Ultimate Itinerary for Madrid 2024: Ideal 2-5 Days in Madrid

Overshadowed by Barcelona, the capital of Spain, might not be the first choice when considering which cities to visit in Spain. On the contrary, Madrid is not another boring capital, as it offers plenty of exciting and historic landmarks, a vibrant dining scene, and artsy corners. And this ultimate itinerary for Madrid will prove that. 

I have been to both Barcelona and Madrid, and while you can’t compare these two cities, each obviously caters to different crowds and interests. Barcelona would be a place for you if you love architecture and bustling city life. However, if you like a more laid-back vibe with a historic, imperial, and sophisticated city, Madrid is a city to visit. 

This ultimate itinerary for Madrid is ideal for spending a few days exploring the city, its must-visit museums, trying the best Spanish food, dining at top Madrid cafes, and even going on a day trip. 

On my visit to Madrid, I spent four days in the city before heading to the BBK Live Music Festival in Bilbao. Within these days, I managed to visit all the sights outlined here and go on the day trip to Toledo. 

How to structure your itinerary for Madrid?

The flexibility of this Madrid itinerary enables you to craft your perfect plan. I understand you might not be interested in some spots I outline here, so feel free to modify it to your needs to make the most of your time visiting Madrid. 

If you are up for waking up early in the morning to wander the streets of Madrid crowd-free before museums open, you can easily use this as your Madrid 2 day itinerary. However, you might feel rushed if you pack it with all the places I mentioned here and won’t have time to see nearby towns. 

For those with a bit more time to go slower, you can use this post as your perfect Madrid 3-day itinerary, including a day trip to nearby cities such as Toledo or Segovia. 

If you love art and visiting museums, the city has some of the most fascinating and world-class galleries showcasing the best historical artists in its Prado and Reina Sofia museums. Therefore, you’d spend more time here than exploring its streets. In this case, I suggest having more days. With the help of this guide, you can easily spread out tourist attractions that interest you and create your flawless Madrid 4 days itinerary. 

Where to stay in Madrid

Your best itinerary for Madrid in 2-5 days

This detailed city guide provides all the highlights and important Madrid tourist attractions, including my recommendations for Madrid cafes and restaurants. I specifically don’t put a straightforward and planned-out itinerary for Madrid for each day, as you can easily modify it to your liking. 

As mentioned above, the post can be used as 3 days itinerary for Madrid, but the flexibility of it enables you to craft your own perfect plan whether you have 2 or 5 days in Madrid. 

Start the morning with the breakfast

Starting your Madrid day with a hearty Spanish breakfast is a great way to be introduced to Spanish cuisine and dining culture. Spaniards don’t eat heavy breakfasts and prefer lighter meals like toast or a pastry. Their main meal is lunch. 

One of the best Spanish foods locals like to start the day with is a tomato toast with jamon or a simple pastry. 

La Mallorquina in the city center is one of the old pastry shops that opened in 1894. It is also a famous cafe in Madrid where you can get pastries and simple breakfast meals. 

It gets pretty busy, and we were lucky to get a table upstairs, but as we left, there was a line of people waiting for others to finish and get a table. You can try all the different pasties, but Napolitana de Chocolate was recommended, and that’s what we had – one with chocolate and one with cream. 

Walk to Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is one of the city’s most bustling and famous squares that should be on anyones itinerary for Madrid. This historical square started as one of the city wall gates encircling Madrid in the 15th century. Since the gate was oriented to the east and the rising sun decorated the entry, it gave the gate a name, which was kept as the square’s name. 

Puerta del Sol is the heart of the radial network of Spanish roads – Km 0. You can even see a plate marking it, and the exact pin of it is included in the map provided above. It is also home to the famous clock, whose bells celebrate the tradition of eating Twelve Grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve in Spanish culture. 

You can also find the famous vintage neon light of the local sherry brand Tío Pepe and the symbol of Madrid – the statue of The Bear and the Strawberry Tree.

