You may be tempted to think that all the very best sites in Madrid Spain might be too difficult to navigate in a single day. After all, the Spanish capital (and EU’s second largest city) is bursting with fascinating history, amazing art, and great food. But good news! Because most of Madrid’s key sites are located within a relatively compact city center, you can definitely see a lot in a short time.
I spent a full month in Madrid this past Spring, and was able to explore this great city inside and out. Obviously I had the luxury to see Madrid slowly. But if I was limited to a one day Madrid itinerary? This is how I would do it.
Getting Around Madrid
Getting around should be the first consideration when planning a quick itinerary filled with lots of sites. Fortunately, if you are up to it, you can definitely walk everywhere on this 1-day Madrid itinerary. The longest distance between sites will only take about 20 minutes by foot. Many are less than 10 minutes apart.
Not only will walking save you some money, but more importantly, you can really soak in all the ambiance of central Madrid and its scenic buildings and streets.
If you’re not up to walking everywhere though, you could consider using Madrid’s efficient Metro system. Each site on this itinerary is within a few blocks of a Metro stop.
Or if you don’t want to figure out using the Metro system for just a single day, you can simply use Ride Share. Uber, Cabify, FreeNow, and Bolt all operate in Madrid. And the relatively short distances won’t end up costing you lots either.
Regardless of how you choose to get around, it’s quite easy in central Madrid.
Now let’s go exploring!
The Perfect One Day In Madrid Itinerary
Morning
I found that in general, Madrid is a little slow to wake up in the morning. Since you definitely want an early start on any 1 day itinerary, you can use Madrid’s quieter morning streets to your advantage.
Your day will start in Madrid’s most popular square, you’ll eat at its most popular Churrería, and you’ll visit two of its most famous sites. All before the crowds really peak.
Morning Activities
Puerta Del Sol
Your 1 day Madrid itinerary starts at Puerta Del Sol. This is the city’s most important town square and is where Madrid holds its annual New Years celebration, along with other major public events. The entire square is surrounded by historic buildings – many dating to the 18th century. And it’s filled with iconic sites like the building-top Tio Pepe sign, the Bear & Strawberry Tree Sculpture (a symbol of Madrid), and a fountain featuring Spain’s King Charles III atop his horse.
Chocolatería San Ginés
Next, walk just a few blocks to the iconic Chocolatería San Ginés. Churros and Chocolate is one of Spain’s favorite breakfast menu choices. And Chocolateria San Ginés has been serving this tasty combination to the residents of Madrid since 1894.
Over the generations, Chocolateria San Ginés has become so famous that it’s now a tourist attraction in and of itself. Located in a quaint alleyway, hidden within the streets of Old Town, it’s become a must-visit destination for pretty much every Madrid visitor.
Our Airbnb apartment happened to be located right above this Madrid institution. So I can tell you from personal experience that early morning is the very best time to come here. San Ginés gets crazy busy as the day goes on – because churros and chocolate aren’t only for breakfast. They are a popular anytime snack too!
(Insider hint: While the churros and chocolate at San Ginés are very good, I did find better during my month’s stay in town. But, the winner of my personal Quest to find the Best Churros in Madrid doesn’t fit into this 1 day Madrid itinerary quite as well. Still, you won’t go wrong at San Ginés.)
Royal Palace of Madrid
With your belly full of chocolatey goodness, head next to the massive Royal Palace of Madrid – the largest royal palace in Europe and one of the largest in the world.
The first tour of the day here starts at 10:00am, and you should shoot for this time. But plan well ahead. Online tickets sell out weeks in advance. You will save a huge amount of time if you purchase these timed-entry tickets prior to your visit (here’s the site). There is a second line onsite for people without tickets. But it moves painfully slow – especially if you are cruising through a one day Madrid itinerary.
Plan on about 45 minutes for the self-guided tour of the Palace. Visitors only have access to a small portion of the building, but the included rooms are some of the building’s most important. And are definitely over-the-top in their grandeur. (Guided tours are also available for purchase online – if you want to learn more detailed history.)
