I was planning on going to Rome for Labor Day, but flights to Madrid are half the price for the same week. Any suggestions on things to do or see? As of now, we're thinking doing eight days total with a couple of nights in Valencia and another overnight or day trip out of Madrid.

Fave hotels: Madrid Edition & Palacio de Los Duques

- Museums: Prado, Reina Sofia (home of Guernica), and the Thyssen.
- Royal Palace + the armory
- Plaza Mayor for a pre-dinner drink (yes, it's touristy, but worth doing once).
- Retiro Park for a long walk, the lake with boats, and weekend people-watching.
- La Latina for old-town lanes, cafes, and a great food vibe.
- El Rastro flea market (weekends).
- Tapas tour
-Real Madrid game (schedule pending)

With your duration I would split with 3-4 days in Madrid and then the rest of the time along the Andalusian coast (Valencia/Marbella with day trips to Cordoba & Granada). You can fly back to the states from there by connecting back to Madrid.

Happy to answer questions or help with the trip if you're looking for it!

Going through Madrid this September to do a portion of the Camino del Norte.

Hotel rooms in Madrid wildly expensive and almost impossible to get in the good areas.

What is this F1 thing?

jh0400 said:

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I was planning on going to Rome for Labor Day, but flights to Madrid are half the price for the same week. Any suggestions on things to do or see? As of now, we're thinking doing eight days total with a couple of nights in Valencia and another overnight or day trip out of Madrid.

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We'll leave the lights on for you. Returning home from Madrid on September 6th, following two weeks beginning in Toulouse, and making stops in Bordeaux, Biarritz and Zaragoza.

Kreg17's list is great, BTW.

Squadron7 said:

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Going through Madrid this September to do a portion of the Camino del Norte.

Hotel rooms in Madrid wildly expensive and almost impossible to get in the good areas.

What is this F1 thing?

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We're looking to leave on the 8th, so we'll be getting out just ahead of the crowds.

Toledo is a fun day trip. Do all the sites in Madrid (palace, Prado, tapas, Retiro, etc., etc.) and stay at an AirBnB in a cool neighborhood. Go to the markets and try to see a Real Madrid match at the Bernabeau.

With 8-9 days, I'd do 4 days in Madrid and 4 days in Barcelona instead. It's a 3-hour train ride between the two. Valencia is cool, but not on the same level as Barca in my opinion. Barcelona is incredible. We did the same trip a year ago (flew into Madrid/out of Barcelona on AA). A day trip to Montserrat is a must (from Barcelona).

I definitely wouldn't spend 7 to 8 nights in Madrid, I don't feel like there's enough to do there. But Kreg's list is pretty spot on. I would add Catedral de la Almuden next to the Royal Palace.

I loved Madrid Edition. The hotel is stunning and the shower was amazing.

I only had like 3/4 of a day when I was in Madrid, and I thought this was a great location. I was able to walk to the Royal Palace and the Cathedral and a few other things. Loved the pink hallway at Edition.

eiggA2002 said:

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Toledo is a fun day trip. Do all the sites in Madrid (palace, Prado, tapas, Retiro, etc., etc.) and stay at an AirBnB in a cool neighborhood. Go to the markets and try to see a Real Madrid match at the Bernabeau.

With 8-9 days, I'd do 4 days in Madrid and 4 days in Barcelona instead. It's a 3-hour train ride between the two. Valencia is cool, but not on the same level as Barca in my opinion. Barcelona is incredible. We did the same trip a year ago (flew into Madrid/out of Barcelona on AA). A day trip to Montserrat is a must (from Barcelona).

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I've been to BCN before. Valencia is a trade off. The original idea was to fly into Rome, train to Naples, and then spend a couple of days in Positano, or potentially skip Naples and take the ferry to Sardinia. The flights into and out of Rome are twice the price of flying into and out of Madrid, so Valencia won out.

Second here for Segovia. If you do, make a reservation at Jose Maria. The food is amazing, service is actually awesome, and watching the suckling pig be cut with a plate is a crazy experience. Definitely get the full menu tasting with wine pairings!

It will be hot AF but it's a "dry heat".

Ag CPA said:

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It will be hot AF but it's a "dry heat".

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I did Tokyo and Kyoto for Labor Day last year and survived.