Madrid Region Travel Guide

make sure to give yourself at least a couple days to check out all the sights in the city, and at least 1-2 days for day trips... Toledo is a must-see (it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and Segovia is another one you shouldn't miss. Toledo is only a 1/2 hr train ride (AVE...Spain's high speed train) from the center of Madrid. Go to the Puerta de Atocha station and get your tix. they leave pretty much every hr-every two hrs (depending on the day & the time of the day). You can also get tix to Segovia that leave from Puerta de Atocha... that train ride is about an hr long.

Tapas are amazing if you have them with a drink, beer or wine.  Here are some of the best places:
El Boca?to: c/ Libertad, 6. Ph 915 23 12 19. Tapas in the cool Chueca neighborhood.
Taberna Bilbao: c/ Costanilla de San Andr?s, 8.
La Taberna de los cien vinos. c/Nuncio, 17. Ph 913 65 47 Juana la Loca. Plaza Puerta de Moros, 4. Ph 913 64 02 25.
Casa Lucas. c/Cava Baja, 30. Ph 913 65 08 04.
El Bonanno. Plaza del Humilladero, 4. Ph 913 66 68 86.
Delic. c/Costanilla de San Andr?s, 14. Ph 913 64 54 50.

Don't expect the streets to go where you think they will.  You can't just head in the general direction you want to go and expect to get there in a straight shot.  This is an old old city, and the streets meander and wander.  I know from experience this can lead to sore feet, thirstiness, and a slight annoyance at your older brother for trusting his sense of direction!