Madrid is a city built for strolling and lingering—on tree-lined boulevards, in sun-washed plazas, and at high counters stacked with glistening tapas. Founded in the 9th century and crowned a royal capital in the 16th, it blends Habsburg grandeur with modern verve, from the Palacio Real to the city’s design-driven eateries and cocktail bars.

Art anchors the city. The legendary “Golden Triangle” museums—Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza—span Velázquez to Picasso. Retiro Park, once a royal garden, now frames picnics, rowboats, and the shimmering Crystal Palace. Football thrills at the Bernabéu, while markets like San Miguel and Vallehermoso show off Spain’s pantry.

Practical notes: dinner skews late (9–11 pm), tipping is modest (round up or leave 5–10% for great service), and pickpockets work crowded areas like Sol and Gran Vía—stay alert. The Metro is fast and clean; the airport taxi to the center is a flat fare (~€30). Major museums have free hours; the Reina Sofía closes on Tuesdays, and the Prado has evening discounts—check hours before you go.

Madrid

Madrid rewards curiosity. Wander the Habsburg-era core around Plaza Mayor, then slip into Barrio de las Letras where Cervantes lived and literary quotes stripe the pavements. Cross to La Latina for tapas crawls, and to Malasaña and Chueca for indie boutiques, specialty coffee, and breezy nightlife.

Unmissable sights include the Royal Palace, Prado Museum, Retiro Park, Gran Vía, and the Temple of Debod at sunset. Food highlights span crispy bacalao bites at classic taverns, cocido madrileño (hearty chickpea stew), and perfectly poured vermouth on tap. Fun fact: Sobrino de Botín, founded in 1725, is recognized as the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant.

• Where to stay (Hotels.com + VRBO): Browse citywide stays on Hotels.com – Madrid or apartments on VRBO – Madrid.
• Specific hotels (curated):
  • Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques (Austrian-Habsburg elegance near the Royal Palace; rooftop plunge pool and vistas).
  • The Westin Palace, Madrid (Belle Époque icon with stained-glass dome; steps from the Prado).
  • Melia Madrid Princesa (Contemporary rooms near Plaza de España; good for families).
  • Novotel Madrid Center (Barrio de Salamanca convenience; great transport and spacious rooms).
  • Hostal Persal (Good-value base by Plaza Santa Ana; perfect for tapas nights).
  • Room007 Ventura Hostel (Social, clean, and central for budget travelers).
• How to get to Madrid: From outside Europe, compare fares on Trip.com (flights). Within Europe, check Omio (flights), Omio (trains), and Omio (buses). Example times/costs: Barcelona–Madrid high-speed train ~2.5 hours (€40–120); Seville–Madrid ~2.5–3 hours (€35–90); many EU flights are 2–3 hours (€50–150, low-cost carriers).
• Airport to city: Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios (~30 min; regular fare + ~€3 airport supplement), Express Bus 203 (~€5), or taxi flat rate (~€30) to the city center.

Day 1: Arrival, Letters Quarter, and Tapas Night

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, wake up with specialty coffee at Misión Café (buttery croissants, scrambled eggs on sourdough) or Toma Café (signature flat whites) in Malasaña. Classic pastry fans: La Mallorquina by Puerta del Sol—try the custard “napolitana”.

Afternoon: Check in, then stretch your legs in Barrio de las Letras. Read the literary quotes set into the streets, pop into Mercado de San Miguel for a grazing lunch—gambas al ajillo, croquetas, and a glass of verdejo—and wander to Plaza Mayor for people-watching beneath its elegant arcades.

Evening: Kick off with a guided food crawl: Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Walking Tour – Small Group Local Bars (about 3 hours; from ~$85–110). You’ll hit beloved taverns for over 10 tapas paired with Spanish wines and vermouth—an instant orientation to Madrileño flavors.

Nightcap ideas after the tour: La Venencia (Republic-era sherry bar; no photos, just superb palo cortado), or 1862 Dry Bar for classic cocktails in an elegant townhouse setting.

Day 2: Habsburg Madrid and the Royal Palace

Morning: Start with churros y chocolate at Chocolatería San Ginés (since 1894), then walk the old-world lanes around Plaza de la Villa. Peek into Almudena Cathedral and the Sabatini Gardens for symmetrical hedges and palace views.

Afternoon: Dive into Spanish monarchy: Madrid: Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket (about 2 hours; from ~$35–55). Gilded salons, Stradivarius instruments, and the throne room offer a vivid window into courtly life.

Lunch nearby: Casa Revuelta for hot, flaky bacalao bites; or book at Botín for wood-roasted cochinillo and history. If you prefer lighter, El Anciano Rey de los Vinos pours vermouth with delicate tostas.

Evening: Experience duende at a live show: Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid (about 60–75 minutes; from ~$35–50). The intimate setting puts heelwork, palmas, and cante front and center—no gimmicks, just raw artistry.

