7 days in Madrid

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Prado Museum

      Paseo del Prado · 3–4 hours · mid-priced. Buy timed tickets online, especially for weekends and holiday periods.

   2. Late morning

      Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

      Paseo del Prado · 2–3 hours · mid-priced.

   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. 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: CaixaForum Madrid and Reina Sofía Museum

   CaixaForum Madrid and Reina Sofía Museum, then Flamenco at a tablao in the evening.

   1. Morning

      CaixaForum Madrid

      Paseo del Prado · 30 minutes–1.5 hours · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Reina Sofía Museum

      Atocha · 2–3 hours · mid-priced.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Calamari sandwich

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

   4. 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: Royal Palace of Madrid and Retiro Park

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

   1. Morning

      Royal Palace of Madrid

      Palacio · 2 hours · mid-priced. Queues can be long in summer and at weekends; buy a timed ticket online.

   2. Late morning

      Retiro Park

      Retiro · 2 hours · free.

   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. 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

      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.

5. Day 5: Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel

   Plaza Mayor and Mercado de San Miguel, then Malasaña in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Plaza Mayor

      Centro · 30 minutes · free.

   2. Late morning

      Mercado de San Miguel

      Centro · 1 hour · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Huevos rotos

      Taverns on Cava Baja in La Latina, where the dish is a house speciality.

   4. Evening

      Malasaña

      Indie and rock bars, cocktail spots and late-night clubs around Plaza del Dos de Mayo and Calle del Espíritu Santo.

6. Day 6: Day trip to Segovia

   About 30 minutes by high-speed train, then a bus each way. Getting there: High-speed train from Chamartín to Segovia-Guiomar, then a local bus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Segovia

      About 30 minutes by high-speed train, then a bus (High-speed train from Chamartín to Segovia-Guiomar, then a local bus); about 90 km.

   2. Day

      Segovia

      Lunch on roast suckling pig (cochinillo) is a local tradition.

   3. Evening

      Back in Madrid

      Dinner: try Patatas bravas.

7. Day 7: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour and Temple of Debod

   Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour and Temple of Debod, then Chueca in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour

      Chamartín · 1.5–2 hours · mid-priced. Tour slots sell out in holiday periods; book ahead on the official site.

   2. Late morning

      Temple of Debod

      Parque del Oeste · 45 minutes · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Patatas bravas

      Tapas bars across the city, especially in La Latina, Huertas and Malasaña.

   4. Evening

      Chueca

      The centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife, with bars and clubs around Plaza de Chueca.

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 7 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 19–25 hours of visiting over 7 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
• 4 days in Madrid
• 5 days in Madrid

Questions travellers ask