Madrid is a city that moves to a late-night rhythm and a midday stroll. Founded in the 9th century and crowned capital in 1561, it carries Habsburg grandeur and avant‑garde cool in equal measure. The result: baroque palaces beside modern art, elegant boulevards leading to bohemian lanes, and meals that stretch joyfully into the night.

Art lovers come for the “Golden Triangle”—the Prado, Reina Sofía, and Thyssen-Bornemisza—home to Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, and Picasso’s Guernica. Food travelers find tapas bars older than some countries, markets brimming with jamón ibérico, and dining rooms pushing Spain’s culinary frontier. Football fans make pilgrimages to the revamped Bernabéu; everyone finds their way to Retiro’s leafy paths.

Practical notes: dinner often starts around 9 pm, and locals love the sobremesa—the unhurried chat after a meal. Pickpockets operate in busy areas like Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía—keep valuables zipped. The Metro is clean and fast; taxis and rideshares are plentiful. If you’re here on a Sunday, don’t miss El Rastro flea market in La Latina.

Madrid

Why go now: Madrid’s cultural calendar hums year‑round, from world‑class exhibitions to La Liga matches and neighborhood fiestas. The city’s recent wave of market revivals and chef‑driven taverns makes it a feast for the curious palate.

• Top sights: Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Retiro Park, Prado, Reina Sofía, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Temple of Debod, Gran Vía architecture.
• Neighborhoods to wander: La Latina (tapas and Sunday Rastro), Malasaña (indie shops and street art), Chueca (design-forward dining and nightlife), Barrio de las Letras (Cervantes-era literary quarter), Salamanca (boutiques on Calle Serrano).
• Essential bites: tortilla de patatas at Casa Dani (Mercado de la Paz), cocido madrileño at La Bola, bocadillo de calamares around Plaza Mayor, callos (tripe stew) at La Tasquita de Enfrente, roast suckling pig at Botín.
• Fun fact: Sobrino de Botín (1725) is often called the world’s oldest continuously operating restaurant—its wood-fired oven never sleeps.

Where to stay (curated picks):

• Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques — Opulent hideaway near the Royal Palace; rooftop views and a serene garden courtyard.
• The Westin Palace, Madrid — Belle Époque landmark between the Prado and Thyssen; famed stained-glass dome.
• Novotel Madrid Center — Modern base in Salamanca, steps from Parque del Retiro and Mercado de la Paz.
• Melia Madrid Princesa — Stylish rooms near Plaza de España and Temple of Debod sunsets.
• Hostal Persal — Value in Barrio de las Letras; walk to tapas streets and museums.
• Room007 Ventura Hostel — Social, clean, and central for budget travelers.
• Apartment stays: browse VRBO Madrid or compare hotels on Hotels.com Madrid.

Getting to Madrid (bookings and tips):

• Flights within Europe: compare on Omio Flights (Europe). Typical times: Paris 2h, Rome 2h30, London 2h30.
• Flights from outside Europe: search Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights. Nonstops from NYC ~7h, Miami ~8h30, Mexico City ~11h, São Paulo ~10h.
• Trains in Europe: AVE high-speed examples via Omio Trains — Barcelona–Madrid ~2h30 (from ~€25–€90), Seville–Madrid ~2h30 (from ~€25–€80), Valencia–Madrid ~1h50 (from ~€20–€60).
• Buses in Europe: budget options on Omio Buses (e.g., Lisbon–Madrid ~8–9h, often cheaper than flights).
• Airport to city: Metro Line 8 to Nuevos Ministerios (~25 min), Cercanías C1/C10 to Atocha (~30–40 min), taxi flat fare usually around €30.

Day 1: Arrival, Retiro Stroll, and Literary Quarter Tapas

Afternoon: Arrive and drop bags. Stretch your legs in Retiro Park—loop past the Crystal Palace and the lake. For a pick‑me‑up, grab an espresso and a buttery napolitana at La Mallorquina (Puerta del Sol) or flat whites at Toma Café (Malasaña) known for meticulous pours and house roasts.

Evening: Ease into Madrid’s tapeo in Barrio de las Letras. Start with crispy bacalao at Casa Revuelta (stand at the bar; it’s part of the fun), then wander to La Venencia, a sherry bar frozen in time (only sherry; no photos). For a sit‑down dinner, book La Castela (Retiro) for razor clams and creamy rice with carabinero prawns, or El Sur (Huertas) for wallet‑friendly classics like berenjenas con miel (fried eggplant with honey). Nightcap at 1862 Dry Bar (Malasaña): textbook martinis, moody lighting.

Day 2: Royal Madrid, Masterpieces, and Old Town Icons

Morning: Join a comprehensive city tour that threads the Royal Palace and the Prado with the historic center—ideal on your first full day to get bearings and skip lines.

Madrid in a Day Tour: Royal Palace, Historic Center & Prado Museum

Afternoon: After the tour, linger around Plaza de Oriente and Almudena Cathedral. Lunch nearby at Casa Ciriaco (classic Madrid tavern; try the croquetas and roast quail) or El Anciano Rey de los Vinos opposite the palace for raciones and a glass of vermut de grifo.

Evening: Golden hour atop Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes brings sweeping city views down Gran Vía. For dinner, book La Tasquita de Enfrente (near Gran Vía) for elevated, seasonal Madrileño fare (ask for callos if available) or Sacha (Chamartín) for cult-status tortilla vaga and txangurro cannelloni.

