Madrid Travel Guide: 2-Day Madrid Itinerary

Madrid, the capital city of Spain, is both a beautiful city to explore and a great base for travelling across the entire country of Spain.

I have been to Madrid 3 times, two of which were to visit other nearby cities. So, in this blog post, I’ll be sharing my perfect 2-day Madrid travel itinerary, as well as my suggestions for some of the best day trips from Madrid.

Getting to Madrid

It is very easy to get to Madrid from the UK. Five airlines currently offer direct flights to Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD) from many airports across the country:

One important thing to note about Madrid Airport is that it is one of the longest walks from your gate to the arrivals hall.

But, once you get there, it is really easy to get to the city centre. The easiest way to get there is via the metro:

If the metro isn’t your thing, you can also take the Airport Express Bus, which runs 24 hours a day and takes 30-45 minutes to reach the city centre.

You can also take a taxi to the city centre, which costs around €30.

Where to Stay in Madrid

Since the metro system is so expansive and efficient, where you stay in Madrid is not as important as in other cities. So, basically, as long as you stay near a metro station, you’ll have no problems getting around.

I have stayed in 2 hotels in Madrid.

The first is the Hotel Francisco I, which is located just off the Puerta del Sol right at the centre of the city.

The second, and my preferred hotel, is the Hotel Claridge. This is slightly further out of the centre, but is just a 1-minute walk from the Conde de Casal metro station.

2-Day Madrid Itinerary

This itinerary has been designed based on a Friday night to Sunday night trip to Madrid.

DAY 1

09:00: Breakfast

09:30: Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is one of two main squares in the centre of Madrid.

In the morning, it tends to be fairly quiet, making it the perfect time to visit and take pictures of the distinctive red-orange buildings and emblematic statue in the centre.

10:00: Royal Palace of Madrid

From the Plaza Mayor, take a 10-minute walk down to the Royal Palace.

This 18th-century Baroque palace is the official residence of the Spanish royal family and is the largest royal palace in Western Europe!

Queues build up quickly outside, so I recommend buying your tickets in advance.

Once inside, you’ll explore many of the palace’s opulent rooms. You can’t take pictures in most areas of the palace but, in my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city (inside and out) and well worth a visit.

11:00: Real Basilica de San Francisco El Grande

A 10-minute walk down from the Royal Palace is one of two religious buildings that are definitely worth visiting in Madrid: the Real Basilica de San Francisco El Grande.

This is actually the one item on this list that I have not done on any of my trips to Madrid, but it is something that is on my list to visit and fits well into this 2-day itinerary.

The Real Basilica de San Francisco El Grande is a neo-classical basilica and it features the largest dome in Spain.

The basilica is stunningly decorated with paintings and gold detailing throughout.

While you’re down in this neighbourhood of Madrid, it is also worth paying a visit to the Puerta de Toledo, one of several gates scattered across the edge of the city.

12:30 Lunch

Head back into the centre of the city for a wider range of eateries.

13:30 Almudena Cathedral

The second religious building in this itinerary, Almudena Cathedral is Madrid’s main place of worship.

Usually, the cathedrals I visit are pretty old, but Almudena Cathedral is actually quite modern as cathedrals go. Construction began in 1883 but was not completed until 1993.

Entry to the cathedral is free, but you are not allowed to visit during religious services.

When you step inside, you can tell that Almudena is quite a modern cathedral. The stonework is a pristine white and everything just has a more light and airy feel than is typical of older cathedrals across the continent.

14:15: Explore the Gardens around the Royal Palace

Although you need a ticket to visit the Royal Palace, the various gardens surrounding the building are free to enter.

There are three main garden areas to explore:

• Plaza de Oriente: this is the first area you come to when arriving at the palace via the city centre. Here you’ll find lush greenery as well as a fountain with beautiful views of the palace in the background.
• Sabatini Garden: located just to the North of the palace, this small garden features an ornamental pond with yet more views of the palace exterior.
• Campo del Morro: the largest of the gardens surrounding the palace with dense greenery and a relaxing atmosphere.

