1Palace
Royal Palace of Madrid
State rooms and ceremonial spaces reveal the scale of the Spanish monarchy’s official palace. Choose a focused interior visit; the vast complex rewards a little time rather than a hurried circuit.
3-day itinerary · Spain
3 Days in Madrid
A three-day first visit built around Madrid’s own geography: the palace and old centre, the Prado and Retiro, then Puerta del Sol and two contrasting art collections. Leave time for meals and look closely at fewer museum rooms.
- 3days
- 11sights
- 3.4 kmon foot between sights
Updated 11 September 2026 · 5 official sources checked · report an error
The plan at a glance
Royal Madrid, the Prado and the art of slowing down
The palace district stays together on day one. Day two follows the Prado and gardens east before returning along Alcalá to Cibeles. Day three keeps the San Fernando academy and Thyssen on the same central corridor. The two substantial museum days are separate; a leisurely lunch belongs in the plan, not in the leftover minutes.
Day 1The palace and old MadridRoyal Palace of Madrid · Almudena Cathedral · Plaza de la Villa · Plaza Mayor4 sights · 870 m on foot
Day 2The Prado, gardens and RetiroPrado Museum · El Retiro Park · Puerta de Alcalá · Plaza de Cibeles4 sights · 1.8 km on foot
Day 3Sol and two different art collectionsPuerta del Sol · San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts · Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum3 sights · 790 m on foot
At a glance
Ways to use these days
Day 1
The palace and old Madrid
Tour the Royal Palace first, visit the neighbouring cathedral, then take the small streets east through Plaza de la Villa to Plaza Mayor.
- 4 sights
- 870 m on foot
- Longest walk 330 m
Morning
270 m · about 4 min on foot
2Cathedral
Almudena Cathedral
Facing the Royal Palace, Madrid’s cathedral combines a comparatively modern interior with a monumental exterior. Treat the cathedral as the stop here; the museum and dome would add a separate visit.
Midday
LunchFind a sit-down lunch around Calle Mayor or the lanes leading toward La Latina. Leave time to rest after the palace rooms.
Afternoon
330 m · about 5 min on foot
3Square
Plaza de la Villa
An intimate square of historic civic buildings interrupts the busy streets of old Madrid. Its scale makes a useful contrast with the palace and the grand arcades of Plaza Mayor.
270 m · about 4 min on foot
4Square
Plaza Mayor
Arcades enclose a broad square that has served Madrid as a market and ceremonial gathering place. Walk through more than one archway to see how it connects to the lanes of the old centre.
Evening
DinnerContinue into La Latina for a tapas dinner; choose a few nearby places rather than crossing the city between courses.
Day 2
The Prado, gardens and Retiro
Give the Prado a full morning. After lunch, walk through Retiro and leave the park by Puerta de Alcalá for Cibeles.
- 4 sights
- 1.8 km on foot
- Longest walk 720 m
Morning
1Museum
Prado Museum
Velázquez, Goya and other European painters anchor Spain’s great national collection. Pick a manageable route through the paintings and leave time to pause; trying to see every room makes the afternoon harder.
Midday
LunchEat around the Jerónimos area or bring a simple lunch for an appropriate outdoor spot. The afternoon has several walks, so start it rested.
Afternoon
720 m · about 11 min on foot
2Park
El Retiro Park
Tree-lined paths, gardens and a broad boating lake offer a change of pace after the Prado. Follow the paths north toward Puerta de Alcalá instead of crossing the park repeatedly.
690 m · about 11 min on foot
3Monument
Puerta de Alcalá
A monumental stone gate stands at the northwestern corner of Retiro. View it from the pavements around Plaza de la Independencia; there is no reason to cross into the traffic island.
380 m · about 6 min on foot
4Square
Plaza de Cibeles
The fountain and former communications palace create one of Madrid’s grandest streetscapes. This route uses the square as an exterior stop; a rooftop or exhibition visit needs its own time and ticket check.
Evening
DinnerFinish around the streets west of Cibeles, or head into nearby Barrio de las Letras for a longer dinner.
Day 3
Sol and two different art collections
Start on Puerta del Sol, then visit the nearby San Fernando academy. After lunch, follow Calle de Alcalá toward the Thyssen for a focused afternoon collection visit.
- 3 sights
- 790 m on foot
- Longest walk 530 m
Morning
1Square
Puerta del Sol
This busy meeting place is the heart of everyday central Madrid, with the clock associated with Spain’s New Year celebrations. Use it as a short outdoor stop before continuing into the surrounding pedestrian streets.
260 m · about 4 min on foot
2Museum
San Fernando Royal Academy of Fine Arts
The academy’s museum places paintings and sculpture inside an institution central to Spain’s artistic life. Its position near Sol makes it a manageable morning visit before the larger Thyssen collection.
Midday
LunchTake lunch in the streets between Sevilla and Barrio de las Letras before continuing east. There is no need to fit in a third museum today.
Afternoon
530 m · about 8 min on foot
3Museum
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
The collection follows European and American painting across several centuries, offering a different range from the Prado. Choose a focused route through the galleries and use the rest of the afternoon for the surrounding streets.
Evening
DinnerStay in Barrio de las Letras for the last evening. If you prefer less art, shorten one collection visit and use the extra time for cafés and the surrounding streets.
Before you go
Good to know in Madrid
Tickets and bookings
- The Royal Palace is used for official functions as well as sightseeing. Check access and ticket availability before fixing your palace day.Source: Madrid Tourism · checked Sep 2026
- Check the Thyssen’s day-specific hours before booking; Monday has a shorter visiting window than the usual museum day.Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza · checked Sep 2026
Gardens and outdoor stops
- Retiro and Paseo del Prado form part of Madrid’s Landscape of Light World Heritage area. Leave time for the park paths rather than treating it as a single photo stop.Source: Madrid Tourism · checked Sep 2026
- The Retiro stop follows the outdoor paths. Visits to the Reina Sofía’s exhibition spaces have their own access arrangements; check these separately if you want to add an interior visit.Source: Museo Reina Sofía · checked Sep 2026
Art and opening calendars
- San Fernando is a collection visit in its own right. Check the museum’s current timetable when placing day three in your trip.Source: Madrid Tourism · checked Sep 2026
Questions
3 days in Madrid: quick answers
Is 3 days enough for Madrid?
Three full days give you the palace, historic centre, Prado, Retiro and a second art day. This plan keeps you in Madrid; Toledo or Segovia would need an extra day.
Does this include the Reina Sofía?
No. This version follows the Prado, San Fernando and Thyssen route. If Guernica is your priority, replace the two collections on day three with Reina Sofía, checking its Tuesday closure and current tickets.
Do I need to use the metro every day?
The stops are grouped for walking. Use public transport for your hotel journey or to shorten a day if needed; airport transfers are separate.
Where should I stay?
Sol and Barrio de las Letras sit between the palace and museum districts. The palace side suits the first day, while accommodation around the art district makes the museum mornings easier.
How demanding is the Prado day?
It includes a substantial museum visit plus several outdoor stops. The published walking figure covers travel between pins, not walking inside galleries and gardens; shorten the Retiro circuit if tired.
More time or less
Other Madrid itineraries
Keep exploring