Day 3: Retiro to the Art Triangle, Salamanca Shopping, Rooftop Sunset

Morning: Coffee at HanSo Café (Malasaña) or Cafés Tornasol (Lavapiés) with a slice of basque cheesecake. If you didn’t deep‑dive yesterday, pick one museum for a focused visit: Thyssen for an elegant sprint through 700 years of art, or Reina Sofía for Picasso’s Guernica and Miró’s color fields. Book timed slots in advance during peak months.

Afternoon: Cross into the Salamanca district for lunch at Casa Dani (Mercado de la Paz)—their tortilla de patatas has national fame. Browse Serrano’s “Golden Mile” (Loewe flagship, Spanish designers) and Calle Jorge Juan’s boutiques. If you prefer greenery, head to the Royal Botanical Garden beside the Prado for a quiet hour among centuries‑old specimens.

Evening: Temple of Debod is Madrid’s photogenic sunset, an Egyptian temple gifted to Spain. Dine at Sala de Despiece (Chamberí) for a playful, ingredient‑driven bar (blackboard menu; stand at the counter) or Triciclo (Las Letras) for market‑inspired dishes with global riffs.

Day 4: Bernabéu, Malasaña + Chueca, and a Flamenco Night

Morning: Football fan or not, the renovated Santiago Bernabéu is a spectacle of steel and screens—walk the stands, peer into the trophy rooms, and glimpse pitch‑level vistas. Coffee after at TOMA Café Calle de Prim or specialty spot Hola Coffee (Lavapiés).

Afternoon: Graffiti and indie shops in Malasaña—cruise Calle del Espíritu Santo and Corredera Baja de San Pablo. For lunch, sidle into Bodega de la Ardosa for tortilla and salmorejo, or Mercado de Vallehermoso for a modern market lunch (craft beer stalls, ramen, oysters, Spanish cheeses).

Evening: Experience the raw duende of flamenco in an intimate tablao where the focus is on music and dance.

Essential Flamenco: Pure Flamenco Show in the Heart of Madrid

For dinner nearby, try La Bien Aparecida (Cantabrian-leaning menu; refined but warm) or Arima Basque Gastronomy (pintxos and excellent txakoli). For cocktails after, Salmon Guru (Consigliere‑crafted drinks; reservations help) or the classic Museo Chicote on Gran Vía.

Day 5: Day Trip—Toledo and Segovia (UNESCO Classics)

Two Castilian gems in one day: medieval Toledo, where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish legacies interlace, and Segovia with its Roman aqueduct and fairy‑tale Alcázar. Expect an early start and a full, satisfying day out of the city.

From Madrid: Toledo and Segovia Full-Day Tour With Tickets

In Toledo, see the soaring Cathedral and El Greco’s “Burial of the Count of Orgaz” at Santo Tomé; in Segovia, stand beneath the granite arcades of the aqueduct and climb the Alcázar towers. Back in Madrid by evening; grab a late tortilla at Juana La Loca (La Latina) or a simple bocadillo de calamares near Plaza Mayor.

Day 6: Markets, Madrid Río, and an Evening Tapas Crawl

Morning: Breakfast at Chocolatería San Ginés—thick hot chocolate and churros since 1894—or go savory with a tortilla and café con leche at Bar La Ardosa. Then amble along Madrid Río, the landscaped park following the Manzanares, with playgrounds, footbridges, and skyline peeks.

Afternoon: Lunch at Mercado de San Miguel to sample small plates—gildas, croquetas, jamón—and a glass of albariño. If markets are your thing, compare with the more local Mercado de San Antón (Chueca) or Vallehermoso (Chamberí). Rest at your hotel; Madrileños dine late.

Evening: Let a local guide lead you through beloved taverns where history and flavor mingle.

Madrid Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour

Expect vermouth on tap, Galician octopus, sizzling garlic shrimp, and hearty stews served in century‑old bars. After, wander Calle Cava Baja in La Latina—bar‑hopping is the local sport.

Day 7: Lavapiés, Matadero, and Farewell Madrid

Morning: Brunch at Federal Café (Conde de Barajas) or Pan.Delirio (award‑winning rosca de reyes and breads). Explore Lavapiés’ street art and multicultural eateries; if it’s Sunday, weave through El Rastro’s labyrinth of antiques and oddities. For a last cultural stop, Matadero Madrid (a former slaughterhouse turned arts center) often hosts design markets and cutting‑edge exhibits.

Afternoon: Last tastes: grab a cone of jamón at Museo del Jamón for the road or a box of violetas candies (Madrid’s floral sweet). Head to the airport—Metro Line 8 or a ~€30 taxi—aiming to arrive 2–3 hours before your flight.

Evening: If you have a late departure, watch sunset from the rooftop at Picalagartos (Gran Vía) and toast your week with a fino sherry.

Optional Add‑Ons and Alternatives

• Cooking class: Learn Spain’s most debated rice dish hands‑on (and sip while you stir). Paella Cooking Class in Madrid with Bottomless Wine Pairing

  

• Quick orientation spin: See the highlights on a fun, breezy loop. Welcome Tour to Madrid in Private Eco Tuk Tuk

  

Notes on tickets and timing: Major museums are busiest late morning; book early entry when possible. Many restaurants open for dinner around 8:30–9:00 pm; reserve for Friday/Saturday. Taxis are plentiful after midnight; the Metro runs late but not 24/7.

Backup rainy‑day plan: Sorolla Museum (luminous house‑museum), National Archaeological Museum (great for Iberian history), and covered markets (Vallehermoso or San Antón) keep you dry without sacrificing Madrid flavor.

However you pace it, this 7‑day Madrid travel guide balances headline attractions with neighborhoods where locals actually linger. You’ll leave with museum favorites, a dozen new tapas obsessions, and a sense that the city’s best stories often begin after dark.