Would like suggestions/opinions on 1 week in Spain.I will be flying into Madrid.Considering 2 days Toledo,2 Salamanca and finish week in Madrid.Are train connects easy among these cities?Have already been to Barcelona.Thanks for any help.

Hi Henry <BR>I have to say that I thought that Madrid was awe-inspiringly mediocre. A big busy city with little to no charm. The two things I truly enjoyed were the Prado and the fried calamari sandwiches. <BR>I really enjoyed Toledo, in fact I made that my base as it was cheaper than staying in Madrid. Toledo is every thing Madrid isn't, walkable, charming, picturesque... <BR>Other places in the area that I liked were El Escorial and the Palace at Aranjuez. The train connects were very easy for all of that.

Awe-inspiringly mediocre..funny...I also liked the fried calamari sandwich. I was in Spain in March and stayed in Madrid for 3 days, visiting Toledo for 1 of those days. There are buses and leave every hour to Toledo from Madrid. We found one day more than sufficient for Toledo. I would strongly consider visting Seville and possible Granada in the south of Spain. Seville can be reached by fast train from Madrid in about 2 hours (aroung $75)and should be visited for couple days. Grandada has the Alhambra which is a sight to behold...this from a man not big on sights....

Agree with the CP about Madrid...se the Prado and leave. It's OK, but not soul-stirring. Now, Seville and the Alhambra are inspiring....(didn't care for the actual city of Granada that much, but the Alhambra is amazing.) I also would HIGHLY recommend Cordoba. The mezquita is another gem...so if you can, go south. (was there this April)There is a lot of useful information on Spain.Do a text/subject search and you'll be happy.

I think the bus between Madrid and Toledo was quicker and more frequent than the train. It took about an hour by bus to get to Toledo. I thought Madrid was worth a couple of days-the Prado is excellent, the Palacio Real (Royal Palace)was nice to visit, there was a nice park which I can't remember the name of right now. Have you given any thought to going to Seville? It was about 2 1/2 hours by AVE train and was my favorite city in Southern Spain. Beautiful cathedral, wonderful architecture, the Alcazar was fun to wander around in.

You don't have much time. the places you've slected are close to Madrid, which is good. You will have to go back to Madrid from Toledo to then go to Salamanca. Toledo is, of course, very nice but you might want to consider either Segovia or Avila, which are both north-west of Madrid, as is Salamanca, it would cut down on travel time. both are quite interesting. Apart from the Plaza Mayor and the Prado, I too do not care that much for Madrid. I think Seville, Cordoba and/or Granada are too far unless you only want to see one of them. I think staying closer to Madrid is better if you obly have 1 week. I really liked Segovia.

I agree with those who say less time in Madrid. We hired a taxi to take us to Toledo so that we could go in the non-busy hours. This was back in November. The crowds weren't so bad then, and the driver served as a guide, as well. It was money well spent, as we were at the end of a three week trip and were tired and pressed for time. STW

Henry, <BR>I'm with the other's opinion about Madrid, but since you are going to be there, a couple of tips; The Madrilenos eat very late (10:00- 11:00pm), so check out the tapas bars which serve food early if you don't dine at their hours. Also, an interesting restaurant is Restaurante Botin established in 1725 close to the Plaza Major. Hemmingway supposedly frequented it, but he was all over Spain, it seems. They serve roasted pig and lamb cooked in wood burning ovens. Try for a seating in the basement. <BR>If you can work in Sevilla and/or Cordoba at this late date,they really offer more than Madrid. <BR>Bon Yoyage!

Henry: We spent four days last March in Madrid, a city with much to offer. Besides the famous Prado, there is the Museo Reina Sofia, Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Museo Del Ejercito, among others. You need time to explore each collection and do them justice. Madrid also has some beautiful parks, including Retiro. The Palacio Real is well worth a visit. Go off the beaten track to the La Latina district to get a flavor of true working classes of Madrid (small family-owned shops with marvelous items). We spent one day in Toledo; I would have liked more time there. I would highly recommend taking the fast AVE train to Seville: only 2-1/2 hours to see another side of Spanish culture, history and architecture. The website for the Spanish rail system is: wwww.renfe.es (scroll to the far right side and click on the British flag for English). A fun website with info on Madrid: www.madridman.com. Enjoy your time in Spain!

