How to Spend 3 Days in Madrid

On my first visit to Madrid in 2012, I was not impressed. I found the city kind of boring and a huge let-down after Barcelona.

As we were planning our Spain trip for February 2020, I purposefully left Madrid off the itinerary. But my sister requested we add it, so I begrudgingly booked our train tickets.

And I’m glad I did. Because I have changed my tune on Madrid!

Don’t get me wrong – it’s still not my favourite Spanish city. But I did warm up to Madrid’s charms and really enjoyed my time in Spain’s capital.

While it’s no Seville or Barcelona, I do think Madrid is worth spending a few days in.

It’s less touristy and more cosmopolitan, though still very historic. Yes there are touristy things to do, but it’s still a real city busy with locals.

Below I’ve put together a three day itinerary for Madrid that combines the best parts of my 2012 and 2020 trips. I’m also sharing the best places to stay and answering some Madrid itinerary FAQs.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning if you click through and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Day 1: Good food, a palace and a walking tour

Eat breakfast at La Mallorquina

Sure, Madrid has impressive monuments and museums but the most important discovery you’ll make will be at La Mallorquina, a local chain of bakeries, when you order the Napolitana de Chocolate*.

This was the best chocolate pastry I’ve had in my life. It tasted like someone put the most decadent chocolate bar into the flakiest pastry crust. It was so good!

We made the mistake of only discovering this bakery halfway through our Madrid trip, and therefore missed out on eating as many napolitanas as possible.

So learn from my mistake and make this your first stop in Madrid. Trust me, you’re going to want to come back a few times!

*They also have cream and apple options, if you’re not into chocolate.

Go on a walking tour to get to know Madrid

One of my favourite ways to get to know a new city is on a walking tour. The guides are always super personable and I learn so much about the city.

A walking tour is a great introduction to a place without having to spend hours at a museum or with your nose in a book. Plus you can get great recommendations for other places to eat and visit.

Our Madrid guide from our Feb 2020 tour was fun and did a great job showing us the city. He took us to the oldest restaurant in the world, past the Cathedral and Royal Palace, through beautiful squares and down hidden alleys.

He pointed out the place where a royal assassination attempt went wrong and a church that used to lure in congregants by offering them free bread. I highly recommend doing a walking tour anytime you’re in a new city, and certainly in Madrid.

We did our free walking tour with SANDEMANs NEW Europe. Remember that you still need to tip on a free tour!

Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid & Cathedral

I was lucky enough to visit the Royal Palace of Madrid twice in 2012, so decided not to wait in the long line to visit for a third time in 2020.

But if this is your first trip to Madrid, I highly recommend it! Though to avoid waiting in a long line, grab skip-the-line tickets to the palace or go on a guided English tour of the palace.

Inside you’ll find huge rooms with crystal chandeliers, intricate artwork on the ceilings and silk tapestries on the walls. I was amazed by how many rooms there were – including a chapel, banquet hall, infirmary and armoury.

The Royal Palace was the highlight of my first trip to Madrid – I liked it so much I visited twice! Because it’s so huge, you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with lots to explore.

Across the square from the Palace is the Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena, aka the Almudena Cathedral or simply Madrid’s cathedral.

You can visit the cathedral for free (opening hours depend on what religious services are on) or choose to pay a small fee to visit the adjoining crypt and museum.

Combine a walking tour with skip-the-line access to the Royal Palace!

End your day at Mercado de San Miguel

Mercado de San Miguel is a popular food market in Madrid. It’s a little touristy and overpriced but it’s also a lot of fun and very delicious.

Before visiting, I had watched a video that listed some of the better stalls, so we stuck to those and sampled paella, vermut, tiny sandwiches, ice cream and more. It was all delicious!

End your first day in Madrid chowing down on whatever catches your eye at the market.

Day 2: Museums, sports and more good food

Start your day at Brunch Club

My sister found this awesome restaurant called Brunch Club that, surprise surprise, serves great brunch.

Is brunch a typical Spanish meal? Are pancakes and eggs benedict what all the locals are eating? No, probably not.

