If you have just one day to visit the Spanish capital, here’s a list of must-sees. Plan your getaway, but be warned: you’ll want to come back!
A day trip to Madrid? Enjoying the Spanish capital deserves much more time, but if you’re passing through or simply don’t have more days, take note of these plans to discover the city. To make planning easier, we suggest morning, afternoon and evening ideas (don’t try to do them all, just choose the ones you like best), so you can cross them off your list from visit to visit.
Although you will always miss something, these proposals offer you the best versions of Madrid in the different time slots of the day. Ready? Let’s get started:
3 options to see Madrid in the morning
1. Museo del Prado
Whether you love art or not, it’s a must-see. Inaugurated in 1819, the Prado Museum today is one of the city’s great attractions, exhibiting the old royal collections and works by the great masters of the Spanish school such as Velázquez and Goya. Check if your visit coincides with any of its temporary exhibitions that might be of interest to you. However, as with the city, you won’t be able to see everything in one visit, so you can always reserve a couple of hours to see the most important paintings, such as El Greco’s ‘El caballero de la mano en el pecho’, Velázquez’s ‘Las Meninas’, Goya’s ‘The Naked Maja’, Caravaggio’s ‘David and Goliath’, Bosch’s ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ and Goya’s ‘The Third of May 1808’, among others. However, we advise you to buy your tickets in advance to avoid queues and make your visit smoother.
♦ Información práctica:
- Qué ver en una hora en el Museo del Prado aquí
- Qué ver en dos horas en el Museo del Prado aquí
- Entradas y horarios aquí
2. Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofía
Another attraction if you’re in the Spanish capital is the Reina Sofía Museum, which houses more than 23,000 works of modern and contemporary art, which means you’ll have to work hard to get the most out of it. And, yes, we admit it’s not easy to choose between so many masterpieces, but as we know that your visit is a whirlwind one, it’s best not to miss ‘Guernica’, one of Pablo Picasso’s masterpieces, which commemorates the pain of the victims of the bombing of this Basque town on 27 April 1937, during the Spanish Civil War. Other must-sees include ‘Girl at the Window’ by Salvador Dalí, ‘The Embrace’ by Juan Genovés and ‘The House of the Palm Tree’ by Joan Miró.
♦ Practical information:
- Tickets and opening times: here
3. El Retiro
With more than 15,000 trees, it is one of the lungs of Madrid. Not for nothing has it been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. In El Retiro Park you will not only enjoy the charm of one of the green areas of the capital, but it also offers culture and leisure. You can also do sport, ride a boat or have a drink on one of its terraces. This space is a real gem that combines architecture, sculpture and landscaping in a unique space. Don’t miss: the Palacio de Velázquez, inspired by the Crystal Palace in London; the Crystal Palace, which was built for an exhibition held in 1887 on the Philippines; the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, a very striking piece dedicated to Lucifer, known as the devil; or the Great Pond, which is considered the central axis of the park and where visitors can sit on its banks or sail in rented boats.
Options to see Madrid in the afternoon
1. Puerta del Sol & Plaza Mayor
It’s time to immerse yourself in the central and bustling Puerta del Sol square, the same square that in the 15th century was one of the entrances to the wall that surrounded Madrid. Don’t miss the chance to have your photo taken with the statue of the “Bear and the Strawberry Tree”, the popular meeting point representing the elements of the city’s coat of arms. And if you look down, you’ll find Kilometre Zero, which marks the point from which the kilometres of Spanish roads begin to count, and where almost all visitors take a photograph as a souvenir. Another of Madrid’s emblematic landmarks is the Casa de Correos, whose clock strikes the traditional New Year’s Eve chimes.
A few metres away is one of the most emblematic places in the city, the Plaza Mayor, with a rectangular floor plan, lined with arcades and surrounded by cafés, shops and restaurants. Buildings such as the Casa de la Panadería (Bakery House) and the Arco de Cuchilleros (Cuchilleros Arch) stand out here. To access this square you can do so through any of the 10 entrances located on its four sides, most of them in the form of an arch. And if you have a little time left, venture down some of the streets that give access to it, such as Botoneras, where you will find shops specialising in squid sandwiches, or Calle Postas, where you will find the very old Posada del Peine (dating back to 1610).
2. Palacio Real (Royal Palace)
It is one of the largest in the world. The history of the Royal Palace dates back to the 18th century and was ordered to be built by Felipe V, after a fire destroyed the Old Alcazar of Madrid. For centuries it has been the official residence of the kings, but nowadays the monarch Felipe VI and his family live in the Zarzuela Palace. Visiting the Royal Palace of Madrid can take about 2 hours, depending on whether you go with a guide, use an audio guide or go on your own. Although it would be worth touring every corner, there are essential spaces inside the majestic royal house: among them are the Throne Room, the Royal Armoury and the Hall of Columns. It is also obligatory to contemplate the magic of its masterful and imposing main staircase or the Royal Kitchen. Not forgetting the gala dining room, the Royal Chapel, and halls such as the Gasparini or Alabarderos.
On the outskirts, it’s also worth taking a stroll around the new Mirador de la Cornisa to see the beautiful views of the Campo del Moro Gardens and the Casa de Campo. And if your visit coincides with Wednesdays and Saturdays (except July, August, September and those days when an official ceremony is being held or weather conditions prevent it) you can see the changing of the Royal Guard and on the first Wednesday of every month the solemn changing of the guard.
♦ Practical information:
- Tickets and opening times: here
Options for seeing Madrid by night
1. Tapas in Las Letras neighbourhood
You can’t leave Madrid without treating yourself to a round of tapas and a drink in one of the lively terraces of the Barrio de las Letras, where the great writers of the Golden Age of Spanish literature lived, such as Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo, Tirso de Molina and Góngora, among others.
Lose yourself in the Plaza de Santa Ana and Calle Huertas, where you can find charming bars and traditional taverns of Madrid. Ham, calamari, fried eggs and, of course, good wine or beer are the ingredients of the tapeo, which consists of going from bar to bar enjoying a beer or a drink and a portion of food. It is a good opportunity to sample Madrid’s nightlife.
2. Musicals on Gran Vía
Madrid’s nightlife also boasts a vibrant theatre scene, and without a doubt, a stroll along Gran Vía means immersing yourself in this little ‘Spanish Broadway’ that brings together the best musicals in the capital. Theatres such as Lope de Vega, Capitol or Rialto have contributed to making this busy Madrid thoroughfare known for its more elaborate shows. Romantic stories, life dramas or childhood memories… Everything is possible on Madrid’s Gran Vía.
♦ Practical information:
- Agenda, tickets and schedules here
CONCLUSION
Getting around Madrid in a day is not easy, but planning your getaway with plans that you can enjoy in different time slots will allow you to see it in all its different versions. There are cultural, leisure and gastronomic options, as well as the chance to lose yourself in its streets steeped in history. And if you’re short of time, you’ll always have another excuse to come back.
