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3 days in Madrid: travel Guide

24 enero, 2020

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Madrid is the capital of Spain and one of the most open, lively and vibrant cities in the whole of Europe. If you have decided to pay a visit to this amazing town, hosted in a luxury apartment, congratulations, but if you are on a tight schedule, no worries, we are going to provide you with a list of what to see and do in 3 days in Madrid:

List of places to visit in Madrid

  1. Puerta del Sol
  2. Km 0
  3. Oso y el Madroño
  4. Plaza Mayor
  5. Gran Vía
  6. Plaza de Oriente
  7. Royale Palace and Royal Theatre
  8. La Latina District
  9. Spain Square
  10. Debod Temple
  11. Retiro Park and Crystal Palace
  12. Prado Museum
  13. Salamanca District
  14. El Rastro
  15. Matadero Cultural Center
  16. San Miguel Market
  17. Reina Sofía Museum

Day 1

No better way to start the day than with a delicious and energetic breakfast in La Mallorquina, an emblematic pastry house right in the middle of Madrid, in Calle Mayor.

Step out and make the first stop of the sightseeing tour at the Puerta del Sol. This is one of the most emblematic squares in Madrid, with the equestrian statue of King Carlos III facing the beautiful 18th-century post office building called the Casa de Correos. Opposite on the pavement lies a stone slab marking Kilometer Zero, where Spain’s Six National Roads begin. This square is also home to the ‘Oso y el Madroño’ statue, one of the preferred meeting points by locals and foreigners.

oso y el madroño and km 0 in Puerta del Sol
Oso y el madroño and km 0 in Puerta del Sol

A five – minute walk and you are in Plaza Mayor. This perfectly rectangular square of Plaza Mayor is the city’s main square, a major attraction whether you’re looking for history, culture, and impressive architecture, or just want to walk around and catch a glimpse of ‘madrileños’ lifestyle.

sunset in Plaza Mayor
Sunset in Plaza Mayor

From there, keep on walking towards the Gran Vía, the largest and liveliest street of the city and also one of the most important shopping areas. But what makes this street so special it the architectural design of many of the large lavishly decorated buildings. 

Your next stop will be Plaza de Oriente, a beautiful square lined by plants, trees and walkways along with statues of Spanish kings where you can have some peace and tranquillity. You could also check out the Café de Oriente, in whose terrace you can enjoy the views of the scenic square right next to the Royal Palace and the Royal Theatre.

The Royal Palace is indeed your next visit. It is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family at the city of Madrid, although now only used for state ceremonies, and the largest functioning Royal Palace in Europe.

Royal Palace of Madrid
Royal Palace of Madrid

At this point, you will be already starting to be hungry. Head south in direction to La Latina neighborhood, one of the liveliest in Madrid, to enjoy some delicious tapas in a nice terrace if the weather allows.

After this, time to go North and discover Plaza de España, one of Madrid’s most symbolic and busiest traffic intersections that date back t 18th Century. The square features a large monument to the famous Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes.

A short walk from there, you will reach the Templo de Debod, an Egyptian temple that was sent block by block to Spain in 1968 as a gesture of thanks to Spanish archaeologists in the Unesco team that worked to save the monuments that would otherwise have disappeared forever. Perfect place to see the sunset.

Debod´s Temple
Templo de Debod

Time for some dinner and a good flamenco show! Corral de la Morería, Las Carboneras, and Las Tablas are recommended.

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Day 2

Breakfast at San Ginés, the most emblematic place to enjoy a mug of rich chocolate con churros. Delicious!

Once your batteries are charged, head to Retiro Park early to beat the crowds. Enjoy the peace of this green oasis in the heart of Madrid which was originally created for the Royal Family. Featuring sculptures, gardens, buildings and a lake for boating you could spend hours here.

Next stop is Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace). This palace made of glass and iron is breathtaking. It is currently used for art exhibitions but was built in 1887 for an exhibition of the Philippines. Shaped like a Greek cross, the 22 meters high domes of this impressive building are breathtaking.

Crystal Palace in Retiro´s Park
Crystal Palace in Retiro Park

The Prado Museum (Museo del Prado), located in the center of Madrid, is the main national art museum in Spain, renowned for having one of the world’s finest collections of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century. Unmissable!

Prado Museum
Prado Museum

You can enjoy a nice lunch in the nearby Spanish Farm and then time for shopping (or window shopping) in the upscale Barrio de Salamanca.

Back to the hotel for some rest and then get ready, Sala Equis is waiting for you. Known for housing a former erotic cinema, is a new cultural and multipurpose space that combines cinema, live music, gastronomy, and activity events

Day 3

There are not many things as traditional and typical of Madrid as going to El Rastro, an open-air flea market set up on Sundays and public holidays on Calle Ribera de Curtidores and adjacent streets. Its stalls offer all kinds of stuff, rare objects, and antiques. In the taverns and bars on the neighboring streets, you can enjoy a coffee or glass of vermouth.

Then it’s time to head to Matadero. This art venue, a former slaughterhouse (matadero in Spanish) in the south of Madrid is fast earning a reputation as one of the most exciting in Europe, aided by creative programming and a chilling and beautiful setting. 

Matadero in Madrid

It’s lunchtime by now, so let’s go to the Mercado de San Miguel. Constructed in 1916, it’s the most famous market in Madrid. Far from being a traditional market, the present-day Mercado de San Miguel is a modern gourmet venue, with more than 30 unique vendors that will allow you to try a wide variety of premium local produce.

San Miguel Market
San Miguel Market

To finish your visit, nothing better than a cultural afternoon/evening at the impressive Reina Sofía Museum.

If you only have 3 days and you are thinking of going to Madrid and you still do not have accommodation, you can book one of our Genteel Home luxury apartments to complete a unique experience in the capital of Spain.