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I lived in Madrid from January to May 2022 while studying abroad, in a student residence in Embajadores. I spent most of those five months exploring the city and experienced neighborhoods, markets, rooftops, museums, and more tapas bars than I could list.
I’ve been back a few times since because I love Madrid so much.
Two days won’t cover everything, but it’s enough to see the center properly and get a feel for the city. This is the itinerary I’d give a friend on her first trip.
Day one is the big sights. Day two is slower: neighborhoods, a market, and a sunset picnic.
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Madrid in 2 Days at a Glance
- Day 1: Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, Gran Vía, Retiro Park and the Prado
- Day 2: El Rastro (on a Sunday), Malasaña, the Reina Sofía or Salamanca, and sunset at Templo de Debod
- If you have a third day: Segovia, Toledo or a hike in Cercedilla
Day 1: The Palace, Retiro, and the Prado
Morning
Start with brunch at Pum Pum Café in Lavapiés, or toast at Federal Café in Malasaña if you’re staying north of Gran Vía. Then walk to Puerta del Sol.
It’s the most touristy spot in Madrid and also the center of everything, so you’ll pass through it lots anyway.
From Sol it’s a few minutes to Plaza Mayor. Mercado San Miguel is right next to it.
It’s a tapas market, more of a snack stop than a meal, but it’s worth walking through.
Keep going west to the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe. Almudena Cathedral sits right next door if you want to add it.
🎟️Get Royal Palace Skip-the-Line Tickets→
Lunch
La Paradita, a tapas bar near the Ópera metro stop, is a few minutes from the palace and very cheap. It’s a good place to try a bit of everything without committing to a long lunch.
Afternoon
Walk up to Gran Vía, Madrid’s main shopping street, then head east to El Retiro Park.
I went to Retiro many times: to kick a soccer ball around, to row a boat on the lake, and once to rent bikes and ride the whole park. Rowboats are the easy pick on a first visit.
The Prado is a short walk from the park. It’s huge, so pick a few rooms instead of trying to see everything.
If modern art is more your thing, the Reina Sofía is nearby. I’ve been to both more than once, and both are worth it, but I’d only do one in an afternoon.
If you pick the Prado today, save the Reina Sofía for tomorrow.
🎟️Join a Guided Tour of the Prado Museum→
Evening
Watch the sunset from the rooftop of Círculo de Bellas Artes, near Gran Vía.
Dinner in Madrid starts late. I usually ate around 10 p.m., and so did everyone else, families with kids included.
Good options near Gran Vía and in Malasaña:
- Sibuya Urban Sushi Bar: excellent sushi in a cute space.
- Ojalá (Malasaña): good food and a fun atmosphere.
- Chic Sushi: good, affordable sushi near Gran Vía and Callao.
For a drink after, Matador is a small brick-and-wood bar with great sangria, and Salmon Guru does cocktails if you want to sit down. If you want to see Madrid’s nightlife, Icon had the best music of the clubs I went to but definitely has a college-age crowd.
Kapital, seven floors with different music on each, is worth going to once (you don’t need to go more than that). Most clubs sell tickets ahead of time that include two drinks.
Leave your wallet at home and bring your ID and one card (more on that in my Madrid safety guide).
🎟️Make New Friends on a Madrid Pub Crawl→
Planning a weekend away?
Get The Weekender: weekend trips, already planned.
Day 2: Markets, Malasaña and a Sunset Picnic
Day two is slower on purpose. Madrid isn’t a city you rush.
On Saturdays, a lot of people I knew didn’t start their day until 3 p.m., and plenty of places don’t open until around noon anyway.
Morning
If it’s a Sunday, go to El Rastro, the flea market that fills the streets south of La Latina every week. Antiques, secondhand clothes, local art: wander and don’t plan.
On any other day, start in Malasaña with brunch at La Bicicleta or Federal Café. If you want something lighter, Zenith was my favorite brunch spot in Madrid: healthy, with gluten-free options.
Afternoon
Spend the afternoon in Malasaña. It was my favorite neighborhood for shopping and wandering: vintage stores, street art, and small cafés.
For lunch, Honest Greens is good and healthy, and Hummuseria does Mediterranean.
Then pick one:
- The Reina Sofía. Madrid’s modern art museum, if you did the Prado yesterday.
- Salamanca. One of the nicest neighborhoods in Madrid. It’s calm and polished, good for a walk and a coffee.