Marvel at one of the oldest hotels in Madrid

Follow Calle de Postas Street, and once you reach the intersection, pay attention to Petit Palace Posada del Peine, a 400-year-old hotel in Madrid that has sparked many legends around it, such as the room 126 was used to hide fugitives and its inn that a ghost of a lady dressed in black. 

Founded in 1610, the hotel’s strategic location to the royal mail reception point made it a convenient stop for travelers arriving by coaches and carriages in the city. 

Today, the hotel includes three different buildings. The most modern one dates from the 19th century and has decorative tiles and mythological motifs. The hotel’s exterior is simply stunning, with rich ornaments and worth a stopover. 

Continue your way to Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor has always been the center of Madrid, and its main squares bring lots of locals and foreigners to admire the gorgeous buildings surrounding it or even sit down at its restaurants for coffee or tapas. 

Extremely beautiful and ornate, the square was originally called the Plaza del Arrabal and used to be the primary market of Madrid. The square was remodeled in the 17th century under the reign of King Philip III, but since it suffered from three different fires, the Plaza Mayor underwent various renovations. 

The current layout is from 1790, when architect Juan de Villanueva oversaw the process, lowered the enclosed buildings from five to three stores, closed the corners, and made large arched entrances. 

Stop by the San Miguel market

From Plaza Mayor, take the Arco de Ciudad Rodrigo exit towards Mercado de San Miguel, a covered food market built in 1916 and a trendy sport among tourists. 

This is not a traditional grocery market. Instead, it is a place to try all the different Spanish tapas or grab a snack from more than 30 vendors to enjoy on the spot or while continuing your walk in the streets of Madrid. 

Explore the lavish Royal Palace

The Royal Palace is the official quarters of the Spanish royal family, which is now used only for state ceremonies. Felipe VI and the royal family do not live here; their permanent residence is the Palace of Zarzuela, outside the city.

The luxurious palace spans 135,000 sq. meters and has 3,418 rooms, making it the largest royal palace in Europe. The court is one of the must-visit landmarks and should be part of any plan, even if you are creating your Madrid 2 day itinerary. 

Built on the site of the Muslin-era fortress in the 9th century, the sight has always been a site of Spanish royals and monarchs. Royal Palace’s current interior is striking in showcasing its wealth and intricately decorated rooms. Here, you can see paintings of world-famous artists such as Caravaggio, Francisco de Goya, and Velazquez, to name a few. 

You enter the palace through a staircase built by Sabatini featuring mindblowing ceiling decorations by Giaquinto. Then, you follow the information boards and arrows to explore various chambers, apartments, reception halls, armory, etc. 

As it is one of the prime Madrid attractions visited by two million people yearly, you’ll need to buy a ticket at a specific time and be there to enter the palace. 

If you are interested, the palace also offers a guided tour of the Royal Kitchen, but sadly, that’s only in Spanish. However, one lady in our group used a Speech-to-Text translation app to understand what the guide was talking about. You can also combine your tickets and visit the palace garden too. 

The palace complex is also home to the Baroque Almudena Cathedral, famous for its colorful chapels, museum, and Romanesque crypt. 

• Opening hours: the palace has seasonal opening hours, so check here (Spanish only). 
• Entrance fee: adults – 14 EUR for the Royal Palace. The Kitchen has a separate ticket costing 6 EUR. But you can also combine the tickets to visit all that the Royal Palace has to offer. Alternatively, you can buy a skip-the-line ticket here if you can’t navigate the official website in Spanish. 

Buy cookies from nuns

One of the off the beaten path things to do in Madrid is to buy cookies from nuns. Church of Corpus Christi, located in the middle of Madrid Old Town, is home to cloistered nuns. They are forever forbidden to leave the convent and can’t have contact with the outside world. According to Catholic practice, a cloistered life is for solitude, prayer, and being closer to God.

Even though the nuns are cloistered, their cookies and buying experience have become popular among locals and in-the-know tourists. 

Look for the A4 printout brochure on the wooden door of the church. Then ring the bell that says “Monjas” (nuns). Don’t press the other buttons; monks also live at the convent and have nothing to do with the cookies. 

