Weekend Itineraries: What to Do in Madrid in Three Days

“When it comes to short breaks in Europe, you can’t go wrong with a stay in one of the continent’s capitals, least of all Madrid. The city has it all, from world-class art to world-class cuisine and beautiful parks to charming markets. In town for 72 hours? Here’s the perfect three-day itinerary for your weekend in Madrid.

Friday Evening
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Madrid is a chilled out city, so there’s no need to rush. Drop your luggage at your hotel and then ease yourself into life by taking a relaxing walk around the Plaza Mayor, the city’s main square. Then take a seat at one of the cafes to people watch while sipping a Spanish coffee or a glass of Rioja.

Afterwards, stroll up Gran Vía for a spot of shopping, then have a Hemingway-themed evening starting with dinner at a traditional casa de comidas. Restaurante Casa Salvador has a homely atmosphere with walls covered in pictures of 1920s stars and bullfighters. Afterwards, enjoy a cocktail with the ‘ghost’ of Hemingway at Museo Chicote – the 1930s interior is perfectly preserved from the time when the writer himself actually drank here.

Gran Via – Di Felipe Gabaldón – originally posted to Flickr as Gran Vía (Madrid), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10423666

Saturday Morning
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Madrid is home to some of the best art museums in the world and Saturday is about exploring the best of them. Start art at the Reina Sofia, making sure not to miss its most famous work, Guernica, by Pablo Picasso, in room 206.06 on the second floor. Give yourself a couple of hours here.

Then continue on to the Prado Museum, which is only a 10-minute walk away. You can stroll through the ticketed Botanical Gardens on the way, or head straight up Paseo del Prado. You’ll want the rest of your morning to explore the Prado’s huge list of highlights, including Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, the 14 Black Paintings by Francisco Goya and The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch.

Once you’ve had your fix of art, nip out for some fresh air with a stroll through Retiro Park. This is the city’s largest urban green space, sprawling in a neat rectangle just east of the museums.

To get there, exit the Prado through its rear Jerónimos entrance, walking east up Calle Academia, where you’ll pass by the 16th century San Jerónimo el Real, with its Gothic spires. It’s only a couple of minutes’ walk to the park.

Retiro Park is a lovely place for a wander, but if your feet need a rest, you can hire a rowboat and float around Retiro Park Lake, which is a nice place to get a different view of the imposing, crescent-shaped Alfonso XII colonnade.

By Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Museo del Prado, Madrid (1), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69791136Saturday Afternoon and Evening
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After a morning of museums, you’ll no doubt be hungry. It’s only a short metro ride from Retiro to Ópera. Once here, head to Mercado San Miguel, Madrid’s most famous foodie market. Explore the many stalls, deli counters and cafes and then settle in for a long lunch.

If you’re still feeling energised afterwards, the Palacio Real de Madrid – the royal palace – is only a few minutes’ walk away. Hire an audio guide to explore the many ornately decorated rooms inside.

Saturday evening is all about Spain’s most beloved folk art: flamenco. Head to one of the city’s most famous venues, Corral de la Morería, a long-standing club that holds nightly tablaos (performances) accompanied by dinner.

Sunday Morning
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On Sunday morning, head to El Rastro, one of the biggest open air flea markets in Spain. You can browse for knick-knacks and antiques here. The market is in La Latina between Calle Embajadores and the Ronda de Toledo, with most of the stalls set up along Plaza de Cascorro and La Ribera de Curtidores.

The side streets are also great for smaller stalls and hidden discoveries. Don’t be shy in working up an appetite on your treasure hunt because you’re going to be spending the rest of the day eating and drinking like a true Madrileño.

La Latina is one of the best brunch neighbourhoods in Madrid, if not all of Europe. There’s no shortage of cafes here, but if you want to experience something special, head to Juana La Loca at Plaza Puerta de Moros 4 for its otherworldly Spanish omelette.

_La Latina – Di Michiel1972 – Opera propria, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4806133___
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Sunday Afternoon and Evening
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Carry on for the afternoon as the locals do with a tapas bar crawl of La Latina. While there are far too many tapas bars to hit in one go, try not to miss both the Mercado de la Cebada food market and Txirimiri (particularly for Basque-style pinchos). Spend the rest of the afternoon on Calle de Cava Baja, a street filled on both sides with tapas bars.

Finally, wrap up your trip to Madrid by watching the sunset from the rooftop terrace of El Viajero, with a glass of tinto de verano (red wine spritzer) in hand.

Find somewhere to stay by checking out our hotels in Madrid or explore Madrid holidays and find great deals on flights and accommodation”