16:00: Head Back to the Hotel for a Rest

18:00: Dinner + Templo de Debod

Restaurants often open late in Madrid (around 8pm), so these activities can be done in any order, depending on your dinner plans and on sunset time when you visit.

Why sunset? Because sunset is the best time to visit the Templo de Debod.

Did you know that there’s an Egyptian temple in the centre of Madrid? The Templo de Debod (the Debod Temple) is thought to date back to the 2nd century BC. Egypt donated it to Spain as a thanks for helping to save it during the construction of the Aswan Dam.

The temple opened to the public in the Spanish capital in 1972, after it was transported and reconstructed stone by stone in Parque de la Montaña.

The nearest metro station to the temple is Plaza de España, which is connected to lines 3 and 10.

DAY 2

09:00: Breakfast

09:30: Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol is one of two central squares in Madrid, and it is one of the busiest places in the city.

If you visit early in the morning, you will see the Puerta del Sol at its quietest. The one thing you should see while in the square is El Oso y el Madroño – the bear and the strawberry tree statue, which has become one of the symbols of the city.

On the opposite side of the square, you’ll also notice a plaque on the ground. This is point 0, from which all Spanish road networks originate.

10:00: Reina Sofia Museum

From Puerta del Sol, take Metro Line 1 to Estación del Arte (dir: Valdecarros) to visit the Reina Sofia Art Museum.

Madrid is home to three famous art museums:

• Prado Museum
• Reina Sofia Museum
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

On a quick trip, you’ll probably only have time to visit one museum, and my recommendation is the Reina Sofia Museum.

Why? Because the Reina Sofia is home to one of Spain’s most famous paintings: Guernica by Pablo Picasso. Painted in 1937, Guernica is an abstract depiction of the bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.

In addition to Guernica, the Reina Sofia is also home to works by Dali and Miró.

11:45: Lunch

There are lots of cafés in the museum area, but you could also choose to head back to the centre for more food options.

12:30: Gran Via

After lunch, it’s time for some retail therapy on Madrid’s main shopping street: the Gran Via.

Even if you’re not into shopping, it’s worth visiting the Western end of the Gran Via to see the Metropolis Building. This Beaux-Arts domed building was designed by French architects and built between 1907 and 1910.

Despite its beautiful façade, the inside is just used as office space.

13:00: Palacio de Cibeles

Directly opposite the Western end of the Gran Via is another of the city’s most beautiful buildings: the Palacio de Cibeles.

Even if you don’t know it by name, you may have seen the stunning white façade of the Cibeles Palace on the news as it is often used as a place to celebrate Spanish sporting victories.

The building was originally built to be the headquarters of the Spanish Post Office in the early 20th century, but it is now used as the HQ of the Madrid City Council.

And seeing the outside of the Palacio de Cibeles is not the only reason to visit. You can actually book tickets to visit the building’s rooftop, which is home to the Mirador Madrid Observation Deck.

Since this is a government building, you will need your passport or photo ID to access the observation deck.

13:45: Puerta de Alcala

On your way from the Palacio de Cibeles to Retiro Park, stop by the Puerta de Alcala, an 18th-century Neo-classical monument located at a roundabout close to the park entrance.

14:00: Retiro Park

The last stop on this Madrid Itinerary is my favourite place to spend time in the city: Retiro Park.

Retiro Park, or Parque del Buen Retiro, is a 350-acre public park with a boating lake, lots of lakeside cafés, and so much green space to wander around and relax.

The park is very big, so you probably won’t be able to see everything in just a few hours, but these are my personal highlights:

• Estanque Grande de El Retiro & Monument to Alfonso XII: the park’s large boating lake lined with cafés and benches. This is the liveliest part of the park and the one that is most picturesque. I definitely recommend stopping here for a coffee to take in the view.
• Parterre Garden: a landscaped garden with a black iron balcony.
• Palacio de Cristal: a glass palace built in 1887 that houses various art exhibitions. Currently, your ticket to the Reina Sofia Museum includes access to the Palacio de Cristal art space too. In front of the palace, there is another small pond, making this a great spot for pictures.
• La Rosaleda: a rose garden
• Casita del Pescador: a charming little house on the shores of another small pond.