If the nuns have cookies left, they will buzz you in. You can also ask them in Spanish, “Tienes dulces hoy?” which means “Do you have sweets today?”. Then, walk to the end of the corridor following the sign “Torno,” it’s relatively straightforward. 

You’ll see a little window with a rotating shelf where you’ll need to put money and wait for the nuns to give you the cookies. This way, nuns don’t have direct contact with you. Remember to bring cash. 

Nuns make eight different types of cookies, and the menu is printed next to the window and has an English explanation below Spanish. They sell per 0.5 or 1 kg boxes. 

Note that they have specific times you can buy those cookies: in the mornings from 9:30 am to 1 pm and the afternoon from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. 

We came at around 4:45 pm, and they only had almonds left. It was incredibly delicious, soft, and filling. The cookies even lasted for a few days, so we took them with us to Bilbao. 

Roam through the Barrio de La Latina

La Latina is a historic southwest district occupying the city’s oldest area. It was constructed on a medieval Islamic fort, making it one of Madrid’s most senior and liveliest neighborhoods. 

The district got its name after Beatriz Galindo, a writer and humanist of the 15th century who was also referred to as ‘La Latina’ due to being very skilled in Latin. 

La Latina is picturesque, modern, and bustling, with narrow streets lined with tapas bars, restaurants, historic squares, and charming gardens. You can also find several gorgeous street art in Madrid here. The area is especially famous for the remarkable paintings of Goya inside the San Francisco el Grande Basilica and El Rastro flea market (held only on Sunday mornings). 

Ensure you walk through C. de la Cava Baja and C. de la Cava Alta streets, as they are one of the most picturesque and Instagrammable spots in Madrid with their beautifully decorated exteriors of tapas bars, shops, and restaurants. 

And if you get hungry while wandering its streets and doing the sightseeing, stop by Taberna La Buha La Latina, one of the best Madrid cafes serving giant tortillas with a filling of your choice. 

Seek gorgeous street art in Madrid

I love looking for giant murals in the cities I travel to as it enables me to go in the backstreets, see more local areas, and have a different experience. If you are like me, hunting down some of the best murals should be on your itinerary for Madrid. 

Most of the street art in Madrid can be found in the city center, making it easy to include in your plans. Most of these murals are a product of festivals or initiatives that give artists a canvas to showcase their skills legally. The themes of Madrid street art vary, and you can find works tackling urban, rebellious, political, multicultural, violent, and other social issues. 

One of the best places to see various street art in Madrid is the steep C. de Embajadores. You can find at least five giant murals on each side of the street. The street leads to Tabacalera Art Promotion, an old tobacco factory turned into a cultural space with installations, street art, and various classes that somewhat resemble Fabirka Tbilisi, a former Soviet sewing factory in Tbilisi. 

Unfortunately, the place was temporarily closed during my visit and while writing this post. However, its exterior walls do have interesting street art you can still stop by to see. 

Devoiur in Spanish cuisine

Once hungry, head to Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles to try various Madrid native and traditional Spanish foods. 

The place was our second choice for Madrid-style snails, or caracoles, as more local restaurant Cerveceria Los Caracoles on C. de Toledo Street was on vacation during our Madrid trip. However, it ended up being a great choice as the snails were delicious at Casa Amadeo Los Caracoles. 

The advantage of the Casa Amadeo was that you could order half portions of certain meals to try out various meals from the local cuisine. We also tried patatas bravas, bull’s tails (quite different from the one I tried in Barcelona), and lamp intestines. 

Grab a drink and watch a movie at a former porn cinema 

If you are looking for a quirky and enjoyable place to add to your itinerary for Madrid, it should be Sala Equis. 

This trendy bar and art-house was Madrid’s last cinema of porn movies. However, the space initially was an editorial office of the newspaper El Imparcial between 1913 and 1933. Then, it was turned into a classical cinema from the 40s to the 80s, and only after that did it become Cinema X, showing pornographic films until it closed in 2017. 

