One Perfect Day in Madrid: Best of Madrid in 24 Hours

Madrid is famous for its art museums, cosmopolitan vibe, restaurants, and rooftop bars. If you only have one day in Madrid, there is plenty here to keep you busy.

With a well-planned day, you can visit Madrid’s must-see sights, including the Prado National Museum and the Royal Palace, plus tour a famous market, enjoy the view from a rooftop bar and restaurant, and explore one of Madrid’s picturesque neighborhoods.

This itinerary is a wonderful mix of must-visit landmarks plus a few memorable dining experiences. We spent eight days in Madrid and this itinerary includes the top places to visit in Madrid plus a few of our favorite experiences, ensuring you get the most out of your visit.

In this guide, we provide a detailed one day itinerary for Madrid, complete with walking directions, where to eat along the way, and how to book your tickets in advance. In order to spend one perfect day in Madrid, you will need to make some reservations in advance, but it will pay off once you are here.

Table of Contents

Best Things to Do With One Day in Madrid

Below is a list of the top places to visit if you have one day in Madrid. For a full list of things to do in Madrid, take a look at our Madrid Bucket List.

Prado National Museum*
Gran Vía
Royal Palace of Madrid
Almudena Cathedral
Mercado San Miguel
Plaza Mayor
Puerta del Sol
Parque del Retiro
Rooftop views of Madrid

*Note: The Prado National Museum can be swapped for the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum or the Reina Sofia Museum, depending on your interests in art.

One Day in Madrid: On a Map

Below is a map of the places you will visit on this one day Madrid itinerary, plus a walking route.

How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (points of interest and the walking route). You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest.

If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.

One Day in Madrid Itinerary

Overview of this itinerary:

9:00 am: Parque del Retiro
10:00 am: Prado National Museum
12:30 pm: Palacio de Cibeles & Mirador Madrid
1:15 pm: Azotea del Círculo
2:30 pm: City Center (Plazas, Chocolate & Churros)
3:30 pm: Mercado San Miguel
4:30 pm: Royal Palace of Madrid
7:00 pm: Barrio de La Latina

I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date for each attraction, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided for each site.

9:00 am: Parque del Retiro (Optional)

Many museums and sites in Madrid do not open until 10 am. If you want to get started a little bit earlier than that, this grand park is a wonderful place to go for a morning stroll.

Retiro Park (also called El Retiro and Parque del Retiro) is a large park that sits on the east side of Madrid. On this itinerary, you will slowly work your way across the city, ending on the west side of the city center. This avoids any backtracking or unnecessary walking.

Retiro Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is filled with a long list of landmarks, gardens, and hidden treasures to visit. Places to see include the Grand Pond of El Retiro, the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, the Crystal Palace, and the Rose Garden.

To get here, you can walk (depending on your hotel location), take a taxi or use a rideshare app, or take the metro to the Retiro station.

Crystal Palace in Retiro Park

10:00 am: Prado National Museum

Spend the rest of the morning visiting one of Madrid’s top art museums. The Prado National Museum is the top art museum to visit in the city, but the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Reina Sofia Museum are great options, depending on your interests in art.

Prado National Museum

The Prado National Museum is the most popular art museum in Madrid and one of the top attractions in the city. This museum contains an enormous collection of European art as well as the largest collection of Spanish art in the world. On a visit here, you will see works of art by Francisco Goya, El Greco, Diego Velázquez, Titian, Peter Paul Rubens, and Bosch.

This museum is located close to Retiro Park (about a 15-minute walk from the Great Pond).

Planning Your Visit to the Prado Museum

Opening time is at 10 am. Purchase your tickets in advance for the 10 am time slot. Lines to enter start forming before opening time. We recommend getting in line around 9:45 am. Even though you have a timed entry ticket, there still can be lines to enter (we waited in line for 20 minutes for our 10:30 am entry time).

Purchase your tickets online in advance on the official website several weeks in advance of your visit. If the 10 am time slot is sold out, then check GetYourGuide for tickets.

The Prado Museum is open 7 days a week, generally from 10 am to 8 pm, with reduced hours on Sunday.

It takes 1 to 3 hours to visit the Prado Museum, depending on your interests. On this itinerary, you have about 2 hours inside of the museum. The official website has itineraries on how to spend one or two hours at the museum.

Be aware that photography is not allowed in the museum.

There are several cafes where you can take a break, have a cup of coffee or a snack, before moving on with your day.

