A fabulous 3 day Madrid itinerary.
I love a trip to Madrid, Spain. It’s a fantastic destination for a 3 day city break. It’s got tapas by the bucket load, an Egyptian temple and enough art museums to suit the fiercest critic.
There are loads of cultural and outdoor activities to fill your 3 day Madrid itinerary with. And we’ve not even got to the bit about the cable car yet.
Yes, you heard right, there’s a cable car right in the centre of Madrid, which really must be part of any visit, it’s so much fun. Three days in Madrid is an ideal amount of time. It gives you enough time to fit in the best things to do in Madrid and all at a leisurely pace.
I’ve included a map and some top tips throughout this guide to help you make the most of your time in Madrid.
If your Madrid itinerary won’t stretch to three days, read my 2 day Madrid itinerary instead.
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3 Day Madrid Itinerary
Spain is a wonderful country to choose for taking a city break. Alongside Madrid, there are loads of fabulous city breaks throughout Spain.
This 3 day itinerary will help you discover Madrid’s historic neighbourhoods, century-old cafés and gorgeous art and architecture. So let’s dive right in.
Day 1
Breakfast at Café Comercial
Get your three days in Madrid started with a historic location and delicious food all rolled into one.
Opened in 1887 and one of the oldest cafés in Madrid, Café Comercial is now a bit of an institution. It’s handily located next to Bilbao metro station. Go here for a combination of history and glamourous surroundings. It’s never too early for churros con chocolate right?
Faro de Moncloa (Moncloa Tower)
Once you’re sure your stomach is ready, head to the soaring Faro de Moncloa. For only €4, a glass lift takes you up to the dizzy heights of 92 metres above Madrid.
Metro Journey from Café Comercial
Start: Bilbao
End: Argüelles
Line number: 4
Journey time: 3 minutes
Walk: 10 minutes
At the top of the tower, over to one side, you’ll see gorgeous snow-covered mountains and to the other, you’ll be able to take in the panorama of urban Madrid.
There’s an explanation of the expansion of the city through the ages and a map of some of the key buildings you can spot, including the Norman Foster-designed Torre Foster (also known as Cepsa Tower).
Don’t worry too much about the height either, all of this goes on behind glass windows, you’re not left to the elements. The Faro de Moncloa is one of the best hidden gems in Madrid, so you should be able to go up it without much of a wait.
Faro de Moncloa Details
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9.30 am – 8 pm (closed in high winds)
Entrance fee: €4
Museo de América (Museum Of America)
The Museo de América is the first museum on your Madrid 3 day itinerary and what a great one to start with. It’s next to the Faro de Moncloa, so easy to reach from there.
The museum explores the heritage of the American continent and the peoples that have historically inhabited it.
I recommend you spend a couple of hours here. You’ll need the time to view the large collection of artefacts, including Columbian gold, Amazonian textiles and Mexican pottery.
If you’re into maps you’ll enjoy the fascinating cartography room showing how maps of the Americas have developed over time.
Displays are in Spanish or you can access an audio guide in English or French. Although the artisanal works, religious offerings and decorative pieces are visually interesting enough that you could easily enjoy a visit without needing a guide.
This museum is one of the best things to do in Madrid in 3 days. Similar to the Faro de Moncloa, it also seems to be much less prominent than some of Madrid’s other galleries and museums.
That’s a bonus for you, as it’s less busy so there’s much more space to consider the collection, without feeling as hurried as in some of the more well-known options.
Museo de América Details
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9.30 am – 3 pm, (Thursday, 9.30 am – 7 pm), Sunday 10 am – 3 pm
Entrance fee: €3, free on Sundays and Thursdays after 2 pm
Facilities include a small museum shop and lockers
El Teleférico to Casa De Campo (Cable Car)
If you’ve got three days in Madrid you have to have a go on the teleférico. It’s so much fun.
Buy a ticket, join the queue and guides will help you get into the next available cabin.
Ooh and ahh as you’re carried over the trees and up to the top of the Casa de Campo hill. Don’t forget to look back at the views behind you of the Palacio Real (Royal Palace), they’re certainly worth the very reasonable ticket price.
El Teleférico Details (temporarily closed for Maintenance until 2026)
Start: Rosales Teleférico station
End: Casa de Campo
Journey time: 11 minutes
Cost: €4.50 single/€6 return
Note: There aren’t any food outlets at the station at Casa de Campo
Casa de Campo and a Lakeside Lunch
At the end of the teleférico, walk down to the Casa de Campo lake at the bottom of the hill.
