Madrid in 5 Days: tips, what to see, and much more

Five days might seem like a long time to spend in Madrid. However, it’s the perfect length of stay to see everything at a leisurely pace, and it also allows you to go on a couple of day trips to explore some nearby places of great historical and artistic interest.

To help you make the most of your stay, I’ve put together an itinerary featuring the most interesting sights, from its monuments to its palaces, not forgetting its parks and squares. All you have to do is go with the flow and try to enjoy yourself to the full.

There’s nothing better than starting your trip with a tour of the area known as Madrid de los Austrias, the oldest and most traditional part of the city. As the city’s historic centre, its streets are packed with must-see attractions, so I recommend you take a leisurely stroll whilst taking in every corner.

One option for this tour is to book one of the organised tours that cover the centre of Madrid. This way, you’ll not only ensure you reach every spot without getting lost or wasting time, but you’ll also receive interesting information about what you’re seeing.

Another option is to make use of one of Madrid’s sightseeing buses. With these, you can hop on and off whenever you like, and it’s an excellent way to get a first impression of the city before completing your visits at your own pace.

Start the tour at Plaza de España

The itinerary starts at Plaza de España, which you can easily reach by metro. From here, you’ll be able to see the start (or end) of Gran Vía, one of the capital’s most important streets.

In the square itself, you’ll find the Monument to Cervantes, as well as two interesting fountains. The Parish Church of Santa Teresa and San José, a beautiful neo-Gothic church, is also located there.

If you’d like to start the day by visiting an interior, in this square you can enter two floors of the Palacio de Godoy, a very important site in the history of Madrid and the whole country. Finally, Plaza de España is flanked by two of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers: the Torre de Madrid and the Edificio España (now the Riu Plaza España hotel).

Admire the Teatro Real

Right next to the square is the Teatro Real, the country’s leading opera house. Built in 1850, its latest refurbishment has given it a capacity for over 1,700 spectators.

If you get the chance, the best way to see inside is to attend a performance, but if you can’t or aren’t interested, you can also book a guided tour.

Pop in to see the Almudena Cathedral

Madrid’s most important church can be visited free of charge. Its turbulent history, marked by several changes to the design, has resulted in a rather eclectic and undefined style, but it is still well worth a visit.

Inside, highlights include the altar of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, the Baptistery, the striking stained-glass windows and, above all, the crypt.

On the guided tour of the Almudena Cathedral, you can also visit a museum housing important religious and historical artefacts (admission is around €6 and includes access to the dome).

Don’t miss a visit to the Royal Palace

A visit to the Royal Palace of Madrid is almost a must when travelling to Madrid. Alongside the nearby Sabatini Gardens (which you shouldn’t miss either), it is one of the capital’s most important historical sites.

Before entering, take a look at the statues depicting the Visigothic kings on display in the square where the palace stands.

As for visiting the palace, it’s best to book a guided tour or, failing that, buy a skip-the-line ticket. Inside, as you can read in this article, you’ll be able to see various rooms of great interest, such as the state rooms, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Pharmacy.

The Plaza Mayor, the heart of historic Madrid

After finishing your visit to the Royal Palace, head towards Calle Mayor, which leads to the most famous spot in historic Madrid: the Plaza Mayor. This large square is characterised by the lively atmosphere you’ll always find there. Its arcades are home to a mix of restaurants and stalls selling stamps and other items, and I recommend taking a leisurely stroll around its perimeter.

The square also features a large number of historic buildings (such as the Casa de la Panadería), several beautiful arches (such as the Arco de los Cuchilleros) and a statue of Philip II situated in its centre.

If you want to do something truly traditional, you can eat one of the square’s famous squid sandwiches at one of the local eateries. If you’d prefer something else, the next stop on the tour is sure to satisfy your culinary tastes.

Grab a bite to eat at the San Miguel Market

Near the Plaza Mayor lies what was once the city’s first food market, the San Miguel Market. If you haven’t been able to go on a tapas and wine tour of Madrid, here you’ll find some of the most traditional dishes, as well as more modern creations.

The market is renowned for sourcing high-quality ingredients from all corners of the country. Once there, dishes made with these ingredients are served at its more than 60 stalls.

