Madrid is among the most popular European capitals as a holiday destination, for a weekend trip or to move to for study or work.

It is a lively, energetic and cosmopolitan city where the past of traditions coexists naturally and perfectly with innovation and modernity. You can lose yourself in narrow alleys that open onto squares with architecture dating back centuries or find yourself looking upwards for the highest point of its immense skyscrapers.

It is one of the best cities to spend two or three days in, full of things to do, cultural and artistic attractions to visit and an overwhelming soul to discover. Beware because you might fall in love with it so much that you decide to move to the Spanish capital. If you are thinking of moving to the city, you can definitely follow these tips to start getting to know it.

I mean, it's common knowledge that the food is delicious, the Madrileños are warm and hospitable, despite the winters being quite cold it is a city that enjoys many sunny days and good weather. Getting around is easy both on foot and by public transport, which is a plus even for a trip of a few days because you have the security of efficient services.

If this is your first time here and you are wondering what to do in Madrid, in this article we help you choose your itinerary depending on how many days you have available and what your preferences are.

Madrid itinerary in 2 days

First, our advice for making the most of your trip to Madrid is to embrace the Spanish rhythms. Shops are often closed during the lunch break, between around 2 and 4pm, and dinner time is around 9 or 10pm.

That said, if you only have two days to see the city, it may be best to get up early to make the most of your time. If you wake up already in Madrid you can find the right charge with a Madrid breakfast, the typical one is savoury: potato tortillas, ham, cheese, bread and tomato. But don't worry if you have a sweet tooth because you will also find cakes, pastries, biscuits, brioches in international establishments or chocolate with churros in traditional establishments.

Afterwards, with a good dose of nourishment, you can head for the city centre directly on foot or by metro or bus if your accommodation is a little far away. When you are in the centre, we recommend that you move around on foot so that you don't miss any opportunity to experience the city and see its wonders.

If you only have the possibility of a short stay in Madrid, it is best to concentrate during the morning and afternoon on historical, architectural and cultural attractions. While during the evening you can let yourself be swept away by the city's festive rhythm of restaurants, clubs and movida in the streets.

The most famous places in Madrid

Now let's take a look at the main things to do in Madrid, the most characteristic places, monuments and buildings that you cannot miss and those where it is best to start getting to know the city.

Plaza Mayor, is characterised by arches, restaurants, cafés and the bronze statue of Philip III standing in the middle. Here you can also see the Casa de la Panadería, with beautiful frescoes on its facade, and the Casa de la Carnicería.

Puerta del Sol, the city's central square, the heart of the capital, is almost entirely pedestrianised and very well connected to Plaza Santa Ana, the Madrid Opera, the Paseo del Prado where the Prado Museum is located and many other places in the city.

Plaza de España, another important square in the city and one of the busiest intersections, here you can see the large stone monument dedicated to the writer Miguel de Cervantes at the foot of which are statues representing Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. A must-see is the Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple that was donated to the city in the 20th century.

Passing through Plaza de Oriente, near here is the Royal Theatre, and arriving at Plaza de la Armería you cannot miss the Royal Palace of Madrid, an 18th-century building that houses rooms with works of art and antiques. Also, the Catedral de Santa Maria de la Almudena, known for its chapels, crypt and museum.

Gran Via is Madrid's most famous street full of shops and beautiful buildings, also called 'the Madrid Broadway'. It is also home to restaurants and cinemas and is frequented by locals and tourists alike at all times of the year.

The must-see neighbourhood in the historic centre is Barrio La Latina, an authentic corner of Madrid made up of interesting narrow streets leading to the Basilica of San Francisco, the Moorish tower of the Church of San Pedro el Real and full of bars and restaurants.

Tapas and paella tour

After all this walking, there is no better way to refresh and enjoy the evening with Spanish gastronomic specialities.

Tapas, the Spanish aperitif but also a real dinner, are small portions of various foods to be enjoyed with sangria, beer, white and red wine or cocktails. They are popular throughout Spain and are a favourite way for the Spanish to eat and spend time relaxing and having fun.

You will find tapas bars in every corner of the city and each one offers all the typical tapas: cold meats and cheeses, olives, Russian salad, potato tortillas, small spicy peppers, Galician-style octopus, papas bravas, i.e., potatoes with a special sauce, fried fish.

If you only have one evening in Madrid, we recommend just a taste of these delicacies and then move on to the Spanish highlight, paella. The famous single rice dish enriched with seafood, or a mixture of meat and fish, or the vegetarian version with vegetables only or the paella negra variant, with black rice.

After dinner, you can end the evening in one of the real Madrid nightlife areas, for example in the districts of Las Letras, Malasaña, Chueca, La Latina, Argüelles or Moncloa. These are the most popular areas for entertainment, each with its own characteristics and unique charm.

What to do in Madrid in 3 days

If you have three days to visit Madrid, in addition to what we have already seen in the previous paragraphs, you have the possibility of adding other things to your itinerary and see and enjoying more time in the places of interest.

For example, if you have an extra day, you can consider visiting one or more of its beautiful museums (which we will look at in more detail in the next paragraph), enter the historical or religious buildings that have tourist entrances or guided tours, or stroll and enjoy the outdoors in the city parks (which we will discuss later in this article).