Henry, Madrid is a great European capital but it is filled with too many cars and motorcycles as are most American cities. Definitely see the Prado, the Palacio Real, the Plaza Mayor, La Ermita de la Florida (Goya's Pantheon that has one of the great yet inexpensive restaurants of Madrid, Casa Mingo, next door for incredible grilled chicken washed down with hard cider (sidra)), also the Royal Tapestry Factory was a small gem from the Old World, and also the Monasterio de las Descalzas and also an amazing convent near Opera (I think) that had thousands of relics that were unbelievable. Other museums that are very good: Reina Sofia for modern art especially Picasso, Dali and Miro and the Thyssen-Bornemisza for other mostly European works. The Arqueological Museum is also very good. As for sights around Madrid: definitely Salamanca, Segovia, Toledo, El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen. The walls of Avila and the town itself are great, further afield are Aranjuez, Siguenza (NW of Madrid) and Cuenca. Southern Spain is definitely a highlight for a first time visitor, but with only one week I would suggest doing either Madrid and environs or going straight from Madrid (do not stop at the Prado, even) and hop on the AVE high-speed train and do Sevilla(3 days), Ronda (1 day), Granada (2 days) and Cordoba (1 day) and you will have an incredible Southern Spain trip. Good luck and let me know if you need further info, I would be glad to help...

Henry----I arrived yesterday from an amazing vacation in Spain & Portugal and was looking forward to to share some notes on my trip. Your inquiry is making my day!! <BR> <BR>Madrid is a fun city, period. It lacks the sophistication of Paris and the impressive historical setting of Rome, but once 8 pm comes, there is no place like Madrid to have a good time (Plaza Mayor is the place to start the night!). That should sum up what, I believe should be your expectations of this city. The people are warm, courteous and friendly, and I have only seen cheaper prices for food and drinking in Prague. As far as sightseeing, the Royal Palace was OK, as it was El Prado Museum (study the highlights in advance at their website). El Escorial is an interesting place. (BTW, you will never believe what happened to us at El Escorial. On Mondays the place is close, but we decided to drive by it and continue on to Avila. Policemen were all over the place. Turns out the King, The Queen, and the Royal Family were in town attending the inclusion of their son, Prince Felipe into the old Order of San Hermenegildo (an old Catholic organization). We decided to check out if we could see this event. Not only did we got to see it very close, but we have the videotape to prove it!! Well I had never seen a real King, so it was a thrill...). <BR> <BR>Toledo can be reach by train from the Atocha station (impressive greenhouse!). Toledo is a amazing sight, best enjoyed without the crowds of a Saturday or a Sunday. The Alcazar in Toledo has a museum (about $1.50/pp) that is worth checking out if you are interested in learning on the history of the city and of Spain's military history. Wear comfortable shoes; it is an old city with hills and plenty of streets. Perfect to get lost which is half the fun. Long lines to see El Greco's famous painting (El Entierro del Conde Orgaz). Great souvenir city. Specially recommend the damasquinado jewerly (pins and earrings). You will see it all over the city. Compare prices. If you are interested, I can give you the name of the place where I bought some nice pins at good prices. I speak Spanish fluently, so I was able to talk to the merchants and learned what to look for. <BR> <BR>Salamanca was a nice surprise. Very well preserved city with plenty to see, including an impressive Plaza Mayor. Most of the really old buildings, including those sourrounding Plaza Mayor, are build in a golden tone limestome that is better photograph and appreciated with the late afternoon lighting (breathtaking!) of say, around 5pm. Recommend a visit to Avila the day you visit Salamanca. <BR> <BR>Recommend that, if possible, you get a tour or you rent a car, and after visiting Toledo, head south to Consuegra; windmills and olives farmsland. This suggestion is extremely biased as one of my favorite characters in literature is Don Quijote, so this ride was magical to me. However, a couple of German friends were with us and enjoyed the sight of the landscape and the windmills inmensely. <BR> <BR>I would think seriously about the recommendation cp gave you on making Toledo, even Segovia, the home base, specially if you are not into the party scene of Madrid. If I had to do it agin, I would stay in either one. <BR> <BR>Let me know if you need hotel recommendations in Madrid, Segovia, Leon, and Salamanca. This turns out to be a nice highlight of our trip and will be more than happy to share. I will also be happy to share ideas and tips for sightseeing, food and other pertinent travel information.