Starbucks, C.O Diversia Avd/. De Bruselas, 21, Madrid

Advantages: Plenty to see, (and eat!)
Disadvantages: Some knowledge of Spanish a distinct advantage.

.... A modest lunch of a few tapas and beers cost us £10/head. OK - possibly not the best value in Madrid, but far from a rip-off. Call me a heathen, but I didn’t think the square was any more impressive than its copy in Palma de Majorca though and if I’m honest, I prefer the Gran’ Place in Brussels to both. So there you have it, 24 hours in Madrid, of which a goodly proportion was spent eating and sleeping! Next time I go, I’ll go as an independent traveller, stay a few days, ride the cable car to Casa de Campo, stroll around the El Retiro park, and catch a fast train to Cordoba, somewhere else I’ve always wanted to go. Maybe I‘d better keep my hands in my pockets in the Métro though, eh?... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Lots to do, everything's cheaper
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

..., such as wildlife, or you could just sit and watch the world go by. The Palacio Real, or Royal Palace is definitely worth a visit. You can look over Madrid from the Courtyard or go on a tour of the Royal Rooms, some of which are incredible. You’ll need about 2 hours at least to do this. Afterwards walk down to Plaza de Isabel II to east at one of the many cafes there. Eating in Madrid s fairly easy, even if you hate Spanish food. Like in any city there is a MacDonald’s or a Burger King on each corner. If you do like Spanish food, find a small family restaurant. However you may have to practice a bit of Spanish as these are the sort of places that wont speak English. I must warn you under no circumstances should you visit a restaurant called Museo de Jamon. The quality of service was appalling and the food was cold, and undercooked... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Too many to mention
Disadvantages: None

...London's Time Out magazine Mannekin Pis ? This is a statue of a small boy relieving himself! On Belgian holidays and high days they dress up the statue and when they do this the little boy pees beer instead of water, which give new meaning to the phrase 'giving head'. Either way it won't kill you to try so check back daily if you're not up on Belgium holidays. The little chap is located on the corner of Stoofstraat/Rue de L'Etuve and the Eikstraat/Rue du Chêne (At the Grand-Place follow the street on the left side of the town hall) If a Belgian refuses to understand/speak English, voila! you've found a French-speaking Walloon. The language divide is roughly the North of Brussels is Flemish - a dialect of Dutch to the South, French, with a few common-sense changes - is spoken. In the far south of the country, on the Luxembourg border... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful