My wife found a great deal and we just booked a last minute long weekend in Madrid (leave in < 2 weeks). It is our first time there and I know we will just scratch the surface. We land on Friday morning at 8 am from US east coast. We would like to spend one day seeing the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Mercado San Miguel, and walking around the historic area. Another day at the Prado, Reina Sofia, Retiro park. We are staying between Sol and Gran via so are pretty close to everything and plan on coming back to the hotel after a day of sightseeing for a siesta before dinner. Should we do the Royal Palace on Friday and the museums/park on Saturday or the other way around? We have tickets to the Real Madrid match on Sunday at 4pm so if anyone has suggestions of things to do near the stadium before the match that would be great. We depart to come home on Monday afternoon and I'm sure we will be sleeping the entire 8 hour flight but from what I understand if we were looking to get a lot of sleep we should've chosen somewhere besides Madrid!

Any tips for restaurants and Flamenco would also be appreciated. We were looking at Casa Pata for just the show, not dinner. Thanks in advance for your help!

Casa Patas is always a good bet for top of the shelf flamenco, but plain fabulous Paloma Fantova dances in close by Cardamomo on your dates: https://cardamomo.com/en/
Here she tears down the house in famous Sadler's Wells in London a couple of years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck7hMzNH3b8

And Lucía Álvarez "La Piñona" dances in Corral de la Morería on your dates. http://www.corraldelamoreria.com/en/index.html
She's now nominated as one of fifteen for the Premios Max in the category of best female dancer in Spain 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBo1M7qX53k

When it comes to restaurants, I can recommend Casa Alberto from 1827, hundred meters from both Cardamomo and Casa Patas and just off vibrant Plaza Santa Ana. Both traditional and cutting edge, one "sol" in the Guía Repsol, the Spanish eqvuivalent to the Michelin guide, and very affordable for what you get. Average 35€ for a full meal. Also a fabulous little tapas bar in front of the restaurant: http://www.casaalberto.es/en/the-restaurant.html
https://www.guiarepsol.com/es/gastro...-casa-alberto/

Before the match on Sunday, perhaps have lunch in close by Casa Benigna, some of the best paella and other rice dishes in town: http://www.casabenigna.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...na-Madrid.html

Not MY perfect Madrid wkend since we don't follow soccer. I'd go to a bullfight instead !

We're just getting back from a long week in Madrid, which was hardly time enough time to enjoy our favorite restaurants and bars and check out a few new places in between.

As far as museums go, the Sorola Museum has a new showing of some of his great works. If you want to. Is it the Prodo, then book your tickets ahead of time and avoid the crowds.

Take a look a Maribel's Guide to Madrid for a little more information.

Since you will staying near Sol be sure get churros at San Gines.

https://chocolateriasangines.com/

I was disappointed with Mercado San Miguel as I think it is overpriced.

Rastro on Sunday morning is always fun.

We are inveterate museum goers and the Prado is easily among the five finest general collections in the world.

I am not sure why more people do not go to the Royal Tapestry Factory where they still use Goya patterns.

http://www.realfabricadetapices.com/#/eng/

We last stayed in the Chueca area and there are many excellent tascas especially on Calle Libertad.

And our favorite store in Madrid is near the Plaza Mayor called Casa Hernanz where they make hemp products especially shoes.

http://www.alpargateriahernanz.com/