But it’s delicious! So enjoy. You’re going to need some fuel for your second day in Madrid!

Visit the Museo del Prado

The Museo Nacional del Prado, or Prado Museum, is famous for hosting one of the largest collections of classical European art in the world. This place is seriously huge!

When I visited in 2012, I was blown away by the endless number of rooms and corridors, each holding dozens or hundreds of pieces of art.

I’m not a huge art person, but I do think the Museo del Prado is worth a visit. Because there’s so much art, you can simply move on when you get bored and look for a piece that piques your interest.

For example, there’s a painting of the Virgin Mary squirting breastmilk on a man kneeling in front of her. It sure wasn’t what I was expecting to see!

Of course if you’re really into art, especially Spanish art, the Prado is a can’t miss!

As the Prado Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Madrid, you’ll want to book your tickets in advance. Get regular entrance tickets, skip the line tickets or guided tour tickets.

Bonus: Visit Museo Reina Sofia

If you’re more into contemporary or surrealist art, you may prefer to visit Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía instead. Or if you’re into all types of art, visit both museums!

Museo Reina Sofia is definitely going to be a different experience than Museo del Prado. When I visited in 2012, I was a little weirded out by some of the exhibits.

There was one exhibit in the basement that was pitch black. Since I was visiting solo, I got scared and had to have a security guard guide me through with a flashlight.

In another exhibit, a fake beach scene had been set up complete with sand, fake plants and cabanas. Except there were very real birds in a cage in the corner!

Like I said, I’m not much of an art person. Most contemporary art goes right over my head. But it certainly isn’t boring!

Grad your regular entrance tickets or skip the line guided tour tickets to Museo Reina Sofia.

Stop for tapas

You can’t spend time in Spain and not enjoy some tapas!

Tapas are small dishes typically enjoyed with a drink as a pre-dinner snack. Think of them like elevated bar food!

On all of my trips to Spain, I have always indulged in the local tapas scene. Madrid’s tapas game is particularly great with tons of bars and restaurants to choose from.

Not sure where to start? Try a tapas tour! This wine and tapas walking tour includes 12 food tastings and four drinks.

Check out a sports game

If you had to associate Madrid with any sport it would be soccer (or football), right? What if I told you Madrid also has a super fun basketball team? It’s true!

My brother is a big basketball fan, so my sister found a local game we could attend when we were in Spain together in Feb 2020. And it was so fun!

Basketball is my favourite sport and the only one I understand enough to commentate on (much to my brother’s chagrin, which I learned when he turned to me halfway through the game and said, “So you just talk the whole time?”).

Besides my annoying narration, we had a great time cheering on the home team with the locals. And it was a super exciting game too – they won it at the buzzer!

Of course, if you can see a soccer game in Madrid, you shouldn’t pass that up. Even if you can’t see a game in person, just being part of the local soccer fandom is a lot of fun.

When I first visited in 2012, Spain had just won the Euro Cup and it was madness in Madrid. Impromptu parades were breaking out, streets were closed, and everyone was wearing their jerseys, singing and blowing whistles!

All day long car horns and cheers were heard throughout the city. Even the Madrid’s statues were celebrating (aka some locals climbed up and wrapped them in the team colours).

So after a day of museums, end your second night in Madrid cheering on the home team!

Day 3: A day trip to Toledo (+ some churros!)

Head out on a day trip from Madrid to Toledo

Toledo is an ancient city on a hill only a 30 minute train ride from Madrid. That’s why on your third day in Madrid, I suggest you head there on a day trip.

Once the capital of Spain, Toledo is now known for its history and charm. The city is walled and everything is cobblestone. It’s home to Jewish, Muslim and Christian sites, as all religions reigned (more or less in harmony, depending on who you ask) at the same time.

Once you arrive in Toledo, I recommend joining a walking tour to get a good introduction to the city. We did this when we visited and it was super fascinating to learn more about the history and see what Toledo has become today.

