3 days in Madrid

Day by day

1. Day 1: Prado Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

   Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and CaixaForum Madrid, then Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Prado Museum

      Spain's national art museum, opened in 1819, holds the world's greatest collections of Velázquez and Goya — including Las Meninas, The Third of May 1808 and Goya's Black Paintings — along with Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, El Greco, Titian and Rubens.

   2. Late morning

      Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

      Start on the top floor and work down to follow the collection in chronological order.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Churros con chocolate

      Chocolatería San Ginés in a lane off Calle Arenal, serving since 1894, and traditional churrerías across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      CaixaForum Madrid

      Herzog & de Meuron converted an old power station into this cultural centre, lifting the brick shell off the ground and adding a rusted iron top.

   5. Evening

      Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía

      Look up rather than at the shops; the best view of Gran Vía and the Metrópolis dome is from the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop.

2. Day 2: Reina Sofía Museum and Royal Palace of Madrid

   Reina Sofía Museum, Royal Palace of Madrid and Retiro Park, then Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Reina Sofía Museum

      Go straight to the Guernica room on the second floor early in the visit, then explore the cloister garden.

   2. Late morning

      Royal Palace of Madrid

      Built in the 18th century after the old Alcázar burned down, the official residence of the Spanish royal family is used for state ceremonies and is among the largest palaces in Europe.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Calamari sandwich

      Small bars in the streets around Plaza Mayor, such as Calle Botoneras and Calle de la Sal.

   4. Afternoon

      Retiro Park

      Rent a rowing boat on the Estanque Grande in the late afternoon, when the heat eases.

   5. Evening

      Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop

      Go about an hour before sunset and stay for the city lights; drinks are pricey but the view is the reason.

3. Day 3: Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel

   Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour, then Flamenco at a tablao in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza Mayor

      Built in the early 17th century under Philip III, whose equestrian statue stands in the centre, this enclosed, arcaded square once hosted bullfights, coronations and executions.

   2. Late morning

      Mercado de San Miguel

      Visit mid-afternoon on a weekday to avoid evening crowds; for local prices, try the Mercado de San Fernando or Antón Martín instead.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cocido madrileño

      Traditional taverns in the old centre, some of which have simmered it in clay pots for more than a century; usually served at lunchtime.

   4. Afternoon

      Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour

      Real Madrid's home stadium has been rebuilt with a retractable roof and a steel outer skin.

   5. Evening

      Flamenco at a tablao

      Choose a small tablao with a strong reputation over a large dinner show, and sit near the front.

Before you go

• Prado Museum: Buy timed tickets online, especially for weekends and holiday periods.
• Royal Palace of Madrid: Queues can be long in summer and at weekends; buy a timed ticket online.
• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour: Tour slots sell out in holiday periods; book ahead on the official site.
• Flamenco at a tablao: Good tablaos fill up; reserve a day or two ahead, especially at weekends.

If it rains

• Swap in National Archaeological Museum (Salamanca): Allow time for the Iberian and Visigothic rooms, which are unique to Spain.
• Swap in Monastery of las Descalzas Reales (Sol): Tours are small and often in Spanish; book in advance through Patrimonio Nacional.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Sol and Gran Vía keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Barrio de las Letras ($$$) suits first-timers, couples, culture and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 19–24 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Madrid
• 2 days in Madrid
• 4 days in Madrid
• 5 days in Madrid
• 7 days in Madrid

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