🇪🇸 Madrid in 3 Days: Detailed Itinerary
Hola and welcome to Madrid! First things first...
🛏️ Where to stay
For this itinerary, the best place to stay would be somewhere near
📍Atocha, 📍Puerta del Sol, or 📍Plaza Mayor
If you have somewhat of a budget and are travelling in a group or with family, my recommendation is to pick the mid-range Catalonia chain of hotels in the area, for the perfect mix of cosiness, comfort, and convenience.
Use this link to book👇
I personally stayed at the Catalonia Puerta del sol, Atocha. Since I was travelling with my mom who is 55+, I needed something accessible and comfortable but not too harsh on my pocket. And this fit the bill.
Now, on to the itinerary!
Day 1
Rise and shine! ☀️
So you've either just landed in Madrid early in the morning, or arrived last night and woken up fresh and bright after a good night's sleep.
After a hearty hotel breakfast buffet, you're now ready to explore the majestic city... starting with the Plaza Mayor.
🗨️ Carry some snacks and water with you, as we won't be doing a traditional sit-down lunch today
10:00 AM
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is a picturesque public square in the centre of Madrid, just a 5 min walk from your hotel.
Enjoy a leisurely morning here and bask in the pre-noon sunlight. Here, you can relax, have a coffee and do some people watching, or take pictures with the iconic bronze statue of King Philip III.
🗨️ Personally, I wouldn't recommend eating or drinking anything within the square itself because all those places are tourist traps and heavily overpriced. If you want a coffee or a snack, walk outside the square and look for small, local eateries or cafes instead.
11:00 AM
Walking Tour
While you're in the Plaza, look for groups of people gathering around an umbrella. The Plaza is where most of the free walking tours begin everyday, around 11 AM, and usually last 1-2 hours.
👉 Walking tours are a fantastic way to learn about the history and culture of the city, while at the same time having a good laugh (most guides are experts on entertaining a crowd - you'll never be bored).
📌 How it works
🎟️ Walking tours in Europe are usually FREE, and you don't need to buy any tickets or make reservations in advance. Simply show up and tell the guide that you'd like to join.
🚶♂️Your guide will lead the group around a specific area by foot, usually stopping for a coffee / bathroom break midway. Generally, tours will end very close to where they started. You are free to leave the group anytime inbetween.
💸 At the end of the tour, you a may tip your guide (the standard amount is usually €10-20 per person). This is not compulsory, but trust me, by the end of the tour you'll have liked it so much that you won't mind handing over this amount with a smile.
P.S. Carry cash! 💵 💵 💵
🌟 Our recommendation - Sandeman's
While any walking tour company would do, we suggest looking for the Sandeman's Walking Tour - they usually carry a red umbrella and gather inside the Plaza before 11AM.
Our guide was Sebastian and he was in equal parts fun, entertaining and informative - a 10/10 guide!
1:00 PM
Grab a bite to eat
After the tour, you can sit down somewhere for lunch. But we suggest something a little different for today.
Churros at Chocolateria San Gines
Founded in 1894, this is the best place to try churros in the city. The chocolate is thick, creamy, and dark. The churros are crispy and not too sweet - so you don't need to worry about overloading on sugar.
The place is open 24/7 and there's always a queue. Remember, you have to first place your order at the counter, pay, and then hand over the receipt to the server in order to be seated.
In case you don't have a sweet tooth, it's okay - you can skip the churros and go straight to tapas (below).
3:00 PM
San Miguel Market
Head on over to the San Miguel Market, just a few mins away from the Plaza Mayor, and behold the sights, smells and sounds.
Truthfully, this market has now become a major tourist attraction and no longer caters to a local audience or offers local prices.
So, enjoy the atmosphere and maybe order a drink or a snack at most if you're starving. But don't spend too much here as the prices are inflated.
4:00 PM
Tapas
Finally, it's time to tapas. In Spanish culture, tapas are small plates accompanied by drinks like beer or vermouth. You can combine tapas and turn it into a full meal.
📌 What to order
🍽️ Tortillas (Spanish omelettes)
🍽️ Croquetas
🍽️ Patatas Bravas
🍽️ Calamari
🍽️ Bocadillos (Sandwiches)
Or, simply ask your server to recommend something
📌 Tips to Tapas like a Spaniard
👉 Order your drink first. Some places may give you your first tapas for free. This could be anything, even just a bowl of olives.
👉 Try one dish at one place, and then hop to another. You can start with cold tapas and move on to hot tapas later. We've recommended a few good places below.
👉 Take it slow. Spaniards don't believe in "eat and run". So sit down, relax, and spend the rest of the evening just eating, drinking and laughing.
Places to try
8:00 PM
Gran Via
If you're going to Casa Labra (above) you can also take a stroll on the Gran Via
Gran Via is also famous for it's nightlife so if the mood is right, have a few drinks and revel in Madrid's after hours.
Day 2
10:00 AM
Royal Palace
A must-see in Madrid! The scale, grandeur and sheer enormity of the residence will baffle you. Definitely opt for the mobile audio guide, download the guides in advance, and carry your headphones. Take your time and explore the whole palace.
