3 days in Madrid: a route by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 6 of 11 free; 5 paid — see “Cost”
- Duration
- 3 days, 9:30 to 17:03 each day
- Start and finish
- Puerta del Sol → Reina Sofía Museum
- On foot
- ≈ 52 min in total
- Transport
- 2 rides, ≈ 49 min
- Lunch
- around 13:26
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn; in summer, museums by day and walks in the evening.
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
Day 3 · Madrid09:30–16:04 · 3 places · 6 h 30 min
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
· 1 h 45 min · Paid
- 27 min · transport or taxi
Plaza de España
· 30 min · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 22 min · transport or taxi
Reina Sofía Museum
· 2 h 30 min · Paid; free evenings
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
6 of 11 are free; 5 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 4 | Royal Palace of Madrid | 53 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | 43 | 2 h | Paid |
| 7 | Prado Museum | 52 | 2 h 30 min | Paid |
| 9 | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | 56 | 1 h 45 min | Paid |
| 11 | Reina Sofía Museum | 42 | 2 h 30 min | Paid; free evenings |
| Other 6 places | 5 h | Free | ||
| Total | 15 h 20 min | 6 of 11 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.
Day 3
- 9
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Real Madrid's stadium: a tour with the trophy hall and panorama. Book online; shorter on match days.
- 10
Plaza de España. A pedestrian square with the Cervantes and Don Quixote monument and a skyscraper rooftop viewpoint. Free.
- 11
Reina Sofía Museum. 20th-century art: Picasso, Dalí, Miró. Ticketed; closed Tuesdays.
Who this route is for
- A first week in Spain
- Fans of museums and football
- Families and couples
- Toledo, Segovia and El Escorial need a day each
- Beach holidays: head for the coast
Spring and autumn; in summer, museums by day and walks in the evening.
How the three days work
The first two days follow the 2-day route: the old centre and the Paseo del Prado. The third takes in the 20th-century museum by Atocha station, then Plaza de España on the western edge of the centre and Real Madrid's stadium on the Castellana.
The Reina Sofía closes on Tuesdays and the Bernabéu tour is shortened on match days, so plan day three around them. The metro is handy between the stops on day three.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, add something nearby, and the timings update.
Day three: the Reina Sofía, Plaza de España and the Bernabéu
Morning at the Reina Sofía: Picasso, Dalí and Miró, the glass lifts and the courtyard under Nouvel's red roof. Then take the metro to Plaza de España and its Cervantes monument, with lunch in nearby Malasaña.
After lunch, tour the Santiago Bernabéu, with its trophy hall and panorama above the pitch. In the evening, head back to the centre or dine along the Castellana, lined with restaurants.
If you have more time
A fourth day suits Toledo, half an hour by high-speed train; a fifth Segovia and its aqueduct or El Escorial. Medieval fans will love walled Ávila.
How to do it right
- The Reina Sofía: not on a Tuesday.
- The Bernabéu: check for match days.
- A 10-ride metro ticket saves money.
- 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 3 days?
The old centre and palace, the Prado, the Retiro and the Thyssen, then the Reina Sofía, Plaza de España and the Bernabéu.
How should I split 3 days in Madrid?
Day 1 the old town, day 2 the Prado and Retiro, day 3 the Reina Sofía and Bernabéu.
Where can I go on a fourth day?
Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial or Ávila.
How much are tickets on this route?
The squares, the Retiro and Debod are free; the palace, museums and stadium tour are paid.
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)
