Madrid 3-Day Itinerary

This plan keeps each day on one side of the centre, so you walk rather than ride. It follows Madrid's clock: sights in the morning, a long lunch, a slower afternoon and dinner late. Book the Royal Palace and the Prado before you arrive.

Day 1: The palace and old Madrid

Start at the Royal Palace when it opens, then follow our walking route past the cathedral and the Arab wall to the Plaza de la Villa and the Plaza Mayor. Have lunch around La Latina. In the late afternoon, walk north to the Temple of Debod for sunset, then back along the Gran Vía for dinner in Malasaña or Chueca.

Day 2: The Prado and Retiro

Spend the morning in the Prado with the plan from our museums guide. Eat in the Barrio de las Letras, then cross into Retiro Park for the lake and the Palacio de Cristal while the heat eases. In the evening, have tapas around Plaza de Santa Ana and Calle de las Huertas.

Day 3: Picasso, markets and a choice

See Guernica at the Reina Sofía in the morning (it closes on Tuesdays, so swap in the Thyssen that day). On a Sunday, start at the Rastro instead, join the crowds on Cava Baja for a vermouth, and leave the Reina Sofía for later. In the afternoon, choose between the Thyssen, a walk along Madrid Río to the Matadero, or a stadium tour at the Bernabéu.

With a fourth day

Take the fast train to Toledo or Segovia. Our day trips guide helps you choose between them.