What to see in Madrid in 3 days (Route + Map)

The great boom that is having tourism in Madrid In recent times it has been based on the interesting places that the capital of Spain has, which by the way is our city.

One of the latest milestones in this regard has been the inclusion of the Retiro and Prado Site on the previous list to be declared World Heritage awarded by the Unesco.

In any case, currently Barcelona It is a city that pleases and even surprises everyone who visits it.

And not only because of its monuments or beautiful corners, but especially because of the great atmosphere that exists in the capital.

In order to discover and delve deeper into these attractions, you would need to plan a visit of several days, but it is not always possible...

It is possible that, for example, trips to Madrid for business, given the great boom that the capital has been experiencing as a destination for this type of tourism in recent times.

All the information in detail

1 The best to see in Madrid in 3 days
2 Map of the Route through Madrid in 3 days
3 Day 1 of the Route through Madrid
4 Day 2 of the Route through Madrid
5 Day 3 of the Route through Madrid
6 Other places to visit in Madrid

The best to see in Madrid in 3 days

This may limit your time available to visit the city.

Or it is also possible that you take advantage of a bridge to make a three-day getaway to Madrid, so this proposal of a route through the most notable places from the center.

Regardless of your situation, don't worry, we are here to help you organize a route through Madrid.

We are going to leave everything well prepared for you as we always do when a friend comes and we show them our city.

When planning the route through the different sites and your availability (one, two, three or more days) for the tourist visit, it will depend on whether you dedicate more or less time to the places we propose.

But I can assure you that with this route you will be able to visit Madrid in three days complete, and somewhat more hurried, in two days.

In case you don't know, we have several articles on the blog with several different routes with tips for visiting Madrid.

On your trip to the capital, you may be interested in taking a tour accompanied by a specialized guide, such as a Guided tour of the Royal Palace or by the Museo del Prado, and if you have time, it is well worth doing one excursion to Toledo

Here you can choose and book the Best guided tours and excursions in Madrid

We leave them here, because depending on the days you have, they may help you.

In the different articles we propose similar routes but with variations so it is possible that routes from other articles better adapt to the trip you have planned based on your interests and where you are staying.

What to see in Madrid in 2 days

Map of the Route through Madrid in 3 days

Day 1 of the Route through Madrid

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol will be the starting point of the first day's route since it is the true center of the capital, and kilometer zero of the radial road network of Spain.

There you have very prominent corners of Madrid, such as the old Post House, now headquarters of Government of the Community of Madrid, statue of Charles III or that of Bear and the Madroño, another of the icons of Madrid.

If you like sweets, you should make a stop at The Mallorquina, in the same square, or in the Riojan, In main Street, two of the traditional pastry shops in Madrid.

ORGANIZE your TRIP

Here I leave you interesting articles about Puerta del Sol so you know what to look for during your visit.

Plaza Mayor

Lowering the main Street From Puerta del Sol, you head towards the Plaza Mayor, another of the most emblematic places in the city, where the façade of the Bakery House.

La Plaza Mayor It is one of the most visited corners by tourists in Madrid, with a great atmosphere of terraces and traditional restaurants, and also the custom of being a venue for large events in the capital.

In the arcades of the square and in its surroundings you will be able to see various century-old stores.

By the way, it is very common to have a calamari sandwich in that area.

Mercado de San Miguel

On the west side of the Plaza Mayor you have access to the Mercado de San Miguel, which in recent times has become an outstanding gastronomic and tapas enclave.

Plaza de la Villa

If you are curious to see the building of the historic Madrid town hall, house of the village, a little further on, along the main Street you arrive at the Plaza de la Villa.

There you will also see the House and Tower of Lujanes, one of the few medieval buildings still preserved in the city.

La Latina, Cava Alta and Cava Baja

La Latin area They don't usually include it too much on tourist routes, but mainly because the people who write them are not from the city.

As a Madrid native, it seems to me that if you want to get to know Madrid, this is a very authentic area.

La Latina is a neighborhood of popular streets with tapas bars, specifically in the Alta and Baja Cavas.

Throughout this area and around the segovia street, you have numerous taverns and bars to have tapas.

If you want a little terrace to have a drink at any time, La Latina is a good place, you certainly won't regret it.

Cathedral of the Almudena

Very close and returning to the most monumental Madrid, we must visit the Almudena Cathedral, where you have the possibility of go up to the terrace of the cathedral located in the dome of the building.

To do this you must sign up for the visit of the cathedral museum, so that after touring the cathedral museum, from the terrace you will have good panoramic views of this historic area of the city.

If you are curious, you can visit the Almudena Crypt neo-romanesque style, which you must enter through the Cuesta de la Vega.

Here we leave you practical topics that can help you visit it.

Tips for visiting the Almudena Cathedral

Royal Palace

Along in front of the cathedral I advise you not to stop visit the interior of the Royal Palace, one of the most spectacular palaces you can visit in Europe.

Compared to other European royal palaces, it is a palace during whose visit You feel that it is alive, since it maintains its activity of official ceremonies.

