3 Days in Madrid: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for golden palaces, world-class paintings, leafy boulevards and long, lively evenings that start when other cities are heading home. Madrid is a capital that rewards curious walkers: most of the big sights sit within a compact, walkable core, so you spend your time looking, not commuting.

This cheerful plan suits first-timers who want the essentials without rushing. The pace is moderate: one big ticketed sight each morning, a lighter afternoon, and an evening in a different neighbourhood each day. Art lovers get plenty, but there is also time for parks, markets and simply sitting in a plaza watching the city go by.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Madrid de los Austrias, La Latina, Princesa	Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace, Campo del Moro, sunset at Sabatini Gardens, Temple of Debod, Gran Vía
2	Paseo del Arte and Retiro	Prado Museum, Royal Botanic Garden, El Retiro Park and Palacio de Cristal, Barrio de las Letras
3	Atocha, Lavapiés, Paseo del Prado, Malasaña	Reina Sofía Museum, lunch in Lavapiés, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Chueca and Malasaña evening

Walking times below are approximate, based on the map, and assume a relaxed pace.

Day 1: Royal Madrid and the old town

Morning

Get ready for a royal first day! Start at Puerta del Sol, the busy, buzzing heart of the city. From here it is roughly a 5-minute walk to Plaza Mayor, the grand arcaded square of old Madrid, part of the area the tourism board calls Austrias, the oldest part of the city. Grab a coffee at one of the cafés around the square, then continue about 10 minutes west to the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Good to know before you go (from Patrimonio Nacional, the palace operator):

• From October to March the palace opens Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 16:00. From April to September it is Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 19:00, Sunday 10:00 to 16:00. The venue and box office close an hour earlier than the listed closing time, so arrive in good time.
• A standard self-guided ticket is EUR 18. A combined “Royal District Essential Pass” with the Gallery of Royal Collections is EUR 24.
• The self-guided route through the halls takes about 45 minutes. Guided tours in English run several times a day.
• EU citizens and residents, and Latin American citizens, get free entry Monday to Thursday in the late afternoon (16:00 to 18:00 in winter, 17:00 to 19:00 in summer) with ID.
• Large backpacks, suitcases and bags are not recommended during current facility works.

We suggest you book a timed ticket on the official Patrimonio Nacional site, ideally for the first slot of the day.

Afternoon

Then walk about 10 minutes south into La Latina for a happy, lazy lunch. The tourism board describes it as a fun-loving area full of tapas bars, and it is home to the El Rastro flea market (check esmadrid.com for market days if you want to catch it).

After lunch, stroll back towards the palace and explore the Campo del Moro, English-style gardens spreading out right behind the Royal Palace.

Evening

Time your arrival at the Sabatini Gardens, laid out where the palace stables once stood, for late afternoon: the tourism board calls them a wonderful place to watch the sun set. From there it is roughly a 10-minute walk north to the Temple of Debod gardens, home to an authentic Egyptian temple. Afterwards, walk about 5 minutes to Plaza de España and wander down Gran Vía, Madrid’s big, bright boulevard, for an evening of window-shopping and people-watching before dinner.

Day 2: The Prado, the Retiro and the literary quarter

Morning

This is the day for art lovers: today belongs to the Paseo del Arte, which together with El Retiro forms the “Landscape of Light”, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. From Sol, it is roughly a 15-minute walk to the Prado Museum.

Prado essentials from the museum’s official site:

• Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, and Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 19:00. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, with shorter hours on 6 January, 24 and 31 December.
• General admission is EUR 15 and includes the collection and temporary exhibitions. Audio guide is EUR 5 extra.
• A timed pass is needed, so book a timed ticket on the official site and pick your slot.
• Free entry to the collection runs during the last two hours before closing, with tickets at the ticket office, subject to capacity.
• Last access is 30 minutes before closing.

Give yourself three hours or so. If you are on a tight budget, the free evening hours are an option, but expect queues.

Afternoon

Step out of the Prado and spend a few minutes in the Royal Botanic Garden next door, which the tourism board says holds more than 5,000 plant species and opens every day except Christmas and New Year’s Day. Then walk roughly 10 minutes into El Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Madrileños’ favourite spots.

Inside the park, look for the Palacio de Cristal, a glass pavilion run by the Reina Sofía Museum as an exhibition space. Entry is free, and from October to March it opens 10:00 to 18:00 (April to September 10:00 to 21:00). It can close on rainy days, on heat alert days and while exhibitions are being installed, so treat it as a bonus.

