Madrid is Spain's capital, a city of broad avenues, grand museums and lively old squares that can all be explored on foot. Spend the mornings among masterpieces and royal palaces, then follow the locals into a leafy park or a neighbourhood market.
Maps and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Three days in Madrid make a rounded first trip, from royal halls and old master paintings to football history and wide views over the west. After a first day around Retiro Park and the old centre, the plan spends a day among the galleries and gardens south of the Prado and finishes between the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Malasaña and the Temple of Debod.
Long weekend · 3 days · 2 adults ·
1
2
3
4
5
6
714–18 min walk
10:44 Prado Museum · Morning · 2–3 h12–16 min walk
12:56 Barrio de las Letras · Midday · 1–2 h4–5 min walk
14:00 Puerta del Sol · Afternoon · 20–40 min13–17 min walk
14:33 Royal Palace of Madrid · Afternoon · 1–2 h8–10 min walk
15:41 Mercado de San Miguel · Afternoon · 45–90 min5–7 min walk
16:31 Plaza Mayor · Afternoon · 30–60 min5–7 min walk
09:30 National Archaeological Museum · Morning · 90–150 minBus · about 10–11 min
11:11 CaixaForum Madrid · Morning · 60–90 min4–5 min walk
12:15 Reina Sofía Museum · Midday · 2–3 h10–13 min walk
14:25 Royal Botanical Garden · Afternoon · 1–2 h9–12 min walk
15:34 Cuesta de Moyano · Afternoon · 30–60 minBus · about 15–21 min
16:25 Matadero Madrid · Afternoon · 1–2 hMetro L10 · about 13–17 min
10:47 Malasaña · Morning · 1–2 hMetro L10 + Metro L6 · about 19–21 min
12:08 Museum of the Americas · Midday · 60–90 min3–4 min walk
13:11 Faro de Moncloa · Midday · 30–45 min19–25 min walk
14:00 Parque del Oeste · Afternoon · 1–2 h11–14 min walk
15:11 Temple of Debod · Afternoon · 30–60 min7–9 min walk
15:48 Plaza de España · Afternoon · 30–60 min10–13 min walk
16:28 Gran Vía · Afternoon · 45–90 minFlights, car rental and airport transfers for your trip: 3 days · 1 adult.
We may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
How Troovz stays freeFly from anywhere, to anywhere.
Pick an area, then a place that fits your budget and style.
First time? We suggest for the sights.
The museum district along the Paseo del Prado, next to the literary Barrio de las Letras and Atocha station. Well suited to art-focused stays and for onward trains from Atocha.
Tours and tickets matched to your plan and interests. Tap the heart to save one for Build your own.
We may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
How Troovz stays freeViator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Viator
Tours, day trips and more on Viator
Browse all toursOpen to visitors, with a few customs.
Churches
Churches are usually open to visitors outside services, and some areas may close while a service is on. Visitors are usually asked to dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and to keep their voices down. Photography rules usually vary, and flash is often not allowed. Rules can vary, so please follow any instructions and ask the staff on arrival.
What to sort before your 3-day trip, plus a few useful words.
We may earn a commission when you book through partner links, at no extra cost to you.
How Troovz stays freePlug type C, F
230 V, 50 Hz
Mobile data for your trip. Set it up before you fly.
per plan, one phone
See plans(opens in a new tab)Leave your bags for a few hours or a day.
per bag a day
Find storage(opens in a new tab)Tap to hear.
Places to eat near your plan and your stay. Tap the heart to save one.
Chosen from places featured in respected travel and food guides, or on a halal certifier's list, as of October 2026. We don't take payment to include a place.
Please confirm with the restaurant if you have any allergies.
11 min from Gran VíaOctopus from Bueu, Galician style, with boiled potatoes · Sol & Gran Vía
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: El Cucurucho del Mar, checked Oct 2026
21 min from Reina Sofía MuseumRice with fish and shellfish, senyoret style · Paseo del Arte & Las Letras
Price level$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Grupo Arzábal, checked Oct 2026
32 min from Plaza MayorMasala dosa (crisp rice-and-lentil crepe with spiced potato) · Sol & Gran Vía
Price level$$
Gluten-free optionsHalal optionsVegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Halal options: Halal options available. Source: the restaurant's own menu. Please confirm locally.
