Madrid Itinerary

You'll want to visit El Prado, la Plaza Mayor, el Palacio Real and El Retiro Park. I certainly would make a visit to El Escorial on the outskirts of the city a priority. Personally, I would take day trips from Madrid to include Toledo and or Segovia and Avila or La Granja de San Idelfonso. Transportation by bus or train for your trips out of the city is easy to manage. One of the reasons I like Madrid is because it is an easy area to use as a base and branch out to the surrounding sites. There are lots of very interesting places which are relatively close by. If you have the time, I think it is worth staying overnight one night in Toledo. While in Madrid, tailor your itinerary to your interests. If you are in to soccer you could visit Real Madrid stadium. If you like flea markets and are there on a Sunday visit El Rastro. There are lots of museums that might interest you. At lunchtime take advantage of the daily special in many restaurants and you'll get a great meal that includes salad or soup, entree, bread, wine and desert for a reasonable price.

I didn't really care for the Prado. A lot of the art was very similar and it wasn't a style or time period I cared for. The only painting I enjoyed seeing was the famous Goya. Much of the rest of the art was very religious (which is fine, just not my interests). I'd look into it for yourself to see if it's something that interests you before you decide you definitely want to or don't want to. We loved, however, the Reina Sophia. We also had a nice time exploring the naval museum, which was much more extensive than I expected. If war and naval stuff interest you, consider it. We got in free, and I can't remember if that was because it's a free museum or if we went on a free day. It wasn't crowded at all. And since you mentioned tapas...don't forget churros con chocolat! A delicious, and artery clogging, way to start your day.

Well I'd have to disagree with Becca about the Prado, but she's right about the churros. I was not expecting that to be one of the highlights of my time in Madrid. Not exactly a healthy habit, but a worthwhile thing to add to your Madrid checklist. We particularly liked Maestro Churro. Mmmm.

Beg to differ, Chocolateria San Gines (just off Puerta del Sol on #5 Pasadizo de San Gines) has the superior churros con chocolate. That said, I'd recommend doing the highlights of the Prado (covered in the RS book) because you can't miss the Bosch painting "Garden of Earthly Delights" (mind bending). Plus the Velazquez "Las Meninas" is worth a look because it's not allowed to ever leave the museum. I'd also recommend the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum - a much more condensed and easy to digest art museum. So for itinerary - I'd suggest spreading the art over several days and not jamming it into one (personal experience = art overload). Reina Sofia is free on some evenings, so you can do that late in the day and still have plenty of time for tapas. I'd also suggest a day trip to Toledo - a must see IMHO.

Wow, the Prado has one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. It's not just Goya. It's Velazquez, Bosch, Durer, Titian, Rubens, the list goes on and on. If you have any interest in art, I would put it at the top of the list. Also you can get a discounted ticket which includes the Prado, the Thyssen and Reina Sofia. Ask for the Paseo del Arte and you will save a couple of euros if you plan to go to all three. As other have mentioned, five nights will give you time for a day trip and Madrid has some really easy ones, such as Toledo.

Thanks for all the replies. Does any one know if there are any catacombs in Madrid, such as those in Paris and Rome? I would also be interested in any museum devoted to The Spanish Civil War, particularly if if it focused on the Lincoln Brigades. Is there such a place?
I've also heard about the cider bars - anyone have a recommendation or two?