During your visit you should not miss entering the Royal Armory, with one of the most important armor collections in Europe, and if you have time, you should visit the new Gallery of the Royal Collections, which has become one of the most visited museums in the capital since its recent inauguration.

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If you want to know more about this visit, here are some articles from the Royal Palace that will surely help you.

Plaza de Oriente

So that you understand it well, the Royal Palace is part of the next stop, the Plaza de Oriente.

It is one of the most beautiful places in the city, with a long historical tradition, where you will find some of the city's most notable monuments.

Look at the equestrian statue of Philip IV, considered the most important in Madrid, which is located in the center of the square.

Or also in the statues of Spanish Kings that you can see distributed in its gardens, as well as the monuments dedicated to the Captain Melgar or Corporal Luis Noval.

Royal Palace in the Plaza de Oriente in Madrid

If your visit takes place on weekdays, and you are also a great opera fan, don't miss the opportunity to sign up for a guided tour of the Royal Theater, a building that will surprise you with its history and the spectacular dimensions of its interior.

Temple of Debod

From the Plaza de Oriente, following the garden promenade and leaving the Plaza de España on the right, which you must then visit, you reach the Temple of Debod.

We recommend this place because, in addition to being a very curious place as it is a ancient egyptian temple, is where you can see the best sunset in Madrid.

A garden with brutal views of the Sierra de Madrid, with the Casa de Campo in front and, to the left, views of the Royal Palace.

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For me one of the most beautiful places in Madrid.

Curiosities of the Temple of Debod

Plaza de España

From the Temple of Debod we return to, now, visit la Plaza of Spain, one of the iconic squares of Madrid.

There you will find emblematic skyscrapers such as the Tower of Madrid and the Building Spain, as well as the monument to Miguel de Cervantes in the center of the park.

Don't forget to notice the beautiful façade of the Gallardo House, one of the best samples of Modernism what you can see in Madrid.

We leave you some interesting topics from the square.

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Gran Vía and Plaza de Callao

From there you go up the Gran Vía, the most important avenue in the city, full of theaters, cinemas, shops, restaurants and the most cinematic in Madrid.

In the heart of the Gran Vía is the Callao square, which you have surely seen in several movies, and also the telephone building, which in case you didn't know, was built in 1926 and became the first skyscraper built in Europe

Malasaña and Chueca

Malasaña and Chueca They are two neighborhoods of Madrid that extend near Gran Vía, which we include in this list because they are ideal places to complete the first day of the route through Madrid.

It is an area with a lot of atmosphere of all styles, and at night it gets very beautiful and interesting.

So have dinner in the area, and let everyone extend the night as far as they want, because the next day there is a lot to visit

Day 2 of the Route through Madrid

for a second tourist day in Madrid, I propose that you focus on the so-called Art Walk, that is, in the Paseo del Prado,

There are concentrated the main museums of the city, and in them, in addition to the permanent collections, you can see the most notable exhibitions.

If you really like museums, you can visit all of them, and if this is not the case, at least we recommend visiting the Prado Museum.

We are going to talk to you about the three that are most important and then each one, depending on their tastes, will adapt their route.

Museo del Prado

El Meadow Museum It is the largest art gallery in the world, and that is no small joke since the number of important works in history it houses is overwhelming.

You have the possibility of signing up for a guided tour, which is what we always recommend.

In any case, I recommend that you consult this information on what to see at the Prado Museum with the essential works, and you yourself decide within your visit plan in Madrid how much time you can dedicate to said visit.

It may be useful to know when you can visit the Prado museum for free.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

If you are interested in seeing another museum, on the other side of the square of Neptune you find the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum, another of the great proposals of the Prado axis.

This museum stands out for its temporary exhibitions that are traditionally among the most visited in Madrid.

Additionally, during the visit you can tour the very interesting permanent collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza.

Another nearby cultural option is CaixaForum, in front of Jardín Botánico, where you might find an exhibition of interest to you.

Reina Sofia Museum

Another important institution that you can also visit is the Reina Sofia Museum, which you find in the Santa Isabel Square, front of Atocha station, where you can see a surprising greenhouse garden.

In this museum you have the best sample of contemporary art, and that is where you can see Picasso's Guernica.

I suggest you eat one of the taverns that you will find around the area. orchards street, In full Neighborhood of the letters.

Parque del Retiro

Once we have visited some or all of the museums, we return to the more general route with the lungs of Madrid.

In your walk through Retiro Park, don't stop seeing the Estanque, with the great monument to Alfonso XII, the nerve center of this popular park, always full of walkers, and, above all, the corner of the Crystal Palace.

It is one of the best examples in Spain of what is known as metal architecture, which was so popular at the end of the 19th century, and from my point of view, the most beautiful corner of Retiro Park.

What to see in Retiro Park

Puerta de Alcalá

After visiting the Retiro Park, you head towards the Alcalá gate, another of the great monuments of Madrid, from where you will begin your visit of the Retirement park, the most important and visited urban park in the city.

