Madrid in three days
This is a quick guide to Madrid’s must-see spots when you have just a few days. We suggest some visits and experiences you should not miss on your holiday, but above all, we advise you to spend as long as you can in the city. This is the only way to enjoy all the culture, entertainment, leisure and life of one of Europe’s liveliest capitals.
Day 2
Madrid is home to one of the world’s great art galleries, the Prado Museum. Today we suggest visiting the museum and the Paseo del Arte (art walk), and then exploring the footballing world of one of the biggest international teams, Real Madrid.
Prado Museum
“Las Meninas” by Velázquez, “The Garden of Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch and the black paintings of Goya are among its many unmissable masterpieces. If you like art, you can spend several days here. In any case, the museum provides itineraries to help you see the most important works in one, two or three-hour tours. You can also visit in small groups outside normal opening times. In all cases, we recommend booking in advance, and allowing extra time to enjoy some of the temporary exhibitions.
Paseo del Arte, Madrid's art avenue
A tree-lined boulevard around two kilometres long, linking some of the most important museums in Spain, including the Prado, the Reina Sofía National Art Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Today, we recommend a pleasant walk, and maybe a visit to the Royal Botanical Garden, opposite the Prado Museum, or the nearby Buen Retiro Park. After that, perhaps some tapas in the pavement cafés on and around the Paseo del Arte.
Cibeles and Neptuno fountains
Close to the Paseo del Arte are two very popular fountains. They are the Neptune Fountain and the Cybele Fountain (”Cibeles”). These are where fans of the city’s two biggest football teams celebrate their wins. Atlético de Madrid supporters go to Neptuno. And Cibeles is the centre of Real Madrid’s celebrations. Opposite this fountain is the Cibeles Palace, home of the City Council, with a rooftop bar where you can enjoy a fantastic bird’s eye view of the city. The building also houses exhibitions and many cultural events.
Bernabéu Stadium tour
This is your chance to see Real Madrid’s home ground, the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The tour takes about an hour and a half, giving you access to the pitch, the changing rooms, the bench, the press room, the president’s box, and the trophy room where they display all the many cups the team has won. You can also get a faked-up photo of yourself with the players, see the whole stadium from the top level, and of course, pick out the perfect souvenir from the club’s official gift shop.
Remember that there is a lot of football to see in Madrid, with matches every week. La Liga matches, the national championship, are usually held at the weekend. Meanwhile, European competition matches are usually on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Check the calendar before your trip and book a ticket to enjoy the world’s best football live
Gran Vía
One of Europe’s grand avenues, full of theatres, restaurants and shops. It’s always busy. We recommend walking along it, from Calle Alcalá to Plaza de España. Don’t forget to look up - many of the buildings on Gran Vía feature unusual statues on the upper storeys. At street level, you can buy souvenirs and see what’s on at the many theatres. There are usually major productions and famous musicals to see, which can be a great way to end the day with entertainment. The Círculo de Bellas Artes is a lovely place to stop for a drink at street level or on its spectacular roof terrace.
If you have plenty of time, you could visit the Temple of Debod. This is an Egyptian temple over two thousand years old, in a beautiful setting near Plaza de España, and a great spot to watch the sunset.