Madrid, Spain: Your Perfect 3-Day Itinerary

Jul 27

Madrid is Spain’s capital and largest city. It is a wonderful city with lots of things to see and do, perfect for a long weekend or city break. But what exciting attractions and activities await your arrival? Keep reading to find out.

Day 1: Things to do in Madrid, Spain

Start your Spanish adventure by heading to:

Plaza de España, which dates back to the 18th century. Admire the stone monument, built in 1925, of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Spain’s most loved and well-known novelist. He wrote, “the best book ever written,” Don Quixote. The major characters of the book are also present, within the pond and fountain.
Nearby is the breath-taking Ancient Egyptian Templo de Debod, built in 200BC and was gifted to Spain in 1968. The views from here are amazing, as it overlooks a park.
Museo Cerralbo (Calle Ventura Rodriguez 17) is a small hidden gem of a museum. Explore the 17th century home and see how a noble family lived, hundreds of years ago. It’s open 9:30am to 3pm and costs €3.
Explore the Jardines de Sabatini, located in front of the Royal Palace.
Wander around the many rooms and banqueting halls of Palacio Real de Madrid (€10), opening times vary, check online for winter/summer hours.

Evening Activity: Put your Spanish into practice by watching a movie in one of the many cinemas on Calle Gran Via, or at a theatre show.

Day 2: Things to do in Madrid, Spain

Your second day could be spent in the Retiro neighbourhood. You can get here via Metro stations Ibiza, Retiro and Estacion del Arte.

Start with Madrid’s most famous landmark, the Puerta de Alcalá, an archway or gate built in 1778.
Then stroll around the city’s best and biggest park, Parque de El Retiro, which opened in 1868, and has since been one of the top things to do in Madrid. Within the park make sure you:

Row a boat around Lake Estanque
Visit Palacio de Cristal and neighbouring art gallery, Palacio de Velázquez
Walk the Paseo de las Estatuas, a promenade bordered by statues of the Spanish monarchs

Step into the world of art at the Prado Museum (€15). Most noteworthy paintings include:
- “Las Meninas” by Velázquez
- “The Third of May 1808” and “La Maja Desnuda” by Goya
- Rubens' “Las Tres Gracias”.
Visit Plaza de Cibeles, to witness the splendour of the Cibeles Fountain, constructed in 1782.

Evening Activity: Watch and enjoy a flamenco show, a traditional dance from the south of Spain. One of the best shows is Las Carboneras, in Plaza del Conde de Miranda.

Day 3: Things to do in Madrid, Spain

On your final day visit these amazing attractions:

Madrid’s most famous square Puerta del Sol:
- Have a feet-selfie with the Kilometre Zero Stone Slab, the literal centre of Spain.
- Indulge in the Spanish tradition of chocolate and churros at Chocolatería de San Ginés
- Visit Church of San Ginés, one of the city’s oldest religious sites.
- Take a photo with Madrid’s emblem a 20-ton statue of ‘El Oso y El Madroño’ aka ‘the bear and the strawberry tree.’
Take a 5-minute walk to Plaza Major, which was originally an ancient bullfighting arena:
- Admire the Casa de la Panaderia building.
- Pose behind a costume mannequin and see what you look like as a flamenco dancer and a bullfighter.
- Feeling peckish? Get a snack or two at the San Miguel market.
- Take a free tour! Visit the people with the red umbrellas.
Discover many wonderful paintings, including Picasso’s masterpiece, El Guernica, at the Museo Reina Sofia, the national centre of art. Admission is €10/per person.

Evening Activity: Indulge in Spain’s favourite sport…football. Madrid is home to two teams, the most famous being Real Madrid. They play at the Bernabeu Stadium and are one of football's most successful teams. Alternatively, fill up on tapas and beer in the bars in Huertas, a lively neighbourhood, close to Puerta del Sol.

Follow this 3-day travel itinerary of the top things to do in Madrid to get a rounded experience of the city, which includes highlights and local favourites.

Check out the best hotels in Madrid

Travel Advice Madrid, Spain

Buy your tickets for the Prado Museum online. – If you want to avoid long queues be sure to buy your tickets for the Prado Museum online. If you are happy to wait in a long queue the Pardo Museum does offer free entry for the last 2hrs of the day. However the queues will tail around the building, so be sure to get there well before 6pm to bag a ticket.
Mon-Sat: 18:00-20:00
Sun & Holidays: 17:00 – 19:00
The Spanish eat late, REALLY Late. – Most restaurants serve dinner in Madrid from 8:00pm-11:30pm, with 9pm being a pretty standard time for locals to eat. If you are hoping for an early dinner be sure to check your restaurant preferences in advance so you aren’t disappointed.
It’s easy to get around Madrid on foot – Madrid is a relatively small city and you can get to most of the main attractions by walking. It’s a great way to see all the beautiful buildings this city has to offer, while getting some exercise and saving the pennies. If you really aren’t a fan of walking, the Metro in Madrid is cost effective and really reliable.
The Spanish love a siesta – What they say is true, the Spanish LOVE an afternoon snooze. So don’t be too surprised if you see places shut for a few hours in the afternoon. Siesta time is usually from 13:00-16:00. That being said there are plenty of places in Madrid that stay open all day to accommodate the constant influx of tourists.
The locals move at a much slower pace – One morning we stopped at a local café for some coffee and a light breakfast. 30 mins later still no coffee, 1.5 hrs later our yoghurt and granola arrives. The Spanish lifestyle is extremely slow paced, but once you know this it becomes much easier to embrace it. Slow down, relax and be sure not to book things too close together!
Don’t pay for a hotel breakfast – The cafes in Madrid are SO GOOD. They are full of choice, and incredibly cheap. Best of all the food is so fresh. Hotels will charge £10 for a breakfast and the food is no where near as good as what you will get for half the price in the city.
You need to have ‘Pan Con Tomate’ – The description doesn’t do it justice. ‘crushed tomatoes on toast’
Don’t eat in Plaza Mayor – It’s a tourist hotspot, meaning the food prices are way more expensive, and the food quality is no where near as good. Is made for mass production to fee thousands of tourists a day. Definitely go to the Plaza as the views are beautiful. We chose to relax with a drink and some free crisps (one of the best perks of drinking in Madrid ha), then move onto somewhere more authentic for dinner.