Once home to 40+ convents, Toledo had only nine in 2020 and expects to have none in the next 10 years. 12th Century churches have been converted into clubs and our guide explained that many of the residential buildings are empty with younger generations moving to the big cities.

After your tour, grab some lunch then continue exploring the city. Head up to the top of the Alcázar de Toledo for a beautiful view, visit the Toledo Cathedral and stop by the Jewish Quarter. Then, return to the train station and head back to Madrid.

Toledo is an excellent day trip option from Madrid and I would highly recommend it. There are lots of hills and steps though, so pack your walking shoes!

Want to leave the organizing up to someone else? Join this Madrid to Toledo day trip by bus with an English guide.

Enjoy Madrid’s famous churros

On your final night in Madrid, it’s time to indulge in another local culinary delight, churros!

Madrid is famous for their churros and nowhere is more famous than Chocolatería San Ginés. So, of course, we had to sample the best of the best when we visited.

We didn’t have to wait too long for our churros or to snag a table, but I can see how San Gines could get very crowded. Naturally, the deep fried dough dipped in chocolate was a hit with us!

Where to stay in Madrid

The first time I visited Madrid, I stayed a little outside of the city. It was easy enough to take the subway into town, but I missed being able to walk around.

On my next visit, I booked a place that was much more central. I loved being able to walk to Plaza del Sol, Plaza Meyor and all the main sites in the city centre. There were also lots of great restaurants and shops on our doorstep.

However, keep in mind that being central will come at a cost. It may also mean a loud stay, as Madrid is definitely not a city that goes to bed early.

• If you want to splurge with modern furnishings, a central location and a rooftop pool, check out Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid.
• If you’re looking for a mid-range hotel in a good location that embraces a more industrial/minimalist look, check out Petit Palace Alcalá.
• If you’re on a budget and fine with no frills as long as you’re in the Centro district, check out Marina Rooms.

Madrid itinerary FAQs

Is 3 days enough to visit Madrid?

I think three days in Madrid is the perfect amount of time to see the highlights of the city, eat some great food and even fit in a nearby day trip.

Unlike Barcelona, there aren’t a ton of things to see and do in Madrid. Plus, most of the main sites are very close together. So you really don’t need more than 2-3 days to enjoy Madrid.

What is the best month to visit Madrid?

I’ve visited Madrid in July and in February and I would definitely recommend sticking to the off season or shoulder season.

July was, of course, way too hot and crowded. February was warm compared to most winters we experience in Canada, but definitely not tropical. We had bright and sunny days but it got quite cold at night.

I’d recommend visiting Madrid in spring or fall, when the weather is ideal and the crowds are smaller. March or October would be great!

Is Madrid a walkable city?

Absolutely, Madrid is a very walkable city, especially if you’re staying in the Centro neighbourhood. And if walking isn’t a good option for you, Madrid also has a robust public transit system and ride share options.

Is Madrid or Barcelona better?

I personally prefer Barcelona to Madrid. I think there’s more to do in Barcelona, I like that it’s on the water and the Gaudi architecture gives it a unique feel.

The main attractions in Barcelona – Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell and Las Ramblas – did impress me more than the main attractions in Madrid. Though that’s not to say Madrid’s Royal Palace, museums, square and markets aren’t great.

Barcelona is definitely more touristy. If you’re worried about crowds, Madrid might be a better pick. I would also choose Madrid if the museums or palace really entice you.

Though to be fair, I prefer Seville over both Madrid and Barcelona!

Wrapping up your 3 days in Madrid

With three days, I think you can get a good taste of Madrid. It might not be the highlight of your Spain trip, but I think you will be glad you went.

It’s not my favourite city in Spain but Madrid is a cool city. There’s lots to see and do (and eat!) and great day trip options nearby.

Now that I’ve revisited Madrid, I would be happy to visit again in the future. I could see spending a few weeks there, digging deeper into its food scene and using it as a base to discover more nearby towns.

But until then, I’ll just keep dreaming about those Napolitana de Chocolates!

Is Madrid on your must-visit list?