At the lake, take out a rowing boat or simply enjoy a relaxed lakeside lunch. There are several restaurants to choose from but they get busy, so be prepared for a bit of a wait for a table.
Campo del Moro and Jardines de Sabatini (Sabatini Gardens)
After lunch, walk over the Puente del Rey footbridge and you’ll arrive at the formal gardens of the Campo del Moro. There are fountains, a rose garden and some much-needed shade provided by imposing trees, plus a stunning view up to the Palacio Real.
Once you’ve captured the views, check out my article on Captions for Spain if you need inspiration for your Instagram feed.
If you’re in the mood for yet more greenery, take in the ornamental Jardines de Sabatini, located at the side of the Palacio Real. Both the Campo del Moro and the Jardines de Sabatini are free to enter.
Palacio Real (Royal Palace of Madrid)
If you like palaces then you’ll love the Palacio Real in Madrid. This 18th century Royal Palace is still the official residence of the Spanish royal family. It’s also blooming massive, I mean really really gigantic.
However, being the largest royal palace in Western Europe does have its drawbacks, the queue to get in is equally huge.
Pro Tip: don’t miss out, get your Palacio Real tickets 90 days in advance online.
When you’ve finished having your head spun by more than 3000 rooms* and all that gold, don’t forget to check out the Mirador de la Cornisa lookout point. Go past the main entrance to find it and join your fellow visitors in admiring the view out over the Casa de Campo.
*You probably won’t get to see them all.
Palacio Real Details
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm (closes 6 pm October – March), Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
Entrance fee: from €14, free Monday – Thursday, 5 pm – 7 pm, 4 pm – 6 pm in winter (for EU citizens/residents and Latin American citizens)
Afternoon Tea at Salvador Bachiller on Gran Vía
From the Palacio Real, walk 10 minutes to Gran Vía and take afternoon tea at the Insta-famous Salvador Bachiller café. It’s not a cheap choice but your Instagram Madrid posts will thank you.
This picturesque café is mysteriously located inside a shop and has a minimum spend per person policy on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays (perhaps due to its Instagrammable appeal).
Don’t fear though, the cocktails and sugary treats aren’t cheap, so you’ll easily spend the required amount. It feels like you’re paying extra for the pretty garden theme but everything is exquisitely presented so why not treat yourself.
They serve up proper Spanish style hot chocolate e.g. thick enough for a spoon to stand up in and waffles with more chocolate sauce than you can shake a stick at. Although I can’t recommend the tortita (pancakes), as the ones I had tasted a bit dry and stale.
Plaza de España and El Templo de Debod (Temple of Debod)
When you’ve recovered from overindulging at Salvador Bachiller, it’s time to head over to El Templo de Debod.
Thankfully, it’s only a 10-minute walk, via the Plaza de España. This is one of the busier squares in Madrid.
It’s also home to a famous statue of a man on a horse (aren’t so many of the world’s squares – show me a statue of a woman on a zebra and I might be more surprised). It’s part of a monument to the author Cervantes and it’s Don Quixote on the horse, so is actually far more interesting than some other ‘man on horse’ statues I’ve seen.
Cross the Plaza de España over to Calle de Bailén and you’ll arrive at El Templo de Debod. It’s one of the more curious items on a Madrid itinerary, a 2nd century BC Egyptian temple, donated to Madrid in 1968 by the Egyptian government.
The temple arrived in pieces in over 1000 boxes. The achievement of reconstructing it certainly makes my flat pack furniture construction pale in comparison.
Pro Tip: try to time your visit with sunset if you can, for an extra special experience.
Evening at Malasaña
Finish your first day in Madrid with an evening in the hip Malasaña neighbourhood. It’s the place to go if you’re looking for a buzzing atmosphere and plenty of cool bars and restaurants.
To get here take the metro from Plaza de España to Tribunal (line 10, 2 minutes).
One of the more popular places to head for is Casa Macareno, just a few minutes’ walk along Calle de San Vicente Ferrer. They serve traditional Spanish dishes behind the decorative building frontage. If they’re full up, there are plenty of other places to choose from in this funky barrio.
Day 2
To start the second day of your 3 day Madrid itinerary, breakfast at your accommodation or combine shopping and eating at the expansive El Rastro outdoor market.
El Rastro
Madrid’s huge El Rastro flea market provides plenty of opportunities to stock up on vintage wares or other souvenirs of your trip.
