Don't know what to do in Madrid? Then check out this post with the city's main attractions and a complete itinerary for 3 or more people in the capital!
I've heard a lot of bad things about Madrid. For years, when friends and acquaintances talked about travel to Spain, the capital was always a place to include in the itinerary just in passing, after all, Barcelona was much better and there was no reason to go to Madrid!
Well, I'm here to tell you that this is absurd.
The capital of Spain is one of the best cities I have ever visited, and I love the atmosphere, the ease of getting around, how attentive people are, countless things to do, how close it is to other cities, delicious restaurants, museums, shops and so on…
So, if you came here still thinking about whether it's worth leaving a few days for Madrid on your trip, or whether it's even worth paying a visit to the city, I'd say pay to see it and find out what you think on your own. . I'm sure Madrid will surprise you!
To help you with this, in the next paragraphs I've shown you what to do in Madrid, with tips on where to stay, what the main attractions are and a complete itinerary for 3 or more days.
WHERE TO STAY IN MADRID
The best area to stay in Madrid is in the center, close to Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía. This way you are close to most of the attractions, and can do much of the itinerary on foot. You will also be close to several metro stations, making getting anywhere a breeze.
Some of the best hotels in the region are:
- Urban (LUXURY): With a swimming pool, terrace and a cocktail bar, this boutique hotel is the perfect option for those who want to be in the heart of the city without giving up comfort. The place is also home to CEBO, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a gastronomic pub. The rooms have oriental-style decor, bathtub and free wifi. Booking rating: 8,9 Fabulous.
- Room Mate Alicia (COMFORTABLE): With a perfect location for those who want to be close to the attractions but not in the tourist crowd, this hotel has all the rooms decorated by a renowned designer. Free Wi-Fi and 24-hour reception are available, as well as a wonderful breakfast buffet that is served until noon. Ideal option for those who want to rest peacefully for a more friendly price. Booking score: 8,9 Fabulous
- Generator Madrid (HOSTEL): Practically on Gran Via, Generator couldn't be in a better place, and the hostel also has a terrace with hydromassage, shared areas, a cafe and a restaurant. All rooms have their own bathrooms, including shared ones, and you also have a closet, bed light and even USB ports to charge your devices while you sleep. This hostel chain is super famous and has some of the best hostels in Europe. Booking rating: 8,6 Fabulous.
TRAVEL INSURANCE TO EUROPE
Travel insurance is mandatory to visit any country in the European Union. To ensure that you won't be stopped at immigration for something so simple, purchase your insurance and travel with peace of mind.
The prices are very reasonable, and you can compare the values of the best insurance companies on the market using Seguros Promo! I have used the company countless times, and not only does it help me save a lot when it comes to travel insurance, but they also have a specialized team, which you can contact at any time if you need to activate your insurance or need any guidance during Your trip! Perfect, right?
What to do in Madrid – Best attractions in the city
The itinerary below passes through several tourist attractions, but it is always more interesting to know a little more about them before deciding whether you really want to visit them. I have selected some of the best attractions in the city, those that I consider unmissable and that I highly recommend visiting to show you:
- Royal Palace
Although it is currently only used for government ceremonies, the Palacio Real de Madrid was the official residence of the royal family, and has more than 3 thousand rooms! The architecture is incredible and, when visiting, you can not only see the ballroom, banquet room and other rooms, but also see exclusive works by great names in European art.
You need tickets to visit the inside of the palace, and I recommend purchasing them in advance to avoid queues. If you want to know more about the history of the place, a guided tour can also be a great option. If you are not so interested in the interior, you can enjoy the surroundings of the palace where there is an incredible and super pleasant garden to spend your time.
- Gran Vía
Gran Vía is nothing more than the “shopping street" from Madrid. There you will find all the famous stores, such as H&M, Lefties, Nike, Adidas, Zara, Mango, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius and even an El Corte Inglés. Also worth mentioning is Primark, which in addition to being a great stop for its super low prices, is also an attraction in itself with its four floors and incredible architecture. It looks more like a mall than a single store.
Even if you don't like shopping, I suggest walking along Gran Vía, as this is one of the city's main streets. It's huge, has breathtaking buildings, and even without buying anything you'll have fun looking around.
- El Retiro Park
The perfect attraction for those who want a bit of nature in the middle of a big city. El Retiro Park is the capital's main park, and it is so big that it even has a lake where you can ride a boat, as well as a botanical garden, and countless fountains, statues, picnic areas and kiosks.
If you want to rest in the middle of the day, it's worth buying a snack and sitting on one of the benches (or on the grass) and enjoying the view. On sunny days, many people enjoy the park, and it is not uncommon to see large groups and even birthday parties.
