Self-guided itinerary · free

Madrid in 3 days: the palace, the Prado and Retiro

The Madrid plan rests on two axes: Habsburg Madrid and the Royal Palace to the west, and the Paseo del Prado and Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021, to the east. Day one walks from Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, and ends at the Temple of Debod. Day two is the Prado, Retiro and the Reina Sofía during its free evening hours. Day three is the Thyssen-Bornemisza and free time in Chamberí or Salamanca. Order matters: Debod is closed on Mondays, so day one should not be a Monday; the Reina Sofía is closed on Tuesdays and closes early on Sundays, so day two should be neither. The Crystal Palace in Retiro is temporarily closed. Opening times and prices link to official sources with the date they were last checked.

Prepared by: Kolay Seyahat content teamLast updated 22/10/2026Every fact links to an official source

Aerial view of Madrid's rooftops with Gran Vía and the dome of the Metropolis Building

This is not a package tour. This itinerary is free information. Flights, hotels and experiences are each sold separately, under their own seller’s terms, with separate payment and a separate contract. Prices are never linked to one another.

Day by day

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Day 1 · Habsburg Madrid: Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Debod

Walk from Kilometre Zero to Plaza Mayor, then on to the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, and end the day with the sunset at the Temple of Debod. Debod is closed on Mondays, so this day should not fall on a Monday.

0 of 5 stops done

  1. Day 1 · 1 · 09:00–09:45

    Puerta del Sol and Kilometre Zero

    The Casa de Correos with its clock tower on Puerta del Sol

    Start the day in the semicircular square that counts as the heart of Madrid, where Calle Mayor, Arenal, Alcalá and Preciados meet. In front of the Casa de Correos, today the seat of the Community of Madrid's regional government, a stone plaque marks Spain's "Kilometre Zero", the starting point of the country's main radial roads. On New Year's Eve the tradition of eating twelve grapes on the twelve strokes of this building's clock has been kept for more than a century. At the top of Calle de Alcalá stands the Bear and the Strawberry Tree (Oso y Madroño), the city's official emblem, and in the middle of the square an equestrian statue of Charles III.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    Tips

    The square is a public space with no ticket or opening time. It is quieter early in the morning.

  2. Day 1 · 2 · 09:45–10:30

    Plaza Mayor

    The equestrian statue of Philip III in Plaza Mayor, with the frescoed Casa de la Panadería behind

    A few minutes along Calle Mayor brings you to Plaza Mayor, at the centre of Habsburg Madrid (Madrid de los Austrias), the oldest part of the city. After Philip II moved the court from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, a square was planned on the site of the old Plaza del Arrabal; it was built under Philip III to a design by the architect Juan Gómez de Mora. The Casa de la Panadería on the north side was built by Diego Sillero around 1590; the frescoes on its façade today were painted by Carlos Franco in 1992, and the building houses the Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre. A Christmas market fills the square in December.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Getting there

      Metro Ópera, Sol and Tirso de Molina.

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Good to know

      Built under Philip III to a design by Juan Gómez de Mora. The Casa de la Panadería was built by Diego Sillero around 1590; its façade frescoes are by Carlos Franco (1992), and it houses the Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre. A Christmas market is held in December.

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    You can stop at the tourist information centre on the square for maps and leaflets.

  3. Day 1 · 3 · 10:45–13:00

    The Royal Palace (Palacio Real)

    Closed
    The domed façade of the Royal Palace of Madrid framed by trees

    At the western end of Calle Mayor stands the Royal Palace, built for Philip V after the fire of 1734. The first stone was laid in 1738, the work took 17 years, and the first monarch to live here was Charles III. The palace has more than 3,000 rooms; the ceiling of the Throne Room was painted by Tiepolo, and the Royal Chapel holds a collection of stringed instruments made by Stradivari. The royal family no longer lives here, but it remains their official residence. A self-guided tour of the state rooms takes about 45 minutes; allowing two hours with the courtyard and surroundings keeps the pace comfortable.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Getting there

      Metro Ópera (lines 2, 5 and R).

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Opening hours

      Winter (October–March): Monday–Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 10:00–16:00. Summer (April–September): Monday–Saturday 10:00–19:00, Sunday 10:00–16:00. Last entry one hour before closing.

      Source: Patrimonio Nacional · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Closed

      In 2026 closed on 1 January, 6 January, 1 May and 25 December, and from 15:00 on 24 and 31 December. Official ceremonies may cause additional closures.

      Source: Patrimonio Nacional · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Entrance fee

      Self-guided visit €18 (reduced €9: ages 5–16, over 65, students up to 25); guided visit €26; Palace and Royal Kitchens €24.

      Source: Patrimonio Nacional · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    The palace closes early on Sundays, and last entry is one hour before closing. Official ceremonies can cause extra closures, so check Patrimonio Nacional's ticket site before you go. Visitors are asked not to bring large backpacks or suitcases.

