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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 days27 stopsMadrid, Spain

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Book the essentials and keep this itinerary handy on the road.

1Golden Triangle of Art & Retiro
  1. 🍽️
    Chocolatería San Ginés 🍴 Food
    8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
    📍 Sol, Madrid
    45m
    Begin with Madrid's most famous churros con chocolate at this 1894 institution near Sol; open 24 hours.
  2. 🚶
    9:43 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to next stop ·0.8 mi ·17m
  3. 📍
    Museo Nacional del Prado 🖼️ Museum
    10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    📍 Paseo del Prado, Madrid
    2h 30m
    Spain's crown-jewel museum with masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco; opens 10:00.
  4. 🚶
    12:36 PM – 12:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.4 mi ·9m
  5. 📍
    Museo Reina Sofía 🖼️ Museum
    12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
    📍 Atocha, Madrid
    1h 30m
    Home to Picasso's Guernica and Spain's premier collection of modern art; closed Tuesdays.
  6. 🚶
    2:19 PM – 2:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·11m
  7. 🍽️
    Estado Puro 🍴 Food
    2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
    📍 Paseo del Prado, Madrid
    1h 15m
    Chef Paco Roncero's playful tapas bar serving creative Spanish classics on Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo.
  8. 🚶
    3:54 PM – 4:00 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.3 mi ·6m
  9. 📍
    CaixaForum Madrid 🖼️ Museum
    4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    📍 Paseo del Prado, Madrid
    1h
    A striking cultural center with rotating exhibitions and a famous vertical garden; open daily 10:00-20:00.
  10. 🚶
    5:10 PM – 5:15 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.2 mi ·5m
  11. 📍
    Real Jardín Botánico 🌳 Park
    5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
    📍 Paseo del Prado, Madrid
    1h
    Tranquil 18th-century botanical gardens with thousands of plant species beside the Prado; closes 18:00 in winter, later in summer.
  12. 🚶
    6:20 PM – 6:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·10m
  13. 📍
    Parque del Retiro 🌳 Park
    6:30 PM – 7:45 PM
    📍 Retiro, Madrid
    1h 15m
    Madrid's beloved royal park, perfect for a stroll around the grand boating lake at golden hour.
  14. 🚶
    7:41 PM – 7:50 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.4 mi ·9m
  15. 📍
    Puerta de Alcalá 🏛️ Landmark
    7:50 PM – 8:20 PM
    📍 Retiro, Madrid
    30m
    The iconic neoclassical triumphal gateway, beautifully floodlit at dusk.
  16. 🚶
    8:33 PM – 8:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.6 mi ·12m
  17. 🍽️
    Taberna La Dolores 🍴 Food
    8:45 PM – 10:00 PM
    📍 Huertas, Madrid
    1h 15m
    A classic tiled Madrid tavern near Plaza de Jesús, famed for its vermouth and generous tapas since 1908.
2Royal Madrid & La Latina
  1. 🍽️
    Café de Oriente 🍴 Food
    8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
    📍 Ópera, Madrid
    1h
    A grand belle-époque café for breakfast overlooking the Royal Palace on Plaza de Oriente (opens 09:00 weekends).
  2. 🚶
    9:55 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to next stop ·0.1 mi ·5m
  3. 📍
    Palacio Real de Madrid 🏛️ Landmark
    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    📍 Palacio, Madrid
    2h
    Europe's largest functioning royal palace, with lavish state rooms and an armory; opens 10:00.
  4. 🚶
    12:10 PM – 12:15 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.2 mi ·5m
  5. 📍
    Catedral de la Almudena ⛪ Religious site
    12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
    📍 Palacio, Madrid
    45m
    Madrid's colorful neo-Gothic cathedral facing the Royal Palace; open daily 10:00-20:30.
  6. 🚶
    1:02 PM – 1:15 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.6 mi ·13m
  7. 📍
    Templo de Debod 🏛️ Landmark
    1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
    📍 Príncipe Pío, Madrid
    45m
    An authentic ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain, set in parkland with skyline views; free, open Tue-Sun (closed Mondays).
  8. 🚶
    1:59 PM – 2:15 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.8 mi ·16m
  9. 🍽️
    Mercado de San Miguel 🍴 Food
    2:15 PM – 3:30 PM
    📍 Austrias, Madrid
    1h 15m
    A historic iron-and-glass market packed with gourmet tapas and pintxos stalls; open daily to midnight.