Located in the La Latina neighbourhood, start at Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores and spread out to explore the nearby streets like Calle de San Cayetano and Calle de Fray Ceferino González. The market is open on Sundays from 9 am – 3 pm and there’s a variety of restaurants and cafés to eat at.
If you’re not in Madrid on a Sunday then substitute El Rastro with one of the following two options.
Museo Sorolla (Sorolla Museum)
Take the metro to Iglesia and walk 5 minutes along Paseo General Martínez Campos to arrive at the Museo Sorolla. Originally the home of artist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, the building was inaugurated in 1932 as a small museum dedicated to his work.
The house is set up as it would have been when Sorolla lived here and the beautiful little gardens are a joy to spend time in. Sit on one of the mosaic-covered benches and let the world go by as you watch the dappled light dancing across the fountains and statues.
Museo Sorolla Details
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 9.30 am – 8 pm, Sunday 10 am – 3 pm
Entrance fee: €3
Real Madrid Bernabéu Stadium Tour
It couldn’t be a 3 day Madrid itinerary without mentioning possibly the most famous football stadium in Spain, the Bernabéu (don’t tell the Barça fans I said that).
If you love football then make the pilgrimage to tour the home of Los Blancos (‘the whites’, due to the colour of their kit). Whilst you’re here you also get to visit the trophy stuffed museum.
Real Madrid Bernabéu Stadium Tour Details
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 9.30 am – 7 pm, Sundays, 10 am – 6.30 pm
Entrance fee: from €35
Lunch at Mercardo San Antón (San Antón Market)
Whichever of the three options you take to start off your second day in Madrid, make sure you end up at Mercardo San Antón for lunch.
The market has been modernised but retains connections with the past. The ground floor offers traditional market food stalls and the top floor is home to a beautiful rooftop terrace restaurant.
Whilst you’re here, take the chance to explore trendy and vibrant Chueca, known as Madrid’s LGBTQ+ neighbourhood.
Palacio de Cibeles (Cibeles Palace)
Walk off all that delicious food with a 10-minute amble to the Cibeles fountain and Palacio de Cibeles. Built in 1909, this former Spanish Post Office headquarters is now the Madrid Town Hall and a very impressive looking one at that.
Inside there’s a cultural centre, CentroCentro, with changing exhibitions. In addition, there’s a terrace restaurant and cocktail bar, which offers brilliant views across the city.
Parque de El Retiro (Retiro Park)
Next up is Madrid’s answer to New York’s Central Park, El Retiro. The park originated in 1631 and provides over 1.2 km2 of outdoor space in the city centre.
Enter the park at La Puerta de Alcalá. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here, there’s so much to see and do.
Head for the lake first, where you can rent out a rowing boat or just enjoy watching others from the safety of dry land. On the way, you can stop to get your portrait drawn or take photos with any number of street artists.
Next, go over to the impressive Palacio de Cristal, situated on the smaller lake.
Constructed in 1887, the ironwork palace can be visited inside but I’d suggest avoiding the queues and sticking to taking photos from the outside.
Next door to the Palacio de Cristal is the Palacio Velázquez which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and regularly hosts interesting art exhibitions.
If you’re ready for a rest, head over to the Jardines de Cecilio Rodríquez. This formal garden is my favourite part of El Retiro.
Its checkerboard pathways and sculpted hedges are home to a flock of noisy peacocks and the mix of nature and design creates a peaceful place to stop. Surprisingly, it’s not as busy as other areas of the park and is all the more special for it.
Other things not to miss in El Retiro park are the tiny quirky statues and the lovely La Rosaleda (rose garden).
Toilets are available and there are several cafés spread throughout Retiro Park.
Consider booking a Segway tour of Madrid if you’re looking for an extra fun way to experience the park – there are tours specifically for visiting Retiro.
Museo Reina Sofia (Reina Sofia Museum)
Visiting the fantastic modern and graphic art Reina Sofia Museum is one of my favourite things to do in Madrid.
The venue is actually made up of two buildings together and there’s so much to see I don’t suggest you try to get around it all in one go. You’d need a whole day, and then some.
One of the biggest draws here is Picasso’s Guernica. You’ve got to see it, along with some of Salvador Dalí’s paintings, but don’t stop there.
The whole place is full to the brim with fascinating and thought-provoking art. Check out the top floor if you want to get away from the Picasso crowds.
The wonderful array of art on display here makes this one of the best free museums in Madrid. I love this place, did I say that already?
