Spain/Portugal/Gibraltar - February in Madrid

We will stay there next year for 8 days. Arriving in the a.m. and leaving at noon.
How to get to the city from the airport on public transportation, don't think I will rent a car, parking always a hassle in Europe. Any hotel recommendations? We are walkers and love to explore neighborhoods by foot, so a convenient location would be great. Is everything dead on the weekends as in the rest of Europe?
What can be expect weatherwise? We are thinking not much different than Japan. Not too cold, no snow, but requires sweater and coat? Last but not least, what to see, what to do? Appreciate restaurant recommendations as well for local food, Paellas etc. Looking forward to your replies.

We will stay there next year for 8 days. Arriving in the a.m. and leaving at noon.
How to get to the city from the airport on public transportation, don't think I will rent a car, parking always a hassle in Europe. Any hotel recommendations? We are walkers and love to explore neighborhoods by foot, so a convenient location would be great. Is everything dead on the weekends as in the rest of Europe?
What can be expect weatherwise? We are thinking not much different than Japan. Not too cold, no snow, but requires sweater and coat? Last but not least, what to see, what to do? Appreciate restaurant recommendations as well for local food, Paellas etc. Looking forward to your replies.


As for where to stay, personally I'd suggest Madrid - hope that's not too much of a generalisation for you.
:td::confused:;)

As for where to stay, personally I'd suggest Madrid - hope that's not too much of a generalisation for you.
:td::confused:;)

Did you mean "generalization"? Nothing interesting to do tonight?

We will stay there next year for 8 days. Arriving in the a.m. and leaving at noon.
How to get to the city from the airport on public transportation
Metro. 2€ will get you into the center. If you buy one of the tourist passes, it's included in the pass. Takes about an hour.

Any hotel recommendations? We are walkers and love to explore neighborhoods by foot, so a convenient location would be great. Is everything dead on the weekends as in the rest of Europe?
Hotel recommendations -- there are many great neighborhoods with hotels in MAD. If you want something central, book something around Sol. Things are definitely NOT dead on weekends. On Friday and Saturday nights things liven up around 23:00 and go until the early morning hours. People tend to sleep in until midday the next day. If you don't see Madrid nightlife, you haven't seen Madrid.


What can be expect weatherwise? We are thinking not much different than Japan.
Cold. It might snow. Coldest it will be will be around 0°.

Appreciate restaurant recommendations as well for local food, Paellas etc. Looking forward to your replies.

If a restaurant says they have paellas in big letters -- walk right by, these are not real paellas :).

Did you mean "generalization"?

No I was writting in English, not Americanese.

Nothing interesting to do tonight?

Plenty, but its still the early afternoon in Europe.

If a restaurant says they have paellas in big letters -- walk right by, these are not real paellas :).

Appreciate your post. I think we are are splitting the hotels between the W and the IC, they come highly recommended in the hotel forum, and take the Metro to get there. We'll bring our winter clothing from Japan and join the fun late at night. Thinking of doing a side trip to Barcelona. The Paellas are better there (so we hear )?

I think we are are splitting the hotels between the W and the IC, ...

W(estin)? :confused:


Thinking of doing a side trip to Barcelona. The Paellas are better there (so we hear )?

If eating paella is your only motive, don't botter... :) I'm sure you can find paellas in Madrid that are at least at good as in Barcelona. But there are of course other reasons to visit Barcelona... :cool:

If, OTH, Paella really is what you are after, maybe you should take a trip to Valencia - a 90 minutes train ride on the AVE.

W(estin)? :confused:




If eating paella is your only motive, don't botter... :) I'm sure you can find paellas in Madrid that are at least at good as in Barcelona. But there are of course other reasons to visit Barcelona... :cool:

If, OTH, Paella really is what you are after, maybe you should take a trip to Valencia - a 90 minutes train ride on the AVE.

Sorry, one gets so used to abbreviating. Yes, Westin. And great suggestion, Valencia. Glad that I have time to plan. I am sure it will be a great trip. Thanks.

Madrid in February is cold, but not as cold as Japan. I would compare February weather in Madrid to late March-early April weather in Japan. The Westin and IC are both really nice hotels, though the Westin is probably nicer.

The AA fare sale for Europe makes it cheaper in February to go to Europe than to Santo Domingo (where we were planning to visit). My wife thinks it will be too cold in Madrid in February (a lot colder than the DR for sure). I saw the posts above that it can get cold - but is it still pleasant for exploring in February if we've never been there before?

Is everything dead on the weekends as in the rest of Europe?

If this is your expectation you're in for a big surprise.
Expect traffic jams from party goers at 3am in some parts of town.

And just out of curiosity what rest of Europe have you been to? Or your comparison is Shinjuku weekday rush hour?

Check this MADtourism (http://www.turismomadrid.es/en/find-your-plan) website as it gives you suggestions based on your preferences.

GBM

If this is your expectation you're in for a big surprise.
Expect traffic jams from party goers at 3am in some parts of town.

And just out of curiosity what rest of Europe have you been to? Or your comparison is Shinjuku weekday rush hour?

Check this MADtourism (http://www.turismomadrid.es/en/find-your-plan) website as it gives you suggestions based on your preferences.

GBM

Maybe I should have been more precise and should have said "Sundays". Our experience with Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and the U.K. is
that Sundays are pretty dreadful, probably because most everything is closed. But that's just our opinion. In Japan, most of Asia and the U.S. the weekend is just the opposite, busy. That was the basis of my remark. I am happy to hear that in Madrid there is action on the weekend.