Madrid's Gran Vía seen from above
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Madrid in 2 days

  • 2 days
  • 8.5 km on foot
  • 16 stops
  • Audio guide

Two days let you breathe: one stroll through the Madrid you cannot miss, another through its history, and in between time for the Prado, the Retiro, the Reina Sofía and the Literary Quarter. It is the most comfortable pace for a short first visit, with calmer afternoons and the legends saved for your first evening.

Day 1Madrid for the first time

Start at Puerta del Sol with “Madrid for the first time”, which passes Plaza Mayor, San Miguel Market, the Almudena and the Royal Palace. Have a cocido madrileño for lunch and give the afternoon to art and green space: the Prado and the Retiro are close together. As the day fades, head back to the centre for “A Madrid of shadows and secrets”, with the House of the Seven Chimneys and San Ginés. Dinner, a bocadillo de calamares beside Plaza Mayor, ends the day without any rush.

  1. Morning

    Madrid for the first time

    Mixed · 3 km · 2 h

    1. Puerta del SolThe symbolic centre of Spain.
    2. Plaza MayorThe city's great urban living room.
    3. San Miguel MarketIron, glass and tapas.
    4. Almudena CathedralA singular cathedral.
    5. Royal PalaceThe official residence of the Crown.
    6. Plaza de OrienteGardens, stone kings and theatre.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Afternoon

    Prado Museum

    Spain's great art gallery: Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Rubens. Do not try to see everything; pick three or four rooms and book your ticket. The Retiro is a few minutes away on foot.

    Directions

    Retiro Park

    Madrid's green lung, once a garden of the Habsburg court. Stroll to the lake, look at the Crystal Palace and sit for a while. It is the perfect rest after the museum.

    Directions

  3. Early evening

    A Madrid of shadows and secrets

    Mysteries & legends · 2.4 km · 1 h 45 min

    1. The House of the Seven ChimneysA 16th-century building, a death shrouded in unanswered questions and the white figure that, according to tradition, walks across the roof.
    2. Linares PalaceLuxury, tragedy and voices in the drawing rooms.
    3. Plaza MayorExecutions and echoes of the past.
    4. Church of San GinésOne of the oldest parishes in the town.
    5. Calle de la CabezaA street whose name was born of a legend.

    Start the audio guide See the route

Day 2Kings, verses and modern art

Give the morning to “From Habsburg Madrid to the modern city”, which runs from Plaza de la Villa and the Royal Palace to Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and the Congress of Deputies. Finish near the Literary Quarter, where you can have hot chocolate and churros before carrying on. In the afternoon, the Reina Sofía and the streets of Cervantes and Lope de Vega give a counterpoint: the twentieth century against the Habsburgs, plus squares with café terraces.

  1. Morning

    From Habsburg Madrid to the modern city

    History · 3.1 km · 2 h

    1. Plaza de la VillaThe seat of government of the old town.
    2. Royal PalacePower, architecture and monarchy.
    3. Plaza MayorMarkets, festivities and autos-da-fé.
    4. Puerta del SolKilometre zero and the heart of Madrid.
    5. Congress of DeputiesThe modern, parliamentary capital.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Afternoon

    Reina Sofía Museum

    The great museum of twentieth-century art, with Picasso's Guernica as its centrepiece. An hour is enough for the highlights, and it is a short walk from the Prado.

    Directions

    Barrio de las Letras

    Cervantes, Lope de Vega and Quevedo all lived here. Its narrow streets, with verses set into the pavement of Calle de las Huertas, are ideal for a pause on a terrace at the end of the day.

    Directions

The map

Madrid in 2 days, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed Mysteries & legends History Extra sight

Loading the map…

Before you go

Tips for Madrid in 2 days

  • Book your Prado and Reina Sofía tickets ahead; there is a combined museum pass, but compare it with what you actually want to see.
  • The first day ends late and the second asks for energy: pace yourself, wear trainers and skip heels, because the centre is full of slopes.
  • From the centre you can walk to the Prado and the Retiro along the Paseo del Prado, but on a full day take the metro to Retiro and save your legs for the park.

Questions

Madrid in 2 days: your questions

Is 2 days enough for Madrid?

For a first visit, yes. You cover the historic centre, one major museum, the Retiro and the legends. If you love art, a third day lets you see the museums slowly and head out to Malasaña or Lavapiés.

How far do you walk in 2 days?

The walks add up to about 8.5 km: 5.4 on the first day (essential plus mystery) and 3.1 on the second. Add strolls in the Retiro and the museums, which tire you more than the kilometres.

Is it worth booking the Prado?

Yes. Booking skips the queue and lets you fix your morning or afternoon. Check opening hours and free-entry slots before you go, because they change, and choose only the rooms that interest you most.

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