Evening

Leave the park on its western side and walk about 15 minutes into the Barrio de las Letras, where many giants of Spain’s Golden Age of literature once lived. Its streets are perfect for an evening of tapas hopping.

Day 3: Modern art, multicultural Lavapiés and Malasaña nights

Morning

Save your energy for a bold, creative finale. Head to the Museo Reina Sofía, Spain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art, near Atocha. Important: it is closed on Tuesdays. If your Day 3 is a Tuesday, swap Days 2 and 3.

From the museum’s official site:

• Open Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 10:00 to 21:00, and Sunday 10:00 to 14:30.
• General admission is EUR 12 (EUR 18 for a ticket valid for two visits within a year).
• Free hours for individual visitors: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00 to 21:00, Sunday 12:30 to 14:30. You still need a ticket, which you can reserve online for free.
• Paid tickets carry a time slot. The museum says the busiest times are 10:00 to 12:00 and the start of the free hours, and quieter times are 14:00 to 18:00.
• If you already have an online ticket, the museum recommends entering via the Nouvel building on Ronda de Atocha.

Afternoon

Lunch in Lavapiés, a few minutes’ walk from the museum. The tourism board calls it a melting pot of cultures and traditions, which makes it a great place to eat well and casually.

Then walk roughly 15 minutes north along the Paseo del Prado to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the third jewel of the Paseo del Arte.

Thyssen essentials from the museum’s official site:

• Winter schedule (1 September to 30 June): Monday 12:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 10:00 to 19:00, Saturday 10:00 to 23:00. Summer hours are longer on weekdays.
• General admission is EUR 14.
• Free entry to the collection on Mondays 12:00 to 16:00, and free entry to certain temporary exhibitions on Saturdays 21:00 to 23:00.
• Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

Planning all three big museums? The Abono Paseo del Arte, a joint ticket for the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen, costs EUR 32.80 on the Reina Sofía’s official ticket site.

Evening

Walk about 15 to 20 minutes north to Chueca, which the tourism board sums up as shops, culture, fine food and fun, then drift into neighbouring Malasaña, described by the tourism board as the mecca of vintage looks and underground culture. It is a lovely way to say goodbye to Madrid.

Getting there and getting around

Madrid’s airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas. All figures below come from Aena (the airport operator) and the regional transport consortium (CRTM).

Option	Fare	Notes
Airport Express bus (line 203)	EUR 5 flat	Runs 24 hours between the airport (T1, T2, T4) and Cibeles and Atocha. Maximum change accepted EUR 20.
Metro line 8	EUR 1.50 to 2.00 single, plus EUR 3 airport supplement	Runs 06:05 to 02:00 to Nuevos Ministerios, where you change for the centre. No supplement with a Tourist Travel Pass.
Cercanías line C1 (train)	From EUR 1.70 for 1 to 2 zones	Leaves from T4, Floor -1, serving Chamartín, Atocha and Príncipe Pío. Check your exact fare on the Renfe site.
Official taxi	EUR 33 flat fare	Applies 24 hours between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road. No extra supplements.

Journey times vary with traffic and connections, so check the EMT, Metro de Madrid or Renfe journey planners on the day.

Travel cards. Single and 10-journey tickets are loaded onto the contactless Tarjeta Multi, which costs EUR 2.50. A 10-journey ticket for Metro zone A, EMT buses and ML1 costs EUR 6.10.

For most visitors the Tourist Travel Pass (Billete Turístico) is the easiest choice. It gives unlimited rides in your chosen zone and the Multi card is included. Zone A prices are EUR 10.30 for 1 day, EUR 17.50 for 2 days and EUR 23.10 for 3 days. Children under 11 get 50% off. In zone A it covers the Metro (including the airport supplement), city buses, Cercanías trains in zones 0 and A, and light rail line ML1. It does not cover the Airport Express bus. You can buy it from Metro ticket machines, including at the airport stations, and in the Tarjeta Transporte app.

Within the centre, though, your feet will do most of the work on this plan.

Where to stay

• Sol and Gran Vía: the tourism board calls this possibly Madrid’s most touristy area, and for good reason: it is central to everything on this plan. Best for first-timers who want to walk everywhere.
• Barrio de las Letras: between Sol and the Paseo del Arte, so the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofía are a short walk away. Great for culture lovers who enjoy evening tapas on their doorstep.
• La Latina and Austrias: old Madrid around the Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor, with a lively bar scene. Good for couples and food lovers who do not mind some evening noise.
• Barrio de Salamanca: luxury stores on the “Golden Mile”, Michelin-starred restaurants and a stylish nightlife, according to the tourism board. Calmer and smarter, and suits families or anyone who prefers wide streets.

