2 days in Madrid: a route by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 5 of 8 free; 3 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 17:03 each day
- Start and finish
- Puerta del Sol → Retiro Park
- On foot
- ≈ 52 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 13:26
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; museums in the morning or in their free hours.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Madrid09:30–15:19 · 5 places · 5 h 50 min
Puerta del Sol
· 25 min · Free
- 6 min on foot
Plaza Mayor
· 40 min · Free
- 10 min on foot
Almudena Cathedral
· 45 min · Free
- 5 min on foot
Royal Palace of Madrid
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 13 min on foot
Temple of Debod
· 40 min · Free
Day 2 · Madrid09:30–17:03 · 3 places · 7 h 30 min
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
· 2 h · Paid
- Lunch · 1 h
- 6 min on foot
Prado Museum
· 2 h 30 min · Paid
- 12 min on foot
Retiro Park
· 1 h 45 min · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
5 of 8 are free; 3 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Puerta del Sol | 52 | 25 min | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Plaza Mayor | 51 | 40 min | Free |
| 3 | Almudena Cathedral | 51 | 45 min | Free |
| 4 | Royal Palace of Madrid | 53 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 5 | Temple of Debod | 49 | 40 min | Free |
| 6 | Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | 43 | 2 h | Paid |
| 7 | Prado Museum | 52 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 8 | Retiro Park | 40 | 1 h 45 min | Free |
| Total | 10 h 30 min | 5 of 8 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Puerta del Sol. The central square: the bear and strawberry tree, Kilometre Zero and the New Year clock. Free.
- 2
Plaza Mayor. An enclosed 17th-century square of arcades and the Casa de la Panadería, with the San Miguel market nearby. Free.
- 3
Almudena Cathedral. The cathedral opposite the palace, with brightly painted vaults; the dome via the museum, ticketed. The cathedral is free.
- 4
Royal Palace of Madrid. The king's official residence: the Throne Room, Gasparini Room, pharmacy and Stradivarius. Ticketed; closed for ceremonies.
- 5
Temple of Debod. A genuine Egyptian temple in a park and the city's best sunset. Free; the inside is closed on Mondays.
Day 2
- 6
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. The whole history of painting, Italian masters to Pop Art, in a palace opposite the Prado. Ticketed.
- 7
Prado Museum. Spain's great museum: Velázquez, Goya, El Greco, Bosch. Timed ticket; free evening hours.
- 8
Retiro Park. The big park behind the Prado: boats on the pond, the Crystal Palace, the rose garden. Free.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Madrid
- Art lovers
- A first overnight trip
- The Reina Sofía and Bernabéu are in the 3-day route
- Toledo and Segovia need days of their own
Spring and autumn; museums in the morning or in their free hours.
How the two days work
Day one is a walk through the old centre; day two is on the Paseo del Prado, where the museums and park stand side by side. Book a morning Prado ticket online and save the Thyssen for the afternoon, as it's smaller and calmer.
On Mondays the Thyssen's permanent collection is usually free with a booking, and the Prado's last hours are free, so you can save money. Check the museums' sites before you go.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day two: the Prado, the Retiro and the Thyssen
In the morning, the Prado: Velázquez's Las Meninas, the Goya rooms, El Greco and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. From the museum it's five minutes to the Retiro gates: boats on the Great Pond, the Crystal Palace and lunch at a café by the water.
After lunch, return to the boulevard for the Thyssen: the Impressionists, Van Gogh, Hopper and Pop Art. In the evening, stroll to the Cibeles fountain and have dinner in the Barrio de las Letras.
What else to see
With a third day, add the Reina Sofía, Plaza de España and the Santiago Bernabéu. A fourth is for Toledo or Segovia.
How to do it right
- The Prado in the morning, on a ticket.
- The Thyssen is free on Mondays with a booking.
- Row on the Retiro pond on a weekday.
- Churches require covered shoulders and knees and no beachwear; walking around town in swimwear is not allowed.
- Spain uses the euro. Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere. Book the Sagrada Família, Park Güell and the Gaudí houses ahead on their official sites, which list entry times and closing days.
Questions
What can you see in Madrid in 2 days?
The old centre with the Royal Palace and Temple of Debod, then the Prado, the Retiro and the Thyssen.
Are two days enough for Madrid?
For the centre and the main museums, yes; Toledo and Segovia need extra days.
When is the Prado free?
Usually in its last opening hours; check the museum's site.
How do I get around on this route?
On foot: both days are central, with the metro only to reach the start.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- UNESCO: Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro (no. 1618)