On the same high street, in front of the park fence, the Church of San Manuel and San BenitoWithout a doubt, the best example of neo-byzantine style in Madrid.

Curiosities of the Puerta de Alcalá

Plaza de Cibeles

And the time has come to head towards the Plaza de Cibeles, where you can see one of the iconic images of the capital, the Fountain of Cibeles.

You can also visit the Cibeles palace, the new headquarters of the town hall and another of the city's iconic buildings.

Plaza de Cibeles from the terrace of the Cibeles Palace in Madrid

In this visit it is worth it go up to the terrace of the Cibeles Palace to enjoy some panoramic views of Madrid.

Schedules and ticket prices for guided tours of the Linares Palace

Fine Arts Circle Terrace

Before night falls, I advise you to return to the Plaza de Cibeles to go up Alcalá street to the building Circle of Fine Arts.

I advise you there go up to the terrace To see them panoramic views of Madrid at sunset, currently also one of the most fashionable drinking spots in the city.

We also attach information about other terraces and viewpoints in Madrid, which are other alternatives to visit.

Plaza de Santa Ana

To close the day, I suggest you go to the area of the Santa Ana Square.

Telefónica building from the rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes

In its surroundings, specifically in the triangle with the San Jerónimo Race and the Puerta del Sol, you have narrow streets with a great variety of proposals tapas bars and restaurants.

And from a cultural point of view, you also have the option of visit the Lope de Vega House-Museum for free.

In short, two intense days in which you will have a first glimpse of the great attractions of the city of Madrid.

Plaza Santa Ana in the Las Letras neighborhood

Day 3 of the Route through Madrid

For third day of the route through MadridWhat we always recommend is not to stick to a strict plan like the previous two days and experience the city a little more at your leisure.

It is a good time to visit places that you have missed seeing, or take excursions to visit some of the sites Heritage that Madrid has less than an hour from the capital, such as Aranjuez, the Monastery of El Escorial or Alcalá de Henares.

In addition, here we include information and you can reserve various tours and excursions that you can do around Madrid.

Other places to visit in Madrid

Although you also have other interesting visits if you don't want to leave the city.

We once again leave you the list with all the interesting topics in Madrid to give you ideas for that third day.

All topics from Madrid

Although if you asked us for personal recommendations, here are some.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid

It is curious, but you should know that the second most visited “monument” in the capital is the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where Real Madrid plays soccer.

This enormous stadium with a capacity of more than 80.000 people is located in the heart of the Paseo de la Castellana, and every day thousands of people come to visit its museum and be able to step on the grass where many of the best soccer players in the world have passed.

Here we leave you the information in case you want to visit it.

Las Cuatro de la Castellana, the great skyscrapers of Madrid

Madrid has four enormous and spectacular skyscrapers located at the end of the Paseo de la Castellana, to the North of the plaza de castile, which are already part of the city skyline.

Known as the Four Towers of Castellana, are newly built skyscrapers, which have recently been joined by a fifth building of lower height, which made the Europe Gate Towers o Kio Towers as we popularly know them, two inclined office towers in the style of the Tower of Pisa.

The entire area where these tall buildings are located is one of the entrances to Madrid and is currently an area full of offices and restaurants.

When night falls they light up in colors that change, giving them a very special touch visible for many kilometers.

Country House of Madrid

One of the peculiarities that Madrid has is that it is one of the greenest cities in the world.

There are parks everywhere, almost all the streets have huge trees, but if there is a true lung of the city, apart from the Retiro Park, that is the Casa de Campo.

The perfect place where Madrid residents from the entire community, not just the city, go to walk and play sports in this enormous forest that was once a hunting area for kings.

An ideal way to get to the center of Casa de Campo is to take the cable car that unites the city from the street Painter Rosales, passing over the Manzanares river., an experience that all Madrid residents lived as children with their families.

But the real heart of this great park is the Lake of the Country House, which is surrounded by numerous terraces of bars and restaurants, always very busy.

Amusement Parks and Zoo in Casa de Campo

La Casa de Campo It is so big that it has an amusement park and a zoo inside, two ideal places to visit with the family.

is the traditional Theme park from the city of Madrid, which a few years ago was another, already about 30 kilometers from the capital, which is the Madrid Warner Park.

Another perfect visit for the little ones is the Madrid Zoo, in an incredible environment surrounded by nature.

Best Neighborhoods to enjoy Madrid

If the capital of Spain has one thing that all tourists highlight, it is that, in addition to the monumental part, Madrid has a unique and special atmosphere, different from many other European cities.

That's why we always recommend leaving a few days when you travel to Madrid to get to know some neighborhoods that are where we Madrid residents really live.

Neighborhoods like La Latina, Malasaña and Santa Ana Square They are incredible places to spend hours trying tapas, full of restaurants and terraces where you can have a few beers, or bars where you can end the night.

Multicultural neighborhoods like Lavapies, which is a melting pot of cultures with restaurants from all countries, or Chueca, one of the areas Gay Boys most important in Europe, make Madrid open to all types of travelers who want to enjoy a good atmosphere.