Madrid and day trips from Madrid

I love Madrid, and I think it's best experienced at a slower pace—walking, wondering, stopping for a coffee or a vermut. Your proposal is maybe tight for time there—four days minus two-day trips leaves two days. You could cram in most (but not all) of the major sights, but without time to breathe. Or see a just few sights while also taking time to enjoy the city.

Many here will advocate for an overnight in Toledo. I'm sure that's nice, but I've only gone there on day trips and enjoyed that very much. Most people seem content with a day trip to Segovia, which is also all I've done there.

Toledo is definitely worth a night or two or even three, but it seems that most Americans treat it as a day trip.

Four days (meaning five nights) in Madrid might be OK if you don't want to spend a great deal of time in the art museums. I wouldn't want to have just four nights there if I planned two day trips.

We were in Madrid a few weeks ago. It is much more congested than we remembered and traffic is terrible. Puerto de Sol is undergoing renovations so avoid. We returned to the Prado and came away, once again, thinking this was our favorite art museum, maybe anywhere. Took a food tour with Devour and would highly recommend them. Yes, Toledo is so much better at night if you can manage an overnight. If I had to sacrifice to make that happen I’d forego Segovia although not all would agree with me.

The construction at Puerta del Sol is scheduled to be completed in late March/early April, and as of a few weeks ago was still on schedule.

The construction at Puerta del Sol is scheduled to be completed in late March/early April, and as of a few weeks ago was still on schedule.

Hopefully by the time I'm there in late March it's mostly done 🤞

I'd give Madrid more time, especially with those day trips. I agree that an overnight in Toledo would be desirable if you can do it. Segovia doesn't have as much to see (though the aqueduct is one of my "top" sights in Europe), but a night there might also be worthwhile.

The main thing is that after any RS tour you'll be TIRED. You'll want a day just for yourself, to slow down the sightseeing pace, get some extra sleep, and internalize the great experiences you've just had. I took the "Best of Spain" tour, ending in Sevilla, spent an extra night there, then went on to Cordoba and Madrid for about a week total -- even though the tour had spent three nights in Madrid earlier. There was plenty to see and do, at my own pace.

I am reading info from another about the Puerta del Sol being under construction and to avoid the area. I was really hoping to use Rick Steves recommendation of Hotel Europa, near that area. Is the area completely impassable on foot, or just an inconvenience? Planning on being in Madrid for just two nights right before Christmas. Thanks for any input.

I am reading info from another about the Puerta del Sol being under construction and to avoid the area. I was really hoping to use Rick Steves recommendation of Hotel Europa, near that area. Is the area completely impassable on foot, or just an inconvenience? Planning on being in Madrid for just two nights right before Christmas. Thanks for any input.

s.donelan, take a look at this webcam to see what it looks like right now https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/espana/comunidad-de-madrid/madrid/puerta-del-sol-tio-pepe.html

We were in Madrid a few weeks ago. Puerto del Sol is very noisy and congested, with thousands of pedestrians weaving around the construction areas, but it's just an inconvenience, not impassable.

THANK YOU for all your replies!!! Because of this excellent feedback, I now know that I should do an overnight in Toledo and that 4 days in Madrid and environs is definitely too short, especially since (as someone pointed out) I will e tired after the RS tour and I’ll want to have a slower pace. Thanks again, all. Much appreciated!!!

We have done both Segovia and Toledo as day trips and been entirely satisfied with those as day trips - with indulgeant lunches and walks around towns, to Cathedrals, synagogues (in Toledo), parks, and back streets and alleys.

Alan mentioned the Prado. That is the pinnacle of three truly great museums along the Paseo del Prado. The other two are the Thyssen-Bournemisza (Impressionist and modern art) and the Reina Sofia (modern art and Picasso's Guernica, including many studies). If you've been to Madrid before, you probably know that already.

FWIW, IMHO It's impossible to do all three in a single day. IF you are someone who enjoys art and art museums, you'll be sorry to miss any of the three if you've not been there before.

I'd definitely do the Prado and the Reina Sofia. The Prado because it's one of the premier museums in Europe and has a wonderful garden.

I wasn't taken so much with the Reina Sofia but Guernica has to be seen to be believed. I've seen pictures of it throughout my life but actually seeing it in person and its grand scale was awe inspiring.

I was another one who loved Madrid-thought my family didn't. You also have to go to La Mallorquina bakery. They have some of the best pastries and I loved standings and eating my cafe con leche and pastry in the mornings.

We were in Madrid a month ago. Puerta del Sol is busy due to construction but definitely not impassable. No need to avoid the area. We toured Prado and Sofia Reina and found the later to be the most interesting unless you really want to see a lot of religious art. If you go to Toledo, I highly recommend buying your train tickets in advance. We did but arrived at the station too late to board so we got in line to repurchase new tickets. By the time we got to the counter, the next two trains had sold out and there would have been a 4 hour wait for the next one. Sadly we never got to see Toledo.

Rick warns about potential sellouts on Toledo tickets, though it often seems the return tickets are more of a problem than the outbound tickets. In a pinch, there is also bus service, but it is quite a bit slower.

I spent 5 nights in Madrid. I arrived in the evening. I took a day trip to Toledo. I had three full days in Madrid. I bought my tickets to Toledo in advance on RENFE, at home before my trip. I could have spent an extra day in Madrid. I didn't make time for the Reina Sofia. I saw the Sorola Museum, the museum of the Americas, the Royal Palace. I liked the Thyssen-Bornemisza even more than the Prado. Maybe because the Thyssen-Bornemisza has more old landscape paintings. I didn't make time for Segovia. Segovia would be good for a day trip, in theory, except that Madrid has enough museums and monuments to entertain you for at least 5 days.