Three days are enough to see the essentials at a relaxed pace; with a fourth you can escape to Toledo or Segovia, half an hour away by train. Book the Royal Palace ahead and, if you are short on time, the Prado too: queues are long in high season.
What to see in Madrid: top sights
Prado Museum
One of the world’s great art museums: Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings, Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights and whole rooms of Titian, Rubens and El Greco. You cannot see it all in one day, so choose.
Recommended time: 3 h
Tip: Entry is free for the last two hours of the day, with long queues. If you are short on time, make a list of works and buy your ticket online.
Hotels near Prado Museum · 876 propertiesRoyal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
The official residence of the Spanish royal family, with more than 3,000 rooms, is one of Europe’s largest palaces. The visit includes the Throne Room, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Pharmacy; opposite stand the Almudena Cathedral and the Sabatini Gardens.
Recommended time: 2 h
Tip: Some rooms close for official events: check the calendar before you go.
Hotels near Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral · 863 propertiesRetiro Park
Madrid’s green lung, a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Paseo del Prado: the lake with rowing boats, the Crystal Palace, the rose garden and tree-lined avenues where half the city gathers at weekends.
Recommended time: 1.5–2 h
Hotels near Retiro Park · 1,053 propertiesPuerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor
Kilometre zero of Spain’s roads, with the clock that rings in the New Year and the Bear and Strawberry Tree statue, and a short walk away the arcaded Plaza Mayor, stage for markets, bullfights and trials for centuries.
Recommended time: 1 h
Hotels near Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor · 913 propertiesReina Sofía Museum
Madrid’s museum of modern and contemporary art, home to Picasso’s Guernica alongside works by Dalí and Miró. The building, a former hospital, has glass lifts and a garden courtyard.
Recommended time: 2 h
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
It completes the Art Walk triangle with a journey through European painting from the 13th to the 20th century: Italian primitives, Impressionists, German Expressionists and Pop Art, in a unique private collection.
Recommended time: 2 h
Gran Vía
The avenue of theatres, musicals and early 20th-century buildings, from the Metrópolis to the Telefónica tower. Rooftop terraces, such as the Círculo de Bellas Artes, offer some of the best views in the city.
Recommended time: 1 h
Temple of Debod
A 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple, a gift from Egypt to Spain, rebuilt on top of the Parque del Oeste. Its sunset, reflected in the pool with the Casa de Campo behind it, is one of the most beautiful in Madrid.
Recommended time: 30 min
La Latina and El Rastro
The tapas neighbourhood: Cava Baja and Plaza de la Paja fill with bar-hoppers on Sundays after El Rastro, Spain’s most famous open-air flea market, held every Sunday morning along Ribera de Curtidores.
Recommended time: One morning
Hotels near La Latina and El Rastro · 762 propertiesSantiago Bernabéu Stadium
Real Madrid’s stadium, renovated with a steel shell that has made it a city landmark. The tour covers the trophy museum, the dugout, the dressing rooms and the pitch.
Recommended time: 1.5 h
Hotels near Santiago Bernabéu Stadium · 186 properties
Day trips from Madrid
Toledo
About 35 min by high-speed train
The city of three cultures, on a bend of the Tagus: the primate cathedral, the synagogues, the Cristo de la Luz mosque and El Greco’s paintings. A full day is enough, ideally on a weekday.
Segovia
About 30 min by high-speed train
The Roman aqueduct, the cathedral and the Alcázar that inspired fairy-tale castles. For lunch, roast suckling pig in the taverns around the Plaza Mayor.
El Escorial
About 1 h by commuter train
Philip II’s monastery-palace in the Guadarrama mountains: the basilica, the library and the royal pantheon. Nearby, the Silla de Felipe II viewpoint looks down over the monastery and the mountains.
Ávila
About 1 h 30 min by train
Europe’s best-preserved medieval walls, with 88 towers you can partly walk along, and the city of Saint Teresa inside them.