The Plaza Room is the main one on the ground floor and the space you’ll most likely enter first. Inspired by the summer cinema layout, the room has summer-looking seating areas and comfortable, long cinema-like sofas to watch classic, black-and-white movies as you enjoy your beverage, a snack, or popcorn. 

Eat Churros at Chocolatería San Ginés

Founded in 1894, Chocolatería San Ginés is one of the oldest cafes in Madrid that specializes in churros with chocolate. The place became popular when locals started eating churros and chocolate after they enjoyed a show in the theater. 

Today, a few branches are next to the very first venue to serve the influx of tourists. The cafe is extremely popular, with huge lines waiting for the table to sit inside, so I’d recommend coming here as early as possible. 

The original cafe resembles the venues of the late 19th century, spread over two floors decorated with traditional white marble tables and a counter covered in tiles. 

See “Guernica” and other famous paintings at Reina Sofia

The Reina Sofia Museum, or Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, is one of the most important art museums in the Spanish capital, showcasing paintings dedicated to Spanish art. Here, you can find works of Goya, Picasso, Salvador Dali, and other prominent artists of the 20th century. 

Unlike Picasso’s museum in Barcelona, Reina Sofia is home to his remarkable painting Guernica, an anti-war piece from the 1930s. The museum has an extensive collection of local and international artists in its many rooms. 

Due to its popularity, I recommend buying a skip-the-line ticket as the lines at the ticket office can be long, and the line to enter the museum would be long too. 

The museum also offers free entrance in the evening most days and early afternoon on Sundays. You need to book your spot for free admission on their website, and the line for free admission is also quite long. 

• Opening hours: Mon-Sat from 10 am to 9 pm; Sun from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Closed on Tuesdays. 
• Entrance fee: adults – 12 EUR. More info

Admire art at Museo Nacional del Prado

The Prado Museum is one of the most important art museums worldwide. It is home to some of the world’s finest displays of European art from the 12th century to the early 20th century. 

Besides Spanish artists and numerous paintings of Goya, you’ll find remarkable works of Rembrandt, Albrecht Dürer, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco, Titian, Diego Velázquez, Peter Paul Rubens, etc. 

The collection currently includes approximately 7,600 paintings, 4,800 prints, 8,200 drawings, and 1,000 sculptures, along with many other historic documents and works of art. 

Therefore, Museo Nacional del Prado is massive and much bigger than expected. While the museum has signs and the paintings are divided into rooms, it is sometimes challenging to navigate through the maze of these paintings if you are here for a particular painter or work of art. I got lost a few times searching for a specific room and had to ask staff members to give me instructions. 

Like Reina Sofia, I suggest buying a skip-the-line ticket to save time and not queue in front of the ticket office. 

• Opening hours: Mon-Sat from 10 am to 8 pm; Sun and holidays from 10 am to 7 pm. 
• Entrance fee: adults – 15 EUR. FREE entrance: Mon-Sat from 6 pm to 8 pm; Sundays and holidays – 5 pm to 7 pm. 

Walk your way through Retiro Park

After spending time in the massive Prado Museum, find your way to El Retiro Park for a relaxing stroll in a tranquil environment. 

Originally built as a royal garden, it was only opened to the public in the late 19th century. The largest park in Madrid, you can feel the grandeur and splendor of this royal relaxation spot. It is a great place to unwind after a tiring day of sightseeing. 

This massive green space has several incredible sights to visit, and it might take half your day to see everything. The park’s highlight for me was the stunning Palacio Cristal, with its lake and the cutest Casita del Pescador, or the Fisherman’s house, where Fernando VII used to fish back in the 19th century. 

If you prefer a guided tour, this Retiro Park Walking Tour will walk you through its main parts and help you discover secret spots. 

Have lunch or drinks at Bel Mondo restaurant

If I had to pick the gorgeous cafe in Madrid that is also quite sophisticated, whimsical, and very Instagram-worthy, Bel Mondo would be one. 