  4. Day 1 · 4 · 13:00–13:45

    Almudena Cathedral

    The twin-towered façade of Almudena Cathedral under a blue sky

    Almudena Cathedral faces the palace courtyard across the same open square, so the two are easy to see together. Mind the service times: you cannot look around inside during Mass. Afterwards, head down towards Ópera and La Latina for lunch in the narrow streets of Habsburg Madrid.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    Tips

    The cathedral museum has a separate charge; check the museum price at the entrance.

  5. Day 1 · 5 · 16:30–18:00

    Temple of Debod

    ClosedBooking recommended
    The stone gateways of the Temple of Debod, with Madrid buildings behind

    Finish the afternoon in Cuartel de la Montaña Park, west of Plaza de España. The Temple of Debod here is an Egyptian temple dating from the 2nd century BC. Egypt gave it to Madrid in recognition of Spain's help in the international campaign of the 1960s to save monuments threatened by the Aswan Dam; it was rebuilt stone by stone, opened to visitors in 1972 and keeps its original east–west orientation. Watching the sunset from the park's west-facing terrace makes a calm end to the first day.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    Tips

    The temple is closed on Mondays, so day one should not fall on a Monday. Opening times vary by season; check madrid.es before your visit.

Day 2 · The Landscape of Light: the Prado, Retiro and the Reina Sofía

The Prado in the morning, Retiro Park in the afternoon and the Reina Sofía during its free evening hours. The Reina Sofía is closed on Tuesdays and closes early on Sundays, so this day should not fall on a Tuesday or a Sunday.

0 of 3 stops done

  1. Day 2 · 1 · 10:00–13:00

    The Prado Museum

    Closed
    The colonnaded main façade of the Prado Museum with the statue in front

    Day two is for the "Landscape of Light", the Paseo del Prado and Retiro Park, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021. The morning belongs to the Prado, opened on 10 November 1819; Juan de Villanueva's building was first conceived as a natural science museum. The collection holds 8,600 paintings and more than 700 sculptures. Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's The Third of May 1808 and his Black Paintings, and Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights are the most sought-after works; the museum's suggested 1-, 2- and 3-hour routes help when time is short.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Getting there

      Paseo del Prado s/n, 28014. Metro Atocha (line 1), Banco de España (line 2), Estación del Arte (line 1).

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Opening hours

      Monday–Saturday 10:00–20:00; Sundays and public holidays 10:00–19:00. The ticket office opens at 09:45.

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Closed

      Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open only 10:00–14:00 on 6 January and 24 and 31 December.

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Entrance fee

      General ticket €15, reduced €7.50; audio guide €5. Free hours Monday–Saturday 18:00–20:00 and Sundays and holidays 17:00–19:00 (eligibility is set out on the museum's website). The Paseo del Arte card, with one entry each to the Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía, costs €32.80.

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    Opening times and prices are taken from esMADRID; confirm them on the Prado's official website before you go. The ticket office opens at 09:45.

  2. Day 2 · 2 · 14:30–17:00

    Retiro Park

    The large lake in Retiro Park with the Monument to Alfonso XII and rowing boats

    After lunch, walk into Retiro Park, which covers more than 125 hectares. Among its 15,000-plus trees you can hire a rowing boat on the large artificial lake, and the roughly 400-year-old Mexican cypress in the Parterre Francés is considered Madrid's oldest tree. The Crystal Palace, built in 1887 for the Philippines exhibition, is temporarily closed for architectural improvement work; you can see it from outside with the art installation covering it. The Velázquez Palace is used as an exhibition space, and entry to Retiro's exhibition spaces is free.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    Tips

    The park can be closed in severe weather; on a rainy day, swap Retiro for the Thyssen.

  3. Day 2 · 3 · 19:00–21:00

    The Reina Sofía Museum

    ClosedBooking recommended
    The entrance of the Reina Sofía Museum and its glass lift towers in the early evening

    End the day at the Reina Sofía in Atocha, with its 20th-century and contemporary art. The plan is built around the museum's free evening hours: Monday and Wednesday–Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00 entry is free, but you still need a ticket, and free hours are for individual visits only. If you booked online, the entrance in the Nouvel building at Ronda de Atocha 2 is recommended.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    Tips

    The museum is closed on Tuesdays and closes at 14:30 on Sundays, so day two should not fall on a Tuesday or a Sunday. Only bags smaller than 40 × 30 × 10 cm and folding umbrellas shorter than 30 cm are allowed inside.

Day 3 · The Thyssen and Madrid's neighbourhoods

Spend the morning at the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the afternoon at leisure in Chamberí or Salamanca, then finish in one of the tapas areas.

0 of 2 stops done

  1. Day 3 · 1 · 10:00–12:30

    Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum

    Closed

    Day three opens with the third of the Paseo del Arte's great museums. The Thyssen-Bornemisza, just across from the Prado on Calle Felipe IV, completes the art-heavy second day of the plan. The galleries are calmer in the morning; afterwards you can walk towards Cibeles and the city's broad avenues.

