Madrid in 3 days: our day-by-day itinerary

In short: day 1, the Prado and Retiro Park; day 2, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and tapas in La Latina; day 3, the Reina Sofía and Picasso’s Guernica, then Malasaña and Chueca. In Madrid, people dine late: adjust your pace.

Before you go: what to book

• The Prado and the Reina Sofía: book online. Some museums have free slots at the end of the day, very busy: check their website.
• The Royal Palace: book online; it may close for official ceremonies.
• The Santiago Bernabéu stadium: book the tour in advance.

Always check opening days and times on the official websites: they can change.

Day 1: the Prado and the Retiro

Morning: the Prado. Start with the Prado Museum, one of the world’s greatest: Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch. Choose a few rooms rather than seeing everything.

Midday: the Retiro. Picnic or have lunch in nearby Retiro Park.

Afternoon: the Crystal Palace and the lake. Stroll to the Crystal Palace and the large pond, where you can rent a rowing boat.

Evening: the Literary Quarter. Have dinner in the Literary Quarter (Barrio de las Letras), full of tapas bars.

Day 2: the Royal Palace and the historic centre

Morning: the Royal Palace. Visit the Royal Palace, one of the largest in Europe, and Almudena Cathedral opposite.

Midday: a covered market. Taste specialities at the San Miguel market, near Plaza Mayor.

Afternoon: Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Explore Plaza Mayor, then Puerta del Sol, the heart of the city.

Evening: the Temple of Debod and La Latina. Watch the sunset at the Temple of Debod, then have tapas in the streets of La Latina.

Day 3: the Reina Sofía, Malasaña and Chueca

Morning: the Reina Sofía. Discover the Reina Sofía Museum and Picasso’s Guernica.

Midday: Malasaña. Have lunch in Malasaña, a young district of cafés and vintage shops.

Afternoon: Gran Vía and Chueca. Walk down Gran Vía, then wander through lively, colourful Chueca.

Evening: a rooftop terrace. End on a terrace overlooking the rooftops of Madrid.

A fourth day? Day trips

• Toledo, city of three cultures, by fast train.
• Segovia and its Roman aqueduct.
• El Escorial, a monastery and royal palace.

Our tips to make the most of 3 days

1. Adapt to Spanish hours: lunch around 2 pm, dinner rarely before 9 pm.
2. Take the metro for longer trips: it is fast and covers the whole centre.
3. In summer, it is very hot: save museums for the afternoon.
4. On Sunday morning, don’t miss the Rastro market.
5. Watch out for pickpockets around Sol and on the metro.

Where to stay for these 3 days

The centre (Sol, Huertas, the Literary Quarter) is ideal for this itinerary, Malasaña or Chueca for nightlife. Every area is detailed in our guide Where to stay in Madrid. To go further, see Things to do in Madrid.