Madrid is a beautiful and lively capital city of Spain. It is one city in the whole world that has a lot of cultures, natural attractions of art, mind blowing historical places and tasty delicious food. All you need to do is keep a 3 days in Madrid itinerary to get the best experience that the city has to offer.
Whether you are looking for stunning architecture, world famous museums or crowded plazas, this guide will surely help you to find most of the time in the city.
Day 1: Exploring the Madrid’s centra Historic city
It’s best to start your journey for your 3 days in Madrid itinerary by exploring the magnificent history of Madrid by visiting the iconic monuments.
Morning: Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol
Join into the center of city in one Madris’s famous squares known as the Plaza mayor. The place is surrounded by luxurious buildings. Even the square has an interesting history. Just immerse yourself in the historical atmosphere by getting a coffee from any of the cafes nearby.
If you walk a little further away following our Madrid travel guide you will reach another central square known as Puerta del Sol. It’s an important place as it is considered as the Kilometer zero, a point from where most of Spain’s road distances are measured. The place can be quite lively and crowded. There is an iconic symbol, the Bear and the Strawberry Tree statue, which is the perfect spot to take a lot of pictures.
Mid Morning: The Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
Sit somewhere and relax for a while. Then head straight to the Palacio Real de Madrid which is a Royal Palace in Madrid. It is now the official residence of the Spanish Royal family. Lots of ceremonies are celebrated here. The Royal Palace is designed with the architecture of Baroque style. There is a visitor’s tour available to experience the grand interiors of the palace. Spend some more time majorly in the Throne Room, royal gardens and the Royal Armoury.
There is another important place right next to it is Almudena Cathedral. This is Madrid’s main cathedral. The design of the cathedral is quite modern as compared to the historic palace. But it is still astounding to look at. Climb on top of the roof to enjoy the panoramic view of the city which will really make your first day complete among the 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Lunch: Traditional Spanish Tapas
You will surely be hungry after visiting these lovely places. Hence stop at any nearby tapas bars to have lunch. You can go to the Mercado de San Miguel, a lively market. It’s just a few walks from Plaza Mayor. There you get a diverse range of tapas such as Iberian ham, croquettes. Savor it with a glass of local wine as well and make it full for 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Afternoon: Retiro Park and Prado Museum
You can take a stroll through green Retiro Park after having lunch. The place is filled with beautiful gardens. There is even a lake where you can rent a rowboat to enjoy around. Inside there is a crystal Palace. It is a pavilion made up of glass which most of the time organizes art exhibitions.
Nearby there is another famous art museum near Retiro, called Prado Museum. World renowned artists like Velazquez, El Greco and Goya works are stored in this museum for display. If you are an art enthusiast , you are in for a great surprise. As the collections are visually impressive and serve an important purpose for your trip for 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Evening: Gran Visa and Dinner
Head to Madrid’s main shopping street called Gran Visa. It is a bustling place lined with restaurants, theaters and shops. Just stroll around to enjoy the Evening.
Now for dinner, you can try some traditional Spanish local meals at any restaurant. Try the dish called paella. It is basically a rice dish which is usually prepared with seafood. Then there is cocido madrileno which is chickpea based stew. Savor last with a sweet treat with the churros con chocolate. It is most famous at Chocolateria San Gines and is a perfect Madrid itinerary.
Day 2: Explore the modern culture and markets of Madrid
On the second day, fix your mind to enjoy the Madris’s other cultural side with the modern vibes.
Morning: Reina Sofia Museum
Another top and famous art museum is Reina Sofia Museum. You can start your day from here. The most renowned painting of Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, is installed here for display. The painting sends a strong message about anti war. There are even works of other artists available as well such as Dali and Miro. It is a must visit for modern art lovers, things to do in Madrid in 3 days.
Mid Morning: El Rastro Flea Market
Try to keep your second day on Sunday so that you can head to El Rastro. It is one of the most famous flea markets in Madrid. It is located in the neighborhood of La Latina. This crowded market is filled with stalls who sell antique items, souvenirs, modern art and clothing as well. You need not have to purchase it when you go there, just have a fun experience at the vibrant market to make it an important day out of 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Lunch: La Latina Neighborhood
The neighborhood of La Latina is also famous for having outlets of tapas bars. Then there is even Calle Cava Baja street which also needs to be explored as there are several restaurants available which offer traditional Spanish dishes. You can have some fried potatoes with spicy sauce or a Spanish omelet while walking around to have a leisurely meal after completing the best places to visit in Madrid.
Afternoon: Santiago Bernabeu or Thyssen Museum
If you are a sports fan, you can go to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. It is the home of a famous football team Real Madrid. You are allowed to take a tour of the stadium. Just visit the locker rooms, trophy room and on the pitch.
After that, walk a few distances to the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum. There you can view the greatest European paintings that were created during the Renaissance era in the 20th century. You get details about the art history which is complementary to the Prado and Reina Sofia museums making it the ultimate visit in 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Evening: Sunset at the Temple of Debod
There is an ancient Egyptian temple that was gifted to Spain. It was done in the 1960s. The name of the place is Temple of Debod. You can go there to enjoy the sunset. The place is located in Parque del Oeste. You get a great view of sunset with the temple in the background. Make sure to take a lot of photos.
Finally as the day ends, head to a fine neighborhood of Malasana. There are lots of cafes, restaurants and bars. You can try some of the international cruising along with the lively nightlife of Madrid.
Day 3: Trip to Toledo or Segovia
On the final third day you can either choose to visit Toledo or Segovia. Both are stunning places in their own way. Hence we have explained the itinerary for both the places.
Option 1: Toledo
It will just take a 30 mins train ride from Madrid to reach Toledo. The place is also known as the UNESCO World Heritage city. It has a great history and monuments of marvelous architecture. Toledo used to be the capital of Spain. It has a mix of cultures from Christian, Muslim and Jew.
Take all your time going through the narrow streets. Then visit the Toledo Cathedral; and the Alcazar of Toledo. You can enjoy astounding views of the city from the Tagus river on the last of 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Option 2: Segovia
For Segovia, you will have to travel for 30 minutes by train from Madrid. There are many famous places in Segovia. Like the preserved Roman aqueducts. Then there is a fairytale-like castle known as the Alcazar of Segovia. The animated Disnet’s Cinderella Castle was influenced by this. Another highlight of the place is Gothic Cathedral. Try the famous dish called cochinillo which is actually a roast suckling pig , a local delicacy.
Evening: Return to Madrid to have a farewell Dinner
You can return to Madrid before Evening so that you can have your last meal in this fantastic city. Go to a rooftop bar in Circulo de Bellas Artes from where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city at night. Walk around for some time before heading back to your hotel and completing the 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
Conclusion
Hence we can conclude that Madrid has a mix of modern vibes along with its history and culture. In just three days you will be able to explore the famous landmarks. You will also be able to stroll around in the lively neighborhoods, not just that you can even take a short trip outside the city while visiting these places in 3 days in Madrid itinerary.
FAQs
The summer season in the months of June to August attracts a lot of crowd to this place.
Compared to other cities in Europe such as Florence, Amsterdam and Vienna, Madrid is a very less expensive place to visit.
The Euro currency is prevalent in the country of Spain.
It will normally take 14 to 15 calendar days for the Visa to arrive by courier. But sometimes the Visa Centre can delay dispatching the Visa.
Just put your details of your family members on the apply online page, we will take it from there. However keep in mind that each of the family members will receive a different appointment date for the Visa Centre.