Try to give yourself a little extra time before your tour to check out the Sabatini Gardens on the north side of the building. Walking to these gardens along the length of the Palace really helps you fully comprehend how massive the place really is.
Plaza Mayor
After you are finished at the Palace, head over to the Plaza Mayor. This is the center of Old Madrid and was built in the late 1500s. It’s the perfect place to end your morning and start your afternoon.
The plaza is surrounded on all sides by three story buildings, and is accessed through one of nine different arched gates. Each arched gate takes you down a different medieval old town street. Be sure to explore a few of these scenic side streets either before or after lunch.
Lunch
Speaking of which, you will probably be hungry at this point. And Plaza Mayor is an ideal location for lunch. The plaza itself is lined with one restaurant after another, all offering outdoor dining with a view across its large historic square. Be warned though. Like similar central squares around the world, you will pay a premium for the location, and the food quality may suffer too.
Another option would be grabbing a bite directly across from Plaza Mayor at the Mercado San Miguel. This historic market with its cast iron framework opened as a central city food market 100 years ago, but is now a touristic food hall. Any time I visited, it was swarming with people. It does offer a wide selection of typically-Spanish eats. However, as with eating on the Plaza, the food here tends to be quite overpriced, and the quality can be hit or miss.
If you want an authentic, cheap, delicious, and quick lunch, then my recommendation is La Campana. It’s located just barely outside the Plaza, through one of those 9 archways. This is where you’ll find what is considered by many to be the best version of one of Madrid’s most beloved sandwiches – the Bocadillo de Calamares. A pile of freshly fried calamari served inside a chewy roll. The calamari here really does stand out from any other I tried in Madrid.
Afternoon
Madrid has not just one, but three renowned art museums. And so for your main afternoon activity, you’ll need to decide which one (or two) to visit. They sit roughly adjacent to each other on the east side of the city center in an area fittingly called the Golden Triangle of Art. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to any one of them from Plaza Mayor. Each is different. And which you choose for this 1 day Madrid itinerary is really up to your own personal taste.
Then depending on how much time you spend viewing art, you may have afternoon time remaining for enjoying one of the world’s great City Parks.
Afternoon Activities
Museum Choice #1 – The Prado
The Prado is definitely the most popular of the three as it is Spain’s National Art Museum, and is considered one of the most important museums in Europe.
So if you choose to go here, you need to purchase a timed-entry ticket ahead of time, or risk a sellout. Since it is the busiest of the three museums, expect to admire its most popular works while standing shoulder to shoulder with many others.
You should also be aware that the art inside the Prado is limited to works prior to the 20th century. So you won’t find any Picasso or Dali here. And this museum is huge, so I would recommend that you plan ahead and concentrate on a few important works and artists.
We visited all three museums during our time in Madrid, and the Prado was my least favorite. The crowds (even with timed-entry) had a lot to do with that.
Museum Choice #2 – The Reina Sofía
The Reina Sofía Museum is where you’ll find the modern art that you won’t find in the Prado. All the Spanish greats – Picasso, Dali, Miro to name a few. One of Picasso’s most famous pieces called Guernica is here.
It is also a very large museum. And like the Prado, I think that on a crammed 1-day itinerary like this, it’s best to concentrate on a few specific artists or styles
Gratefully, the Reina Sofia is not nearly as crowded as the Prado, but it’s always a good idea to book ahead. We even had Guernica to ourselves for several minutes.
Museum Choice #3 – The Thyssen-Bornemisza
The third museum is the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Its collection is smaller than the other two. And this collection covers a broader range of styles – from medieval religious art all the way to current times, including Picasso. Plus, it also has a great collection of French Impressionism.
This museum is the most manageable of the three on a short itinerary. You can see most of the permanent collection in an hour or two.
