Planning a trip to the big city of Madrid? Your first time in the massive capital can feel a little overwhelming. Yet, after several visits, we’ve found that the best things to do in Madrid Spain can still be seen in one day! Here’s a fun Madrid itinerary with all our favorite spots, delicious food, and can’t miss activities.
Madrid Spain Travel Tips
🏨 Where to Stay: We personally love the Cortes neighborhood, which is considered the art and literary center. It’s now our go-to spot whenever we’re in Madrid, and we love that we can walk almost everywhere in the city center from there.
If you’re looking for a luxurious stay, check out Gran Hotel Inglés. This is part of the Leading Hotels of the World collection! Thompson Madrid has an amazing pool with a view over the city. Travelers will enjoy their classic and stylish rooms.
We stayed at Ibis Styles Madrid Prado on our most recent visit. We absolutely loved the location and all the great spots to eat around it. Traveling on a budget? Onefam Sungate is one of the highest rated hostels for your one day in Madrid itinerary.
✈️ Madrid Airport: Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airportis is super close to downtown if you’re planning to fly in. We paid €20 for a taxi directly to our hotel. You can also use public transport for just a few Euros.
To find the best flight deals, we always start our search on Skyscanner. From there, it’s easy to compare our results with Expedia and other popular search platforms.
🚂 Train Station: The Madrid Atocha railway station is conveniently located in the center of the city. Check out Omio to find train routes throughout Europe.
💼 When to Go: The best time to visit Madrid is in the spring or fall when the weather is warm, but not too crowded with tourists. The summer months can get very hot and is the busiest part of the year.
We visited in mid-March and it was very pleasant. While it was warm enough for shorts and a light jacket, we could actually still see snow on the mountains surrounding the city.
☀️ Day Trip vs Overnight: As you’ll read in this article, it is possible to see a lot with just one day in Madrid. With that said, the more time you have, the better!
There’s so many things to do in Madrid that you could easily spend a few days, or even weeks here. There are also some seriously epic day trips from the city (more on this later) to take by train or renting a car.
🇪🇸 Check our all our Spain articles to help plan your next adventure!
12 Best Things to do in Madrid Spain
1. Experience Madrid Old Town
Let’s start off by exploring the streets of the historic centre. Many of the best things to do in Madrid are located in and around old town, so it’s a great area to pick a hotel in.
This area is also known as Madrid de los Austrias for the Hasburg dynasty that once ruled. Today, you can walk the streets and take in the Baroque architecture that would become Spain’s capital.
Be sure to spend some time in Puerta del Sol, which is one of the most bustling squares in all of Spain. Plaza Mayor is also a must-see if you only have one day in Madrid.
You will eventually spill out into many beautiful squares from the narrow alleyways of old town. Grab a cafe con leche or a cold cerveza and spend some time taking in the sights and sounds. Of course, you should pay a visit to the Royal Palace, too!
2. Enjoy a Traditional Spanish Breakfast
There is no better way to start the day than with a traditional Spanish breakfast. This is honestly the one part of the article where we won’t be super specific. Find somewhere close to your hotel, or while walking towards the fist stop on your Madrid itinerary.
Our personal favorite breakfast is jamon and tomato tostada, cafe con leche, and fresh orange juice. Keep an eye out for the chalkboards in front of local restaurants that offer this as a morning special.
Another super popular breakfast in Madrid is churros! Chocolatería San Ginés is one of the most famous, and is literally open 24 hours a day. Churrería Chocolateria 1902 might not be 24/7, but is just as delicious.
→ Best Food in Spain: 45 Traditional Dishes, Tapas & Drinks!
3. Tour the Madrid Royal Palace
Planning to hit the Royal Palace of Madrid? Then it should be the first thing you do in the morning after breakfast. To avoid the crowds, you’ll want to be waiting outside well before the doors open to be one of the first in.
We highly recommend joining an official tour to learn all the history with an informative guide. On our last visit to Madrid, we took a great tour with Walks. It’s called Madrid in a Day with Royal Palace, Churros Tasting, and Prado Museum.
