Madrid city travel guide

At a glance

capital and largest city of Spain. For a first visit, Museo del Prado, Biblioteca Nacional de España, Vicente Calderón Stadium are strong starting points. This guide brings together 21 places, practical 1/3/5/7-day routes and a concise food shortlist so you can understand the city before shaping the trip around your pace.

Highlight stops

• Museo del Prado — Spanish national art museum in Madrid, Spain
• Biblioteca Nacional de España — library in Spain
• Vicente Calderón Stadium — home stadium of Atlético de Madrid from 1966 to 2017
• Royal Spanish Academy — official regulator for the Spanish language
• Royal Palace of Madrid — official residence of the Spanish Royal Family
• Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía — national museum of art in Madrid, Spain
• Almudena Cathedral — Roman Catholic cathedral in Madrid, Spain
• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum — art museum in Madrid, Spain

Food and drink

Use these well-documented flavours as a practical tasting shortlist; open an item to understand it and add it to your trip plan.

• paella — rice dish from the Valencian Community, Spain
• turrón — southern European nougat confection
• Fabada asturiana — Spanish bean stew
• polvoron — Andalusian shortbread
• cocido — Spanish or Portuguese dish
• Cava — Spanish sparkling wine protected designation of origin

1-day itinerary

Day 1 · Architecture and city fabric

Puerta del Sol · Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando · Gran Vía · Main Square

3-day itinerary

Day 1 · Architecture and city fabric

Puerta del Sol · Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando · Gran Vía · Main Square

Day 2 · Culture evening

Teatro Real · Royal Palace of Madrid · Almudena Cathedral · Temple of Debod

Day 3 · Architecture and city fabric

Vicente Calderón Stadium · Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía · Museo del Prado · Royal Spanish Academy

5-day itinerary

Day 1 · Architecture and city fabric

Puerta del Sol · Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando · Gran Vía · Main Square

Day 2 · Culture evening

Teatro Real · Royal Palace of Madrid · Almudena Cathedral · Temple of Debod

Day 3 · Architecture and city fabric

Vicente Calderón Stadium · Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía · Museo del Prado · Royal Spanish Academy

Day 4 · Museums and art

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum · Biblioteca Nacional de España · National Museum of Archaeology · El Retiro Park

Day 5 · History and landmarks

Palace of Moncloa · Torre Moeve · Cuatro Torres Business Area · Torre de Cristal

7-day itinerary

Day 1 · Architecture and city fabric

Puerta del Sol · Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando · Gran Vía

Day 2 · Architecture and city fabric

Main Square · Teatro Real · Royal Palace of Madrid

Day 3 · History and landmarks

Almudena Cathedral · Temple of Debod · Vicente Calderón Stadium

Day 4 · Museums and art

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía · Museo del Prado · Royal Spanish Academy

Day 5 · Museums and art

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum · Biblioteca Nacional de España · National Museum of Archaeology

Day 6 · Parks and open air

El Retiro Park · Palace of Moncloa · Torre Moeve

Day 7 · Architecture and city fabric

Cuatro Torres Business Area · Torre de Cristal · Emperador Castellana Tower

Before you go

This route distributes nearby source-backed stops across balanced days. Opening times and ticket conditions can change; check the official source before visiting.