Feel like you’re at the heart of the country in Puerta del Sol

I hope you’ve saved some room for dessert, because as you leave the Plaza Mayor heading towards the Puerta del Sol, I suggest you stop off at the San Ginés chocolate shop, one of the most traditional in the whole city. Although its star dish is churros with hot chocolate, you can always try one of its other specialities.

Afterwards, it’s time to continue along Calle Mayor. Strolling at a leisurely pace, you’ll reach one of Madrid’s best-known spots, if only because it appears on television every 31 December during the broadcast of the chimes that welcome in the New Year.

In the ever-busy Puerta del Sol, you’ll see the plaque marking it as kilometre 0 of the country’s road network, as well as another feature that has become one of the capital’s most recognisable landmarks: the Tío Pepe advert. Naturally, the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, one of the city’s symbols, is also located there. From Puerta del Sol, you can head to Calle Preciados, which is packed with shops.

End the day on Gran Vía

The final stop on this first day is Gran Vía, one of Madrid’s most important avenues. On this street you’ll see two well-known buildings, the Metrópolis and the Edificio Carrión, on the top of which sits a famous Schweppes sign.

However, what really characterises this street is its atmosphere. It is packed with restaurants, shops, cinemas and theatres. In fact, in recent years it has been nicknamed Madrid’s Broadway.

My suggestion is that, after exploring this thoroughfare, you treat yourself to one of the shows usually performed in its theatres. The most successful ones, at least over the last decade, have been musicals, and I’m sure you’ll find one you like. Once the show is over, all that remains is to find somewhere for dinner and retire to rest so you’ll have the energy for the next day.

The second day in Madrid will, in theory, be less hectic than the first. This doesn’t mean it will be any less interesting or tiring, as it will begin with visits to two of the country’s most important museums. Afterwards, in a more relaxed manner, you can explore one of the city’s most famous parks.

Joaquín’s Traveller Tip

A great way to save money on entry to the Prado and the Reina Sofía is to get the combined ticket, which includes guided tours of both museums.

The wonders of the Prado Museum

A visit to the Prado Museum is an absolute must when travelling to Madrid. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the world’s most important museums, as evidenced by the list of the finest paintings housed within its walls.

My recommendation is that you book your ticket for the Prado Museum as soon as possible. Although you can easily visit on your own, you might also consider booking a guided tour so that a guide can take you to the most interesting areas and explain the works to you; this will save you time and, above all, allow you to enjoy the visit much more.

Once you’ve finished your visit, which will take at least two and a half hours (if you’re quick), I recommend popping into the Prado Museum shop and then regaining your strength at a nearby café.

The Reina Sofia Museum, another of Madrid’s greats

On the same street as the Prado is another of Madrid’s most important museums. A visit to the Reina Sofía will allow you to admire one of the world’s most extensive collections of contemporary art, featuring works by artists such as Picasso, Dalí and Miró.

To see the best works at the Reina Sofía Museum, I recommend two options: buy skip-the-line tickets (if you want to explore on your own) or book a guided tour to benefit from an expert’s commentary.

Lunch and a stroll to Cibeles

Next on the agenda is to look for a restaurant near the Prado Museum to grab a bite to eat and relax after a busy morning. When you’ve finished, you can take a stroll along the Paseo del Prado towards Cibeles. On the way, you’ll see the Neptune Fountain and the spectacular Ritz Hotel.

Once at Plaza de Cibeles, you’ll be able to see the fountain featuring the statue of the Roman goddess after whom it is named. In the same area, you can also admire the Bank of Spain building and the Cibeles Palace.

The latter building houses a superb viewing platform with great views of the capital, as well as a bar on its terrace from which you can enjoy practically the same panoramic view. Entry to the viewing platform costs around €3, whilst drinks at the terrace bar will be considerably more expensive (around €6 for a beer, for example).

A relaxing afternoon in the Retiro

The Retiro Park is Madrid’s great green lung, and its 135 hectares are full of secrets to discover and street performers to enjoy. This vast garden opened in 1868 and attracts numerous tourists and locals every day. A great way to explore the park is by bike, but you can also choose to stroll along its paths at your leisure or book a tour of the Retiro.

Among the places you simply mustn’t miss are the lake, the
Crystal Palace, the monument to Alfonso XII, the Paseo de la Argentina, the Astronomical Observatory and the Gate of Philip IV.