This splendid cafe and restaurant in Madrid perfectly mix the summer Italian palazzo with the vibe of the 80s hip kid. With a vast space spanning 900 sq. meters, Bel Mondo has ample seating areas and the most charming terrace with flowers. If you visit Madrid with your partner, Bel Mondo can be a perfect place for a romantic afternoon or dinner.

The menu boasts Italian cuisine from starters to Neapolitan pizzas and various pasta and salads, to name a few. Their cocktail menu has quite tasty choices that also come in big glasses.  

Reservations are preferred. However you can also walk in, but tables are limited, and you might need to wait in line. I used table reservation built-in Google Maps, but you can also do it on their website. 

Drink refreshing Horchata

A few minutes walk from Bel Mondo back towards the Retiro Park, you’ll find a historic kiosk that sells one of the most refreshing drinks I have ever tried. 

Come to 8 C. de Narváez Street at a blue and white Kiosco Horchata Miguel y José Aguaducho to try Horchata – a drink from soaked, ground, and sweetened tiger nuts. It is tasty and refreshing, especially during the summer months in Madrid. 

Appreciate the beauty of the Palace of Cebeles 

Cibeles Palace, formally known as the Palace of Communications and Palace of Telecommunications until 2011, is a complex comprised of two buildings with white facades. 

It was the main post office, telegraph, and telephone headquarters and currently houses Madrid City Council and the cultural center CentroCentro.

The palace was constructed on one of the sides of the Plaza de Cibeles, occupying about 30,000 sq. meters of the old Buen Retiro, current El Retiro, gardens. Construction of the palace started in 1907 and opened in 1919. 

The whole complex is one of the first examples of Modernismo from the Spanish architectural perspective and the most representative one built in the center of Madrid with its Neoplateresque façade. 

Inside, you’ll find the former Operations Hall of the Spanish Post Office with tourist information points, the restaurant Colección Cibeles, exhibition halls, and an observation deck. 

Since December 2022, the courtyard has been home to the Landscape of Light Interpretation Centre. At this educational venue, you can learn about the treasures of this area, stretching from Paseo del Prado to the Jerónimos neighborhood and El Retiro Park, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.

You can tour the building free of charge with the guided visit offered by CentroCentro. Prior reservations are necessary.  

Watch sunset at the Temple of Debod

One of the best sunset spots in Madrid is at the Temple of Debod, a structure brought from Egypt in the 1970s. 

Located on a small hill between Rio Manzanares and Plaza de España, the temple comes from the village of Devod and dates back to the 2nd Century BC. 

When the Egyptian authorities decided to build the Aswan Dam across the Nile, a few ancient monuments and archeological sites were under threat. Hence, UNESCO arranged an open call for countries to save them. 

Since the Spanish government supported saving the Temples of Abu Simbel, the Egyptian authorities donated the Temple of Debod to Spain. After dismantling and transporting it to Madrid, the temple was reassembled there, and one of the most beautiful parks in Madrid was built around it. 

You can visit the temple during the day free of charge, but the best time is sunset when the sun casts golden hues on the temple. Do note that it is a popular sunset spot and gets quite busy, so come earlier to grab a nice spot at one of the benches or throw in a picnic blanket and some snacks. 

Try Tinto de Verano at one of the bars

One of the famous local drinks in Spain is Tinto de verano, a different and simpler version of Sangria with lower alcohol content. It is made from one part of red wine mixed with one part of soda, typically lemonade. 

You can find Tinto de Verano at all the bars and restaurants in Madrid. We enjoyed our drinks with local tapas at Cuevas El Secreto one evening. 

Dine at the oldest restaurant in the world

Among many historical landmarks, Madrid is also home to some of the world’s oldest restaurants, shops, and bars. And Botin is one of them that should be added to anyone’s itinerary for Madrid, no matter how many days you spend here. 

When else would you have a chance to dine at a restaurant where Spanish artist Francisco de Goya worked as a waiter before studying at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts or where Ernest Hemingway frequented the place to then include it in his novel The Sun Also Rises? 

