What to see in Madrid is the first thing we ask ourselves when we are putting together an itinerary for our visit to the city. It can be put together in many ways and all of them will surely be great. We want to add ours: what to see in Madrid in two days. If you have more time it will be spectacular and we will leave you options for that. And if you only have one day you can also adapt it. Shall we start?
Indice:
Arrival and lodging
Transfer from the airport
If, as in our case, you are arriving from America, it is very likely that your flight will arrive early in the morning at Barajas airport (Adolfo Suarez). The options you have from the airport to the city center are: metro, suburban train or bus. In our case we took the train from T4.
By metro: metro line number 8 from T4 or T2 to Nuevos Ministerios, and there you will connect with the line that suits you best depending on your accommodation. We leave you for better information the Metro Madrid page, so you can check all the information in advance.
By train: the C1 line from T4 to Chamartin, Atocha or Principe Pio station, and then also connecting with the station that suits you best. This is the option we chose, for convenience and price. We leave here the Adolfo Suarez airport page with information on how to make the transfer by train.
If you prefer for convenience, you can also book a private transfer. If you arrive very tired, or if you have children, this is a very good option.
Lodging
After deciding on the means of transportation, you will be arriving at your accommodation. Although Madrid is a well communicated city, and whatever area you choose will always be attractive, if you are only going for two days, or it is your first time in the city, a central option, near Gran Via, is a good choice for accommodation.
One option could be Woohoo Suitescomfortable and centrally located. We have also stayed at the Hotel Regentesmall, simple rooms, but correct and well located. If your budget is smaller, there are many hostels, we have stayed in a private room with bathroom at the Inn Madrid Hostelsimple, neat and with a very good location.
As you can imagine the options are many, search carefully until you find the option that suits your travel style.
Booking.comAnd now, yes, we’ve packed our bags, put on comfortable shoes and we’re ready! What to see in Madrid?
What to see in Madrid. Day 1
Free Walking Tour
The option of these free tours is a modality already widespread around the world. You take the tour and according to what you have found the tour, and the service provided by the guide, you leave your tip, always remember that this is the remuneration they receive and do not be stingy.
It is an option that for some years we have taken as a starting activity when arriving to a new city. The first time, we did it in Madrid, and I promise you that it is really worth it. You can also choose to do other walking tours but they are paid, and most of them are more thematic, they are also all very entertaining and provide a lot of information.
Book your free tour of Madrid and you will only need to join the day you choose.
The tourist bus can also be a good option, especially if you are traveling with children or senior citizens, since this way you will avoid fatigue and you will get off only at the desired places.
Puerta del Sol
Either because you got off the metro here, or because once you have left your suitcases you want to start somewhere iconic in Madrid, your steps will take you to Puerta del Sol. This is our first point on the itinerary of what to see in Madrid in two days.
We are at kilometer zero of all Spanish routes, and in one of the most famous squares of this country, a meeting place for locals and tourists.
In it we find the old building of the Casa de Correos, which today houses the headquarters of the Presidency of the Community of Madrid. The clock of the Casa de Correos is the one that emits the famous chimes of the Puerta del Sol every New Year’s Eve.
And what we all hope to see, the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the famous statue that is so typical in Madrid.
Plaza Mayor
If you continue along one of the streets that start from Puerta del Sol, you will reach one of the most emblematic places to see in Madrid, the Plaza Mayor.
With the statue of Philip III in the middle, the galleries with bars and stores around, the Plaza Mayor displays all its charm to welcome the arriving tourists.
It is one of the first things you think of seeing when you dream of coming to Madrid. For centuries it has hosted popular celebrations, beatifications, coronations, and many other events. Today it welcomes all visitors to this city offering the majestic view of its buildings.
An important fact for travelers is that there is a tourist office there, which provides very good information about the city.
If it is not too hot, a good plan is to go to the Chocolatería San Ginés, is just a few steps away, open in a very extensive schedule, will delight you with some churros with chocolate, apart from enjoying the charm of the place. Of course, as long as the tour catches you in the morning, because if it’s already around noon, wait for the next stop…
San Miguel Market
Just a few steps from the Plaza Mayor we find the Mercado San de Miguel, a place you will want to return to every time you visit Madrid.
Inaugurated as a food market more than a hundred years ago, today it is one of the most outstanding gastronomic markets in the world. In it you will find all kinds of snacks, from Iberian ham, seafood or fruit, that you will surely want to try. The prices are perhaps a little higher than elsewhere, but it is a typical walk not to be missed if you are in the Spanish city.
Royal Palace
A nice walk takes us to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Designed in the 18th century, it is the official residence of the kings of Spain. It is used only for receptions and official ceremonies, and can be visited either on a guided tour or a free visit.
The entrance fee is €12 for a free visit, or you can choose to take a guided tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid. guided tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid.
Almudena Cathedral
Just opposite the Royal Palace we find the Almudena Cathedral. It was built from the late nineteenth century to the twentieth century, being consecrated in 1993 by Pope John Paul II.
