Madrid Guide, map and photos. boo.com members recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions in Madrid

Madrid was awesome. It was the second European city I had ever been in, and it offered the shopping and cultural experiences you dream of. The architecture is beautiful, and most importantly the bars and busy and fun. The one thing I would advise is to keep your wallets and purses close, but I...more Madrid was awesome. It was the second European city I had ever been in, and it offered the shopping and cultural experiences you dream of. The architecture is beautiful, and most importantly the bars and busy and fun. The one thing I would advise is to keep your wallets and purses close, but I never had anything taken from me!close

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by CGaleota – posted on Mar 11, 2008

2

Sono arrivato a Madrid, la prima brutta esperienza è l\'abbonamento della metro, quello turistico, ovviamente sul sito della metro non è specificato, non dura 1, 2, ecc... giorni, ma da quando lo obliteri alle 5 am di mattina. 2° fatto, mai e poi mai rimanere anche a 3...more Sono arrivato a Madrid, la prima brutta esperienza è l\'abbonamento della metro, quello turistico, ovviamente sul sito della metro non è specificato, non dura 1, 2, ecc... giorni, ma da quando lo obliteri alle 5 am di mattina. 2° fatto, mai e poi mai rimanere anche a 3 metri dai tuoi amici, mi hanno subito tentato di derubare, sulla linea 8 a \"nuevo ministero\", hanno buttato delle monete perterra, uno mi scossava i pantaloni e probabilmente gli altri mi avrebbero preso il portafoglio da dietro... sono scappati ad un urlo di \"VAFFANCULO\" ad altissima voce.. ;-) Conoscenze a Madrid, le madrilene se la tirano da paura, cercavo un \"buzòn de correos\", e mi hanno risposto no grazie :-? Le anglossassoni, sono molto socievoli qui.close

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by davidecv – posted on Jan 5, 2008

2

As the capital of spain it has everything you would expect in a cosmopolitan city. There are tons of clubs, bard and lounges of every style, and the palace is very beautiful. But make sure you check out the Valley of the Fallen outside of Madrid too. It\'s a bus ride away, but it is the most...more As the capital of spain it has everything you would expect in a cosmopolitan city. There are tons of clubs, bard and lounges of every style, and the palace is very beautiful. But make sure you check out the Valley of the Fallen outside of Madrid too. It\'s a bus ride away, but it is the most incredible thing I\'ve seen on my journeys.close

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by langetc – posted on Dec 29, 2007

6

1. I tried to cancel my reservation more than 48 hours beforehand, but was rejected, which another guest from US also thought unreasonable. 2. Their manners were not respectful. 3. The bedliners are not so clean as they seem - my friend found the corpes of an insect on the bed-sheet under the...more 1. I tried to cancel my reservation more than 48 hours beforehand, but was rejected, which another guest from US also thought unreasonable. 2. Their manners were not respectful. 3. The bedliners are not so clean as they seem - my friend found the corpes of an insect on the bed-sheet under the cover! There were three beds in the room and we used two, leaving the one with the dead insect intact. We stayed for four nights, and every day someone made the beds after we went out, but the dead insect remained on the unoccupied bed - they did not change the bedliners during our stay, but only to made them LOOK tidy! 4. The kitchen is only for those staying for over 14 nights! 5. You cannot take a shower after 11pm! What is worse, if one of the two showers in the bathroom has been used, use the other and you can feel the chilly cold water that would not turn warm until the other shower stops! ... To sum up, this is the WORST hostel I have ever been to, and I will never stay there again, and never recommend this hostel to anyone!!!close

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by bonny3206 – posted on Dec 21, 2007

9

I had an excellent time in Madrid - loved the sights, loved the culture, loved the food, loved the sunshine - but I wasn\'t prepared for the amount of smokers. There are very few non-smoking areas as Madrid is not a smoke free city in the elast bit. As I am allergric to cigarette smoke, I...more I had an excellent time in Madrid - loved the sights, loved the culture, loved the food, loved the sunshine - but I wasn\'t prepared for the amount of smokers. There are very few non-smoking areas as Madrid is not a smoke free city in the elast bit. As I am allergric to cigarette smoke, I spent most of my weekend coughing and trying to breath through my scarf. It did put a damper on the experience just a little, but it wouldn\'t keep me from going back.close

