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Madrid, Spain · Free itinerary
3-Day Madrid Itinerary: Best Things to Do
Madrid is Spain's vibrant capital, a city of world-class art museums, grand royal architecture, and leafy parks woven between buzzing tapas-filled neighborhoods. From the Golden Triangle of Art along Paseo del Prado to the lively squares of La Latina and Malasaña, the city blends regal grandeur with infectious street energy.
3 days18 sights + 9 food & drink stopsMadrid, Spain
✅ Complete your trip to Madrid
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1
Golden Triangle of Art & Retiro
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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45mChocolatería San Ginés 🍴 Food8:30 AM – 9:15 AM📍 Sol, MadridBegin with Madrid's most famous churros con chocolate at this 1894 institution near Sol; open 24 hours.
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9:43 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to Museo Nacional del Prado ·1.3 km ·17m
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2h 30mMuseo Nacional del Prado 🖼️ Museum10:00 AM – 12:30 PM📍 Paseo del Prado, MadridSpain's crown-jewel museum with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco; opens 10:00.
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12:36 PM – 12:45 PM· Walk to Museo Reina Sofía ·0.7 km ·9m
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1h 30mMuseo Reina Sofía 🖼️ Museum12:45 PM – 2:15 PM📍 Atocha, MadridHome to Picasso's Guernica and Spain's premier collection of modern art; closed Tuesdays.
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2:19 PM – 2:30 PM· Walk to Estado Puro ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 15mEstado Puro 🍴 Food2:30 PM – 3:45 PM📍 Paseo del Prado, MadridChef Paco Roncero's playful tapas bar serving creative Spanish classics on Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo.
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3:54 PM – 4:00 PM· Walk to CaixaForum Madrid ·0.5 km ·6m
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1hCaixaForum Madrid 🖼️ Museum4:00 PM – 5:00 PM📍 Paseo del Prado, MadridA striking cultural center with rotating exhibitions and a famous vertical garden; open daily 10:00-20:00.
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5:10 PM – 5:15 PM· Walk to Real Jardín Botánico ·0.2 km ·5m
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1hReal Jardín Botánico 🌳 Park5:15 PM – 6:15 PM📍 Paseo del Prado, MadridTranquil 18th-century botanical gardens with thousands of plant species beside the Prado; closes 18:00 in winter, later in summer.
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6:20 PM – 6:30 PM· Walk to Parque del Retiro ·0.7 km ·10m
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1h 15mParque del Retiro 🌳 Park6:30 PM – 7:45 PM📍 Retiro, MadridMadrid's beloved royal park, perfect for a stroll around the grand boating lake at golden hour.
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Walk to Puerta de Alcalá ·0.7 km ·9m
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30mPuerta de Alcalá 🏛️ Landmark7:50 PM – 8:20 PM📍 Retiro, MadridThe iconic neoclassical triumphal gateway, beautifully floodlit at dusk.
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8:33 PM – 8:45 PM· Walk to Taberna La Dolores ·0.9 km ·12m
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1h 15mTaberna La Dolores 🍴 Food8:45 PM – 10:00 PM📍 Huertas, MadridA classic tiled Madrid tavern near Plaza de Jesús, famed for its vermouth and generous tapas since 1908.
2
Royal Madrid & La Latina
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1hCafé de Oriente 🍴 Food8:30 AM – 9:30 AM📍 Ópera, MadridA grand belle-époque café for breakfast overlooking the Royal Palace on Plaza de Oriente (opens 09:00 weekends).
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9:55 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to Palacio Real de Madrid ·0.2 km ·5m
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2hPalacio Real de Madrid 🏛️ Landmark10:00 AM – 12:00 PM📍 Palacio, MadridEurope's largest functioning royal palace, with lavish state rooms and an armory; opens 10:00.
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12:10 PM – 12:15 PM· Walk to Catedral de la Almudena ·0.3 km ·5m
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45mCatedral de la Almudena ⛪ Religious site12:15 PM – 1:00 PM📍 Palacio, MadridMadrid's colorful neo-Gothic cathedral facing the Royal Palace; open daily 10:00-20:30.
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1:02 PM – 1:15 PM· Walk to Templo de Debod ·1.0 km ·13m
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45mTemplo de Debod 🏛️ Landmark1:15 PM – 2:00 PM📍 Príncipe Pío, MadridAn authentic ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain, set in parkland with skyline views; free, open Tue-Sun (closed Mondays).
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Walk to Mercado de San Miguel ·1.2 km ·16m
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1h 15mMercado de San Miguel 🍴 Food2:15 PM – 3:30 PM📍 Austrias, MadridA historic iron-and-glass market packed with gourmet tapas and pintxos stalls; open daily to midnight.
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3:40 PM – 3:45 PM· Walk to Plaza Mayor ·0.1 km ·5m
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45mPlaza Mayor 🏛️ Landmark3:45 PM – 4:30 PM📍 Centro, MadridMadrid's grand arcaded 17th-century central square, lined with cafés and history.
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4:31 PM – 4:45 PM· Walk to Basílica de San Francisco el Grande ·1.0 km ·14m
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1hBasílica de San Francisco el Grande ⛪ Religious site4:45 PM – 5:45 PM📍 La Latina, MadridA neoclassical basilica crowned by one of the largest domes in Christendom; visit in the Tue-Sat afternoon opening block.
