Two days in Madrid lets you separate the two cities that share the centre: historic Madrid of the Habsburgs and Bourbons, walked from Plaza Mayor to the Royal Palace, and artistic Madrid along the Paseo del Prado. Split this way you won't need the metro, and each day ends in a different neighbourhood for dinner.
The 2 days at a glance
| Slot | Day 1: historic Madrid | Day 2: art and the Retiro |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Royal Palace (10:00), Almudena, Plaza de la Villa, Plaza Mayor | Prado Museum (10:00) |
| Lunch | La Latina | By the Retiro or in the Letras |
| Afternoon | Sol, Gran Vía and the Temple of Debod | Retiro and Reina Sofía |
| Evening | Malasaña | Flamenco or century-old taverns |
What to book, and how far ahead
| What | Official price | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Palace | €18 (plus €0.77 online) | 1-2 days; first slot |
| Prado Museum | €15 (free under 18 and students up to 25) | 1-3 days |
| Reina Sofía | €12 (free Monday and Wednesday to Saturday 19:00-21:00) | same day |
| Flamenco | from €45 | 1-2 days |
Day 1: historic Madrid
10:00 — Royal Palace, at opening, before the groups. October to March it opens Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 (until 19:00 April to September) and Sundays 10:00-16:00. The Throne Room, the Gasparini Room and the Royal Armoury: 1 h 15. On Wednesdays and Saturdays the Changing of the Guard runs from 11:00 to 14:00 at the Puerta del Príncipe. Ticket details in Royal Palace tickets sold out.
11:30 — Almudena Cathedral and Sabatini Gardens, opposite and next door (30 minutes). Then 10 minutes along Calle Mayor to Plaza de la Villa and Plaza Mayor; look into the San Miguel market without eating there.
14:00 — Lunch in La Latina, 5 minutes down Cuchilleros: Cava Baja, Cava Alta and Plaza de la Paja.
16:30 — Sol and the Gran Vía. La Latina to Puerta del Sol is 10 minutes; from there, via Montera or Preciados, to the Gran Vía, which you walk from Callao to Plaza de España (20 minutes) looking up: the Metrópolis, Telefónica and Carrión buildings. If you want the story behind each façade, there's a private 2-hour tour just for your group:
18:00 — Temple of Debod, 10 minutes from Plaza de España: a free sunset with the Royal Palace and the mountains behind. In November the sun sets around 18:00; in summer after 21:00, so in July leave Debod until after dinner.
20:30 — Malasaña, 15 minutes away: Plaza del Dos de Mayo, Calle del Espíritu Santo and old-school bars mixed with new ones.
Day 2: the Prado, the Retiro and the Reina Sofía
10:00 — Prado Museum (2 h 30). Open Monday to Saturday 10:00-20:00, Sundays and holidays until 19:00. Velázquez, Goya, Bosch and El Greco in quiet rooms. Torn between museums? See Prado vs Reina Sofía vs Thyssen.
12:45 — Retiro, 5 minutes along Calle Felipe IV. Stroll to the boating lake (rowing boats €4-6 per half hour) and the Crystal Palace (free). Ninety unhurried minutes.
14:30 — Lunch in the Ibiza neighbourhood by the Retiro, or back in the streets off Huertas in the Letras.
16:30 — Reina Sofía (€12; closed Tuesdays), 15 minutes from the Retiro heading down towards Atocha: Guernica and the Spanish surrealists, 1 h 30. Tip: Monday and Wednesday to Saturday it's free from 19:00 to 21:00, so you can flip the afternoon (Letras first, Reina Sofía at 19:00) if you don't mind queues. On a Tuesday, swap it for the Thyssen (€14).
18:30 — Barrio de las Letras. Plaza de Santa Ana, Calle Huertas and the outside of Lope de Vega's house. For a view over the city, the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop costs €5.
21:00 — Your last night. Two options: flamenco at Tablao Las Carboneras, by Plaza Mayor (from €45 with a drink), or a private walk through Madrid's oldest taverns with two drinks and two tapas included:
Indicative budget per person
| Item | 2 days |
|---|---|
| Royal Palace and Prado | €33 |
| Reina Sofía | €0-12 |
| Meals | €80-120 |
| Flamenco or tavern tour | €45-127 |
| Occasional metro | €0-6 |
| Total excluding accommodation | about €160-300 |
The top of the range includes the private tavern tour; with independent tapas and no flamenco you'll spend nearer €120.
Variations
- With children: day 1 as planned (the palace and its armoury go down well); on day 2, a short Prado visit (90 minutes) and a long Retiro session with the boats, leaving the Reina Sofía for another trip. More in Madrid with kids.
- If it rains: swap Debod and the Retiro for the Thyssen and the San Miguel market; the rest holds.
- In summer: the Retiro first thing before the Prado (it opens at 6:00) and back out on the streets from 19:30.
- With an extra day: Toledo or Segovia are 30 minutes away by train; see Madrid, Toledo and Segovia in 4 days.
Where to stay
Barrio de las Letras or Sol-Ópera, walkable for both days. La Latina if tapas come first; Malasaña or Chueca for nightlife. From the airport, metro line 8 or the express bus to Atocha or Cibeles.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the Royal Palace until late without a ticket and finding the ticket office shut (it closes an hour early).
- Prado and Reina Sofía back to back in the morning: four hours of museum in a row.
- Going to the Reina Sofía on a Tuesday.
- Dinner on Plaza Mayor.
- Taking taxis for 10-minute hops.
In a nutshell
Palace, Plaza Mayor and Gran Vía on day one; Prado, Retiro and Reina Sofía on day two; tapas in La Latina and Malasaña at night: two days that give Madrid its due. With just one, see Madrid in 1 day; with three, Madrid in 3 days.