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by KareCare24 – posted on Nov 23, 2007

2

The sun was shining bright with not a cloud in sight but alas it was quiet cold. To my amazement it snowed on the last day. It is quiet a nice place with lots of shops and sights to see. The tram system is so well ran and kept very clean. If u pay for 10 trips on metro tram system its good value...more The sun was shining bright with not a cloud in sight but alas it was quiet cold. To my amazement it snowed on the last day. It is quiet a nice place with lots of shops and sights to see. The tram system is so well ran and kept very clean. If u pay for 10 trips on metro tram system its good value and if ure thre more than a weekend u will use it. Word of warning keep ure eyes peeled for pick pockets especialy when standing on trams. Got an apoligy from guy who failed to rob me weird but true. Nite life seeemed like it could of been alot fo fun if i was there for longer. Had some great fun in a niteclub called Kapital 7 floors of heaven lol. But i have to say wow Go there its amazing cinema loads of differnt music and people. Sat night in there was class. Sunday was crap only one floor open and crap music. Sightseeing to much to see to liitle time for me to see it all. Bus tours are class 15 euro and u get on and off where u want when u want anf theres 2 lines blue and red. U get to see all u want.close

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by golf-tennis-go5981 – posted on Nov 17, 2007

2

They are working to inprove the Hostal but do not expect refined details or design funiture.It is a Top of the bottom accomodation! Rooms not on the street side are the quietest so if your plan is not to spend the entire night around tapeando or in Clubs pick one of those ! The warm welcome...more They are working to inprove the Hostal but do not expect refined details or design funiture.It is a Top of the bottom accomodation! Rooms not on the street side are the quietest so if your plan is not to spend the entire night around tapeando or in Clubs pick one of those ! The warm welcome makes the difference and they are rally nice family business.You are close to all Tapas bar and steps away fom Sol the core of town and i 10/15 mins. can walk to Palacio Real to one side,and to Prado Museum on the other!Really a the right choiche if you want to spare money and be in the Core!close

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by gloria – posted on Nov 17, 2007

2

Would definately recommend the Real Madrid tour and try and catch a match if possible. You may be better off getting a ticket from a tout since the box office tend only to sell the more expensive tickets. The open air bus tour is good but if you\'re not a culture-vulture like me you\'ll...more Would definately recommend the Real Madrid tour and try and catch a match if possible. You may be better off getting a ticket from a tout since the box office tend only to sell the more expensive tickets. The open air bus tour is good but if you\'re not a culture-vulture like me you\'ll draw a blank with the vast amount of buildings related to spanish artists.close

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by jamieheaton833711 – posted on Nov 10, 2007

1

I enjoyed madrid a lot despite not speaking any spanish. The people are very friendly, and it is really easy to get around. The city is gorgeous, but don\'t be fooled into thinking that Madrid is much warmer than say London or Edinburgh in November. The only difference in weather is that...more I enjoyed madrid a lot despite not speaking any spanish. The people are very friendly, and it is really easy to get around. The city is gorgeous, but don\'t be fooled into thinking that Madrid is much warmer than say London or Edinburgh in November. The only difference in weather is that it\'s sunny all day. See the sights, it\'s beautiful, but if you\'re on a budget, be careful of your eating budget, because there\'s so much good food to be tried!close

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by annkwan5866 – posted on Nov 9, 2007

1

This city seems to have an obsession with ham. If you can find your way around that, there is a variety of food to be enjoyed. Most of the city can be reached on foot, as Old Madrid is very compact - it\'s perhaps a 30 minute walk from one end to the other. I wouldn\'t plan for too...more This city seems to have an obsession with ham. If you can find your way around that, there is a variety of food to be enjoyed. Most of the city can be reached on foot, as Old Madrid is very compact - it\'s perhaps a 30 minute walk from one end to the other. I wouldn\'t plan for too long of a stay as after a few days we were pretty much running out of things to see. The city looks much better at night. Buildings instantly transform under the night lightsclose

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by michael4532 – posted on Nov 7, 2007

1