Retiro Park
Once you are finished with the museum(s), then consider taking a walk through nearby Retiro Park. While a Park may not be considered an essential part of a 1-day itinerary in a city bursting with sites, Retiro is worth a stroll. After all, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site – recognized as a quintessential example of 18th century urban green space development.
Plus, if you are a little worn out at this point in the itinerary, it’s the perfect spot to catch your second wind – whether it be lakeside, under a shady tree, or at one of the Park’s many kiosks for a coffee or tea.
An entrance for Retiro is located just two blocks behind the Prado. The Park is huge, but once inside, if you generally make your way north, you’ll exit not far from the location of your evening activities – The Gran Via.
Evening
The rest of your 1 day Madrid itinerary will be spent on and around The Gran Via. This is one of the most beautiful streets I’ve ever walked, has lots of dinner options, and offers plenty of choices for evening entertainment.
Evening Activities
The Gran Via
This street, which crosses the northern part of central Madrid, is truly Grand. The early 20th century buildings – the city’s first skyscrapers – are gorgeous. Many are topped with ornate cupolas or golden statues. And with the lights at night, it’s even more spectacular!
Also, along the Gran Via and its side streets, you’ll find some of Madrid’s best shopping. So if you want to include some shopping on your 1 day Madrid itinerary, then this is the best place.
(Lodging Tip: If you are looking for a central place to stay in Madrid, you’ll find many of the city’s best hotels in this part of town too.)
Eat Tapas
The Madrid restaurant we loved most is located on the Gran Via. And it’s the perfect place to stop for an early dinner. It’s called Vinitus, and it specializes in a selection of various Tapas favorites from all around Spain.
I’ve somehow made it all the way through this one day Madrid itinerary so far without mentioning Tapas – Spain’s most famous style of food. Tapas are a variety of small food plates, easily shared, and best accompanied with some Spanish wine.
Certainly you can’t visit Madrid without eating Tapas. And at Vinitus, you’ll find a wide selection of high quality tapas and excellent service. For example, take a look at their Lobster Rice!
Visit a Rooftop Bar
Many of the hotels in this part of Madrid have rooftop bars, offering great views of central Madrid and the Gran Via. So you may want to spend part of your evening at one of these – either before or after dinner. Some of the most popular include Azotea del Círculo, Vincci Rooftop Bar Gran Vía, and Picalagartos Sky Bar.
Note that it’s common for the most scenic rooftop bars along the Gran Via to charge a separate entrance fee.
Experience Flamenco
Nighttime Flamenco shows are popular in Madrid. Though Flamenco originated in southern Spain, many Flamenco venues catering to tourists have popped up around the city. I guarantee that you will be handed at least one flamenco show pamphlet as you spend your day walking around Madrid.
Most of these shows include drinks and/or dinner, and so the cost can really add up. But if you prefer a less touristic Flamenco experience (I do!), then I would highly recommend Centro Cultural Flamenco.
This venue is located a few blocks north of the Gran Via, and offers a more stripped-down experience. Just the music and the dance. Flamenco without the frills. Watching these amazing artists up close is absolutely breathtaking. And this venue offers several showtimes throughout the evening, allowing for a little more flexibility in your schedule.
Spending The Night?
While you wouldn’t go wrong spending a night in a Gran Via hotel, what if you want to stay somewhere a little less hectic? If that’s the case, then perhaps you should consider the AC Hotel Carlton. This Marriott property is located just a few walkable blocks from Madrid’s main train station called Atocha. This would give you public transportation access to the airport, or access to other parts of Spain via the country’s great high speed rail network.
We spent a night at the AC Hotel Carlton prior to our own train journey to Malaga, and were quite pleased with the room size and quality.
Author’s Box: Steven Jepson is a retired physician and slow traveler from Salt Lake City Utah. He has been writing about his travel experiences for the last 4.5 years on his own travel blog The Thorough Tripper. He’s spent more time traveling in Spain than in any other country, including one full month exploring Madrid
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