Museums~€15
Prado Museum
Paseo del Prado
One of the world’s greatest collections of European painting, with Velázquez and Goya at its heart.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- Booking recommended
Daily, roughly 10:00–20:00; shorter hours on Sundays and holidays
Madrid
World-class art, grand boulevards and a city that stays up late.
Overview
Why go to Madrid
Madrid is Spain’s big-hearted capital: three of Europe’s great art museums within a short stroll, leafy parks, buzzing markets and a nightlife scene that really starts after dinner. It also makes a superb base for history-rich day trips.
- Best time to go
- March–May and September–November; summers are hot, winters crisp and sunny.
- Getting around
- A fast metro covers almost everything; the historic centre is very walkable.
- Best for
- Art & museums · Food & tapas · Nightlife · City breaks
Things to Do
See all 11 Top picks in Madrid
11 places with prices, timings and booking advice.
Must SeeFree
Retiro Park
Retiro
Madrid’s green heart, with a boating lake, rose garden and a glass Crystal Palace.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 6:00–midnight (earlier closing in winter)
Must See€13–€14
Royal Palace of Madrid
Palacio
A vast, opulent palace with over a thousand rooms, of which the grandest are open to visitors.
- Suggested time: 1h 30m
- Booking recommended
Daily, roughly 10:00–18:00 (to 19:00 in summer); check for closures
Museums~€12
Reina Sofía Museum
Atocha
Modern and contemporary art, and home to Picasso’s Guernica.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- Booking recommended
Most days, roughly 10:00–21:00; closed Tuesdays (check the calendar)
MarketsFree
Mercado de San Miguel
Centro
A glass-and-iron market hall turned tapas playground near Plaza Mayor.
- Suggested time: 1 hr
- No booking needed
Daily, roughly 10:00–midnight
ViewpointsFree
Templo de Debod at Sunset
Parque del Oeste
An authentic Egyptian temple rebuilt in a Madrid park, glowing at golden hour.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
Open-air park; temple interior open limited days, typically closed Mondays
Where to stay
All hotels Hotels in Madrid
Sample data. Sample hotels with indicative prices, not live rates or availability. A live hotel provider will be connected in a later version.
Sample listing
Hotel Retiro Jardín
Retiro, Madrid
A grand five-star beside the park, with a garden pool and a short walk to the Prado.
€290–€430per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Casa Salamanca
Salamanca, Madrid
An adults-only luxury townhouse in Madrid’s smartest shopping district.
€260–€380per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
Sample listing
Plaza Mayor Boutique
Centro, Madrid
A characterful boutique hotel within a minute of Plaza Mayor.
€170–€250per room / night · indicative
Sample price for two adults, not live. Availability is not checked.
A sample Madrid itinerary
3 nights Solo
Madrid · History + Food + Nightlife
Madrid art, parks and tapas
World-class museums, a sunset at a temple and Malasaña after dark.
- Day 1 · Prado Museum, Retiro Park, Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop
- Day 2 · Royal Palace of Madrid, Mercado de San Miguel, Templo de Debod at Sunset, Malasaña After Dark
- Day 3 · Reina Sofía Museum, Churros con Chocolate at San Ginés
Plan Madrid your way
Tell us your dates, who’s travelling and what you enjoy. We’ll build a first draft you can edit.