Madrid in Two Days: Madrid Two Day itinerary

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Are planning a trip to the capital of Spain and wondering: What in the world can I do in Madrid in two days? If only someone could provide me with a detailed weekend itinerary! Well look no further, your Madrid guru is here.

Madrid has the third-largest population of all the cities in Europe – woah – so there is SO much to do in this bustling metropolis during your short visit. With beautiful architecture, yummy cuisine, and a bumping nightlife, a weekend getaway in Madrid is ALWAYS a good idea!

Madrid in two days: day 1

Before you do anything else – ok, get dressed and brush your teeth – but after that the very next thing you absolutely must do in Madrid is chow down on some churros con chocolate. Oh yeah, I’m talking dessert for breakfast for our first day in Madrid, and there’s no place better to satisfy that sweet tooth than Chocolateria San Gines. This place has been cranking out irresistible churros since 1894, and don’t even get me started on that thick chocolate dipping sauce. It’s like drinking liquid gold, but even more velvety smooth.

A great second stop after breakfast is the Royal Palace of Madrid, but take your time getting there so you can watch the city come alive in the early morning hours.

The Royal Palace of Madrid has TONS of history that I won’t even bother getting into here. What I will tell you is that it’s the official home of the Spanish royal family, and it boasts the the title of the biggest royal palace in Europe. Seriously, it’s HUGE, so you won’t be seeing all 2,800 rooms on your visit because visitors are only allowed to enter certain parts of the palace and stroll through the gardens.

The Royal Palace was actually inspired by The Louvre, which in why you’ll see gorgeous gardens and fountains surrounding the palace grounds. It’s also one of the most visited historic buildings in Spain, so it’s a must see on your quest to conquer Madrid in two days.

I have to warn you, though, it gets really busy. Well what did you expect? I said it was one of the most popular attractions in all of Spain! But the crowds won’t be an issue if you arrive early (it opens at 10am) or you book one of these: “Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Guided Tour.” It’ll save you loads of time, and you might just learn something!

Anyone will tell you that another Madrid must is Mercado de San Miguel. Nestled in the heart of the city, this is a big market covered from end to end with a yummy selection of Spanish favorites. Lots of the food is in smaller portions, so this is the perfect place to sample everything your heart desires.The market attracts a mixture of locals and tourists, so it’s a fun atmosphere.

Now that you’ve probably sampled just about every dish in the market, walk off some of that food by heading down Gran Via, Madrid’s central shopping street (You can also head here before lunch if you’d rather try clothes on before you get stuffed). If you somehow didn’t fill up at the market, this is another great place for restaurants. Gran Via is known as Spanish Broadway and the Street that never sleeps, so you’ve got to head here and shop ’til you drop!

From Gran Via, make your way to another Madrid favorite – Retiro Park. Retiro park is the most beautiful and famous green space In Madrid, but it’s more than just a park. There’ so much to do here! I suggest strolling down the Paseo de la Argentina – otherwise known as the Statue Walk because it’s literally a row of statues. Then, go for a relaxing boat ride on the lake. I did this in Seville, and it’s so fun and an adorable photo op.

Right in the heart of Retiro Park is Palacio de Cristal. It won’t cost you anything to admire this timeless glass palace inspired by London’s Crystal Palace. It was created back in 1887, but it’s still an Instagrammer’s paradise!

Hopefully your lunch is fully digested by now, so head towards Plaza Mayor when you’re done relaxing at the park. Madrid has it’s fair share of plazas, but Plaza Mayor is hands down Madrid’s most famous and iconic square. United by nine different entry points, there’s always lots of people coming and going. Plus, there’s lots of bars and restaurants around the square, and it gets particularly lively in the evenings.

Since you’re in freaking MADRID, and it can’t get much better than that, you’re not going to be disappointed no matter where you choose to watch the sunset. But my recommendation that will absolutely knock your socks off is to watch the sun go down at Debod Temple. This ancient Egyptian temple is from all the way back in the 2nd century, and it’s located in West Park. It’s originally from ancient Egypt, but was later transported to Madrid after being donated by the Egyptian government in order to save it from flooding after the construction of the Aswan Dam.

Lucky for you, you’ll have absolutely no problem finding something delicious to eat for dinner near the temple. If you’re in the mood for tapas (why wouldn’t you you be? You’re in Spain, after all) then you can find authentic Spanish cuisine at Debod Pinchos y Tapas, just a short walk from the temple.

Just about every night of the year, you’ll see people just hanging out enjoying bottles of wine and listening to the live music. Everyone just wants to catch a glimpse of the sun as it dips beneath the horizon and basks the sky in a pink-orange glow. With all that for free admission, I surely can’t think of a better way to end your first day in Madrid!

Madrid in Two Days: Day 2

Start your second day in Madrid with a yummy breakfast from La Mallorquina in Puerta del Sol, aka pastry heaven. Order the Napolitana con chocolate. Just trust me – it’s a flaky, chocolatey dream. I’m dreaming just thinking about them!

No trip to Madrid is complete without visiting el Museo del Prado. Built in 1819, it’s now one of the greatest art museums in the world and has one of the most extensive collections of artwork, including masterpieces from Goya, Rubens, Raphael, and more. You could easily spend hours wandering around this gorgeous Neo-classical museum, and you still wouldn’t see it all!

Another great art museum is Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Don’t miss Picasso’s Guernica. It’s freaky, larger than life, and totally awesome.

When it’s time for dinner, you’ll want to head to Botin, which is conveniently located just off of Plaza Mayor. Founded in 1725, Botin is the world’s oldest restaurant, and it truly feels like you’ve gone back in time. The food is quintessentially Spanish, and it tastes even better than it looks! The most famous dish is the suckling pig cooked in the original wood-fired ovens.

Barrio de Salamanca is another great neighborhood to get lost in and pop into the various is the snazzy bars, restaurants and designer shops. Even if you’re not looking to splurge on some designer duds, this area is worth checking out for the beautiful architecture and boutiques along the little side streets.

Spend your final evening of your two days in Madrid in Puerta del Sol, the heart of Madrid and the biggest plaza in the city. If you visited La Mallorquina, then you’ve already gotten a little taste of this magical square. It’s where everyone gathers to eat, socialize, and watch the street performers. It’s also a common meeting spot. Just tell your friends to meet you by the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the most symbolic statue in Madrid. There’s tons of bars, cafes, and restaurants, and popular shops around this plaza, so there’s always something to do.

Puerta del Sol is the perfect spot to both start and end your day. Because of it’s central location, it has easy access leading out to everywhere else around the city center. It’s also Madrid’s busiest square, which means no shortage of people to ask for directions!

Well, there you have it! That’s Madrid in two days.

Madrid has SO much to see. It’s one fo those cities that you could live in for years and you still wouldn’t have even scratched the surface on all Madrid has to offer. Nevertheless, the most enjoyable and memorable parts of your trip will simply be strolling through the beautiful side streets, admiring the architecture then leaving that quiet behind for the hustle and bustle of the city.

It’s certainly doable to hit the highlights of Madrid in two days, but you’ll be wishing you had stayed longer in this lively city because there’s always so much more to see and do.