Optional: Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum or Reina Sofia Museum

If you have no interest in visiting the Prado National Museum, there are two nearby art museums nearby that are worth considering.

The Prado National Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum form a trio of art museums which is called Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art. These museums were listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum has artworks by English, Dutch, Italian, and German artists. Famous artworks include Paul Cezanne’s Seated Man, Edgar Degas’ Swaying Dancer, Edouard Manet’s Horsewoman, Van Gogh’s Les Vessenots in Auvers, and Dalí’s Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee.

Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee

This museum is located very close to the Prado Museum and Retiro Park. It is free on Monday but does not open until noon, so if you will be spending one day in Madrid on a Monday, this museum will not work in this itinerary. Get hours, pricing, and purchase your tickets in advance on the official website.

Reina Sofia Museum

On display is a large collection of 20th century art, much of this being Impressionist and Expressionist paintings. The most famous work of art is Picasso’s Guernica.

Picasso’s Guernica

The Reina Sofia Museum is located near the Atocha Train Station. The downside of visiting this museum is its location. It is located farther from El Retiro Park and the next stop on this itinerary, Palacio de Cibeles, so be prepared to do some extra walking (it will be a 20-minute walk to the palace) or take bus 27. However, of the three art museums mentioned, it is our favorite.

Purchase your tickets, get pricing, and confirm hours on the official website. The museum is closed on Tuesday.

12:30 pm: Palacio de Cibeles & Mirador Madrid

For a sweeping view of Plaza de Cibeles and Gran Vía, visit Mirador Madrid, a rooftop viewpoint that sits on top of Palacio de Cibeles.

Palacio de Cibeles is one of the most beautiful buildings in Madrid. It sits on Plaza de Cibeles, not far from the Prado National Museum.

From the Prado Museum, it is a 10-minute walk to get here. It is a 6-minute walk from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and a 20-minute walk from the Reina Sofia Museum.

Palacio de Cibeles and Plaza de Cibeles | One day in Madrid

The view from Mirador Madrid

To visit Mirador Madrid, purchase a timed entry ticket in advance (a 12:30 pm time slot works well for this itinerary).

Arrive 10 minutes early so you can ride the elevator up to Floor 6E and walk to the entry point for Mirador Madrid. The visit is timed such that every 30 minutes a small group of people visit the terrace, which helps keep crowds low. From the entry point, you will walk up 88 steps to get to the upper outdoor terrace.

Get hours and pricing on the official website and purchase your tickets in advance. Mirador Madrid is closed on Monday, some holidays, and can close in the summer due to high temperatures.

Note: There is also a rooftop bar on Palacio de Cibeles called Terraza Cibeles. This terrace sits lower than Mirador Madrid, so you don’t get the sweeping views of the city. However, if you could not get a ticket to Mirador Madrid, this is a nice option to get a similar view. Just be aware that it does not get good reviews and only a few tables have a view. We visited both and Mirador Madrid is the winner for the view and overall experience. Get hours and learn more on the official website.

The view from Terraza Cibeles

1:15 pm: Azotea del Círculo

Azotea del Círculo is one of Madrid’s most famous rooftop bars. It is located on Gran Vía and from here you get panoramic views of Madrid. To get here, it is just a 7-minute walk from Palacio de Cibeles. It is a beautiful, short walk, with views of Gran Vía and the famous Metropolis Building.

The rooftop terrace of Azotea del Círculo | One day in Madrid

The view from Azotea del Círculo

Azotea del Círculo serves wine, beer, and cocktails as well as lunch. You can grab a seat at one of the outdoor tables or sofas or make a reservation for lunch.

Try not to eat or drink too much! This afternoon, you will also visit a food hall and have the option to snack on chocolate and churros.

2:30 pm: City Center (Plazas, Chocolate & Churros)

Now it is time to go on a stroll through the city center of Madrid. This quick, short walking tour takes you to two of Madrid’s famous squares with the option to stop for chocolate and churros.

From Azotea del Círculo, walk to Puerta del Sol. Go for a stroll along Gran Vía, one of Madrid’s famous streets, and then turn left onto Calle de la Montera to get to Puerta del Sol.

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is one of the largest squares in Madrid. It was one of the original gates in the city walls that once surrounded the city. Things to see here include the Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, Kilometer Zero (a plaque marking the geographical center of Spain), and the Royal Post Office.

Statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree

Plaza Mayor

From Puerta del Sol, it is a 5-minute walk to Plaza Mayor. This large square was the site of the main market. Surrounding the square are restaurants, shops, and nine gates line the square, creating grand entry and exit points.

The short walk from Puerta del Sol to Plaza Mayor is filled with views like this one.

Plaza Mayor | One day in Madrid

Chocolate & Churros

One of the top foods to eat in Madrid are churros. The best place to get them is at Chocolatería San Ginés, one of the oldest cafes in the city. A visit here is rather quick and from Plaza Mayor, it is just a 2-minute walk to get here.

This is an optional detour…again, don’t indulge too much because next up is Mercado San Miguel, a great place to sample a wide variety of Spanish foods.

3:30 pm: Mercado San Miguel

This small, busy market is one of Madrid’s best dining experiences. Food stalls sell everything from aged cheeses to empanadas to fresh seafood to croquettes. This is the perfect way to sample the local foods and wash it down with a glass of wine or Estrella beer.

Mercado San Miguel can be very crowded midday, so finding a table might be challenging, but this is still a very worthwhile experience. We loved trying the foods in this market and visited it several times while in Madrid.

4:30 pm: Royal Palace of Madrid & Almudena Cathedral

For the remainder of the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace of Madrid and Almudena Cathedral. These two landmarks sit side-by-side on the west side of the city center. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk here from Mercado San Miguel.

The cathedral stays open later (open until 9 pm in July and August and 8 pm September through June) than the Royal Palace (open until 7 pm in the summer and 6 pm in the winter). Confirm these times before your trip, just in case they change.

Mirador de la Catedral

First, make a very quick stop at this viewpoint for a beautiful view of the cathedral. You can also scope out the lines to enter the Royal Palace (these lines form on the square in between the cathedral and the fence that surrounds the palace).

The view of Almudena Cathedral from Mirador de la Catedral

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real de Madrid) is the official residence of the royal family. Now it is only used for royal ceremonies. With more than 3,000 rooms, it is the largest functioning royal palace in Europe. A visit here is similar to visiting Versailles.

On a visit here, you will tour the rooms of the palace and the Royal Armoury.

The armoury | One day in Madrid

Like the Prado National Museum, the Royal Palace of Madrid is one of Madrid’s most popular places to visit. Lines to enter can be long all day, even for those who purchased their tickets online in advance. However, late in the day, crowds might be lower than midday.

The palace is open 7 days a week, until 7 pm Monday through Saturday (last entry at 6 pm) and 4 pm on Sunday (last entry at 3 pm) during the summer months. In the winter (October through March) it closes one hour earlier. If you are following this itinerary on a Sunday, you will not be able to enter the palace.

Entry is free from 5 pm to 7 pm Monday through Thursday during the summer and 4 pm to 6 pm Monday through Thursday during the winter. So, by saving the Royal Palace for the end of the day, you can get free entry most days of the week. I recommend checking these hours before your visit. If your visit will be on a Friday or Saturday, when free entry is not offered, purchase your ticket in advance on the official website.

Almudena Cathedral

Next, visit the cathedral. We really enjoyed visiting this cathedral, even more so than the Royal Palace. There is a lot to do here, enough to keep you busy for an hour, depending on how much you want to see.

For free, you can visit the cathedral floor. To do this, enter through the door that sits on C. de Bailen street (this is a separate entrance from the main entrance). The ceiling of the nave is covered with colorful geometric designs giving the interior a very unique and somewhat unexpected appearance.

In our experience, the dome was the best part of visiting the cathedral. There is a fee to climb the dome but it’s worth it, since you get 360° views of Madrid and the Royal Palace. When you take the stairs back to ground level, you will then enter the cathedral floor so you can see this as well.

You also have the option to visit the crypt. This has a separate entrance on the back of the cathedral on Calle Mayor Street. It is free to visit but donations are appreciated. This is the final resting place for the royal family. The crypt features over 400 columns, each with a different capital.

The Crypt | One day in Madrid

7:00 pm: Barrio de La Latina

End your day in Barrio de La Latina, one of the oldest areas of central Madrid. With its narrow, picturesque streets and small squares, this is a great place to go for a stroll. For dinner, hop from tapas restaurant to tapas restaurant along Calle de la Cava Baja and Calle de la Cava Alta.

Barmitón, one of our favorite restaurants in Madrid, is located on Calle de la Cava Alta. For this restaurant, we recommend making a reservation in advance.