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Nilah, checked Oct 2026
42 min from Barrio de las LetrasTypical Oven-baked wild turbotOven-baked wild turbot · Paseo del Arte & Las Letras
Price level$$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Lhardy, checked Oct 2026
52 min from Puerta del SolChocolate napolitana pastries · Sol & Gran Vía
Price level$
Gluten-free optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: La Mallorquina, checked Oct 2026
63 min from Plaza MayorHot chocolate with churros (fried dough strips) or porras · Royal Palace & La Latina
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: Lonely Planet, checked Oct 2026
No places near your plan with this option
35Oxtail stew · Chamartín & Bernabéu
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Asador Donostiarra, checked Oct 2026
36Butter croissant · Retiro & Salamanca
Price level$
Sources
Price level: Source: Doble Uve Obrador, checked Oct 2026
37Fully peeled seafood rice cooked in a rockfish stock · Chamartín & Bernabéu
Price level$$$
Sources
Price level: Source: Time Out Barcelona, checked Oct 2026
38Shish tawook: charcoal-grilled marinated chicken skewers with vegetables and roast potato · Chamartín & Bernabéu
Price level$$
Gluten-free optionsHalal optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Gluten-free options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Halal options: Halal options available. Source: the restaurant's own menu. Please confirm locally.
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Solidere, checked Oct 2026
39Butter chicken: chicken in a mild creamy tomato sauce with aromatic spices and fenugreek · Retiro & Salamanca
Price level$$
Halal optionsVegan optionsVegetarian options
Sources
Halal options: Halal options available. Source: the restaurant's own menu. Please confirm locally.
Vegan options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Vegetarian options: Source: the restaurant's own menu
Price level: Source: Doli, checked Oct 2026
Green escapes and the sea, a short trip from the centre. Planning information only.
Free entry
About EUR 4
Open public space
Open public space
One card for most rides on public transport. Airport routes are in Flights.
A rechargeable anonymous card that anyone can use and share. It holds up to three non-personal tickets, such as Metro singles, ten-journey tickets or a tourist pass, and works on Metro, EMT buses and other city services you load it for.
Per person, paid locally · as of October 2026
Your 3-day plan usesTram and metroBuses
Taxis run on a meter at published city tariffs, and there is a fixed fare between the airport and the centre. Card payment is usually possible, and it is worth asking for the printed receipt at the end of the ride.
Typical costs, and how to pay.
Excluding your stay.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | EUR 6 | EUR 7 | EUR 14 |
| Lunch | EUR 10 | EUR 10 | EUR 21 |
| Dinner | EUR 10 | EUR 21 | EUR 32 |
| Drinks | EUR 8 | EUR 12 | EUR 17 |
| Getting around | EUR 10 | EUR 10 | EUR 17 |
| Sights (entry tickets) | EUR 34 | EUR 34 | EUR 34 |
| Total a day | EUR 78 | EUR 94 | EUR 135 |
Sights are counted at the standard entry ticket. Guided tours cost more.
Typical prices, as of October 2026
Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, hotels and taxis. A little cash is still handy for small purchases, market stalls and family-run places.
ATMs run by banks are usually cheaper than stand-alone machines, though many banks also charge foreign cards a fee. If asked, choose to be charged in Euro. Your own bank may also charge a foreign-use fee. Check with your bank before you go.
Tipping is optional in Spain. In a sit-down restaurant many visitors leave a small tip in cash if service is not already included, and for a taxi it is usual to round the fare up to the next euro.
Paseo del Arte & Las Letras
Seasons, weather, and the events and holidays that change opening hours, crowds and prices.
Quick answers to common questions.
Plan on a few days for the main sights. Allow about 60 to 120 minutes for the Royal Palace, 120 to 180 minutes for the Reina Sofía Museum and 90 to 180 minutes for Retiro Park, plus time to wander the old centre. Toledo and Segovia each need a separate day. As of 20 Oct 2026.
It depends on what you want. Hotel stays are usually busiest in autumn and spring and quieter in winter, with the summer months in between because many residents leave the city in August. Check the dates of any festival you want to see before you book your rooms. As of 20 Oct 2026.
The Metro and the Cercanías trains both link the airport with the centre, and a supplement is added to a Metro single ticket for the airport stations. A taxi between the airport and anywhere inside the inner ring road has a fixed fare of EUR 33, day or night. Allow extra time at busy hours. As of 20 Oct 2026.