  10. 🚶
    3:40 PM – 3:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.1 mi ·5m
  11. 📍
    Plaza Mayor 🏛️ Landmark
    3:45 PM – 4:30 PM
    📍 Centro, Madrid
    45m
    Madrid's grand arcaded 17th-century central square, lined with cafés and history.
  12. 🚶
    4:31 PM – 4:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.6 mi ·14m
  13. 📍
    Basílica de San Francisco el Grande ⛪ Religious site
    4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
    📍 La Latina, Madrid
    1h
    A neoclassical basilica crowned by one of the largest domes in Christendom; visit in the Tue-Sat afternoon opening block.
  14. 🚶
    6:07 PM – 6:15 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.4 mi ·8m
  15. 📍
    La Latina & Cava Baja 🏛️ Landmark
    6:15 PM – 7:45 PM
    📍 La Latina, Madrid
    1h 30m
    Wander the medieval lanes and legendary tapas street of Madrid's most atmospheric quarter.
  16. 🚶
    8:25 PM – 8:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.2 mi ·5m
  17. 🍽️
    Sobrino de Botín 🍴 Food
    8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
    📍 La Latina, Madrid
    1h 30m
    The world's oldest restaurant (1725) on Calle de Cuchilleros, renowned for wood-roasted suckling pig.
3Gran Vía, Chueca & Salamanca
  1. 🍽️
    Churrería Madrid 1883 🍴 Food
    8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
    📍 Malasaña, Madrid
    45m
    Madrid's oldest churrería on Calle del Espíritu Santo in Malasaña, for crisp churros and thick chocolate from dawn.
  2. 🚶
    9:43 AM – 10:00 AM· Walk to next stop ·0.8 mi ·17m
  3. 📍
    Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza 🖼️ Museum
    10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    📍 Paseo del Prado, Madrid
    2h
    The third pillar of the Art Triangle, spanning eight centuries from Old Masters to Pop Art; opens 10:00 Tue-Sun.
  4. 🚶
    12:03 PM – 12:15 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.6 mi ·12m
  5. 📍
    Gran Vía 🏛️ Landmark
    12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
    📍 Centro, Madrid
    1h
    Madrid's bustling early-20th-century grand boulevard of theaters, shops, and architecture.
  6. 🚶
    1:19 PM – 1:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·11m
  7. 📍
    Plaza de España 🏛️ Landmark
    1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
    📍 Centro, Madrid
    45m
    A revamped landmark square with a Cervantes monument and fresh green spaces.
  8. 🚗
    2:23 PM – 2:30 PM· Travel to next stop ·1.5 mi ·7m
  9. 🍽️
    Lateral Velázquez 🍴 Food
    2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
    📍 Salamanca, Madrid
    1h 15m
    A chic Salamanca tapas spot popular for its terrace and modern Spanish small plates.
  10. 🚶
    3:55 PM – 4:00 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.2 mi ·5m
  11. 📍
    Calle Serrano Shopping 🛍️ Shopping
    4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
    📍 Salamanca, Madrid
    1h 30m
    Browse Madrid's most elegant shopping street in the upscale Salamanca district.
  12. 🚶
    5:35 PM – 5:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·10m
  13. 📍
    Mercado de San Antón 🛍️ Shopping
    5:45 PM – 6:30 PM
    📍 Chueca, Madrid
    45m
    A modern three-floor gourmet market with a rooftop terrace in lively Chueca, great for a browse and a snack.
  14. 🚶
    6:33 PM – 6:45 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.5 mi ·12m
  15. 📍
    Plaza del Dos de Mayo 🏛️ Landmark
    6:45 PM – 7:45 PM
    📍 Malasaña, Madrid
    1h
    The heart of bohemian Malasaña, ringed by terraces buzzing with local life.
  16. 🚶
    8:25 PM – 8:30 PM· Walk to next stop ·0.1 mi ·5m
  17. 🍽️
    La Musa Malasaña 🍴 Food
    8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
    📍 Malasaña, Madrid
    1h 30m
    A 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.
Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid★★★★★
Retiro
The legendary Belle Époque grand dame beside the Prado, restored to opulent perfection.
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