Top things to do/see in Madrid
 

My husband and I (both 28 years old) are heading to Madrid right after Easter. We are both adventurous people and just need some direction of what to see/where to go while we are there for 4 days. We'd like to see some sites, but don't need to do ALL of the touristy stuff. We sometimes like going off the beaten path so any cool recommendations anyone has for things to do while we are there would be great!! Thanks so much !

Lori

Well, even if you don't like art, please don't miss the Prado. The scale of the works is astounding.

Have you read about or googled Madrid yet? Retiro park might be of interest to you based on you post. Also, check the plazas.

Others can help with "off the beaten path" you requested.

I see you did separate post about flamenco so hope you get to a show. My hotel concierge arranged for me to see a show. It was over the Easter holiday (I see you will be in Barcalona then) and things were sold out. You might want to make reservations on line if you can.

Same for Prado. You will avoid lines if you get a pass online. Off to your Barca thread.

the Sorolla museum is lovely. it is his old mansion and the outside garden with fountains is so peaceful. I love the art.
Temple of Dendur too.
Retiro park and Salamanca area.
I remember these as some favorites when I studied for a semester in Madrid and visited them 2 years ago and enjoyed as much as I remembered.

There are quite a food good museums, if you are interested in them, you can find info in any guidebook or online. And then, of course, various sites that aren't exactly museums, like the palace, which is worthwhile. And of course some wellknown churches.

I'd also suppose you want to check out Plaza Mayor area and then maybe the nearby street with a lot of restaurants and wine bars, Cava Baja.

Probably also check out a market or two, just for atmosphere but you can eat stuff there, also -- San Miguel is close to Plaza Mayor but maybe also try another, like Anton Martin which is in Huertes/bordering Lavapies. Lavapies is a veyr multicultural, creative neighborhood, it has a market also that you could check out while walking around (San Fernando).

If you are there 4 days, you might want to so one day trip, going to Escorial is pretty easy and not that far.

Bookmarking

Read about Madrid's Best Casual Dining in 2016: http://tinyurl.com/h6mxcfd

Visit beautiful park Retiro...then, walk north of the park to
the most elegant part of the city :Salamanca / Serrano .

sorry. Salamanca /. Serrano

Thanks for Maribel's list.

<sometimes like going off the beaten path>

Have a glass or a bite on the excellent and laid-back terrace in Casa Granada, on the 6th floor of an apartment building just off Plaza de Tirso de Molina and hard to find: http://www.tripfilms.com/Travel_Vide...ada-Video.html

I like the area from excellent Teatros del Canal down towards Glorieta Quevedo in the Chamberi district. Just a few metro stops from the heart of the city, nevertheless a slower pace here and nice local atmosphere daytime cafes, terraces and tapas bars. About the Chamberi area: http://moving2madrid.com/neighbourhood-chamberi/ http://www.spotahome.com/blog/2014/07/22/chamberi.html

And perhaps go to Candela in the Lavapies district (Calle del Olmo, 2) for real deal flamenco long into the small hours: http://www.timeout.com/madrid/dance/candela http://flamencocandela.com/