A Metro single ticket starts at EUR 1.50 for one journey, and a one-day tourist pass for zone A costs EUR 10.30. Buy tickets at the machines in Metro stations and load them on a Multi card, which works on Metro, city buses and Cercanías trains. Bus singles can also be bought from the driver. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Tipping is optional. In a sit-down restaurant many visitors leave a small tip in cash, around 5 to 10 percent, if service is not already included. Nothing is needed for a coffee, and for a taxi it is usual to round the fare up to the next euro. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Cards, phones and contactless payments are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, hotels and taxis. Cash is still useful for small purchases, market stalls and family-run places. For cash machines, those attached to bank branches are a simple choice, and if a machine offers to charge you in your home currency, choose euros. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Spain uses 230 V at 50 Hz, with plug types C and F, the two-round-pin sockets. Many phone and laptop chargers accept this voltage, but visitors from countries with different sockets will need a plug adapter. Check the label on each charger: if it lists a voltage range that includes this one, only the plug shape needs changing. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Spanish is the everyday language of the city. The latest EF English Proficiency Index ranks Spain number 36 of 123 countries and regions and gives Madrid city a score of 560, where a higher score means stronger English. A few words of Spanish are always appreciated, and the phrases section lists some. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Much of the city costs nothing to enjoy on foot: the old centre, Plaza Mayor and the big squares are open public space, and Retiro Park is free. The main costs are tickets and meals. For an adult, the standard ticket costs the Royal Palace EUR 18, the Reina Sofía Museum EUR 12, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum EUR 14, the Royal Botanical Garden EUR 4, and a one-day tourist transport pass for zone A costs EUR 10.30. Prices change, so check each place. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Many central sights are within walking distance, and the Metro, buses and Cercanías trains cover the rest. A Metro single ticket starts at EUR 1.50 and a one-day tourist pass for zone A costs EUR 10.30. Taxis run on the meter, and ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Bolt, Cabify and FREE NOW also work in the city. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Walking is the main free pleasure: Plaza Mayor, the Puerta del Sol, Cibeles and the Puerta de Alcalá are open streets and squares, and the big parks cost nothing to enter. Some museums are free at set times, so check each page before you go. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Usual journey times from Madrid: Toledo about 34 to 36 minutes, Segovia about 25 to 30 minutes, El Escorial about 53 to 66 minutes, Aranjuez about 40 to 50 minutes. Most trips take a large part of the day, so start early. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Yes. The Tourist Travel Pass gives unlimited rides on the Metro, city buses and Cercanías trains in zone A for one to seven days and costs from EUR 10.30 for a day. It also covers the Metro airport supplement. Check the zone and the number of days before you buy, because the price depends on both. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Taxi fares follow a published tariff. A trip between the airport and anywhere inside the inner ring road has a fixed fare of EUR 33, and a short ride of about two kilometres on a weekday daytime costs about EUR 5.35 on the meter. Rates are higher at night, at weekends and on holidays. Card payment is usually possible. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Allow about 120 to 180 minutes for the Reina Sofía Museum and 150 to 210 minutes for the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Many visitors spend a half day in each, so pick one or two collections for a single day rather than all three of the Paseo del Arte. As of 20 Oct 2026.
For most first trips, yes. Three days reach the Prado Museum, the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Reina Sofía Museum, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and the Temple of Debod. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, Chueca, La Latina and the Salamanca district come on later days of the plan, and Toledo or Segovia each need most of a day of their own. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Day one walks from Retiro Park and the Prado Museum through Puerta del Sol to the Royal Palace and back to Plaza Mayor. Day two runs from the Puerta de Alcalá and the National Archaeological Museum past CaixaForum Madrid, the Reina Sofía Museum and the Royal Botanical Garden to Matadero Madrid. Day three starts at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, crosses Malasaña to the Faro de Moncloa, Parque del Oeste and the Temple of Debod, and ends on Gran Vía. As of 25 Oct 2026.
Many stops on the three-day plan are free, such as Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor, Matadero Madrid and the Temple of Debod. Standard adult tickets cost EUR 15 for the Prado Museum, EUR 18 for the Royal Palace, EUR 12 for the Reina Sofía Museum, EUR 6 for CaixaForum, EUR 4 for the Royal Botanical Garden, EUR 3 for the National Archaeological Museum, EUR 37 for the Santiago Bernabéu tour, EUR 3 for the Museum of the Americas and EUR 4 for the Faro de Moncloa. A three-day tourist travel pass for zone A costs EUR 23.10. The Plan at a glance box above the plan shows the entry total per adult. Prices change, so check each place. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Yes, both are usual day trips by train. The Avant train from Madrid Puerta de Atocha reaches Toledo in about 34 to 36 minutes, and high-speed trains from Madrid Chamartín reach Segovia-Guiomar in about 25 to 30 minutes. Allow most of a day for either: the old towns are free to walk, but the main monuments, such as Toledo Cathedral and the Alcázar of Segovia, need their own tickets. As of 20 Oct 2026.
