Madrid is a city that wakes up late and stays up happy. Royal pageantry and world-class museums live side by side with neighborhood bars where the tortilla is still warm and vermouth flows on tap. Over three days, you’ll trace royal routes, linger over tapas, and hear the heel-stomp of flamenco echo in vaulted cellars.

The Spanish capital became the royal seat in the 16th century, and its grandeur shows in the Royal Palace and the boulevards of the Bourbon era. Yet Madrid’s soul hums in its barrios: the literary lanes of Barrio de las Letras, indie Malasaña, and food-forward La Latina. Expect long lunches, late dinners, and blue-sky strolls in Retiro Park.

Practicalities: dinner often starts after 9 pm; book headline sights and flamenco in advance. The Metro is fast and safe; contactless cards work at turnstiles. Keep an eye on belongings around Puerta del Sol and crowded markets. Pack for walking—Madrid rewards aimless wandering between cafés, plazas, and rooftop miradores.

Madrid

Madrid is Spain’s beating heart—regal, artistic, and delightfully social. Highlights include the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen (the “Art Triangle”), the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, and Retiro’s gardens and crystal pavilion. Football fans can visit the revamped Santiago Bernabéu; market lovers can graze at Mercado de San Miguel.

Eat your way through the city: try cocido madrileño at La Bola, huevos rotos at Casa Lucio, old-school taverns like Bodega de la Ardosa, and churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés. Sip sherry at La Venencia (no photos) or inventive cocktails at Salmon Guru.

• Where to stay: Centro for walking to major sights; Salamanca for upscale shopping; Chueca and Malasaña for nightlife and cafés.
• Search stays: VRBO Madrid | Hotels.com Madrid
• Specific picks: Classic elegance at The Westin Palace, Madrid (steps from the Prado); design-forward luxury at Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques (near the Palace); reliable family base at Novotel Madrid Center (Salamanca); contemporary comfort at Meliá Madrid Princesa; budget gem Hostal Persal (Letras); sociable bunks at Room007 Ventura Hostel.

How to get to Madrid (MAD): From European cities, compare flights and trains on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains). Typical flight times: Paris 2h (~$60–$180), London 2h30 (~$70–$200), Rome 2h30 (~$60–$180). High-speed AVE: Barcelona 2.5–3h (~€25–€90), Valencia ~1h50 (~€20–€60), Seville ~2h30 (~€25–€80). Buses can be great value via Omio (buses).

Flying from outside Europe? Compare deals on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com (flights). From the airport, Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios takes ~15–20 minutes (Airport supplement ~€3.50; total ~€5). The yellow Exprés Aeropuerto bus to Cibeles/ATOCHA is ~€6, ~30–40 minutes. Taxis have a flat ~€30 to central Madrid.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Madrid, and a Tapas Welcome

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, caffeine up at Toma Café (Malasaña) for expertly pulled flat whites, or La Mallorquina by Puerta del Sol for a warm napolitana pastry. Check in and drop bags.

Afternoon: Get oriented with a scenic ride on the Welcome Tour to Madrid in Private Eco Tuk Tuk (about 2 hours). You’ll glide past the Royal Palace, Almudena, Gran Vía, Cibeles, and Retiro—perfect for plotting your photo stops and dinner barrio.

After the tour, stroll Plaza Mayor’s arcades and pop into Mercado de San Miguel for a snack—try oysters at El Señor Martín, croquetas at Arzábal, or paella by Rodrigo de la Calle.

Evening: Make your first night delicious with the Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Walking Tour – Small Group (about 3 hours, 4 bars, 10+ bites). It’s a lively primer to Madrid’s bar culture, pairing classics like jamón ibérico, gambas al ajillo, and tortilla with Spanish wines.

Nightcap ideas: sip vermouth on tap at Bodegas Ricla near Plaza Mayor, or try inventive cocktails at Salmon Guru (tropical, theatrical) and 1862 Dry Bar (classic, intimate).

Day 2: Royal Madrid, Barrio Strolls, and Flamenco

Morning: Fuel up with churros con chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés (since 1894), then step into grandeur on a Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket. You’ll see the Throne Room, Royal Armory, and the Stradivarius quartet, with context on Bourbon history.

Step across to Almudena Cathedral to admire the modern stained glass, then wander the Sabatini Gardens for palace views.

Afternoon: Explore the historic “Madrid de los Austrias” lanes: Plaza de la Villa, Calle del Codo, and the literary quarter, Barrio de las Letras. For lunch, choose Casa Lucio in La Latina for famous huevos rotos; La Bola for slow-cooked cocido madrileño; or Taberna El Sur for budget-friendly raciones. Coffee break at HanSo Café (Malasaña) for matcha and pour-overs.

Continue to the Temple of Debod for an Egyptian-temple-in-the-park surprise and skyline views of the Palace and Casa de Campo.

Evening: Experience the duende at Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid. Intimate venues focus on the artistry—cajón rhythms, cante jondo, and virtuoso footwork. Dine afterward at Botín (world’s oldest restaurant—order roast suckling pig), or Juana La Loca for modern pintxos and an exceptional tortilla with caramelized onion.

Day 3: The Prado, Retiro, and Departure

Morning: Dive into Spain’s greatest canvases on a Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket. A guide will thread Goya’s Black Paintings, Velázquez’s Las Meninas, and Rubens and Titian into a story of power, devotion, and revolution.

Afterward, stroll the leafy Paseo del Prado, now a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape, to Retiro Park. Peek into the Crystal Palace and the rose garden in season.

Afternoon: Brunch-lunch at El Viajero (La Latina) for rooftop views and Mediterranean plates, or Honest Greens (late hours, market-fresh) if you’re craving greens. If time allows, choose one: Thyssen-Bornemisza (from Old Masters to modern), Reina Sofía (Picasso’s Guernica), or the revamped Bernabéu Stadium tour for football fans. Depart for the airport by Metro or taxi; aim for 2–2.5 hours before your flight.

Evening: If you have a late departure, cap the trip with a sunset drink at Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop for sweeping Gran Vía views, or a final tapa crawl in La Latina—start at Casa Gerardo for callos a la madrileña and end with artisanal ice cream at La Pecera.

Optional add-ons if you extend your stay: Day trips to Toledo and Segovia bring medieval skylines and hilltop fortresses within 30–90 minutes. Consider these curated options if you add a day: a combined Toledo–Segovia excursion, a countryside wine tour, or El Escorial monastery. But with just three days, savoring Madrid itself is the smarter play.

Booking recap: Stays on VRBO or Hotels.com; flights via Omio (Europe flights), Omio (trains), Omio (buses), or long-haul on Trip.com / Kiwi.com. Key experiences: Tuk Tuk city tour, Royal Palace, Prado guided visit, tapas crawl, and flamenco.

Summary: In three days, you’ll see Madrid’s essential sights, taste its best bites, and feel its rhythm after dark. Between palaces and plazas, cafés and concerts, you’ll discover a capital that balances high culture with everyday joy—one tapa, canvas, and guitar flourish at a time.