🗨️ You will need at least 2 hours, and a lot of walking. Carry water bottles.
🎟️ Ticket price: €12 + (€4 mobile audio guide)
It's advisable to buy tickets in advance - because there's a separate line for ticket holders and non-ticket holders - and the former is a lot quicker and smaller.
🎫 Buy tickets online:
🎧 Download the audioguide:
1:00 PM
Almudena Cathedral
Right opposite the Royal Palace. A beautiful cathedral with an interesting history - something your walking tour guide will cover on Day 1. Stop by and admire the interiors for a while, before you head for lunch.
🎟️ Ticket price: FREE
2:00 PM
Time for Paella
Even though Valencia is the original birthplace of Paella, you can find a few good places to try it in Madrid as well. But be careful - do not just enter any tourist trap advertising paella and sangria on a board outside.
🗨️ When trying paella, one must look for an "arroceria". If you search for that word on Google Maps, you'll find restaurants who are supposed to be good at making the dish.
One of these is Arroceria Marina Ventura.
🗨️ You must definitely make a reservation in advance. The place is usually crowded during lunch and dinner hours, and you may end up waiting for a very long time if you arrive without a booking.
🕒 Make a reservation:
Now, our next venue is right next door, so you can either pass the time at the restaurant or somewhere nearby - OR you can head back to the hotel to rest for some time after lunch and come back later.
6:00 PM / 7:30 PM
Flamenco Show
The magic of Spain is in Flamenco! Flamenco is a must-have experience in Spain.
In case you're visiting Seville, you must definitely see Flamenco there. However, the show at Cardamomo Flamenco in Madrid was equally spectacular!
👉 The show goes on for about 90 mins and you are allowed to take pictures without flash. The performers are so skilled and so passionate when they dance, you cannot help but smile along with them.
Though you will get one welcome drink free (wine or sangria or juice) with your ticket, you can also add Tapas to it (at an additional cost).
🎫 Buy tickets in advance:
8:00 PM
Shop & Eat at Calle Mayor
After that refreshing performance, it's time for dinner and some shopping. The Calle Mayor is full of great restaurants, bars and shops.
Pick up and taste some local delights while you're at it.
Additional activities & attractions (Optional)
In case you plan to extend your stay in Madrid, or if you want to swap out one of the items in the above schedule, here are a few other things to see and do:
1. El Retiro park
2. Prado Museum
Day 3: Toledo
Toledo is an ancient, historic city with more than 2000 years of history, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Narrow lanes, steep climbs and and architectural gems abound. A must-see on your list if you're visiting Madrid.
9:00 AM
Take a high speed train (30 mins)
There's a lot to see and do in Toledo, so it's best to get an early start.
The fastest way to get there is by the Spanish high-speed rail network. You can also opt to get there by bus or by road, but these are more time consuming and tiring for a day trip.
You don't need to book a train much in advance. Usually there will be trains available even a day before - but we suggest buying your ticket at least 2-3 days in advance to get optimal timings and availability.
🎫 Buy tickets online:
🚄 Depart from Madrid Atocha
⬇️
🚄 Arrive at Toledo Station
10:00 AM
Reach Toledo by foot
It's roughly a 15 min walk from the station to the main square of Toledo, and the views on the way are enchanting.
10:30 AM
Toledo Cathedral
This Cathedral was one of the most enchanting structures I have ever seen. Going inside, it feels like you're entering a different world.
You can get your ticket and audioguides near the entrance of the Cathedral - for this you will need to either submit your passport or provide a €50 refundable deposit (cash only).
Carry water bottles, and prepare yourself. To fully experience this masterpiece, you will need at least 2 - 3 hours of exploration.
2:00 PM
Lunch
One of the highest rated places to eat in Toledo, Bar Ludena boasts a cosy homely vibe and serves authentic Spanish meat stews. Order the local specialty, Carcamusas, with some bread and a couple of beers.
4:30 PM
Shop & Relax
After exploring the Cathedral, and eating a solid lunch, you'll inevitably feel a bit heavy and tired. So the best thing to do now is walk around at your own pace, explore the souvenir shops, sip coffee and buy confectionaries.
(If you're still full of energy, scroll down to the end to see what else you can see and do in Toledo) 🔽
Buy Marzipan
One thing Toledo is certainly famous for is Marzipan, a sweet treat made from almonds. It is extremely fragrant and flavourful, with pronounced deep and complex nuances of the almonds accentuated by the sweetness of sugar or honey.
Grab a few boxes of these as souvenirs - you can also buy a bottle of Marzipan liqueur to take back home!
Also check out stores selling armour and swords. There are quite a few fascinating pieces to see, although you may not be allowed to carry them back home in your luggage.
Once you're done it's time to walk back to the station and take the train back to Madrid. With that, your day trip to Toledo comes to an end!
Additional activities & attractions (Optional)
If you have more time and want to see Toledo to the fullest, you can add more things to the itinerary from below. You may need to stay in Toledo an extra night to cover everything, though.
1. Toledo Alcazar
2. Jewish Quarter
3. Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
4. Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
We've reached the end.
Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoy your trip to Madrid 🇪🇸 Adios!
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