Average highAverage lowRainy days
Typical, based on past years. Not a forecast.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10° | 2° | 7 days |
| January is the coolest month of the year: cold and dry, with frosty mornings but many clear, sunny middays. The Three Kings parade crosses the centre on the evening of 5 January, 6 January is a public holiday, and hotel stays are among the lowest of the year. | |||
| February | 13° | 2° | 6 days |
| February stays cold and mostly dry, with the sun slowly gaining strength. Carnival brings costumes and street events from 6 to 10 February in 2027, and the Chinese New Year celebration in the Usera district starts on 6 February. Hotel stays are low. | |||
| March | 16° | 5° | 7 days |
| March is changeable, with milder days, some showers and rising sunshine. The ARCOmadrid art fair fills hotels from 3 to 7 March 2027, 19 March is a public holiday, and Holy Week begins that same day with processions in the old centre. | |||
| April | 19° | 7° | 8 days |
| April is mild and one of the wetter spring months, with bright spells between showers and parks coming into leaf. In 2027 the half marathon runs on 4 April and the marathon on Sunday 25 April, closing roads along their routes. Hotels are busy. | |||
| May | 23° | 11° | 7 days |
| May is warm and sunny with the odd shower, and hotel stays are among the highest of the year. The city celebrates its patron saint San Isidro around 15 May, a local holiday, and the Book Fair opens in El Retiro park. | |||
| June | 29° | 16° | 4 days |
| June turns hot and dry, with long bright days, so museums and shaded parks suit the middle of the day. The Book Fair in El Retiro usually runs on into June, and evenings are long enough for open-air events. | |||
| July | 33° | 18° | 2 days |
| July is the hottest, sunniest and driest month, so outdoor plans suit the early morning or the evening. Veranos de la Villa turns July and August evenings into a city-wide open-air culture programme, and hotel stays are below the spring and autumn peaks. | |||
| August | 33° | 18° | 2 days |
| August is hot, dry and bright, and hotel stays dip below those of spring and autumn. Three neighbourhood street festivals follow each other in the old districts, from San Cayetano and San Lorenzo to the Virgen de la Paloma on 15 August. | |||
| September | 27° | 14° | 4 days |
| September begins hot and gradually cools, and the first proper rain usually returns towards the end of the month. Hotel stays rise again, and the fashion week and an art fair at the IFEMA exhibition centre are expected in September 2027. | |||
| October | 21° | 10° | 8 days |
| October is mild and gets wetter as the month goes on, and in the latest hotel data it is the busiest month of the year. 12 October is a public holiday, and in late October a flock of sheep walks through the centre for the Transhumance Festival. | |||
| November | 14° | 5° | 8 days |
| November is cooler and greyer, with rain at its highest of the year and parks turning red and ochre. 1 November is a public holiday, 9 November honours the city's patron the Virgen de la Almudena, and Christmas lights go up from late November. | |||
| December | 11° | 3° | 7 days |
| December is cold and fairly dry, with little snow and many clear days. Christmas lights and the Plaza Mayor market fill the centre, 6, 8 and 25 December are public holidays, and New Year's Eve is celebrated at the clock on Puerta del Sol. | |||
Mar · Apr · May
Spring brings mild, changeable days and clear skies, with April and May the wettest part of the season. Holy Week, the ARCOmadrid art fair, the San Isidro festivities and the Book Fair in El Retiro fill the calendar, and hotels are busy.
Jun · Jul · Aug
Summer is hot, dry and very sunny, with July the sunniest month in the climate averages. Visitors usually plan museums for midday and walks for the evening. Veranos de la Villa fills July and August with open-air culture, and August hotel stays dip.
Sep · Oct · Nov
Autumn starts warm and turns cooler and wetter, with October the busiest month for hotels in the latest data and November the greyest. Parks turn red and ochre, sheep cross the centre in late October, and Christmas lights go up in late November.
Dec · Jan · Feb
Winter is cold and dry, with frosty mornings, many clear days and little snow. The Christmas lights and market, New Year's Eve at Puerta del Sol and the Three Kings parade fill December and January, while hotel stays are among the lowest of the year.
Coming up in the next 12 months. to see what falls during your trip.
Because 1 November is a Sunday, the day off moves to Monday and many residents get a long weekend. Check each venue's own page for holiday hours.
Notable buildings open their doors with free guided visits in small groups. Check the festival's own pages for how to join a visit.
It is a holiday for people who work in Madrid city, not the whole region, so places outside may run normally. A procession passes near the cathedral.