Our guide made sure we were the very first people to enter the palace. As you can see from our photos below, this allowed us to experience this famous attraction without the daunting crowds of the afternoon. Normally, that plaza would be completely packed with tourists!
4. Find the Secret Nuns Cookies
Secret nun cookies?? That’s right! We were just as intrigued as you might be when we first heard about them.
Hidden on Elbow Road is a small door where you have to knock and say a secret password. Once you’ve been granted access, head down the hall to the back of the Monastery of Corpus Christi.
Here you’ll find a rotating wooden window in the wall. Since it’s forbidden to see the cloistered nuns faces, you actually talk to them from behind the door.
We wrote a full guide on what to expect, the exact password, and how to find the nuns cookies in Madrid. This is such a fun little stop to add to your one day in Madrid itinerary!
The reasoning for buying the cookies prior to lunch is because they only are open until 1pm. In classic Spanish style, they then head into a siesta before opening again later in the day.
5. Visit the Prado Museum
The Prado is not just the most famous museum in Madrid, but one of the most well-known all of Europe! Here you can see the works of artists like Diego Velazquez, El Greco, and Francisco Goya.
The Prado Museum showcases paintings from Spain’s rise to power in the 15th century all the way up through the 1800’s. This is one of the most prominent collection of art in the country, so you will want to dedicate at least a couple of hours.
For more modern art, you can check out Museo Reina Sofia. Thyssen-Bornemisza and the CaixaForum are some great places to visit if you have time as well.
6. Try the Famous Bocadillo de Calamares
By now, you can tell that a lot of the best things to do in Madrid have to do with the food! We love Spanish food, and the capital has so many unique items to choose from.
When it comes time for lunch, you have to taste the famous Calamari sandwich (Bocadillo de Calamares). We were a little shocked when we found out that this was specialty here.
Madrid is a landlocked city after all! However, we quickly discovered that some of the very best seafood in Spain can be found here.
We ended up going to Bar La Campana after spotting a sign for the sandwich. At the time, we had no idea it is one of the highest rated spots in the city. So why did we pick this restaurant in Madrid?
Something we stand by the most from all our years of travel is to follow the lines. Whenever there’s a quick moving queue for street food, you probably want to get in it.
When we first walked past there was at least 20 people waiting, but it was moving super fast. We jumped in take away line without thinking twice, and are so happy we did.
One important tip for the calamari sandwich is to ask for the sauce. It’s a thick orange mixture that isn’t too spicy, but definitely adds a flavorful touch to the sandwich.
Instead of waiting longer for a table, we took our bocadillos and sat in nearby Plaza Mayor around the fountain. Funny enough, almost everyone around us was eating the same snack from Bar La Campana!
7. Get the Best View of Madrid Spain
Whenever we’re exploring a new city, we love to get a view from above. One of the people we met on our Walks tour that morning recommended 360 Sky Bar.
If your feet are starting to get tired, you can easily jump in an Uber to get there. We basically crossed the entire city in a taxi. It cost just six euros, which was super inexpensive for how far we went.
After arriving at the Hotel Riu Plaza Espana, you’ll see this is not just any rooftop bar! It’s become quite popular on social media in recent years, and for good reason. Whether you’re looking for a photo opportunity or just want to see Madrid from a different perspective, it’s well worth a visit.
We went in the mid-afternoon and only had to pay five Euros for entrance. Still, know that the price does go up to €10 at night and on the weekends. The views from the 27th floor over Madrid are absolutely insane, and it was the perfect spot to relax with a cold drink.
We sat in at the hightop tables overlooking the Spanish capital, with the beautiful snow- capped mountains in the distance. Read our post all about 360 Rooftop Bar Madrid for more about this special viewpoint.
8. Hop On a Madrid Tapas Tour
One of our favorite things to do in Madrid at night is tapa hopping our way through the streets! It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting on Monday or Saturday. The bars stay packed and bursting with energy every evening.