Barrio de la Latina | One day in Madrid

Dining at Barmitón

Make Your Reservations in Advance

Here are the places in Madrid where we recommend making advance reservations, plus the links to make your planning a bit easier. You can also use these links to double check opening hours before you go.

If tickets to the Prado National Museum are sold out on the official website, you can also get them on GetYourGuide.

How to Get Around Madrid

This itinerary can be done on foot, as everything is within walking distance, with very little to no backtracking across the city. However, your hotel may not be within walking distance of the start point and/or end point of the walking route.

The metro can be useful for getting around Madrid. It is cheap, efficient, and easy to use.

Another option is to use Uber/Bolt, to either drop you off at Retiro Park or drive you back to your hotel from Barrio de la Latina.

Where to Stay in Madrid

For mid-range travelers we recommend Hotel Moderno Puerta del Sol (great location on Puerta del Sol with a wide variety of room types), Hotel Miau, and Petit Palace Triball.

If you prefer an apartment, take a look at PlazaMayorSuites. This mid-range property offers studio and one-bedroom apartments and gets exceptional reviews. Sonder Santa Ana has one, two, and three bedroom apartments and also gets rave reviews, making this a good choice for larger families or groups of friends.

For the ultimate in luxury, we recommend the Four Seasons (prime location in the city center with several onsite restaurants and a rooftop bar/restaurant), the JW Marriott Hotel (we stayed here; it is located across the street from the Four Seasons, so it also has an excellent location but prices are much lower).

For budget travelers, we recommend Hostal Aresol and Hostal Macarena. They both get great review scores and have a convenient location in the city center.

Best Time to Visit Madrid

In general, the best time to visit Madrid is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and crowds are relatively low. Our visit was in mid-April and we had fantastic, sunny, warm weather and loved being here this time of year.

Here is a breakdown of what to expect by season:

WINTER: The weather is cool in the winter, with average high temperatures running around 10°C/50°F and low temperatures hovering just above freezing. Winter is one of the wettest times to visit the city.

SPRING: Madrid warms up quickly in the spring. In March, the average high is 16°C/61°F and by May, the average high is 22°F/72°F, although it can get much warmer than this during a heat wave. Rain showers are common during April and May.

SUMMER: Summers are HOT in Madrid. The average high runs about 32°C/90°F although it can get above 39°C/102°F during heat waves. Sunshine is abundant and this is the driest time of the year.

FALL: As temperatures cool, rain chances go up. In October, average highs typically run about 19°C/67°F and by November, high temperatures average 14°C/57°F. September remains rather dry but rain showers are much more likely in October and November.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you do with one day in Madrid?

One day in Madrid is just enough time to visit a few essential sights and landmarks in Madrid, including the Prado National Museum, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, and Mercado San Miguel. There is also enough time to have lunch at a rooftop restaurant, dine on chocolate and churros, stroll along Gran Vía, and hop from tapas restaurant to tapas restaurant in Barrio de la Latina.

How much time do you need in Madrid?

Ideally, plan on spending at least three days in Madrid. This gives you one to two days to visit the sights in the city plus one to two days to take day trips to nearby places (such as Toledo, Segovia, and Ávila). You could easily spend a week in Madrid, splitting your time between city sights and multiple day trips.

What should you not miss in Madrid?

The top places to visit in Madrid include the Prado National Museum, the Royal Palace of Madrid, Almudena Cathedral, El Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor, Gran Vía, Mercado San Miguel, Plaza de Cibeles, and Barrio de la Latina.

If you have any questions about how to spend one day in Madrid or how to plan a trip to Madrid, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to Spain

MADRID: Madrid Bucket List: 35 Amazing Things to Do in Madrid
TOLEDO: Best Viewpoints & Best Things to Do in Toledo, Spain
SEGOVIA: Segovia, Spain: Best Things to Do on a Day Trip from Madrid
BARCELONA: Barcelona Bucket List: 25 Best Things to Do in Barcelona
THE ALHAMBRA: Everything You Need to Know Before Your Trip to the Alhambra
SEVILLE: Seville Bucket List: 20 Amazing Things to Do in Seville, Spain
EUROPE ITINERARY: One Week in Europe: 25 Ways to Plan Your Trip

We have TONS more information about Spain in our Spain Travel Guide, including Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Andalusia, and the Rioja Wine Region.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase using one of these affiliate links, we get paid a small commission at no extra cost to you.