Madrid Recommendations

[TheOnlyMrsW]

Off to Madrid for 3 days next month with a friend and the title does what it says on the tin. The guide books rave about all of the art and musuems but that's not really our thing - I know that the Prado is a must but wondering if there is anything else that we need to make sure we don't miss? We're staying fairly centrally so will be easy to get about, and I know it will be uber hot so need to be careful not to try and cram too much in as well. I love food and markets, really want to see flamenco but other than that what should we do?

Mercado San Miguel, churros at San gines, la venecia for a sherry, retro park hire a pedalo.

Great city to just wander bar to bar getting a feed as you go

All of these, though I must say (and I've spent about a fortnight in total in Madrid this year over two different visits) that I think it's an averagely dull city if you aren't interested in art. I had a wonderful time, but I mostly had that wonderful time in the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia. The Mercado San Miguel is a nice place to hang out and eat and drink, though, and I agree that taking a boat out in the Retiro Park is lovely. I wouldn't overstretch yourself in the heat, though. I was there at Easter, and some days were already quite hot.

I was there for a third time in late May., and it was already extremely hot. I know you’re not so keen, but a few hours in a cool museum will be lovely!
Retiro Park, the botanical gardens, and the mercado already mentioned are good places to visit.
You could try and get a table at Botin, which is supposed to be the oldest restaurant in the world. It’s near Plaza Mayor.
You could travel out a bit further on the metro, and visit areas like Ibiza and Salamanca.
If you like shoe shopping, you will be spoilt for choice. There’s also a wonderful traditional espadrille shop also close to Plaza Mayor, where customers queue up to enter.

That's a lovely shop (and there's a good falafel place nearby.)