Going to Madrid!

[LongLensPhotography]

I am going to a conference in Madrid this week, and effectively have all weekend for myself / photography. I have never been there before so don't really know what to expect.

What would you advise to see, explore, and most importantly what are the best photo sites. I would be grateful for suggestions. (I don't expect to hire a car - hopefully PT will be good enough in the city)

Affordable hotel recommendation would be great too.

Thanks.

 

[Ragwort]

I would say it's a place for photographing buildings mainly. There's plenty to choose from. Plus with Madrid being on a hill you can get some good backdrops. Try the Kings Palace for some great colour with it's gardens.
For people photography, just sit with a beer in Playa Major / Mayor and let the world pass by.

 

[i-bert]

Sorry but I can't recommend any hotels as I usually stay in a hostel or with friends.

The PT is great and you can get everywhere.

There is the Kings Palace and cathedral. Not far from there is Temple Debod, which is an Egyptian Temple that was transported to Madrid.

Walking back up to Sol, which is the main centre of Madrid, is the Plaza Mayor.

Just off Sol is the Convent of the Barefoot Nuns, and just around the corner from there, you should stop off at Valor, which is a cafe that serves Chocolate y Churros. AMAZING.

The Park is also very nice and has some great features.

Madrid also has a fine Zoo which has a great Birds of Prey display.

If you have the time then I would get a train to Segovia. It takes about 3 hours but it is worth it, and you get some beautiful mountain views on the journey. The train goes direct from Atocha station and is about 17 euros.

Enjoy it.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

Thanks for replies. I'm off!

 

[ChrisGilbert]

It's a bit of a tourist trap but you can also buzz out to Toledo on the train. Lovely narrow streets and lots of great architecture and a bit easier to consume than Madrid.

Shame about the scaffolding

 

[MC_Stoo]

El Retiro Park is lovely. Plenty of greenery, statues, crystal palace, a topiary garden and a lake. Also a bandstand.

National library is impressive and statue of Columbus.

Puerta de Alcala

Puerta del Sol

Plaza Mayor

Congreso De Los Diputados

Prado Museum

Plaza de Toros

Royal Palace

There is a cable car which would give good views of the city outskirts but the park below is usually quite barren.


If you are able to travel out of Madrid, I'd recommend:

Aqueduct at Segovia

Pedraza is a lovely little town

 

[danski]

Madrid is a lovely city - I lived there for 8 years & still go back most years. Hotel Lope de Vega is a good place to stay - very central, clean & comfy rooms - about €80 a night. Don't bother with their breakfast - loads of bars/cafés nearby (make sure you visit La Fabrica & la Dolores bars at top of the same street (c/ Lope de Vega) as the hotel - best beer in Madrid & great tapas!). Walking the streets around the hotel is good for photography, Prado museum is directly opposite, Hotel Palace & Ritz 2 mins away, Retiro park is 10mins walk behind the Prado, Plaza de Santa Ana is 5 mins the other way, Plaza Mayor is another 5 mins in the same direction - all great to take pics of.

MC_Stoo has listed some good places - also have a walk from Plaza de Sol (10 mins from hotel & 2 mins from Santa Ana) to Gran Via then walk down to c/Alcala down to Cibeles (main Post Office building) - lovely architecture all around this area. At Cibeles you can either continue walking along c/Alcala up to Puerta de Alcala and then around the Retiro or down Paseo de Prado down to Atocha train station (lovely botanical garden in the station). Make sure you also have a look at the new building of La Caixa that's on Paseo de Prado - a lovely take on modern & traditional architecture & the building looks like it's floating - you can walk underneath it! It also has an amazing wall garden next to the building that's about 30m high!!! Has to be seen to be believed and appreciated.

Another good place to visit if you're there over the weekend (Sunday morning) would be the Rastro street Market - it's in the streets 5 mins walk away from Plaza Mayor around La Latina & Tirso de Molina. It covers a load of streets and has literally everything for sale (it's the largest street Market in Europe) - great for candid street photography - just keep an eye on your wallet/bag. It's very safe though with plenty of police walking the streets - just a few opportunists like you'll get in any major city! Plenty of toggers there too.

One piece of advice if you're going to Plaza Mayor (which you should!) - don't eat or drink at any of the restaurants in the square - they're tourist traps that serve very average food at about 3-5x the price of the restaurants/bars on the outside of the Plaza - instead walk into the Mercado San Miguel ( opposite Plaza Mayor) and have a beer/wine there and have a few tapas - lovely food even if it is a little more expensive than most places it's well worth it.

Enjoy it - I love the place - and make sure you put some of your pics up here for us to have a look at when you get back