Madrid first day after landkng

[Anonymous]

We won’t be able to check in until afternooon. My travel companion may be tired. I was thinking we could do the hop on/ofc bus but apparently Madrid banned it from stopping so now it’s just a bus that drives around for an hour or so.
Thoughts for something if we are exhausted?

[Anonymous]

Go to Retiro and have a nap!!

[Anonymous]

We did this last summer when it was sooo hot. We dropped our bags, went and got churros and cafe con leche, took a short walk to Plaza Mayor and the palace and then meandered back to our hotel. Yes, we were tired, but being in the sunshine and eating fun snacks helped us make it through. Try to get early check in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Retiro and have a nap!!

Good idea! Pack one of those super thin blankets that can double as a towel and bring it with you. You can get snacks there and sit and people watch. Enjoy! I haven’t been to Madrid since I studied abroad there in college. I miss it. Great city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did this last summer when it was sooo hot. We dropped our bags, went and got churros and cafe con leche, took a short walk to Plaza Mayor and the palace and then meandered back to our hotel. Yes, we were tired, but being in the sunshine and eating fun snacks helped us make it through. Try to get early check in.

This is exactly what we did last summer. We then went to the hotel a bit after lunch, slept until late evening, then went out to dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go to Retiro and have a nap!!

Is that safe? Admittedly it’s been decades since I went to retiro but there were lots of heroin addicts and I got robbed (bag snipped off shoulder). I can’t think of any big city public park that I could be comfortable taking a nap in. Definitely wouldn’t do it in our home town!

This is a different question but what is the taxi situation in Madrid now, or Ubers? Is it easy to get a cab or uber or are there too many restrictions on driving in the city center? Normally I like to walk but if we are tired a cab might be better.

[Anonymous]

Tuk Tuk. Best way to see the City.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go to Retiro and have a nap!!

Is that safe? Admittedly it’s been decades since I went to retiro but there were lots of heroin addicts and I got robbed (bag snipped off shoulder). I can’t think of any big city public park that I could be comfortable taking a nap in. Definitely wouldn’t do it in our home town!

This is a different question but what is the taxi situation in Madrid now, or Ubers? Is it easy to get a cab or uber or are there too many restrictions on driving in the city center? Normally I like to walk but if we are tired a cab might be better.

NP- it is super clean, safe and beautiful though I'm not sure I'd nap anywhere in public (regardless of the city) due to theft risk. Did not take cabs aside from airport (which was great) and just used subway system.

[Anonymous]

Book your room for the day before and coordinate with the hotel directly for late arrival.

[Anonymous]

Invest in a good neck pillow for the plane ride. It makes all the difference.

[Anonymous]

Are you staying in a hotel? If so, I would drop your bags, go have lunch and then come back and sit in the lobby or another quiet place (ask at the hotel for a quiet spot.)

[Anonymous]

If you’re staying near Plaza Mayor, consider doing a free walking tour. Google it, there are several of them - I think we did Sandemanns. It’s free, but you’re expected to tip your guide at the end. They are about an hour and a half, help you get your bearings, some exercise, and fresh air. They start at 11, so you can land, ditch, your bag, go do it, and by the time it’s done your hotel room should be ready.

[Anonymous]

Please don’t do a walking tour. You are going to be crazy exhausted. Cough up the money for the night before so you can just go crash.

[Anonymous]

Book the hotel for the night before, and let them know you're paying for that night so you can have the room for as soon as you get there.

[Anonymous]

We did the bus tour and it felt like a godsend - we were so tired. We went to a cafe before for food, drinks, then hopped on the bus and saw a bit of the city.