Madrid & Toledo
2026Amanda & David's Wedding, Real Madrid at Bernabéu, and visiting Will in London
Planning
Oct 6 – 19, 2026
Route
JFK
Depart Oct 6
Madrid
Oct 7–12
Toledo
Oct 12–14
Madrid
Oct 14–16
London
Oct 16–19
JFK
Return Oct 19
Matchday
Pending Fixture
Real Madrid Match
📍 Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
· Madrid
🗓️ Oct 10 or 11, 2026
La Liga weekend fixture. Saturday vs Sunday confirmed 3–4 weeks prior.
Wedding
Confirmed
Amanda & David's Wedding
📍 Cigarral de las Mercedes
· Toledo
🗓️ Oct 12 – 14, 2026
Events and lodging hosted on-site at Cigarral de las Mercedes.
Visit
Confirmed
Visit Will in London
📍 London
· London
🗓️ Oct 16 – 19, 2026
Post-Spain connector before flying home to New York.
Transatlantic Outbound
FlightDL0126 overnight outbound departing Tuesday evening. Wednesday 9:55 AM touchdown at Barajas, hotel check-in, and evening tapas.
Madrid Weekend & Bernabéu
MatchdayReal Madrid fixture at Santiago Bernabéu (Sat or Sun), Retiro Park walk, and La Latina.
Amanda & David's Wedding
WeddingRenfe Avant to Toledo (33m). Lodging on-site at Cigarral de las Mercedes. Welcome paella, ceremony, reception & brunch.
Post-Wedding: Madrid, Málaga, or San Sebastián
EvaluatingDeciding between returning to Madrid vs. Málaga (Andalusia) or San Sebastián (Basque Country) before London.
Stopover in London
FlightRight now DL0126 Madrid to London in the afternoon.
Visit Will
VisitTexans-Jaguars at Wembley on Sunday.
Transatlantic Return
FlightDL0002 to JFK on Monday noontime.
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Mon
Tue
Oct 6
Day 1
JFK ➔ MAD
8:35 PM
DL0126 Depart JFK
✈️
OVERNIGHT
In-Flight
In-Flight DL0126
Transatlantic
Wed
Oct 7
Day 2
Madrid
9:55 AM
Touchdown MAD
Afternoon
Check-in & Recharge
Drop bags, grab café con leche & settle in
Evening
Malasaña Tapas
Neighborhood walk & evening tapas crawl
Thu
Oct 8
Day 3
Madrid
Morning
Palacio Real
Royal Palace of Madrid & Sabatini Gardens
Afternoon
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor stroll & Mercado de San Miguel
Evening
Barrio de las Letras
Historic literary quarter dinner & vermouth
Fri
Oct 9
Day 4
Madrid
Morning
El Retiro Park
Morning stroll by Great Pond & Palacio de Cristal
Afternoon
Art Triangle
Prado Museum or Reina Sofía modern collection
Evening
Templo de Debod
Egyptian temple sunset views over Casa de Campo
Sat
Oct 10
Day 5
Madrid
Match Window
La Liga matchday window at Bernabéu (Sat or Sun confirmed 3-4w prior)
Evening
Post-Match Tapas
Celebratory drinks and tapas in Chamberí
Sun
Oct 11
Day 6
Madrid
Morning
El Rastro Market
Historic Sunday open-air flea market in La Latina
Evening
Cava Baja Tapas
Pintxos and wine crawl down Calle Cava Baja; pack for Toledo
Mon
Oct 12
Day 7
Madrid ➔ Toledo
Morning
Renfe to Toledo
High-speed Avant from Atocha (33 min)
Tue
Oct 13
Day 8
Toledo
Morning
Relax & Prep
Views over old Toledo & wedding preparation
Wed
Oct 14
Day 9
Toledo ➔ Madrid
Afternoon
Train to Madrid
Renfe Avant to Atocha (33 min)
Evening
Low-Key Evening
Relaxed Madrid evening dinner and stroll
🌙
HOTEL STAY
Madrid
Madrid Return Base (TBD)
Madrid
Thu
Oct 15
Day 10
Madrid
Morning
Thyssen Museum
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza or shopping along Fuencarral
Afternoon
Café Hop & Walks
Pastries, coffee, and exploring Chamberí
Evening
Churros San Ginés
Farewell Madrid dinner & late-night churros con chocolate