With so many options, we can’t blame you for not knowing where to start your tapa adventures.This is why you should consider adding a food tour to your Madrid itinerary if it’s your first time visiting.
We’ve done tours like this all around Spain, and it’s such a cool way to try both the famous and local spots. Two we loved in particular were the Classic Madrid Tapas Tour and the Tapas and Wine Tour.
→ What’s it Like Taking a Madrid Food Tour With Devour?
More Tips for Tapa Hopping in Madrid
- Wander the city and find your own favorite spots, but don’t skip out on the most prestigious establishments either. Some of our absolute favorites are Casa Labra, Mesón del Champiñón, and La Casa del Abuelo.
- Expect a short wait to get in if it’s super popular and somewhere you don’t want to miss.
- Stick to one drink and move on. We know firsthand that this can be difficult! Yet, if you only have one day in Madrid Spain, you’ll surely want to experience multiple places.
- Look around and see what the locals have if you’re not sure what to order. Most restaurants specialize in one specific thing even if they have a larger menu available.
- Get comfortable with the person next to you! You can expect to be squeezed in tight with other patrons while tapa hopping in Madrid. Many of the bars are small and they pack them to capacity.
9. Explore Mercado de San Miguel
While we’re on the topic, we might as well mention the city’s most epic market! The former iron and glass market is now an upscale food hall with endless tapas to enjoy.
At Mercado de San Miguel, you can taste everything from oysters to jamon iberico, and all kinds of exquisite cheeses. Be sure to sample cava, wines, and vermouth while you snack your way around.
You could literally spend all afternoon eating and drinking your way through this incredible market. It’s also located right in the center of old town, making it easy to combine it with more of the best things to do in Madrid Spain.
10. Stroll Through El Retiro Park
If you’re looking to get out in nature, Madrid has that, too! The sprawling El Retiro Park is a beautiful area to walk through when you need a break from the city streets.
Once upon a time, the garden was part of the Royal Palace, but it eventually opened to the public in the 19th century. There is even a pond in the middle where you can rent rowboats and enjoy the scenery. Don’t miss out on the Rose Garden, the Fallen Angel statue, or a simple picnic in the grass.
11. Have a Night out in La Latina
For a unique night out, head to La Latina neighborhood just 15 minutes from old town. This lively zone is filled with bars, nightclubs, and local tapa restaurants.
It’s also home to El Rastro, Madrid’s largest flea market that takes place every Sunday. Here you can shop for antiques, clothing, and all kinds of street food.
12. Take a Day Trip From Madrid Spain
Now that you know all about the best things to do in Madrid, how about a day trip from the city? There are so many unreal places to see under an hour away from the capital.
Most can be reached by train, but for complete freedom you’ll want to rent a car. Compare rates and companies with Discover Cars before your trip to find the best deals.
Toledo: Medieval city known for its history and three cultures. Only 30 minutes by train from Madrid.
Segovia: Another beautiful city under one hour away. In Segovia you can see the castle and the renowned Roman aqueduct.
Alcala de Henares: Visit the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the man who wrote Don Quixote.
Aranjuez: See the historic palace and gardens where Spanish royalty once spent their summers.
El Escorial: Experience the UNESCO monastery built by King Philip II. It’s location in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains makes for a great place to go hiking after you finish up your Madrid itinerary.
Is Madrid Spain Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! We’ve now made multiple visits to Madrid, and it’s become one of our favorite cities in Europe. Many travelers may just have a layover or one day in Madrid, before continuing on to other parts of Spain.
This is exactly how we would spend our time if it was our first trip. Nonetheless, know that there is so many fun things to do in Madrid if you have more time. Definitely plan for at least two to three nights if possible.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own favorite things to do in Madrid Spain? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
This experience was made possible in partnership with Walks and Devour Tours. As always, any opinions and recommendations remain our own.
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
Great article!
I loved reading this article. So many great ideas. I’ve been to Madrid and now look forward to visiting again with this new insight