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Plan your trip to Madrid

Filter by interest and follow a one- or three-day route.

Updated

Choose what you feel like doing and we will show you matching plans. Then follow one of our routes below.

  • Royal Palace and Almudena

    A grand royal palace still used for state ceremonies, with the cathedral right across the square.

    CultureHalf day

  • Prado Museum

    Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Rubens in Spain’s most important art gallery.

    CultureHalf day

  • Reina Sofía and Guernica

    20th- and 21st-century art, with Picasso’s painting at the heart of the visit.

    Culture2-3 hours

  • An evening of opera or zarzuela

    The Teatro Real and the Teatro de la Zarzuela, ten minutes apart on foot.

    CultureEvening

  • Cocido madrileño

    The capital’s great chickpea stew, served in three courses with real tavern tradition.

    FoodLunch

  • Squid sandwich

    Madrid’s favourite sandwich, close to Plaza Mayor.

    Food1 hour

  • Food markets

    San Miguel, San Antón, La Cebada and more: grazing and fresh produce.

    Food2 hours

  • Retiro Park

    Rowing on the lake, the Glass Palace and the rose garden in a World Heritage park.

    NatureFreeHalf day

  • Madrid Río

    Walking and cycling by the Manzanares, with parks, bridges and playgrounds.

    NatureFree

  • Sierra de Guadarrama

    Hiking, Roman roads and mountain passes less than an hour from the centre.

    NatureFull day

  • Zoo Aquarium

    Pandas, dolphins and an aquarium in the Casa de Campo.

    With kidsFull day

  • Madrid Planetarium

    Dome shows and astronomy for all ages.

    With kids2 hours

  • Parque Warner Madrid

    A theme park in San Martín de la Vega, about 35 km away.

    With kidsFull day

  • Temple of Debod at sunset

    An Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BC with one of Madrid’s best sunsets.

    Free1 hour

  • Stroll through Habsburg Madrid

    Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Villa and the Royal Palace on foot.

    FreeHalf day

  • El Rastro on Sundays

    Madrid’s most famous flea market, in La Latina, followed by vermouth.

    FreeSundays

One-day routes

Essential Madrid

  1. Royal Palace and Plaza de Oriente.
  2. Almudena Cathedral.
  3. Plaza Mayor and San Miguel Market.
  4. Lunch: squid sandwich or cocido.
  5. Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía.
  6. Sunset at the Temple of Debod.

Art and Retiro

  1. Prado Museum (morning).
  2. Lunch near the Literary Quarter.
  3. Thyssen-Bornemisza or Reina Sofía museum.
  4. Stroll through Retiro Park and the Glass Palace.
  5. Puerta de Alcalá and Cibeles at dusk.

Madrid with kids

  1. Zoo Aquarium in the Casa de Campo.
  2. Madrid cable car.
  3. Amusement Park or a rowing boat on the lake.
  4. Hot chocolate and churros for tea.

A three-day route

  1. Day 1 · Historic MadridRoyal Palace, Almudena, Plaza Mayor, San Miguel, Sol and Gran Vía; an evening at the theatre.
  2. Day 2 · Art and RetiroPrado and Thyssen or Reina Sofía in the morning; Retiro, Cibeles and Puerta de Alcalá in the afternoon.
  3. Day 3 · Neighbourhoods or mountainsLavapiés, La Latina and El Rastro (Sunday), or a day trip to El Escorial, Aranjuez or the Sierra de Guadarrama.

The symbolic plan and the metro and bus guide will help you fit the distances together.