    Getting there

    1. Walk

    • Getting there

      Calle Felipe IV 5. Metro Banco de España (line 2) and Sevilla (line 2).

      Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Opening hours

      Monday 12:00–16:00 (free); Tuesday–Friday and Sunday 10:00–19:00; Saturday 10:00–23:00 (free 21:00–23:00). Separate summer hours apply from 1 July to 31 August.

      Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Closed

      Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December; open 10:00–15:00 on 24 and 31 December.

      Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza · last checked 2026-10-22

    • Entrance fee

      General ticket €14, reduced €10; free for under-18s. Paseo del Arte card €32.80.

      Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza · last checked 2026-10-22

    Tips

    On Mondays the museum opens only from 12:00 to 16:00, and entry is free during those hours. Summer hours apply from 1 July to 31 August; check the museum's website if you are going in summer.

  2. Day 3 · 2 · 13:30–17:30

    Free time in Chamberí or Salamanca

    The plan's last afternoon goes to quieter residential districts. Chamberí, with its cafés and neighbourhood restaurants, shows Madrid's everyday side, while Salamanca is known for its broad streets and shops. Have lunch in one of them, then move on to one of the tapas areas esMADRID recommends for the evening. The metro makes the trip back to the centre easy.

    Tips

    Book dinner directly with the restaurant.

Getting around

  • Getting there

    Metro line 8 links Nuevos Ministerios with the airport, taking about 20 minutes to T4 and about 12 minutes to T1-T2-T3. The metro runs from 06:00 to 01:30.

    Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Getting there

    The Airport Express (bus 203) runs 24 hours: by day (06:00–23:30) it leaves from Atocha and at night (23:30–06:00) from Plaza de Cibeles. Atocha–T1 takes about 30 minutes; buses run every 15–20 minutes by day and every 35 minutes at night.

    Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Entrance fee

    Airport Express ticket €5.10 (cash or contactless card on board; notes larger than €20 are not accepted). Metro airport supplement €3. Taxis between the airport and anywhere inside the M-30 ring road charge a 24-hour fixed fare of €33.

    Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Entrance fee

    Tickets are loaded onto the contactless Tarjeta Multi card (card €2.50). Metro zone A single ticket €1.50 for up to 5 stops and €2 for 10 stops or more; 10-trip ticket (metro zone A + EMT bus) €7.30. Fares valid until 31 December 2026.

    Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Good to know

    Turkish citizens holding ordinary passports need a visa to travel to Spain; see the kolayseyahat.net visa page for details.

    Source: T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Good to know

    In an emergency, call 112 free of charge; the SATE service assists foreign tourists.

    Source: esMADRID (Madrid Belediyesi resmî turizm sitesi) · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Good to know

    Turkish Embassy in Madrid: Rafael Calvo 18, 2ºA-B, 28010 Madrid; phone +34 913 103 904; duty phone +34 629 476 693.

    Source: T.C. Madrid Büyükelçiliği · last checked 2026-10-22

What and where to eat

Recommended places

  • La Montería

    RetiroTraditional

    MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand; a family business near Retiro Park for more than 50 years, known for its game dishes. A good fit for lunch on day two.

    Source: MICHELIN Guide · MICHELIN Guide · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Las Tortillas de Gabino

    ChamberíTraditional

    MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand; run by two brothers, with a menu built around tortilla variations. A good fit for lunch on day three.

    Source: MICHELIN Guide · MICHELIN Guide · last checked 2026-10-22

  • Treze

    SalamancaSeasonal

    MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand; the menu follows market produce and the game season, with a bar around the open kitchen.

    Source: MICHELIN Guide · MICHELIN Guide · last checked 2026-10-22

What to eat and where to look

Local specialities

Opening hours and prices vary by venue; check the venue’s own site before you go. Recommendations are not paid placements.

Where to stay

Candidates were picked by distance to the area, star rating, guest rating (weighted by number of reviews) and completeness of hotel details. Ratings, review counts and details come live from our catalogue. Tiers follow the star rating.

Sample dates: 26.11–28.11 (2 nights), 2 adults. Prices change with dates; choose your own dates on the hotel page.

Sol – Madrid de los Austrias

All of day one's stops are within walking distance, and three metro lines meet at Sol.

Good for: First-time visitors and those without a car

Budget

Mid-range

Upscale

Paseo del Prado – Barrio de las Letras

The Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía are within walking distance, and the Airport Express leaves from Atocha by day.

Good for: Museum-focused travellers

Budget

Mid-range

Upscale

Chamberí

A quieter residential district, home to day three's afternoon and Las Tortillas de Gabino.

Good for: Returning visitors and couples who want quiet evenings

Budget

Mid-range

Upscale

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Photos: Pexels (Gotta Be Worth It, Eliza Aldea, Gervasio Silva Passarini, Esteban Arango, antonio filigno, Sergio Scandroglio, Diego Spano, Nandkumar More, Ana Hidalgo Burgos Burgos.)

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