Using the Madrid Metro

The metro is the easiest way to get around Madrid. The network is extensive and efficient, so you can travel across the city in mere minutes.

Metro Tickets

There are several types of ticket you can buy:

I would recommend the tourist ticket. This is the simplest option as you buy it once to last the duration of your trip and then you’re good to go.

The tourist ticket is also the only ticket type that allows you to travel to the airport. Otherwise, you would have to pay the €3 airport metro fee.

You can buy metro tickets at all metro stations (including the airport) from one of the machines. When you purchase your first ticket of any kind, you will need to pay for a metro card. This costs €2.50 but comes for free with a tourist ticket.

If you plan on coming back to Madrid in the future, keep your card. The card can be topped up with any ticket type for 10 years!

Navigating the Metro

If you’ve never used a metro system before, it might feel a little daunting. But, as long as you plan ahead and look at the map carefully, it is quite easy to navigate.

For each journey you want to make, you will need to know the following information:

• Origin Station
• Destination Station
• The direction you are travelling in and the end station on the line in that direction

If you want to start planning your metro journies now, click here to access the Madrid Metro map.

Day Trips from Madrid

Madrid is located in the centre of Spain and it is the hub of most of the country’s railway lines. This means that there are so many day trips and overnight trips to take from the city.

These are just a selection of the best trips to take from Madrid

Day Trips

Segovia

Segovia is a must-see city for architecture lovers. Home to a stunning Alcazar, which is said to have been one of the inspirations for the Disney castles, a beautiful cathedral and an extensive aqueduct, Segovia is just a 30-minute train ride from Madrid’s Chamartin Train Station.

Just be aware that Segovia Guiomar train station is a little out of the city, so you’ll need to take a 10-15-minute taxi ride once you arrive.

Toledo

The medieval capital of Spain, Toledo is another stunning city just a 30-minute train ride from Madrid Atocha station.

Highlights here include Toledo Cathedral, the Mirador del Valle (which provides stunning views over the entire city), and the various bridges and entrance gates to the old town.

El Escorial

A 50-minute train ride from Madrid Chamartin train station is El Escorial, a famous religious complex comprising a palace, monastery and church.

Aranjuez

A 45-minute train ride from Madrid Atocha Station is Aranjuez, which is famous for being home to the Palace of Aranjuez. This palace is one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family.

Overnight Trips from Madrid

Avila

A 1 hour-30 minute train ride from Madrid’s Príncipe Pío station is Avila, a city known for its extensive medieval city walls.

In addition to walking along the walls, visitors can also enjoy a visit to the city’s cathedrals and its many monasteries.

Salamanca

A historic university city, Salamanca also has a beautiful cathedral and is home to many other stunning buildings, including the Casa de Conchas (the shell house).

It is just a 1 hour-40-minute train ride from Madrid Chamartin station.

León

León is one of the cities at the top of my Spain bucket list. And that is because there are so many beautiful buildings to explore in the centre, including the city’s main attraction: León Cathedral.

León is a 2-hour train ride from Madrid Chamartin train station.

Should You Visit Madrid?

Madrid is a great city to explore with several must-see buildings and green spaces. However, I would say that one day would be enough for a whistlestop tour of the city.

Madrid is worth visiting though because of the many day trips and overnight trips that you can take using the city as a base. I’ve already been to Madrid 3 times to take several day trips, and I know I will be back many more times to explore other cities that are just a couple of hours train ride away from the Spanish capital.

That’s it for today’s post. If you have any questions about visiting Madrid, leave them in the comments section below and I’ll be happy to answer them.

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Thanks for reading, and see you next time.