Sunset at Templo de Debod
This was one of my favorite things to do in Madrid. Before sunset, grab a bottle of wine, cheese, and crackers from a small shop, then walk to Templo de Debod, a 2,000-year-old Egyptian temple in a park near Plaza de España.
The view toward the palace at sunset is beautiful, and it’s very social. Get there early, because it fills up.
Dinner
Taco al Pastor, near Sol and Ópera, has €1 tacos and always has a line. Tiki Taco has a similar deal plus good margaritas, with several locations.
For tapas, La Taberna de la Concha is a cute spot.
If you’re with your parents or want one classic dinner, Sobrino de Botín claims to be the oldest restaurant in the world.
If You Have a Third Day
Madrid is an easy base for day trips, and I did all of these by bus or train:
- Cercedilla: one of my favorite hikes I’ve ever done. It’s about an hour from Madrid by bus, quiet, with views the whole way.
- Segovia: the Roman aqueduct and the old town.
- Toledo: a walled medieval city.
- El Escorial: a monastery, with hiking nearby.
🎟️Browse Toledo and Segovia Day Trips→
Gluten-Free in Madrid
Madrid was much easier for me than I expected. Restaurants generally knew what I meant once I learned to say it in Spanish (“sin gluten”). My favorites:
- Pastelería La Oriental Sin Gluten (Argüelles): the best gluten-free bakery I’ve ever been to.
- Zenith: healthy brunch with gluten-free options.
- Avocado Love (Malasaña): vegan and gluten-free.
- Café Green Bakery (near Moncloa): healthy lunch.
- Honest Greens (Malasaña).
What to Know Before You Go
- Everything runs late. Dinner at 10 p.m. is normal, nights out run until sunrise, and mornings are slow. Plan your big sights for late morning and afternoon.
- Fewer people speak English than you’d expect. Touristy restaurants will, but outside those I had to use my Spanish. Learn a few phrases before you go.
- The metro is great. It’s one of the best transit systems I’ve used: cheap, easy, and it goes to the airport. When I lived there in 2022, an Uber across the city was about €10.
- Watch your phone. Madrid felt safe to me, including walking alone at night, but phone theft is common. Mine was stolen off a café table. Here’s my full safety guide.
- Know the seasons. By May, it was already hot, though not humid. Winter is mild and sunny. It never snowed while I was there, but you’ll want a jacket.
Where to Stay in Madrid for 2 Days
For a short trip, stay central. Sol and Gran Vía put you within walking distance of everything above.
Malasaña is better for cafés and bars, and Salamanca for quiet. I lived in Embajadores, near Lavapiés, which is a good budget base a short walk from Sol.
Budget: The Central House Madrid Lavapiés.
📍Book The Central House Madrid Lavapiés→
Mid-range: Líbere Madrid Chamberí, apartment-style rooms in a residential neighborhood.
Luxury: BLESS Hotel Madrid, in Salamanca.
FAQs
Is 2 days enough for Madrid?
It’s enough for the center: the palace, Retiro, one or two museums, a couple of neighborhoods, and a late dinner or two. I lived there for five months and still had a list, so if you can add a third day, spend it on a day trip.
What should I not miss in Madrid?
Retiro Park, the Prado, or the Reina Sofía, Malasaña, El Rastro if you’re there on a Sunday, and sunset at Templo de Debod.
Is Madrid walkable?
Very. It was the first city I lived in where I never needed a car, and it’s a big part of why I live in New York now.
Do people in Madrid speak English?
In touristy places, usually. Elsewhere, less than you’d expect. A few Spanish phrases go a long way.
Is Madrid safe?
Yes. I felt safe walking alone at night.
The main risk is phone theft in cafés, crowds and clubs.
Final Thoughts
Living in Madrid changed how I wanted to live: walking everywhere, a social environment, and less rushing. Two days is enough to get a taste of that.
Exploring a mix of the main sights and cute neighborhoods is my recommendation and my favorite way to see any city.
If you’re continuing through Spain, read my guides to 2 days in Seville, 3 days in Barcelona, and the best places to visit in Spain for first-timers.
I hope you have the best time!
A Weekend in Barcelona, planned for you
Friday night to Sunday afternoon on one printable PDF: before-you-go tips, where I ate and what it cost.
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I hope you have the best trip!
Everything here comes from my own time in Madrid. Take what’s useful and make the trip your own.
