Nov. 16 - 18, 2012 (3D2N): The perfect combination of food & culture! This was our first stop before we visited Barcelona and Paris.  We also witnessed two demonstrations in Madrid - which was expected given we were visiting one of the GIIPS.

*Highly Recommended

Day 1

• Arrives at Madrid from NYC

• Take metro to Hotel Regina

• Puerta del Sol

• Tapas @ Casa Labra*: (get the fried cod - bacalao)

• Tapas @ Venta el Buscon*

• Palacio de Cibeles

• Fuente de Cibeles

• Coffee break @ Plaza de Espana

• Templo de Debod (free; view right around sunset)

• Jardines de Sebatini

• Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida (Panteón de Goya; free till 8pm)

• Principe Pio Mall

• Dinner @ La Fragua de Vulcano (Tapas y vino)

Day 2

• Paseo del Prado (online for free admission windows)

• Prado National Museum (Buy ticket ahead online)

• Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza (Buy ticket ahead online)

• Lunch @ Estado Puro*

• Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia (check online for free admission windows)

• Parque de El Retiro (enter from south side of the park)

• Dinner#1 @ Le Tigre* (tapas y bier) & Dinner#2 @ Casa Labra

• Flamenco @ Casa Patas (€34pp)  

Day 3

• Hapsburg Madrid walking tour:

  • Plaza Mayor

  • Plaza de Oriente

  • Royal Palace (10-6pm; €10)

  • Catedral de la Almudena

  • Basilica de San Miguel

• Follow Frommers Day 3 walking tour:

  • Rastro (flea market #2)

  • Austrian District (San Nicolas de las Servitas/Plaza de la Cebada/Plaza de la Paja)

  • Tapas near La Latina @ Toma Jamon*

  • La Corrala (#8): During the 19th century, many of Madrid's working-class population lived in tenements like these.

  • Plaza Lavapiés (#3)

• Relax @ Plaza de Santa Ana (good for day or night)

• Coffee/pastry @ Uvepan*

• Walk around Serrano (shopping district): Department store + Zara

• Dinner @ La Soberbia*

• Check out Museo del Jamon

Other points of interest & food

• Plaza de Toros las Ventas (bullfight arena – guided tauro tour)

• Círculo de Bellas Artes: This Art Deco gem has exhibitions in various salons as well as an adjoining excellent value cinema and an iconic ground floor cafe. You can also pop up to the top floor and look at the library, even if you're not a member

• Dine @ El Club Allard

• Dine @ Sobrino de Botin (oldest restaurant in the world by Guinness World, Hemingway visited) 

Tips

• Buy 10 packs Metro pass + Airport supplement

• Be careful of the pickpocketers, my iphone was stolen during this trip :(