Don't forget to walk to the Palacio de Cristal, which is in the middle of the park. The place is used for art exhibitions organized by the Museo Reina Sofía, and is a spectacle in itself.
- Prado Museum
The city's main museum, a must-see if you're a fan of European art, as it houses the largest collection of its kind in the world. You will find works by Francisco Goya (artist with the largest number of pieces exhibited in galleries), Bosch, El Greco, Diego Velázquez and many others.
Get ready to spend a few hours inside the museum, considering that it has a very vast collection, with works dating back to the 12th century. O ticket costs €15 per person for the general exhibition, and I recommend purchasing in advance if you are visiting during the season. Free visits take place every day during the last two hours of opening, however It is necessary to reserve the free ticket via the website. Be sure to try to get this ticket right away because every time I tried it was sold out.
- El Rastro Fair
This fair only takes place on Sundays, so if you are in the city on that day, I suggest you pay it a visit. It's one of the biggest street fairs I've ever seen in my life., second only to Tristán Narvaja in Montevideo, and you can find everything there. It's the perfect place to buy secondhand (or even new) clothes, winter coats, accessories, travel souvenirs, and anything else you can think of.
The streets where the fair passes are also full of interesting stores that will catch your attention, with several thrift stores, used furniture stores, outlets and discounted products. Some stalls at the fair accept cards, but I suggest you bring cash.
In addition to being a super cool attraction, its location is also excellent – the fair takes place near the La Latina metro station, where you can find some of the city's main tapas restaurants.
What to do in Madrid – Itinerary for 3 days or more
Now, moving on to the script. Days 1 and 2 can be at any time, but I recommend leaving day 3 for a Sunday, to take advantage of the street fair that only takes place once a week.
Day 1 – Historic Center, Gran Vía
- Royal Palace
- Plaza Mayor
- San Antonio Market
- Chocolateria San Gines
- Puerta del Sol
- Gran Vía
The first day in Madrid is focused on getting to know the historic center, where some of the city's most incredible buildings are located. All attractions are close by and can be reached on foot, there is no need to use any type of transport. Wear comfortable shoes and get ready to explore a lot.
My suggestion is to start from Ópera station, especially if you take the metro to the historic center, as this is a very central station. There, admire the building of the Royal Theatre, and walk to the Plaza de Oriente, garden that faces the Royal Palace. If you like visiting attractions inside, it's well worth securing your ticket to the Royal Palace, where you can visit the throne room, ballroom and even the hall of mirrors, and admire works by Goya, Caravaggio and other artists known. Behind the Palacio there is also an incredible garden, which can be visited for free.
From there, head to the Plaza Mayor, an imposing square with several restaurants and shops typical of the region. Take some photos, enjoy the view and, if you want, you can take the opportunity to try one of the region's typical dishes, Bocadillos de Calamares, at the La Campana bar.
I don't recommend you eat too much, however, as on the Plaza Mayor side is the San Miguel Market, one of my favorite points in the itinerary. The market includes several tapas restaurants, and the chaotic pace of people, tables and displays will leave you not knowing what to try first. I tested some mozzarella and salmon tapas, and came away more than satisfied. For such a popular place, the price is pretty ok.
If you still have space for dessert, you can take the opportunity to visit the San Ginés Chocolateria, which is on the way to the next attraction. This chocolate shop is super traditional, and we recommend that you try the churros with chocolate. They are delicious, but I'll be honest and say that I prefer the South American version, which is usually filled with dulce de leche.
From there, walk to the Puerta del Sol, another square where you can find not only characters dressed up for photos, but also one of the city's symbols, the The Bear and the Strawberry Tree, statue of a bear with a bunch of strawberries.
Then it's time to walk to the Gran Vía, the most famous avenue in Madrid. To do this, I suggest following Calle de Alcalá, a street with beautiful buildings, such as the Four Seasons hotel. Arriving at Gran Vía, if you want to shop in street stores, this is the place. You will find one of the largest units in Primark, with more than four floors and worthy of photos for its architecture, as well as H&M, Zara, Lefties, Mango, Nike, Adidas, Bershka, Pull & Bear and much more. Be patient, as the stores are huge and often full!
If you want to take a break, I suggest stopping for a drink and a snack at 100 Montaditos, which is on Calle de la Montera (across from Mc Donalds). This bar offers drinks and tapas for €1.50, and is perfect for taking a break while snacking on some chips, cheese balls and a beer or cider.