Museo Reina Sofia Details
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 9 pm, Sundays, 10 am – 2.30 pm (closed Tuesdays)
Entrance fee: from €12, free Monday – Saturday, 7 pm – 9 pm, Sundays, 12.30 pm – 2.30 pm
Tip: If you do want to go for the free entrance time, it will be busy and queues at the entrance on Calle de Santa Isabel will probably be long. Instead, go around the corner, to the entrance on Ronda de Atocha, near the corner of Calle de Argumosa, where there was no queue and I walked right in.
Tabacalera
If you’re in the mood for more modern art, take a 10-minute walk to Tabacalera on Calle De Embajadores. It’s a cool art and cultural space, housed in an old tobacco factory, with outdoor walls covered in murals.
Tabacalera Details
As of early 2026: Temporarily closed, check the Tabacalera website for the latest opening info.
A Secret Garden
So you thought El Retiro was the only garden on today’s itinerary? Not if you want to discover one of Madrid’s most fun secrets. Close to the Museo Reina Sofia is Atocha station and inside the station is a tropical garden.
That’s right, adding some full-on tropical vibes to Madrid’s largest transport hub is an oasis of greenery.
Enter from the old part of the station, by El Monumento a Los Ferroviarios, and you’ll find a display of over 7000 plants on the ground floor.
Also, check out the giant baby heads (Dia y Noche) as you exit the other side (near the Avenida de la Ciudad de Barcelona).
Parque del Cerro del Tío Pío (Cerro del Tío Pío Park)
Join locals and tourists alike on this hilltop slightly out of the centre of Madrid. Make sure you arrive in time to watch the sunset over the city.
Have a little giggle to yourself as you remember that locals often refer to it as ‘parque de las 7 tetas’ (park of the 7 boobs), on account of its distinct form.
Metro Journey from Atocha
Start: Atocha
End: Portazgo
Line number: 1
Journey time: 8 minutes
Cost: €1.50
Walk: 8 minutes
Evening Tapas at Calle de la Cava Baja
After a full-on day of sightseeing, head back to the centre and the La Latina neighbourhood, to enjoy lots of delicious tapas.
Start at Calle Cava Baja, this street is full of tapas bars. It does get busy but that’s part of the great atmosphere in this area. Try one or two tapas in each bar then head to a different place.
Day 3
It’s the last day of your 3 days in Madrid so make the most of it by starting the day with a hearty breakfast of…chocolate.
Breakfast at Café Gijón
Ok, so chocolate might not be your go-to breakfast of choice but you can make an exception for the 100 and something-year-old Café Gijón.
The chocolate palms in this place are seriously tasty. Step inside and travel back in time to an era when literary greats like Federico García Lorca graced Café Gijón’s tables.
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas (Las Ventas Bullring)
The next item on this 3 day itinerary for Madrid might not be everyone’s cup of tea. In fact, watching a bullfight is not mine.
However, the Neo-Mudéjar architecture of Madrid’s bullring is worth the visit and you can go on a tour of the building without having to buy a ticket for a fight.
Included in the tour is a visit to the museum and the fully kitted out infirmary, make of that what you will.
To get to the bullring from Cafe Gijón, walk 5 minutes down Paseo de Recoletos to the Banco de España and take the metro to Ventas (line 2, 8 minutes).
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas Details
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday, 10 am – 6 pm (closes three hours before the start of any bullfights)
Entrance fee: from €16
Museum of Illusions
If you’d prefer something a little less gruesome, substitute the bullring with a trip to the Museum of Illusions. This is very much a hands-on museum, where you’ll get to discover a bit about the science of how illusions work and have loads of fun whilst you’re at it.
Museum of Illusions Details
Opening hours: daily, 10 am – 10.30 pm (Saturdays closed at 11 pm)
Entrance fee: from €16, booking in advance is required
Plaza Mayor (Grand Central Square)
If you’re arriving at the Plaza Mayor from the Museum of Illusions it’s a quick 5-minute walk. If you’re coming from the bullring, journey details are below.
Metro Journey from the bullring
Start: Ventas
End: Sol
Line number: 2
Journey time: 10 minutes
Cost: €1.50
Walk: 5 minutes
The Plaza Mayor is one of Madrid’s most iconic sights. It’s usually full of people but it’s a great place to sit and take a drink at one of the terraces on the square.
Why not try the classic Madrid snack of bocadillo de calamares (crusty baguette and fried calamari rings) with a caña (a small glass of cold draft beer).
