4 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

      Allow 3–4 hours (mid-priced). Head first to Las Meninas in the central Velázquez room, then to the Goya rooms on the lower floor; the free final hours of each day bring long queues.

   2. Late morning

      Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

      It is the easiest of the three big museums to see in one go.

   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

      Allow 30 minutes–1.5 hours (low cost). Pass by on the way between the Prado and the Reina Sofía; the vertical garden is free to see.

   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 Flamenco at a tablao in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Reina Sofía Museum

      Its centrepiece is Picasso's Guernica, painted in 1937 after the bombing of the Basque town, shown with its preparatory sketches, alongside major works by Dalí and Miró.

   2. Late morning

      Royal Palace of Madrid

      Allow 2 hours (mid-priced). Visit the Almudena Cathedral opposite and the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro beside the palace, which are free.

   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

      Street performers and puppet shows gather on weekends.

   5. Evening

      Flamenco at a tablao

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

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

   Plaza Mayor, Mercado de San Miguel and Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour, then Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza Mayor

      Allow 30 minutes (free). Eat a calamari sandwich in one of the bars on the streets just off the square rather than on the pricier terraces inside it.

   2. Late morning

      Mercado de San Miguel

      It is pricier than neighbourhood markets but easy and atmospheric.

   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

      Allow 1.5–2 hours (mid-priced). Book a slot online and avoid match days, when tours are limited or suspended.

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Toledo

   About 35 minutes by high-speed train each way. Getting there: High-speed Avant train from Atocha.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Toledo

      About 35 minutes by high-speed train (High-speed Avant train from Atocha); about 70 km.

   2. Day

      Toledo

      Set on a rocky hill in a loop of the Tagus, Toledo was a medieval capital where Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities lived side by side. Its Gothic cathedral, synagogues, El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz in Santo Tomé and the Alcázar fill a maze of lanes; the viewpoint on the ring road across the river gives the classic panorama.

   3. Evening

      Back in Madrid

      Dinner: try Huevos rotos.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Prado Museum, Royal Palace of Madrid, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour and Flamenco at a tablao before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 4 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
• 3 days in Madrid
• 5 days in Madrid
• 7 days in Madrid

Questions travellers ask