After shopping and exploring the region (there are several beautiful and interesting streets), the suggestion is to end the day in one of the restaurants and bars near the Sol station area. Rosi The Crazy was well recommended, and has impeccable decor, and in Casa García Atocha you get tapas for every drink you order.
Day 2 – Real Madrid, El Retiro, Museo del Prado
- Real Madrid Stadium
- Salamanca
- El Retiro Park
- Botanical Garden
- Prado Museum
- Barrio das Letras
To start the day, I suggest taking the metro to Santiago de Bernabéu station and doing the tour Real Madrid Stadium. I'm not a football fan, I have zero interest in the subject, I only did this program because my boyfriend is a fanatic and I still thought it was really cool.
If only part of the group wants to take the tour, in the region there are several squares, a shopping center, shops... You can have a good time waiting for the people, lol.
From there, take the metro to Nuñez de Balboa station to visit the region of Salamanca. It's a super cute neighborhood, with beautiful buildings that make you want to take photos of everything. You can walk down Calle Serrano to get an overview, especially if you're hungry, as there are several delicious restaurants with good prices, such as VIPS.
At the end of Calle Serrano is the Puerta de Alcalá, which deserves some photos. On the side is the entrance to the Parque del Retiro, one of the largest green areas in the city. It's huge, and there are several kiosks, hidden squares, and even a lake for you to ride a boat around! Visiting the park will take up a few hours of your day, especially if you combine it with the Royal Botanical Garden, which is next door.
To end the day's attractions, next to the park is the National Prado Museum, The best-known museum in the city and with one of the most famous European art collections in the world! If you followed the itinerary until here (you went to the stadium, had lunch in Salamanca and walked a bit in the park) you probably still have a few hours to enjoy the works of art, which is perfect since the museum is large. On my last visit I couldn't get tickets, So I recommend buying in advance. Remembering that for the free visit (which takes place every day in the last two hours of opening) it is also necessary to book a ticket through the official website.
After all that walking, you'll probably be exhausted and ready for a bite to eat. Luckily (or I might say, good planning) you are in a region full of great restaurants and bars, like La Malontina and the La Sanabresa. This place is known as Neighborhood of the letters, and is one of the best places to enjoy the night in the city, if you still have the energy to hang out at a bar.
Day 3 – El Rastro, Malasaña (Sunday)
- El Rastro Fair
- La Latina
- Malasaña
- Mercado de San Ildefonso
- Chueca
It is important that this day of the itinerary is done on a Sunday, as it is the only day of the week on which the El Rastro fair, one of the largest street fairs in Europe.
The first stop of the day is at the fair, as it is only open until mid-afternoon, and because the later you go, the busier it will be. To get there, just take the metro to the station La Latina, where you will exit at the entrance to the fair. You can find from all there, and I saw great prices on coats, souvenirs and accessories. On the streets where the fair stalls are there are also some thrift stores and outlets, where you can also find very low prices.
The fair is really huge, and you can spend hours inside. When you're hungry and ready to go, head back to La Latina station, where you'll find the best tapas restaurants for lunch, like Cervecería San Millan, Juana La Loca and the Market of the Barley.
After eating, the suggestion is to take a walk in the neighborhood of Malasaña, which is super cool and full of little shops, restaurants and interesting streets. Personally, it was one of my favorite places during my last visit to the city, and I only regret not having stayed there longer. Get off at Tribunal station and walk through the little streets to Palacio de Liria, Plaza da España and don't forget to stop by Temple of Debod, Egyptian temple perfect for watching the sunset.
There are countless restaurants in the region, but my suggestion is that you go back in the same direction you came from, to Tribunal station, and have a few beers or try one of the dishes at San Ildefonso Market. Don't forget to go up to the top floors, where you'll find a super cool rooftop!
If you want to walk around a little more after that, take advantage and stretch until Chueca, LGBTQI+ friendly neighborhood with great nightlife and bars.
More days in the city?
Madrid's main tourist attractions have already been included in the three-day itinerary above, but if you have another morning or half-day in the city, I recommend visiting one of the other museumsSuch as Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza.
Now, if you have another full day, my suggestion is that you take the opportunity to stop by and come back to Toledo. The city not only has picturesque buildings but also super interesting attractions, such as its famous cathedral, and is just an hour away from the capital of Spain.
To make things easier, I recommend that you take one of Get Your Guide's guided tours, such as tour to Toledo, or even the tour that also passes through Segovia and Alcázar. You can buy your ticket before you even start your trip, so you don't have to go through all the stress of finding a ticket company. tours in another country.
Did you like this itinerary with tips on what to do in Madrid? Do you think something was missing? Tell me in the comments!