Budget

These are the costs we could verify on official sites. Flights, accommodation, food, drinks and shopping are not included, so check current prices when you book.

Item	Typical cost
Royal Palace, self-guided	EUR 18
Royal Palace + Gallery of Royal Collections	EUR 24
Prado Museum	EUR 15 (free last two hours)
Reina Sofía Museum	EUR 12 (free at set hours)
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum	EUR 14 (free Mondays 12:00 to 16:00, collection)
Abono Paseo del Arte (Prado + Reina Sofía + Thyssen)	EUR 32.80
Palacio de Cristal, El Retiro	Free
Tourist Travel Pass, zone A, 3 days	EUR 23.10
Metro single (zone A)	EUR 1.50 to 2.00
Airport Express bus	EUR 5 each way
Taxi, airport to inside M-30	EUR 33

Example: a 3-day zone A pass (EUR 23.10), the Royal Palace (EUR 18) and the Paseo del Arte pass (EUR 32.80) come to EUR 73.90, or roughly EUR 25 per day. Add EUR 10 if you take the Airport Express both ways.

Practical tips

• Pre-book: book timed tickets on the official sites for the Royal Palace, the Prado and the Reina Sofía. Free and reduced tickets at these museums usually require ID at the ticket office.
• Closing days: the Reina Sofía closes on Tuesdays and on certain holidays (including 9 November, subject to the regional calendar). The Prado and the Royal Palace are open daily apart from a few holidays. The Thyssen opens only 12:00 to 16:00 on Mondays.
• Dress: there is no strict dress code at the sights in this plan, but modest clothing is respectful if you step into a church. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything here.
• SIM and eSIM: if your home plan does not include Spain, an eSIM bought before you fly is the simplest option. Local SIMs are sold at phone shops; bring your passport, as ID is usually requested. Check current offers with providers directly.
• Money: Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless payments are widely used, but carry a little cash for small bars and markets. The tourism board’s money page covers tipping and tax-free shopping.
• Emergencies: dial 112 for local emergency services.
• Visa and entry: Spain is part of the Schengen area, and requirements depend on your nationality and passport. Rules change, so check the official Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at exteriores.gob.es and the Spanish embassy or consulate in your country well before you travel.

Heads-up

Madrid is a joyful, welcoming city. A few things worth knowing so nothing spoils the fun:

• Pickpockets: the U.S. State Department notes that pickpocketing and theft are very common in Spain, often using distractions, and usually happen at tourist spots, airports and train stations. It also reports passports being stolen at baggage claim and while waiting for taxis. Keep phones and passports out of outer pockets and never leave bags on chairs or tables.
• Unofficial taxis: Aena advises avoiding people who offer taxi services inside the terminal. Official Madrid taxis are white with a red stripe and the City Council coat of arms on the doors, and you take them from the signed ranks outside arrivals.
• Summer heat: the State Department lists heatwaves as a top weather risk in Spain in summer. Plan museums for the hottest hours, carry water, and note that the Palacio de Cristal may close on heat alert days.
• Demonstrations: the State Department notes demonstrations are common and advises avoiding them and following local authorities.
• Royal Palace closures: Patrimonio Nacional warns of possible extra closures for official events, so check the site the day before.
• Closed for works: the tropical garden inside Atocha station is listed by the tourism board as temporarily closed for works, so do not plan around it.
• Airport Express: the Tourist Travel Pass is not valid on this bus, and the maximum change given is EUR 20, so carry small notes.

FAQ

Is 3 days enough for Madrid?

Yes, for the highlights. Three days covers the Royal Palace, the three great art museums, El Retiro and several neighbourhoods at a comfortable pace.

Can I visit the Prado for free?

Yes. The collection is free during the last two hours before closing, with tickets from the ticket office subject to capacity. Expect queues.

Which museum is closed on Tuesdays?

The Museo Reina Sofía. The Prado opens every day except 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.

Is the Tourist Travel Pass worth it?

If you plan to use the Metro to and from the airport and hop around the city, usually yes. A 3-day zone A pass is EUR 23.10 and includes the EUR 3 airport supplement on the Metro. If you will walk almost everywhere, a 10-journey ticket may be enough.

How do I get from the airport to the centre at night?

The Airport Express bus (line 203) runs 24 hours for a flat EUR 5. Official taxis charge a flat EUR 33 to anywhere inside the M-30.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for a walking-heavy trip. Summer brings heatwaves, so plan indoor sights for the afternoon if you visit then.