Established in 1725 by Frenchman Jean Botin and his wife, the restaurant is the oldest in the world by Guinness World Records. It serves roasted pig in its authentic oven adorned with unique tiles. The restaurant’s cellar is even older and dates back to 1590. 

Botin is a restaurant and a whole experience with exceptional service and the friendliest staff. The menu offers appetizers, soups, and seafood meals. However, come here to eat their specialty, the roasted suckling pig, the most tender and tasty pig I’ve ever had.

When you look at the menu, remember that the listing means one piece per person. Since we were four friends, we ordered three pieces with a bottle of white wine. The dish comes in the clay pot it was roasted in, and the staff was friendly enough to cut them into several smaller pieces. 

The price might be higher than in other restaurants in Madrid, but it’s not too expensive. And after all, you are helping them to keep the tradition alive for more than 300 years! 

Botin is an extremely popular place, and reservations are absolutely necessary. Book a table on their website.

Walk and shop at Gran via 

The Gran Vía Street in central Madrid starts from Calle de Alcalá, close to Plaza de Cibeles, and goes to Plaza de España. Often referred to as Spanish Broadway, the street is lined with shops, restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, and historical buildings. 

It is also home to some of the beautiful buildings of the early 20th century done in Vienna Secession, Plateresque, Neo-Mudéjar, and Art Deco styles. 

Have eyes pierced for tile decorations of the establishments

Tile decorations have been a trend in Spain, and Madrid is no exception. You can see them decorating various shops, pharmacies, and restaurants. The majority of Madrid street names also have these tiles notifying the name. 

In the 12th century, hand-painted tiles were widely used in Europe after Persia and Egypt. The Moors greatly influenced Spanish tile designs, patterns, and tile-making techniques. Many regions of Spain have different styles, like Valencia, Mallorca, and Andalucia. 

These tiles are works of art and can easily be spotted while wandering in the city, especially around the city center. 

Savor calamari sandwich 

Bocadillo de calamares, or the calamari sandwich, is Madrid’s most popular local meal. These lightly fried squid rings in a crusty sandwich bread topped with a squeeze of lemon is a great light meal to savor. 

La Campana, hidden along a side street leading into Plaza Mayor, is a favorite place for locals and in-the-know tourists. Since it is another popular place to eat in Madrid, it almost always has a line but moves quickly. We were lucky to time our visit when there was no queue. 

Don’t expect anything fancy; it’s a local fast-food-like and self-service venue with only a few meals. Order them at the counter and wait only a few minutes for your bocadillos. 

Explore Chueca neighborhood

Chueca is a lively, gay-friendly neighborhood with cozy cafes, restaurants, tapas bars, boutiques, and popular markets such as San Antón. The Museum of Romanticism, the Museum of the History of Madrid, and several theaters are also here.

The Palace of Longoria is a stunning building representing a thoroughly Modernist style. Casa de las Siete Chimeneas is another noteworthy architectural building that houses the Ministry of Culture today. 

You can also find a few gorgeous street art adorning its buildings, while rainbow flags drape over balconies and are incorporated in shop signs. 

Pop inside the Sistine Chapel-inspired church

Church of Saint Anthony of the Germans is a Baroque 17th-century church boasting a breathtaking interior, prized for its painted dome and murals.

Enlisted as a Spanish Cultura Heritage, the church and its adjacent building were used by Felipe III as a hospital and refuge for the Portuguese immigrants coming to Madrid. When Portugal gained independence from Spain, the buildings were abandoned and only reopened in 1689 by Queen Mariana of Austria for the Catholic Germans close to her daughter-in-law. 

Go on day trips from Madrid

One advantage of visiting the Spanish capital is exploring the nearby charming towns. There are various day trips from Madrid to see UNESCO World Heritage Sites, tour royal palaces, and walk through historic cities that are within one to three hours away.  

While there are options to go to Segovia, Avila, and the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, we opted for a full-day trip from Madrid to Toledo. However, if you’d like to see other cities, too, I list a few recommended tours below. 