The Royal Palace also offers a guided tour that will take you through its 50 rooms, including the Hall of Halberdiers, the Hall of Columns, the Hall of Mirrors and the Room of King Charles III. In addition, the palace is also home to the Sabatini Gardens, with free admission, beautifully maintained and with breath-taking views of the palace itself.

The Catedral de Almudena can also be visited, no ticket is required but an optional donation is suggested for sightseeing. There is usually a long queue to enter, so those who wish to do so should plan to spend a little extra time on this visit.

If you also have an extra evening to spare, a beautiful experience is the splendid view of the city and the sunset from the Teleférico cable car, which flies over the Parque de Oeste.

Madrid museums

A great way to make your weekend trip to Madrid even more complete is by discovering the national and international works of art housed in its prestigious museums. Let's first take a look at the three most famous and important ones in the city, which make up the Paseo del Arte, the route that connects them.

Museo del Prado, one of Madrid's major attractions but also one of the most important cultural institutions internationally. It has the most comprehensive collection of Spanish painting in the world, including Velázquez's The Ladies and Goya's The Shootings of the 3rd of May, as well as masterpieces of Italian, Flemish, French, Dutch, German and so on.

Museo Nacional Reina Sofía, which is the natural continuation of the artistic route after the Prado, with works from the late 19th century to the present day.

In fact, representatives of modern and contemporary art can be seen here, including Picasso, with his best-known work Guernica, Miró and Dali.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, named after the two German barons thanks to whose passion we can now enjoy the museum's vast collection. The works on display date from the Middle Ages to the end of the 20th century.

Other museums in the city: Museum of Romanticism, Sorolla Museum, Lope de Vega House-Museum, CaixaForum cultural centre of Madrid, Museum of America, Taurino Museum, dedicated to the tradition of Bullfighting.

Madrid parks

If the days are nice and sunny, a great way to experience the city is by visiting its parks.

The Retiro Park, located near the Prado, is the most famous and popular in the city and it must be said that it is a practically obligatory stop. Inside are: an artificial lake where you can take a small group tour or hire a rowing boat; the Monument to Alfonso XII; the Crystal Palace, home to many temporal exhibitions; the Paseo de la Argentina, an avenue with many statues dedicated to Spanish monarchs.

El Capricho Park, where you can see three gardens: one in the French style, another in the Italian style, with water features and fountains, and a third in the English style, a little wilder. Here, too, there are various points of interest, such as the Time of Bacchus and the labyrinth.

Casa de Campo, Madrid's main green lung, a public park with various types of trees, walking paths, a Zoo and an Attractions Park.

The Royal Botanical Garden, located near the Prado and housing thousands of species of plants and flowers on its four levels.

The Parque del Oeste, where, in addition to the Teleferico, an artificial river flows and is a perfect place to stroll and relax. Madrid Rio, a large green space with panoramic views and popular for jogging and sports activities.

How to experience Madrid in 4 days

If you are planning a long four-day weekend in Madrid, you may need a 4 day itinerary as there are other things to add to all those we have already mentioned.

Another interesting place to see is the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, actually if you are a football fan it could be one of the first stops on your itinerary. Here you can take a tour with access to the benches, the pitch, have a panoramic view from the stands and visit the museum where the trophies are kept and take a journey through the history of Real Madrid.

If you have more time, in addition to the historical centre you can explore Madrid's other neighbourhoods: Salamanca, with its 19th-century avenues, designer boutiques and the Golden Mile of shops; Lavapies, a lively multicultural barrio with its small shops and ethnic restaurants. Stroll along the Paseo de la Castellana heading north of the city, or head south to discover Entrevias, the neighbourhood where the Netflix series of the same name was filmed and discover other more suburban parks.

Now let's look at other types of attractions and the city's most popular dimension.

Shopping and city markets

On your four days in Madrid, if one of them is a Sunday, you can stop by the La Latina neighbourhood and, in particular, the Mercado El Rastro. This is the largest and best-known open-air flea market in the country. Here you will find everything: souvenirs, clothes, objects, home furnishings, furniture, vinyl, books and so on. The already lively atmosphere is made even more exciting by groups of musicians playing in the streets, happy people strolling and shopping, a real party atmosphere.

Another market worth seeing is the Mercado de San Miguel, an indoor food and gourmet market, where you can find a lot of Spanish products from different parts of the country. There are also artisanal ice creams and tapas with fresh products can be enjoyed on site.

In the Chueca district, in addition to Gran Via, there is also the Mercado de San Ildefonso, on Calle Fuencarral, one of the busiest streets in the city. This is a covered space dedicated to Spanish street food. A meeting place for locals and tourists alike, where Spanish gastronomic culture finds expression between tradition and modernity.

A reference point for vintage shopping and antiques, on the other hand, is the Barrio de Las Letras, not only for clothes and objects but also well-stocked and specialised bookshops. Last but not least is the Mercado de las Ranas, held every first Saturday of the month.

In short, depending on when you choose to take your trip and how many days you expect it to last, you can build your perfect itinerary to discover Madrid with this guide.