I just found out that the weekend in August that I planned to be in Madrid the pope will also be there for World Youth Day. I see in the media there will be "2 million young people descending on Spain's capital to see the pope". I'm not a young person and I have no desire to see the pope. I want to see the usual tourist sites and enjoy Madrid. I will be in Avila for a week at a class after that weekend. My question - should I expect that Madrid will be impossible under the circumstances? If so, when I touch down at the airport on Friday night at 6pm, should I head to the train or bus station for elsewhere to escape the maddening crowd and if I should, then where?
As Rick says, "expect you will return". Should I plan to see Madrid another time?
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Madrid, Madrid, Spain
80 posts
Hmmm... Good question. I think I'd choose a different weekend to be in Madrid if at all possible. All the affordable lodging establishments (like hostels/hostales and 1 or 2-star hotels) will be booked solid for that weekend, most likely. If you have your reservations already I'd double-confirm them to be sure. Don't know yet where the mass/event will take place but most likely in the Almudena Cathedral next to the Royal Palace and, maybe also, in the Plaza Mayor. Security will be tight and, surely, police will be swarming the city. It won't be impossible to visit the city, no, but it'll certainly change your perspective/impression of what the city would be like during a "normal" time. You might, instead, train down to Granada for the weekend. It's an easy trip from Madrid. Saludos, MadridMan @ you-know-where!