Toledo is one of the oldest cities in Spain, boasting ancient history and culture with Christian, Islamic, and Jewish influences. This influence gave Toledo its nickname of the city of ‘three cultures.’ Located around an hour away by car or 35 minutes by train, visiting Toledo is one of the popular day trips from Madrid. 

Dating back to the Middle Ages, Toledo is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its history and architecture. The city is easily explored on foot and features plenty of interesting historical and religious sights, out of which Alcazar de Toledo is the must-see, followed by the Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes, the Toledo Cathedral, and the El Greco Museum, to name a few. 

And once you get hungry, some cafes and restaurants offer delicious Spanish and international food. 

How to get from Madrid to Toledo

As Toledo is a popular Madrid day trip, frequent trains and buses depart from Atocha train station or Madrid Interc. Pl. Elíptica bus station. The train station is close to the center, while the bus stop is around 4 km from it. 

I suggest traveling by train for its convenient station location and comfortable setting inside the carriage. I used Omio.com to check schedules and buy tickets in advance. 

Have shrimp in garlic sauce for dinner

Casa Abuelo is another of the oldest restaurants in Madrid. It opened in 1906 and specializes in simple yet delicious shrimp in garlic sauce. 

Still run by the same family who opened it more than a century ago, Casa Abuelo is an iconic place that can’t be missed. With several branches in the same area to meet the demand of locals and tourists visiting Madrid, the oldest one is at 12 Victoria Street, but it is a standing bar that gets quite busy. Therefore, we ended up dining at La Casa del Abuelo CRUZ. 

While we walked in, reserving a table on their website is better to avoid waiting in line. 

Finish your visit to Madrid with a flamenco show

No matter how many days in Madrid you have, watching a flamenco show should be on your itinerary as it is a perfect end to your Madrid trip. 

There are dozens of flamenco tablaos (where flamenco shows are performed) offering shows. The most authentic that many people recommend, including myself, is Tablao Flamenco Torres Bermejas, which opened in 1960.  

I purchased the ticket here, and while you can also book tapas with drinks, I think it’s a waste of money from what I have seen at the table next to ours. Just book the show only and get the drink on the spot. Sangria and Tinto de verano was around 5 EUR. 

The show lasts one hour and is absolutely worth it as the dancers and singers put their heart and soul into their performances. Moreover, the venue has a beautiful Arabic theme and is pretty spacious. 

Unfortunately, not all tables face the front of the stage. We were given a side table, which was alright after all. However, there were more tables behind us, too. 

More places to add to your itinerary for Madrid

This blog post section provides optional places to visit if you have more time and are looking for how to plan your trip to Madrid in 5 days, for example. These Madrid attractions are slightly further from the city center and off the main sights’ trek. By all means, if they interest you, they are added to the map provided above so you can customize your itinerary for Madrid as you wish. 

View Puerta de Toledo 

Puerta de Toledo, or Toledo Gate, has been a Spanish Cultural Heritage (Bien de Interés Cultural ) since 1996. The gate construction started in 1812 and was finished only 15 years later. 

It was one of the 19 city gates within the so-called Walls of Felipe IV that surrounded Madrid from 1625 to 1868. Apart from Toledo Gate, you can also see Puerta de Alcalá, Puerta de San Vicente, and Puerta de Hierro city gates. 

Cross the Bridge of Toledo 

Further down from Toledo Gate is one of Madrid’s beautiful bridges, the Bridge of Toledo. For those creating 5 days in Madrid itinerary, it is a perfect spot for photoshoots in the morning when fewer people walk on this pedestrian bridge. 

Built in a Baroque style from 1718 to 1732 by architect Pedro de Ribera over the Manzanares River, the bridge links the Pyramids roundabout with Marqués de Vadillo Square. Since 1956, the bridge has been listed as a Spanish Cultural Heritage and features beautiful columns and statues. 

Discover former slaughterhouse turned into cultural space

Those who look for cultural sights should explore Matadero Madrid, the old slaughterhouse constructed in neo-Mudejar style with several pavilions that date back to the beginning of the 20th century. 