Likewise, you can’t visit the Retiro without taking a stroll through the Parterre gardens, which are full of exotic trees.

See the Puerta de Alcalá

To leave the Retiro, look for the exit closest to Plaza de la Independencia. There you will find one of the five royal gates through which people used to enter the city of Madrid: the Puerta de Alcalá.

Now a true symbol of the city, this triumphal arch was built during the reign of Charles III, nicknamed ‘the best mayor of Madrid’ for his contribution to transforming the town into a major city.

Dinner in the Chamberí neighbourhood

To reach the next stop on the tour, the Chamberí neighbourhood, you can take a long walk or, more comfortably, take metro line 2. If you have time, as it closes at 8 pm, it’s well worth visiting the museum housed in the former Chamberí metro station. This station was closed in 1966, but was later restored and opened to the public so that visitors could see what this form of transport was like in the early 20th century.

Another interesting building is Fire Station No. 1, the oldest in the city. It’s worth taking a look at its Neo-Mudéjar façade, built at the beginning of the last century. Likewise, you shouldn’t miss the Maudes Palace. This was once a hospital for day labourers and is now the headquarters of the regional Transport Department.

When you start to feel peckish, simply choose from one of the many restaurants in the neighbourhood, such as Lacabia (C/ Alonso Cano, 84), Bizikletak (C/ Gaztambide) or ToriKey (C/ Ríos Rosas).

One of Madrid’s great attractions is its proximity and excellent transport links to some truly beautiful cities. For this third day, I suggest you make the most of this advantage by taking a trip to Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; book a trip to Segovia, with all its magnificent monuments; or you could even opt for the combo and book a trip to Toledo, Ávila and Segovia from Madrid

The old town of Toledo

A tour of this beautiful city usually begins in Plaza de Zocodover, the ideal place to start wandering through the narrow streets of its historic centre. In total, the tour of the sights of El Greco’s city will take around 3 hours.

Accompanied by a guide who will explain the history of every corner of the city, the tour then continues to the Primatial Cathedral, which you can visit on your own during the free time you’ll have at the end of the itinerary.

Discover the secrets of Segovia

With a 2,516-metre-long wall, 2,500 battlements and 87 towers, the city of Segovia is one of the most beautiful in the whole country. On this excursion, you’ll have 3 hours to explore it accompanied by an expert guide.

Its Gothic-style cathedral was built in the mid-16th century and is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. The same goes for the fantastic medieval Alcázar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with admission included in the price of the tour.

The city’s most famous monument is undoubtedly its splendid aqueduct, which is, of course, also part of this tour.

For your fourth day in Madrid, my advice is to take a half-day trip to the nearby Monastery of El Escorial. Later, you can enjoy a quiet afternoon in the Casa de Campo, a perfect place to spend a few hours if you’ve come to Madrid with children.

El Escorial Monastery: the eighth wonder of the world

If you’d like to take a guided tour of El Escorial, the easiest option is to book one of the tours departing from the capital, so you don’t have to worry about buying tickets or other practicalities. You’ll also have the advantage of an expert guide who will show you around and explain the history during the visit.

The monastery, which is actually a monumental complex, was built to commemorate the Spanish victory at the Battle of San Quintín and to serve as a burial place for the Spanish monarchs. Its vast size was also intended to make it a symbol of Spain’s power at that time.

The tour, lasting around two hours, includes the Mausoleum of the Kings and Princes, the Chapter House, the basilica and the palace.

Relive the horror of the war at the Valley of the Fallen

Before returning to Madrid, this excursion usually includes a visit to the Valley of the Fallen from Madrid, located 9 kilometres from El Escorial.

This site was built by Franco’s regime with the intention of serving as a tribute to those who died in the Spanish Civil War. Although controversial, the visit can help you gain a better understanding of the historical period in which it was built and its symbolism.

Casa de Campo

Back in Madrid, the itinerary continues through another of the city’s major green spaces: Casa de Campo. There’s no better way to reach this large park than by funicular. This mode of transport, which departs from the Paseo Pintor Rosales station, covers 2.5 kilometres in eleven minutes and allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery of this part of the capital from above.