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6:07 PM – 6:15 PM· Walk to La Latina & Cava Baja ·0.6 km ·8m
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1h 30mLa Latina & Cava Baja 🏛️ Landmark6:15 PM – 7:45 PM📍 La Latina, MadridWander the medieval lanes and legendary tapas street of Madrid's most atmospheric quarter.
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8:25 PM – 8:30 PM· Walk to Sobrino de Botín ·0.4 km ·5m
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1h 30mSobrino de Botín 🍴 Food8:30 PM – 10:00 PM📍 La Latina, MadridThe world's oldest restaurant (1725) on Calle de Cuchilleros, renowned for wood-roasted suckling pig.
3
Gran Vía, Chueca & Salamanca
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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45mChurrería Madrid 1883 🍴 Food8:30 AM – 9:15 AM📍 Malasaña, MadridMadrid's oldest churrería on Calle del Espíritu Santo in Malasaña, for crisp churros and thick chocolate from dawn.
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9:43 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza ·1.2 km ·17m
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2hMuseo Thyssen-Bornemisza 🖼️ Museum10:00 AM – 12:00 PM📍 Paseo del Prado, MadridThe third pillar of the Art Triangle, spanning eight centuries from Old Masters to Pop Art; opens 10:00 Tue-Sun.
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12:03 PM – 12:15 PM· Walk to Gran Vía ·0.9 km ·12m
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1hGran Vía 🏛️ Landmark12:15 PM – 1:15 PM📍 Centro, MadridMadrid's bustling early-20th-century grand boulevard of theaters, shops, and architecture.
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1:19 PM – 1:30 PM· Walk to Plaza de España ·0.8 km ·11m
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45mPlaza de España 🏛️ Landmark1:30 PM – 2:15 PM📍 Centro, MadridA revamped landmark square with a Cervantes monument and fresh green spaces.
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2:23 PM – 2:30 PM· Travel to Lateral Velázquez ·2.4 km ·7m
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1h 15mLateral Velázquez 🍴 Food2:30 PM – 3:45 PM📍 Salamanca, MadridA chic Salamanca tapas spot popular for its terrace and modern Spanish small plates.
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3:55 PM – 4:00 PM· Walk to Calle Serrano Shopping ·0.4 km ·5m
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1h 30mCalle Serrano Shopping 🛍️ Shopping4:00 PM – 5:30 PM📍 Salamanca, MadridBrowse Madrid's most elegant shopping street in the upscale Salamanca district.
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5:35 PM – 5:45 PM· Walk to Mercado de San Antón ·0.8 km ·10m
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45mMercado de San Antón 🛍️ Shopping5:45 PM – 6:30 PM📍 Chueca, MadridA modern three-floor gourmet market with a rooftop terrace in lively Chueca, great for a browse and a snack.
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6:33 PM – 6:45 PM· Walk to Plaza del Dos de Mayo ·0.9 km ·12m
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1hPlaza del Dos de Mayo 🏛️ Landmark6:45 PM – 7:45 PM📍 Malasaña, MadridThe heart of bohemian Malasaña, ringed by terraces buzzing with local life.
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8:25 PM – 8:30 PM· Walk to La Musa Malasaña ·0.2 km ·5m
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1h 30mLa Musa Malasaña 🍴 Food8:30 PM – 10:00 PM📍 Malasaña, MadridA trendy neighborhood favorite serving inventive tapas in the heart of Malasaña.
🏨 Where to stay
Real, vetted stays near your route — check the reviews, then book.
Hostal Gala Madrid★★★
Centro/Ópera
A clean, friendly budget hostal steps from Callao and the Royal Palace in the heart of the old town.
Hotel Indigo Madrid - Gran Vía★★★★
Gran Vía
A stylish boutique hotel just off Gran Vía, ideal for shopping and nightlife.
NH Collection Madrid Suecia★★★★★
Literary Quarter
A refined upscale hotel with a rooftop bar near Plaza de Cibeles and the art museums.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Madrid?
3 days are a great amount of time to explore Madrid. This itinerary covers 18 sights and 9 food & drink stops across 3 days, giving you a thorough introduction to the city.
What are the best things to do in Madrid?
Some of the best things to do in Madrid include Museo Nacional del Prado, Museo Reina Sofía, CaixaForum Madrid. Madrid is Spain's vibrant capital, a city of world-class art museums, grand royal architecture, and leafy parks woven between buzzing tapas-filled neighborhoods. From the Golden Triangle of Art along Paseo del Prado to the lively squares of La Latina and Malasaña, the city blends regal grandeur with infectious street energy.
Where should I stay in Madrid?
Popular options in Madrid include Hostal Gala Madrid and Hotel Indigo Madrid - Gran Vía. The city centre also has a range of hotels for every budget — book in advance for the best rates.
What's the best time to visit Madrid?
Much of this itinerary is indoors — 6 of its 18 sights are museums, entertainment venues, or shopping stops — so Madrid holds up outside peak season too. Book the popular indoor attractions ahead in busy months, and check the seasonal climate for Spain before you go.