Easter 2010 in Madrid

[Flooder]

I was thinking of taking a escorted tour of Spain which begins in
Madrid. I was planning on arriving a day or two early to explore
Madrid on my own but that would mean arriving in Madrid on Thursday,
April 1st which happens to be the beginning of Easter weekend. Will
the museums, restaurants etc be open on the Thursday and Friday? What
about taxi's and public transit. I'm worried I would arrive and then
just be stuck at the hotel. Can you give me any insight as to what
would be open on a public holiday in Spain.

[Roger Warwick]

Easter Thursday and Friday are normally public holidays in Madrid, and some museums will be closed (for example the Prado is closed on Good Friday). Others, however, will stay open (the Thyssen museum webpage mentions nothing about being closed during Easter week).

Taxis and public transit will be fine (although there will be a small supplement on taxi fares since it is a public holiday). Restaurants, cafeterias and bars will be open and thriving since many families will go out for a family meal.

You certainly won't be stuck in the hotel if you don't want to be - for example, there are a multitude of religious processions to see ..

http://www.gomadrid.com/semana-santa/

Roger.

[Lest...@sbcglobal.net]

About those religious processions. They are really worth it. The
museums of Madrid are terrific, but the religious processions of Holy
Week are also fascinating and deeply Spanish (although I haven't seen
any in Madrid, only in the south).

Holy Week is extremely busy in Spain with lots of people traveling.
Although that means more people everywhere you go, it also is an
amazing time to see the country. The country is full of additional
color and activity.

Lester

On Aug 14, 4:13 pm, Roger Warwick <roger.warw...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Easter Thursday and Friday are normally public holidays in Madrid, and some
> museums will be closed (for example the Prado is closed on Good Friday).
> Others, however, will stay open (the Thyssen museum webpage mentions nothing
> about being closed during Easter week).
> Taxis and public transit will be fine (although there will be a small
> supplement on taxi fares since it is a public holiday). Restaurants,
> cafeterias and bars will be open and thriving since many families will go
> out for a family meal.
>
> You certainly won't be stuck in the hotel if you don't want to be - for
> example, there are a multitude of religious processions to see ..
>
> http://www.gomadrid.com/semana-santa/
>
> Roger.
>