The Casa de Campo was built, like so many other parks, to serve as a recreational area for the monarchy. Today, all its attractions have turned it into a place where many families spend their holidays, whilst tourists enjoy everything there is to see and do there. One of the main attractions is its artificial lake. If you fancy it, you can hire a boat for a peaceful cruise or, for the more athletic, hop into a canoe and paddle for a while.

Next to the lake is an entomological centre that will delight nature lovers with its collection of over 15,000 specimens of different types of butterflies and beetles. Another popular spot, especially for those visiting with children, is Madrid Zoo, although it may not attract as many visitors as the nearby amusement park.

Watch the sunset from the Temple of Debod

Back on Paseo del Pintor Rosales, there’s one last spot to visit. Nearby is the Temple of Debod, an authentic Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in gratitude for its help in relocating Abu Simbel.

As well as admiring the temple, I recommend heading to the nearby viewpoint to watch the sunset from there, as the views are well worth it.

Later, all that remains is to head back to your hotel area and look for somewhere to have dinner on the way before retiring for the night.

As you’ve seen, Madrid offers plenty to do, and to round off your stay in Madrid, I’ve booked a few visits starting in the capital’s most modern area.

At the end of the day, there’s nothing better than experiencing some of Madrid’s vibrant nightlife in the area where the famous Movida was born.

If you’re a football fan, don’t miss a tour of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium

Although if you’re not into football, you can swap this visit for any other that takes your fancy; the success of the Bernabéu tour is demonstrated by the fact that it’s the third most visited museum in the whole city.

This means you should book your visit well in advance to avoid queues before entering. The tour includes exhibitions on the club’s history, as well as access to the changing rooms, the dugouts and the presidential box, amongst other things.

The modernity of Plaza Castilla

Leaving the stadium, you’ll find one of the most modern areas in the whole city. As you walk, you’ll reach Plaza de Castilla, surrounded by several of Madrid’s most imposing skyscrapers. Undoubtedly, the best-known buildings are the so-called Kio Towers, with their characteristic tilt.

In the square, you’ll also find a monument built during the Franco era that partly follows the architectural norms typical of fascism.

Nearby is an obelisk designed by Santiago Calatrava, as well as a large cultural exhibition centre housed in a former underground water reservoir.

Experience the atmosphere of the Chueca neighbourhood

To reach the next stop on the itinerary, it’s best to take metro line 1 to the Tribunal stop. Just a few minutes’ walk from there is the Chueca neighbourhood, one of the liveliest in the whole city.

The streets of this modern, commercial neighbourhood are always bustling with life. Before exploring it, pop into the San Antón Market, where you’ll find numerous food stalls spread across its three floors.

The neighbourhood, known for the glamour of its shops and cafés, also boasts a number of historic buildings well worth seeing as you stroll through its streets. Although you’re sure to find more, here are some of the most interesting ones:

• Museum of Romanticism: housed within a palace, this museum contains over two thousand items from the 19th century. A lovely way to spend some time is to sit in its café whilst listening to the water falling from the fountain in the inner courtyard.
• Museum of the History of Madrid: although not particularly well-known, this museum, housed in a former Baroque-style hospice, is perfect for those wishing to delve deeper into the city’s history.
• Church of San Antón: on Calle Hortaleza you can see this interesting Baroque-style church.
• The House of the Seven Chimneys: the building is considered one of the finest examples of 16th-century architecture in Madrid. Located in Plaza del Rey, the legends surrounding it are almost as fascinating as its architecture itself. One of them, for example, claims that the seven chimneys that give it its name represent the seven deadly sins, whilst another story claims that an illegitimate daughter of Philip II was confined there and that her spirit still wanders its corridors.

Round off your visit to Madrid with one final stroll

A stroll down Calle Fuencarral, one of Madrid’s busiest shopping streets, is a great way to do some last-minute shopping. The street is home to plenty of youth fashion shops, giving it a lively atmosphere all day long.

When night falls, I recommend you experience a bit of Madrid’s nightlife. One option is to head to the area around Plaza Dos de Mayo, in Malasaña.

This area, considered one of the birthplaces of the popular 1980s Movida Madrileña, is full of pubs and bars to suit all tastes. In many of them, you’ll be able to enjoy live performances.