Alcalá de Henares
About 40 min by commuter train
Cervantes’ birthplace, with its Renaissance university and the writer’s house museum. A UNESCO World Heritage Site right next to Madrid.
Madrid in 3 days
Day 1
Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor in the morning, then on to the Royal Palace and the Almudena. Lunch in La Latina, a rest in the Sabatini Gardens and sunset at the Temple of Debod. At night, Gran Vía in lights.
Day 2
The Art Walk: the Prado in the morning and the Thyssen or the Reina Sofía in the afternoon. In between, a stroll through Retiro Park, the Crystal Palace and the boating lake. Tapas for dinner in the Barrio de las Letras.
Day 3
A day trip to Toledo or Segovia. If you stay in Madrid, spend Sunday morning at El Rastro and the tapas bars of La Latina, and the afternoon in Malasaña and Chueca.
Madrid with kids
- Rowing on Retiro lake and watching the park’s puppet shows.
- The Zoo Aquarium and the Casa de Campo amusement park, reached by metro or cable car.
- The National Museum of Natural Sciences, with dinosaur skeletons and animals from all over the world.
- The Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour for football fans.
Free things to do in Madrid
- The Prado and the Reina Sofía have free hours at the end of the day on several days of the week: check their websites.
- Sunset at the Temple of Debod.
- Walking through Retiro Park and visiting the Crystal Palace, which hosts temporary exhibitions.
- El Rastro flea market on Sunday mornings.
- Madrid Río, the riverside park along the Manzanares, for walking or cycling.
Where to stay in Madrid
Madrid has an excellent metro, but staying in the centre lets you walk almost everywhere and rest between visits.
Sol and the centre
The most central spot, within walking distance of the landmarks and well connected. Busy at all hours.
Places to stay in Sol and the centre · 913 propertiesLa Latina
Traditional Madrid, with the best tapas streets and close to the Royal Palace. Very lively at weekends.
Places to stay in La Latina · 762 propertiesMalasaña
Young and alternative, with vintage shops, cafés and nightlife. Well located between Gran Vía and the north of the city.
Places to stay in Malasaña · 751 propertiesChueca
Diverse and buzzing, with restaurants, markets and terraces a step from Gran Vía.
Places to stay in Chueca · 765 propertiesRetiro and Salamanca
Quieter and more elegant, next to the park and the Art Walk. Ideal for families and longer stays.
Places to stay in Retiro and Salamanca · 1,053 properties
When to go to Madrid
Spring and autumn are ideal: mild temperatures, packed terraces and Retiro Park at its best. In May the city celebrates San Isidro, its patron saint, with street parties and traditional dress.
Summer is very hot and dry, especially in July and August, although the city empties and accommodation is easy to find. Winter is cold and sunny, and at Christmas the centre fills with lights and markets.
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Frequently asked questions about Madrid
How many days do you need in Madrid?
Three days let you see the great museums, Habsburg Madrid, Retiro Park and the neighbourhoods. A fourth day allows a trip to Toledo or Segovia.
Can you visit the Prado for free?
Yes: entry is free for the last two hours of the day, although there is usually a queue and you will only see part of the collection. Check the hours on the official website, as they change on public holidays.
Can you see Toledo and Segovia in one day?
With an organised tour, yes, although the day is intense and leaves time only for the essentials. On your own, it is better to spend a day in each.
Where should I go for tapas in Madrid?
Cava Baja in La Latina, Calle de las Huertas and Plaza de Santa Ana in the Barrio de las Letras, and the San Miguel, San Fernando and San Ildefonso markets.
What is the best area to stay in Madrid?
For a first visit, the centre (Sol, Ópera or Las Letras): everything is within walking distance. Malasaña and Chueca are livelier, La Latina is the most traditional and the Retiro and Salamanca area is the quietest.
Guide written by the buiigo team · Updated October 8, 2026
