Madrid, Spain’s high-spirited capital, balances royal grandeur with everyday bar life. From the Habsburg-era Plaza Mayor to the Bourbon boulevards and the “Art Triangle” (Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen), the city rewards slow wandering and late dinners. Expect lively plazas, world-class museums, and café counters where time idles over a cortado.

Fun fact: Sobrino de Botín, operating since 1725, is recognized as one of the world’s oldest restaurants, and Real Madrid’s Bernabéu is a cathedral of football culture. Madrileños dine late, adore their vermouth hour, and treat Sundays in La Latina like a neighborhood holiday. The result: a city that hums from morning coffees to midnight flamenco.

Practical notes: The Metro is fast, safe, and tap-to-pay friendly; taxis are abundant and fairly priced. Book skip-the-line tickets for the Royal Palace and Prado in advance. Museums and markets have varied hours (Reina Sofía closes Tuesdays; smaller eateries often take Monday breaks), so plan ahead—then let Madrid’s spontaneity do the rest.

Madrid

Old and new collide here: the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral meet modern galleries, indie shops in Malasaña, and tapas institutions in La Latina. Retiro Park offers green respite—row a boat, visit the Crystal Palace, and admire rose gardens.

Top hits include the Prado’s Velázquez and Goya masterpieces, Reina Sofía’s Guernica, the Thyssen’s private-treasure vibe, and food markets like San Miguel and Mercado de la Paz. By night, sip sherry at La Venencia, craft cocktails at Salmon Gurú, or rooftop views at the Círculo de Bellas Artes.

Where to Stay (Hotels.com and VRBO):

• Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques (Austrias): Five-star sanctuary steps from the Royal Palace; tranquil garden terrace and refined rooms.
• The Westin Palace, Madrid (Las Letras): Historic belle with a stained-glass dome; perfect for museum days.
• Novotel Madrid Center (Salamanca): Modern, family-friendly, walkable to Retiro and gourmet shopping on Goya.
• Melia Madrid Princesa (Argüelles): Contemporary rooms and pool near the Temple of Debod sunset spot.
• Hostal Persal (Las Letras): Wallet-friendly, location-rich base amid tapas lanes and theaters.
• Room007 Ventura Hostel (Huertas): Sociable hostel with clean design for budget-minded explorers.
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com – Madrid | VRBO – Madrid

Getting There & Around:

• Flights: Compare carriers to MAD (Barajas) on Omio (flights to/from Europe), or for long-haul options check Trip.com and Kiwi.com. Intra-Europe flights often run 2–3 hours; transatlantic nonstops 7–10 hours.
• Trains: High-speed routes bookable via Omio (trains)—Barcelona–Madrid 2.5–3h, Seville–Madrid ~2.5h, Valencia–Madrid ~1h50. Advance fares from ~€20–€80.
• Buses: Budget-friendly links from many Spanish cities via Omio (buses).
• Airport to Center: Taxi flat fare ~€30 to most central zones; Metro + airport supplement ≈€5 total; Cercanías train from T4 to Atocha/Chamartín ≈€3–€4; Express Bus 24/7 ≈€5.

Day 1 – Arrival, Old Madrid, and Tapas Night

Morning: Travel to Madrid. If you arrive early, fuel up near Puerta del Sol: La Mallorquina for napolitanas (chocolate-filled pastries) or a quick espresso at Misión Café. Stroll Calle Arenal to get your bearings.

Afternoon: Check in, then wander the Habsburg heart: Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor’s arcades, and the iron-and-glass Mercado de San Miguel for a standing-lunch of jamón, gildas, and a copa of Rioja. Detour for churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés, a Madrid institution since 1894.

Evening: Kick off your culinary education with a guided tapas crawl (small group, local bars). Book here: Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Walking Tour – Small Group Local Bars. Expect classic bites—croquetas, tortilla, grilled prawns—paired with Spanish wines and vermouth in venues Madrileños actually frequent.