Of course, no square is complete without another man on a horse (see also Plaza de España above) and the Plaza Mayor doesn’t disappoint. The fellow in the middle is King Philip III.
Puerta del Sol and El Oso y El Madroño
All roads lead to…Madrid? Well at least in Spain they do, as all distances in the country are measured from the zero kilometre mark at the Puerta del Sol (a public square).
Whilst you’re here, try to find the symbol of Madrid, El Oso y El Madroño. This cute sculpture of a bear and a strawberry tree was designed by Antonio Navarro Santafé in 1967 and is a representation of the old city coat of arms.
The Puerta del Sol also happens to be within a couple of minutes of Madrid’s most famous chocolate shop, San Ginés, where they’ve been serving the sweet stuff since 1894.
The queue for their churros and hot chocolate might be long but it moves quickly and you can enjoy the old fashioned setting whilst you wait.
Lunch at Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop Bar
All that sugar rush should give you the energy to make the 10-minute walk to the next item on the itinerary, the Círculo de Bellas Artes.
This cultural institution is home to the rooftop bar, Azotea, a great location for lunch. You do have to pay a few euros per person to enter but it goes towards the upkeep of the arts centre in the building below.
There’s a laid back vibe here and it’s a lovely spot for enjoying a relaxing lunch whilst you gaze out across the rooftops of Madrid. Food is a bit on the expensive side but that’s not surprising, considering the stunning location.
Museo del Prado (Prado Museum)
If you can drag yourself away from the sun kissed views at the top of the Círculo de Bellas Artes, your last afternoon in Madrid will be a culture-filled one.
Start with a meander down the wide avenue of Paseo de Prado, stopping to check out the Neptune fountain on the way, until you reach arguably one of Madrid’s most famous tourist attractions, Prado museum.
Museo del Prado is over 200 years old and unsurprisingly the collection is immense. It includes art heavyweights such as Titian, Rubens, Velázquez and Goya.
In fact, the sheer amount of art here is so vast that the museum website has different itineraries to help you plan your trip.
Museo del Prado Details
Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 am – 8 pm, Sunday, 10 am – 7 pm
Entrance fee: from €15, free Monday – Saturday, 6 pm – 8 pm and Sundays 5 pm – 7 pm
For more fantastic European museums, check out my comprehensive guide to 2 days in London.
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (Thyssen Museum)
Also forming part of Madrid’s ‘golden art triangle’ (along with the Museo Reina Sofía) is the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum.
It’s located almost opposite the Museo del Prado. Spend time contemplating works of art spanning the 13th to 20th century. From Caravaggio to Kandinsky, a wide spectrum of European art is represented here.
Museuo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza Details
Opening hours: Monday, 12 – 4 pm, Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 7 pm
Entrance fee: from €13, free on Mondays
Jazz Night at Café Central
After all that art, it’s time to end your 3 days in Madrid with an evening of food and live music. Walk up Calle de las Huertas, and look down as you do.
You’ll be rewarded with literary quotes literally set in stone all along the pavement. Take a few detours to check out the side streets in this Barrio de Las Letras.
Just make sure you end up at Plaza del Angel. Here you’ll find Café Central where you can be entertained by fabulous jazz music whilst celebrating a wonderful few days in Madrid.
Getting Around Madrid
You can cover a lot of Madrid on foot but to make the most of your time you’ll probably want to make some journeys by public transport or take an Uber in Madrid.
The metro is a fast, clean and efficient way to get around. There are 12 main lines and the direction is indicated by the name of the last stop. Single journeys cost €1.50 (up to 5 stops) and €2 (10+ stops).
You can use the metro to get to the centre of Madrid from the airport. Line 8 will take you from all airport terminals to Nuevos Ministerios where you’ll probably need to change to another line, depending on the location of your accommodation.
However, for this itinerary consider buying a 10-journey ticket. It costs from €6.10 (plus €2.50 for the card itself) but it can be shared with other people. There’s a €3 surcharge per person for the airport metro.
To search for the best flights I use Skyscanner. It makes it so easy to get the best price with the choice of searching flights for a whole month. Or you can even use it to show you the cheapest month.
Map – 3 Day Madrid Itinerary
I’ve created a map showing the places covered in this 3 day Madrid itinerary. Click the arrow icon to the left of the map heading to view the names of each place and to access the on/off ticks to show each day’s destinations.
Let me know in the comments your recommendations for additions to this 3 day Madrid itinerary.