The slaughterhouse and cattle market existed here from 1927 to 1996. The complex was built from 1911 to 1925, and the main focus was to have functional, productive, and simple pavilions. 

The Matadoro Madrid is a fascinating place to explore for art lovers and those who admire architecture, as you’ll find beautiful tiles with abstract designs adorning the facades of the pavilions. Some of the signs of the slaughterhouse are also well-preserved, giving you a glimpse of what it looked like back in the day. 

Since 2006, the slaughterhouse has been turned into a cultural space that has a theater complex, art galleries showing temporary and permanent exhibitions, the country’s first and only cinema still showing non-fiction films, installations by local artists, an outdoor multipurpose space, and two dining venues, to name just a few. 

Once done with the complex, you can walk through Park Rio, Madrid’s one of the biggest leisure parks, home to other cultural and recreational buildings, including the Greenhouse Crystal Palace of Arganzuela. The park has seventeen different pay areas and is an excellent place to relax and have fun, even for adults.    

Tour around Las Ventas Bullring

I don’t like and support bullfights, but I understand it is part of the Spanish culture and history. While I would never attend the event, my curiosity to learn more about its history, understand the tradition and see the building itself led me to Las Ventas Bullring. 

The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, or simply Las Ventas, is the biggest bullfighting ring in Spain. It is located in the Salamanca district and is easily accessible via the metro’s green and red lines. The stop’s name is Ventas. 

Inaugurated in 1931, Las Ventas can accommodate almost 24,000 visitors, making it the third-largest bullfighting stadium in the world, after Mexico and Venezuela. 

The building, designed by the architect José Espeliú in the Moorish or Neo-Mudéjar style, has ceramic replicas of the heraldic crests of the various Spanish provinces. The architecture is simply stunning and has a Spanish Cultural Heritage status. 

The ring for the fighting is 60 meters in diameter, while the seating rows are divided into 10 “tendidos,” a group of 27 rows around the arena, some in the shade and the rest in the sun. 

The ticket to the bullring includes an audioguide and a self-guided tour through the whole building where you learn the history of this tradition, who are the most significant and famous madators, what are the rules of the bullfight, a chapel for prayers before the fight, etc. Besides walking through the ring and arena, you can also see the changing rooms of the fighters and the emergency room if a matador gets injured during the fight. 

The tour finishes at a small museum showcasing the fascinating and intricate clothes of some of the most prominent madators. 

Besides hosting bullfighting, the Las Ventas has also been used to host concerts of such international musicians as The Beatles, Diana Ross, Depeche Mode, AC/DC, Radiohead, Kylie Minogue, and Coldplay. 

• Opening hours: open every day but have seasonal hours. Check here. 
• Entrance fee: adults – 18 EUR. Purchase the ticket in advance. 

Practical Madrid travel tips 

Best time to visit Madrid

The best time to visit Madrid is in the autumn, from September to November, or spring, from March to May, when the temperatures are mild and the days are long and warm. 

Madrid in summer can be extremely hot, especially in July when we visited it. While I don’t mind the heat, my friends were quite uncomfortable. Summer also brings many tourists and can be crowded at museums and parts of the city.

If you are okay with layering and visiting Madrid in colder months, consider winter from December to February. At this time of the year, the accommodation prices get relatively low. 

How to get from Madrid Airport to city center

Madrid International Airport is well-connected to public transport with bus, metro, and taxi. For more comfort and convenience, as a group of friends, we ordered a taxi via the Bolt app, which cost us around 25 EUR to get to our city center accommodation. Alternatively, you can also book a private transfer, which costs around 40 EUR. 

How to get around Madrid

To use Madrid public transport, you need to purchase a Multi Card. It is a multi-person, reloadable, contactless transport card that costs 2.50 EUR and loads whichever ticket you want. 

If you use public transport often, you can load a 10-journey Ticket or full-day tourist ticket, which is cheaper than buying single tickets. 

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