After the tour, go for a nightcap with a view at the Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes or the rooftop at The Hat. If you prefer a classic tavern, try Casa Labra for bacalao bites and vermouth on tap.

Day 2 – Royal Palace, Prado Masterpieces, and Flamenco

Morning: Start with a café con leche at Café de Oriente facing the palace square, then step into royal Spain on a skip-the-line tour: Madrid: Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket. You’ll see the Throne Room, banquet halls, tapestries, and Stradivarius instruments while hearing the backstory of Bourbon pomp and politics.

Pop into Almudena Cathedral next door, then break for a traditional lunch: options include El Anciano Rey de los Vinos (slow-braised rabo de toro stew), Casa Revuelta (legendary fried cod), or Casa Lucas (inventive montaditos) in La Latina.

Afternoon: Cross to the museum district for a focused, guided visit: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket. Highlights include Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings, and Bosch’s Garden of Earthly Delights—context turns masterpieces into stories.

Unwind in Retiro Park afterward: row a boat on the Estanque, peek into the ethereal Crystal Palace, and grab a scoop at Palazzo (gelato) near Puerta de Alcalá.

Evening: Experience duende at an intimate tablao: Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid. The close-up setting magnifies the footwork, guitar, and cante—raw and unforgettable.

Dine before or after the show: Sobrino de Botín (wood-fired suckling pig), Casa Lucio (famous huevos rotos), or Taberna El Sur (homey, budget-friendly classics). For cocktails, try 1862 Dry Bar for textbook martinis or Salmon Gurú for playful signatures.

Day 3 – Neighborhoods, Markets, and Farewell

Morning: Explore Malasaña’s indie spirit: coffee at Toma Café or HanSo, then browse vinyl and vintage along Calle Velarde. If it’s Sunday, weave through El Rastro flea market and reward yourself with La Latina tapas—La Perejila (Andalusian bites) or Casa Gerardo (morcilla and cider).

Afternoon: Choose-your-own finale: art lovers can see Picasso’s Guernica at Reina Sofía or the Thyssen’s broad private collection. Football fans might tour the revamped Bernabéu and its museum. For a refined lunch, head to Mercado de la Paz (seafood stalls and tortilla stands) or La Trainera (classic seafood in Salamanca).

Evening: Last stroll down Gran Vía’s theater row and shop Spanish staples (espadrilles, olive oil, tinned seafood). Pick up sweets at La Mallorquina for the plane. For your ride to the airport, budget ~25–40 minutes: taxi (~€30 flat rate), Express Bus (~€5), or Cercanías/Metro (~€3–€5).

Optional swaps if you have extra energy: a tuk-tuk orientation ride around the center, sunset at the Temple of Debod, or a modern tapas crawl in Chueca (try contemporary spots like Triciclo or Angelita’s wine bar).

Booking tips: Reserve timed entries for the Palace and Prado, and buy flamenco seats early on weekends. For trains and flights, compare on Omio (trains), Omio (flights), Trip.com, and Kiwi.com for the best schedules and fares.

At-a-glance eats and drinks to remember:

• Breakfast/Coffee: La Mallorquina (pastries), Misión Café (specialty coffee), Toma Café or HanSo (Malasaña).
• Lunch: Mercado de San Miguel (variety), Casa Revuelta (bacalao), La Sanabresa (value-packed menu del día).
• Dinner/Tapas: Casa Lucio (huevos rotos), Taberna El Sur (comfort classics), Casa Alberto (literary tavern, callos).
• Drinks: La Venencia (sherry, no photos), Bodega de la Ardosa (vermouth and tortilla), rooftops at Círculo de Bellas Artes.

Another great combo tour (if you want an “all-in-one” day): Madrid in a Day Tour: Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum—useful if you prefer a single guided arc through the highlights.

In three days, you’ll taste Madrid’s essence: royal salons, masterful canvases, leafy parks, and tapa-laden counters capped by a pulse-quickening flamenco show. Come hungry, walk everywhere, and let the city’s late-night energy carry you from plaza to plaza.