although of, course, there is the wondrous Alhambra, one of the most beautiful sites in the entire world, but far from a ruin. The remains of ancient cities that I am aware of are not in the vicinity of Madrid or Granada...but there are some in Andalucia that are not overrun with tourists, if that is what you mean...

Do you mean Cuenca, in your post? Lovely but not at all off the beaten path.

Maybe I would understand better if you give us an idea of what you mean, but place it in a city in your home country. Like if I asked the same thing about New York City or Denver, how would you answer??

Are you interested in food experiences? I could help you on that, if you want to take a day trip.

Fair enough. I guess not so much WAY off the beaten path but maybe interesting places that are not filled with Instagrammers. Let's see in NYC: the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Brooklyn Museum, the Cloisters and say the Joyce (or the Public theater vs. Broadway) are places where New Yorkers go but not the usual tourists who are here for a week. In Venice we stumbled one evening upon a Vivaldi and Monteverdi concert at a local church that was only lit by candlelight. In Orvieto we walked around the Etruscan burial site. In Kyoto we took a Hozugawa "white water" river ride to Arashiyama and we were the only non-Japanese tourists. In Rome we took a day trip to Ostia on May 1st and had a picnic lunch. So just maybe something that is interesting but perhaps not completely mobbed with other tourists. And of course, I am a tourist too --can't explore the world without being one. Never really did a food experience.

We enjoyed a walking tour in Granada. I think it may have been this one: https://walkingranada.com/en/free-to...cin-sacromonte.

OH, now I get it, finally!!! Let me think of some and return here. By food experiences I just meant restaurants, bars for tapas, and local markets..

I think in Madrid if you just get away from the congestion of the Sol area, you won't find too much of that Instagram thing..at least I was not aware of much of that..I don't think I saw one selfie stick last month in Madrid but again, I was not in that neighborhood along Gran Via except once when I was walking to a restaurant... I'll tell you what was pretty crowded and not appealing to me, the main drags in Chueca like Calle Hortaleza and Calle Fuencarral....but I walked through there on a Saturday night when it was jammed with very young people and there were lines spiiling out of some of the inexpensive restaurants along that drab, north of Gran Via.

When we were in Granada, the only place in the Arab Quarter that had tourists was the Mirador de San Nicolas for the views over the Alhambra. Once there, you can go wandering to your hearts content in the maze of streets and stairs. Walk to Placeto San Miguel Bajo where there are a couple of tapas bars (tapas are free in Granada when they come with a drink).

we are staying in that area in an AirBnB. Rick Steve's made it sound like you could take a wrong turn and end up in a bad area. I will have to use my NYC street smarts I guess if that is true.

In Madrid , go to river Manzanares ( yes, Madrid has a river ) ,walk by the lovely park area all the way to Matadero , the new art centre that used to be a slaughter house. .
The bridges crossing the river include Puente de Toledo built in 1724.

And , if that is your interest , there is a new shopping center nearby “This recently opened commercial centre is located in Madrid Río in front of Matadero Madrid, with 160 stores from important national and international firms, as well as an extensive culinary offer. Its main attractions include a large terrace from which a panoramic view of the city and its transformed river.”

I am very surprised to hear that! It's on a big, steep hill, some of the streets are steps. The view overlooks the Alhambra. Which is already on a hill. It is an exceptional area for exploring, though an odd place to stay. In the Arab Quarter we ate very well at El Ladrillo and Meson El Yunque.

In Madrid, a nice stroll to Casa de Campo
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...501561097&z=16

In Madrid the Egyptian temple.

Also if you're there for the first Wednesday of the month think about the changing of the guard. I think it's every month except the summer. There will be tourists for this but it's still rare enough being once a month that many don't even know it's on.

Well, we do like off the beaten path!

off the topic….Is Sol area still a mess? thx.

Thanks for these ideas.

Yes, still...

If you do a day trip from Madrid, i thought Segovia was magical, and the hike i did outside the city walls was incredible: gorgeous landscape with hills in the distance and at certain points, a view of the entire walled city. I started out in a park that traverses a river in the northeast of the city, and then followed other paths west and south. I learned too late that my route was not a loop (the western side parallels but does not link into the city; so i bushwacked down the ravine to get back, but this can be avoided by retracing your steps around; i was just too tired at that point!). I believe there is also an interior greenway along the city walls, which would be nice too. I can only find one photo of the hike (can't figure out where all my pictures of Segovia are, ugh!).

Hike around Segovia

What about the SABATINI GARDENS in Madrid??