| Sun. Nov. 1 Train in from Sevilla |
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| 3:30 PM | Arrive Atocha | AVLO 02137 arrives Atocha (fully step-free inside). To the Cava Baja lodging: Metro L1 → Tirso de Molina (2 stops, ~4 min) + ~5–7 min walk (~10–12 min total). ⚠ Tirso de Molina and La Latina stations have NO lift (stairs only), so for Javier + Angelica with luggage a taxi (~4–5 min, €8–12) is the step-free option. All Saints' Day runs extra Metro service (not reduced). | booked |
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| 5:00 PM | Check in — Wonder flat Latina (Cava Baja) | 4BR/6 doubles, lift. Check-in after 5:00 PM (arrive ~3:30 — €20 bag storage if needed for the gap). | booked |
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| 6:00 PM | Templo de Debod10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Highlight: the 2nd-century-BC Egyptian temple at sunset. Closed Mon.; flat ~25 min walk from the flat, near Plaza de España, or a short taxi. | idea |
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| 7:15 PM | Mercado de San Miguel10:00 AM–12:00 AM | Highlight: a glass of cava, or the sweet red vermouth on tap at La Hora del Vermut; look for the gay-themed stop-sign wall art. A quick stop on the way from Debod to dinner; busy 6:00–10:00 PM. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 8:30 PM | Taberna La Concha1:00 PM–11:00 PM | Highlight: the pollo en curry rojo; also the tomato and mozzarella salad and the salmon tosta with tzatziki. Vermouth and tapas; Cava Baja, La Latina. Walk-in. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| Mon. Nov. 2 Palacio Real + old-Madrid tapas |
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| 10:00 AM | La Mallorquina8:30 AM–9:00 PM | Highlight: the napolitana de crema. Pastries; Puerta del Sol. | fav |
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| 10:45 AM | Monasterio del Corpus Christi (Las Carboneras) | Highlight: the cookies, bought via the torno. Near Plaza Mayor, on the way from Sol to the palace. Walk-in. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 11:45 AM | Palacio Real10:00 AM–6:00 PM | Almudena Cathedral next door; step-free. Book the 11:45 AM self-guided entry: 10:00–11:15 AM showed unavailable and 11:30 AM low (checked Oct. 17, 2026). Open on the holiday Monday. Chasen's blog | not booked |
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| 1:45 PM | La Casa del Abuelo12:00 PM–12:00 AM | Highlight: the garlic shrimp (gambas al ajillo), and the fun waiters. Holiday Monday (All Saints' substitute), and it's open; a few minutes from Plaza Mayor. Walk-in. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 3:15 PM | Siesta | Rest after lunch. | tentative |
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| 4:30 PM | Reina Sofía10:00 AM–9:00 PM | Highlight: Guernica, Room 205.10. Confirm holiday-Mon. hours. | idea |
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| 8:00 PM | Taberna Tempranillo8:00 PM–12:00 AM | Highlight: the duck ("amazing duck" last trip); wine by the glass. Starts a short crawl: Casa Toni is ~10 minutes' walk. Opens 8:00 PM on Mondays. Walk-in. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 9:15 PM | Casa Toni12:20 PM–4:00 PM, 7:30 PM–11:30 PM | Highlight: the skewers (your favorite last trip) and the mollejas (griddled sweetbreads); also the chorizo, garlicky mushrooms and patatas bravas. Skewers and tapas. Walk-in. James Blick Tapas 101 | fav |
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| Tue. Nov. 3 The Prado + art district + Atlético (penciled in) |
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| 10:00 AM | Pastelería El Riojano9:00 AM–9:00 PM | Highlight: the hot chocolate, melted from real chocolate; also the lady fingers with chocolate. Historic (1855). Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 10:45 AM | Museo del Prado10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Highlight: Las Meninas (Room 012), Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. Step-free, lift-served. Chasen's blog | not booked |
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| 1:00 PM | Retiro ParkOpen daily, free | Highlight: the Palacio de Cristal. Flat; south gate across from the Prado. | idea |
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| 2:00 PM | Taberna Sanlúcar1:30 PM–5:00 PM, 8:30 PM–1:00 AM | Highlight: the alcachofa; also the adobo sanluqueño, garbanzos con espinacas y bacalao and the jamón ibérico. Cádiz cuisine; Lavapiés. Walk-in. Moved to Tuesday: it's closed Mondays. A short metro or taxi ride from the Retiro. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 3:30 PM | Siesta | Rest after lunch. | tentative |
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| 4:30 PM | Thyssen-Bornemisza10:00 AM–7:00 PM | Highlight: Van Gogh; also the Thyssen & Mauritshuis: A Love Story exhibit. 5-min walk from the Prado. | idea |
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| 7:00 PM | Casa Revuelta12:00 PM–4:00 PM, 7:00 PM–11:00 PM | Highlight: the fried bacalao (cod), with a white wine. Walk-in; opens 7:00 PM, ~15 min walk from the Thyssen. Pre-match bite, then leave ~7:45 PM for the stadium. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 9:00 PM | Atlético vs Bayern (Metropolitano) | Penciled in (whole group): one of two matches, this or Betis in Sevilla on Sat. Oct. 31. Champions League; on general sale on the club site. Metro Line 7 to Estadio Metropolitano, beside the stadium (~26 min from Sol per Atlético). Ends ~10:50 PM. | tentative |
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| Wed. Nov. 4 Depart for Barcelona |
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| 10:00 AM | Pack | Pack up before checkout. | tentative |
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| 11:00 AM | Check out | By 11:00 AM (€300 penalty if later). €20 bag storage if needed before the ~1 PM AVE to Barcelona. | booked |
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| 11:15 AM | Mercado del Jamón Ibérico11:00 AM–8:00 PM | Highlight: the jamón 100% ibérico de bellota. Right after checkout (it opens at 11:00 AM); a quick stop with bags on the way to Atocha. Chasen's blog | fav |
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| 12:00 PM | To Atocha station | Cava Baja → Atocha: Metro L1 from Tirso de Molina (~10–12 min, stairs at Tirso/La Latina), or a taxi (~4–5 min, €8–12) — the step-free option for the parents. Leave ~12:00 PM for the 12:50 PM AVE. ⚠ Confirm the ticket departs Atocha (not Chamartín); most Madrid–Barcelona AVEs use Atocha. | tentative |
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| 12:50 PM | AVE 09725 → Barcelona | Train 09725 (Básico-4+). | booked |
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