Dinner after the show: La Bola for slow-simmered cocido madrileño; or wander La Latina to Juana La Loca for a famously gooey tortilla slice. For a late drink, Salmon Guru ranks among Europe’s most inventive cocktail bars.

Day 3: Prado Masterpieces, Retiro Park, and Barrio Life

Morning: See Spain’s greatest canvases with context: Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket (about 90 minutes; from ~$38–60). Your guide will lead you through Velázquez’s Las Meninas, Goya’s Black Paintings, and Rubens’ drama-laden mythologies.

Follow with a languid stroll in Retiro Park: row a boat on the pond, visit the Crystal Palace, and linger under sycamores. Coffee stop: La Colectiva Café for specialty brews and homemade cakes.

Afternoon: If you’re still hungry for art, choose one: Reina Sofía (Guernica, modern masters; closed Tue) or Thyssen-Bornemisza (from Renaissance to pop art; compact and digestible). Lunch options: Florida Retiro for a chic terrace or El Paraguas (Asturian seafood—zamburiñas and buttery hake).

Evening: Wander Gran Vía for neon theatre fronts and architecture, then ascend a rooftop—either the Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes or the Riu Plaza España 360º—for sunset cityscapes. Dinner in Chamberí: Fismuler (market-driven Spanish with Nordic restraint) or El Cisne Azul (mushroom-centric, tiny, and beloved). Nightcap at Sala Equis, a former cinema turned lounge.

Day 4: Day Trip to Toledo (History in 30 Minutes)

Morning: Take the high-speed train from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Toledo (~33 minutes; typically €15–30 each way). Book via Omio (trains in Europe). Grab coffee and a pastry at the station before your uphill stroll or hop the city bus/taxi into the old town.

Afternoon: Walk the labyrinth: the Cathedral Primada (a Gothic masterwork), Santa María la Blanca Synagogue, and Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes. Seek El Greco’s “Burial of the Count of Orgaz” at St. Tomé. Lunch picks: La Orza (refined regional plates like venison with berry sauces) or La Abadía (rustic stews and tapas). For the best panorama, taxi to the Mirador del Valle.

Evening: Return to Madrid in time for a relaxed bite. Try Mercado de San Ildefonso on Calle Fuencarral (multi-stall street-food market) or Taberna El Sur (friendly, budget-friendly raciones: pisto, albóndigas, patatas bravas). If you prefer a guided excursion instead of DIY, browse options on Omio (trains) and pair with a city walking tour on arrival.

Day 5: Markets, Malasaña & Chueca, and Sunset at Debod

Morning: Brunch in Malasaña at HanSo Café (soufflé pancakes, matcha lattes) or Carmencita Bar (eggs benedict and breakfast cocktails). Shop indie on Fuencarral and vintage on side streets. If it’s Sunday, browse the open-air El Rastro market (morning only) in La Latina.

Afternoon: Graze through Mercado de Vallehermoso—don’t miss Tripea (creative Latin-Asian tasting menus; book ahead) or Kitchen 154 (spicy wings and curries). Coffee break at Toma Café 2.0. Swing by Conde Duque cultural center or the elegant streets of Barrio de Salamanca (Serrano/Jorge Juan) for boutiques.

Evening: Golden-hour at the Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple gifted to Spain, is a Madrid rite of passage. For a final dinner, hop between Bodega de la Ardosa (creamy tortilla and vermouth), La Castela (impeccable seafood tapas), or reserve at Sacha (a cult favorite blending tradition and whimsy). Toast your week with a glass of cava or a gin-tonic—the city’s unofficial nightcap.

Optional Add-Ons and Alternatives

• Day in one: Prefer a guided “highlight reel”? Consider the comprehensive Madrid in a Day Tour: Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum (skip-the-line to both icons; time-efficient overview).
• Wineries: If you’d rather sip than day-trip, swap Toledo for a countryside tasting on the Madrid Countryside Wineries Guided Tour with Wine Tasting (Tagus Valley bodegas and tapas).

Logistics Cheat Sheet

• Transit passes: Get a reloadable Tarjeta Multi for Metro/buses. Single rides ~€1.5–2; airport supplement ~€3.
• Peak hours: Lunch 1–3 pm; dinner 9–11 pm. Book popular tables (Tripea, Fismuler, Sacha) several days ahead.
• Tickets: Skipping queues at the Royal Palace and Prado via guided entries (see above) saves time in high season.

Viator Activities Featured in This Itinerary

• Madrid Tapas & Wine Tasting Walking Tour – Small Group Local Bars

  

• Madrid: Royal Palace Guided Tour with Skip the Line Ticket

  

• Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid

  

• Prado Museum Guided Tour with Skip-the-Line Ticket

  

Departure tip: For your flight home, compare options on Omio (flights in Europe) or, if returning long-haul, on Trip.com (international flights). Trains to other Spanish hubs book easily via Omio (trains).

In five days, you’ll have tasted Madrid’s soul: art that changed painting, plazas that hum late into the night, and kitchens where tradition keeps evolving. Come hungry, walk often, and let the city’s rhythm set your pace—Madrid rewards every step.