Admission to the cathedral is free, and access to the museum and the dome costs €7.
Temple of Debod
If we continue walking and bordering the Sabatini Gardens, we will start our journey to the Temple of Debod.
The Temple of Debod was a gift from Egypt to Spain in 1968 in compensation for the Spanish help to save the temples of Nubia, mainly that of Abu Simbel in danger of disappearing due to the construction of the Aswan Dam.
Gran Vía
Although it may be the first tour you do, I have left it for the end of the first day. After visiting the squares and the market, a walk along this emblematic avenue and its surroundings is a very good plan and then look for a nice place to have dinner or a drink.
From Alcalá Street to Plaza España extends this avenue that was built in the early twentieth century. We find in it cinemas, theaters, stores, and stately buildings, always having a lively movement.
Day 2 in Madrid
After the arrival, lodging and tour of the first day, we prepare to continue seeing some of the most emblematic places of Madrid. We started the walk and headed towards…
Cibeles Fountain and Palace
The Cibeles fountain, better known as La Cibeles, is located in the square of the same name and dates back to the 18th century. Traditions, such as being the place where Real Madrid celebrates its triumphs, have contributed to its worldwide fame.
Just across the street we find another beautiful building, the Palace of Cibeles, formerly known as the Palace of Communications. The palace can be visited and you can even go up to its viewpoint. Access to the viewpoint costs €3, and the opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:30 and 13:30, and between 16:00 and 19:00.
Puerta de Alcalá
The Puerta de Alcalá was one of the five royal gates of access to the city and is today one of the most emblematic and photographed monuments of the Spanish capital. It was inaugurated in 1778 and its name comes from the street where it is located. Just a few steps away we found the Retiro Park and we headed there after taking lots of pictures of the famous gate.
Retiro Park
Inaugurated in 1868, El Retiro is one of Madrid’s main parks, and a favorite of locals and tourists alike.
It has many points of interest to visit, we can highlight the pond, the monument to Alfonzo XII, the Crystal Palace or the promenade of the statues.
It is an ideal place to take a nice walk and relax in the Spanish city. Opening hours: from October to March: from 6:00 to 22:00 hours. From April to September: from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight.
Prado Museum
If we continue our trip along the Paseo del Prado, we will arrive at the Prado Museum, one of the most important museums in the world.
On this second day of the itinerary, we added a visit to a museum. Madrid has many and very important museums, such as the Reina Sofia, the Sorolla museum, the Cerralbo, the Thyssen Bornemisza museum, or so many more, but having only two days in the city, we only chose one. Our choice falls on the Prado Museum to admire works such as the Meninas by Velázquez, the Three Graces by Rubens, or the Naked Maja by Goya.
Keep in mind that the time will fly by among the works of art, and if you are an art lover, perhaps it is good that you think about removing activities from this itinerary to dedicate it to the Prado Museum.
Entrance fee €15. Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Sundays and holidays: from 10:00 to 19:00 hours.
The museum has days and hours with free admission, to inform you about this, we leave here the link to : Museo del Prado/visits
Atocha Station
If we continue the walk after leaving the museum, we will arrive at the Atocha station. Beyond not having to go to take any train, it is a very nice walk to see its interior garden.
It is the most important train station in Madrid, was inaugurated in 1851, suffered a major fire in 1888, and on March 11, 2004 was the victim of a terrible bomb attack, which left 191 victims.
The tropical garden of the station consists of more than 500 different species, until 2018 in the pond lived many turtles, they were moved by the City of Madrid to a better acclimatized area.
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Círculo de Bellas Artes viewpoint
To culminate the tour of the second day we are going to see Madrid from the heights. Madrid has several viewpoints, at the beginning we said that the Palacio de Cibeles is one of them, we also have the viewpoint of Moncloa a little further away, and the roof of the Círculo de Bellas Artes. The latter is the one chosen because of its proximity to all the places we are visiting, and the other reason is that personally I really like the views from it, apart from the fact that you can take a break upstairs and have a drink.
The entrance fee is €5 and the opening hours: Monday to Sunday: from 09:00 to 00:00 hs. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, cafeteria service from 11:00 am. But as there are other activities and schedules vary, I advise you to consult circulobellasartes.com/visitas/.
What else to visit in Madrid?
This is the end of our two day tour, if there are still things to see, yes, lots of things to see. If you have more days to dedicate to Madrid is ideal, it is a city with a lot of charm in which you will want to spend hours walking. And in that case yes, you could add more museums as I told you above in the section of the Prado Museum, or climb to the viewpoint of Moncloa as we said just now. Also visit neighborhoods like Malasaña, or the Barrio de las Letras, or make a visit to the Rastro on a Sunday, are things you can not miss. But as we said before, for this you will need more days.
For soccer lovers, a visit to the Santiago Bernabeu is a must.
The Moncloa viewpoint is a very good option if you have time to spare.
EXTRAS: maps and video
NOTE: the information in this article is based on our own experience, being totally objective. This article contains affiliate links.
