Revulgo

Something for Madrid:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...sHRuQt4A7FG-Tf

Danielle811

Hi all, I'm back, this time with a more refined itinerary, and am hoping for feedback so that I can make any final tweaks needed. Additionally, while I know I should pre-purchase tickets for several places (Royal Palace, Prado, Sagrada Familia), should I do those now, or is it okay to wait until the week of, or even day before?

Is there something I am overlooking? Thanks in advance for your expertise!

Day 1 (Tues, 11/22)-AM-Land in Madrid at 9:15, make way to hotel near Puerta del Sol and Gran Via, lunch at Mercado de San Miguel
PM-Retiro Park and Puerto del Sol (and basically try to keep everyone moving for as long as possible).
​​​​​
Day 2 (Wed)-AM-Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
PM-Prado Museum.

Day 3(Thur)-Day trip to Toledo

Day 4 (Fri)-AM-Temple de Debod and possibly the Teleferico (had this originally on our arrival day, but saw on the website that the Teleferico is only operating Fri-Sun when we are there).
PM-Train to Barcelona (arrive ~5PM), check into Air Bnb in Eixample, dinner nearby, early night for all.

Day 5 (Sat)-AM-Sagrada Familia
PM-La Pedrera and/or Casa Battlo, Park Guell
Evening-Magic Fountain in Montjuic

Day 6 (Sun)-AM-La Rambla/Barri Gotic (hoping to catch the sardana in front of the cathedral).
PM-El Born and Picasso Museum, Barceloneta.

Day 7 (Mon)-Day trip to Montserrat

​​​​​​Day 8 (Tues)-depart for home

Maribel

Danielle,
Day 1,
Just so you'll know...the Puerta del Sol is under construction, undergoing a beautification project.
Here's the web cam-
https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/we...-tio-pepe.html
and photos of what it's going to be when finished-
https://www.timeout.es/madrid/es/not...ryName=DM16969

Day 2,
If you're like me and don't like standing in long ticket lines, I'd pre-purchase the Royal Palace and Prado tickets. It doesn't have to be far in advance, just even the day before. You'll have the changing of the guard (the normal one not the big solemn one) from 11-2 today, Wednesday.
https://www.esmadrid.com/en/whats-on...d-royal-palace.

Day 3,
I would definitely purchase those Toledo Avant train tickets in advance, as the most convenient departures and returns can sell out. Again, not far in advance, but because that Avant works for some madrileños as a commuter line, and fares are now reduced 50% for locals, the Madrid-Toledo run will be busy.
I checked www.renfe.com today to see the situation for tomorrow to gauge the traffic, and some trains have sold out.
I'm registered with Renfe and use the app to purchase tickets. If you find that you've finished your Toledo sightseeing early you can take an earlier return train to Madrid at no additional charge if there are seats.

Day 4,
Looks ok. I assume you've already purchased your high-speed rail tickets.

Day 5,
You'll want to purchase the Sagrada Familia tickets in advance to avoid huge lines, and the Parc Güell requires a pre-purchase, timed entrance.
https://sagradafamilia.org/en/tickets
https://parkguell.barcelona/en/buy-tickets

Day 6,
The Picasso Museum can be very busy on Sundays, ime, so I would buy tickets in advance to avoid the lines.
Picasso Museum Barcelona | Official website

Day 7,
Hope you have a beautiful, clear day for your Montserrat trip. The boys' choir will be on tour in the US from Nov. 8-18, but should be back for your date.
They sing at 1 pm for about 10 minutes.
To hear them, I believe an advance reservation is now required. I can't make the web site show any availability--don't know why (?)
https://reserves.abadiamontserrat.ca...colanias-chant.

This is my friend Marta's blog post about the choir-
https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/esc...at-boys-choir/

Danielle811

Thank you for the heads up, I had no idea! It sounds like we won't be doing much exploring there!

[QUOTE=Maribel;17407901Day 7,
Hope you have a beautiful, clear day for your Montserrat trip. The boys' choir will be on tour in the US from Nov. 8-18, but should be back for your date.
They sing at 1 pm for about 10 minutes.
To hear them, I believe an advance reservation is now required. I can't make the web site show any availability--don't know why (?) [/QUOTE]

This sounds wonderful, I'll definitely keep checking for tickets. It seems like there isn't anything posted past the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for all of your feedback. The countdown is on!

Maribel

Just for others spending the holidays in Madrid, the Madrid mayor says that the Puerta del Sol will be ready for the NYE countdown, in some form or another.

About the Magic Fountain, another blog post from my friend and professional guide-
https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/sho...lona-montjuic/

And Barcelona in November-
https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/wha...a-in-november/

janishart8232

Barcelona combines beach holidays, nightlife, historical sights, great cuisine, and beautiful landscapes. At the same time, Barcelona has a lot of entertainment for children:
1. L'Aquàrium de Barcelona
2. Amusement park "Tibidabo"
3. Citadel Park
4. CosmoCaixa Science Museum
5. Font Mágica
6. Park Guell

yaelmolko4879

Hello, would you be able to help me with a map like the Madrid one that you posted but for Barcelona, and Seville?
Thank you!
Yael

jugador

I recommend the "Parque del Retiro". Is beautiful.

danon

as Maribel mentioned:
“Just for others spending the holidays in Madrid, the Madrid mayor says that the Puerta del Sol will be ready for the NYE countdown, in some form or another.”
I returned from Madrid 10 days ago…Sol is a mess and probably will be longer than was promised ..
Retiro park is excellent suggestions, especially for children , google it.
.While in that area stroll through the most beautiful part of Madrid , barrio Salamanca .

Maribel

"some form or another" are the operative words about the Puerta del Sol, I think. We'll see if the mayor is too optimistic or if the countdown there goes on as scheduled. So far that is the plan, according to all the press reports I've read, such as this one-
https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/504...ra-hasta-2023/

The complete transformation of the Puerta del Sol is estimated to be finished sometime in the spring, or as danon notes, maybe longer.

Here's the Puerta del Sol web cam-
https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/we...-tio-pepe.html.

Here's what it will look like upon completion:
https://www.timeout.es/madrid/es/not...ryName=DM16969