🌙
HOTEL STAY
Madrid
Madrid Return Base (TBD)
Madrid
Fri
Oct 16
Day 11
Madrid ➔ London
Morning
Pack & Transit
Checkout & transit to Barajas Airport (MAD)
2:55 PM – 4:20 PM
DL0126 to London
Evening
Arrive in Hempstead
Transit to Will's house in Hempstead; welcome pint
🌙
HOTEL STAY
London
Will's House
Hempstead, London
Sat
Oct 17
Day 12
London
Morning
Hempstead Walk
Morning breakfast and local village stroll
Afternoon
London Exploring
Exploring central London, Thames walk, or British Museum
Evening
Dinner with Will
Evening drinks and dinner catching up with Will
🌙
HOTEL STAY
London
Will's House
Hempstead, London
Sun
Oct 18
Day 13
London
Morning
Relaxed Coffee
Lazy Sunday morning coffee & neighborhood wander
Evening
Pack for Return
Final evening relaxing; prep for transatlantic return flight
🌙
HOTEL STAY
London
Will's House
Hempstead, London
Mon
Oct 19
Day 14
London ➔ NYC
Morning
Airport Transit
Transit to London Heathrow (LHR)
11:45 AM – 2:59 PM
DL0002 to JFK
Evening
Touchdown NYC
Home sweet home in New York!
🏠
OVERNIGHT
NYC
Home in New York
NYC
Toledo Wedding Program
Amanda & David's Wedding
All Events & On-Site Lodging
📍 Cigarral de las Mercedes · Toledo, Spain
Mon, Oct 12
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Welcome Paella
Food & Welcome
Mon, Oct 12
9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Game Night
Social
Tue, Oct 13
4:00 PM
Wedding Ceremony
Ceremony
Tue, Oct 13
5:00 PM
Wedding Reception
Reception
Wed, Oct 14
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Farewell Brunch
Brunch
Delta Air Lines
DL0126
Outbound
JFK
New York
✈
MAD
Madrid
Delta Air Lines
DL0126
Connector
MAD
Madrid
✈
LON
London
Delta Air Lines
DL0002
Return
LON
London
✈
JFK
New York
Cigarral de las Mercedes
Wedding Stay
🗓️ Oct 12 – 14 · 📍 Toledo
Estate boutique lodging on-site for Amanda & David's wedding.
Madrid Pre-Wedding (TBD)
Madrid Stay
🗓️ Oct 7 – 12 · 📍 Madrid
Lodging unknown; Líbere Madrid Malasaña under consideration.
Post-Wedding Lodging (TBD)
Evaluating
🗓️ Oct 14 – 16 · 📍 Madrid / Málaga / San Sebastián
Evaluating Madrid return vs. Málaga coastal getaway or San Sebastián pintxos base.
Will's House
London Stay
🗓️ Oct 16 – 19 · 📍 London
Staying with Will in Hempstead.
💡 Fast Logistics
- Train Madrid ⇄ Toledo: Renfe Avant from Atocha (33 min). Reserve on Renfe app.
- Match Confirmation: La Liga announces exact Saturday vs Sunday fixture ~3–4 weeks prior.
- Madrid Transit: Tarjeta Multi rechargeable card at airport metro kiosks.
Post-Wedding: Málaga
EvaluatingMediterranean coastal getaway with direct high-speed AVE rail from Madrid (~2h 45m).
✓ Benefits
- Warm October beach and terrace weather on Costa del Sol
- Fast direct rail from Atocha via Renfe AVE (< 3h)
- Rich cultural sights (Picasso Museum, Alcazaba fortress)
⚠ Drawbacks
- Travels south, away from northern route toward London
- Tight 2-night window before connecting to London flight
Post-Wedding: San Sebastián
EvaluatingWorld-class culinary and pintxos capital set along the scenic Bay of Biscay.
✓ Benefits
- Legendary culinary scene & Michelin-dense pintxos bars
- Picturesque La Concha bay and historic Parte Vieja
- Distinct cultural and gastronomic contrast to central Spain
⚠ Drawbacks
- Longer transit from Madrid/Toledo (~4h 45m train or domestic flight)
- Higher likelihood of autumn rainfall in northern Green Spain