How to Spend One Day in Madrid: Itinerary for First Time Visitors
Having studied abroad in Spain and been able to see many lovely places around the country, it’s safe to say Madrid is one of the best cities in Spain. It offers a lot of fabulous museums, beautiful plazas, and delicious food alongside its vibrant culture and history.
While you really should spend three or four days in Madrid, you can see the highlights of Madrid in 24 hours – and if you only have one day in Madrid, you should definitely still visit! You’ll just have to strategize your itinerary for Madrid to make the most of your limited time!
So where should you start? To see the most of Madrid in one, you’ll need to be efficient in where you go, what you see, and even where you stay. If you’re ready to take on Madrid in a day, let’s take a look at how to approach it!
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One Day Itinerary in Madrid, Spain
While there are lots of things to see in Madrid, you can get a solid feel for the highlights of Madrid in this 24 hour itinerary. Fortunately, the center of Madrid is pretty compact making it easy to explore the main plazas, the Royal Palace, stunning churches, statues galore, world-class museums, and a couple of beautiful parks all in your one day Madrid itinerary.
Explore Puerta del Sol
Start your trip by dropping off your luggage at your hotel and heading into central Madrid beginning with the Puerta del Sol.
Located in the center of Madrid, Puerta del Sol is a huge public square and features some of the most beautiful architecture in the city. It is also home to a few of the best known attractions in Madrid along with dozens of restaurants, shops, and museums. If you end up lost in Madrid, consider this your central point to reference back to!
While you’re in Puerta del Sol, there’s a lot to pay attention to and take in – after all, it is the center of the city!
- Marvel at the Real Casa de Correos, the former post office building, which features the clock tower.
- Hunt down the Kilometre Zero plaque which is the 0 km marker stone for all Spanish distances.
- Take a picture with the famous bronze El Oso y el Madrono sculpture featuring a bear with a strawberry tree.
- Locate the famous Tio Pepe neon sign, which promotes a popular sherry brand.
From the Puerta del Sol continue your day trip in Madrid by heading to the Royal Palace on Plaza de la Armeria.
Admire the Royal Palace of Madrid
Palacio Real de Madrid, or the Royal Palace of Madrid, is one of the top things to see in Madrid as it offers magnificent architecture with a sprawling elegant facade. It is also still considered the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Madrid although it is typically only used for state ceremonies.
This palace is the largest royal palace in Europe with 3,418 rooms and 1,450,000 sq feet. Best part? You can tour it! You’ll want to book fast-access tickets or a guided palace tour ahead of time as lines can be long and there’s no time to waste in this one day itinerary of Madrid.
Just outside of the Royal Palace you’ll find the large Plaza de la Armeria which offers a few statues and the Catedral de la Almundena – your next stop.
Want to combine central Madrid and the Royal Palace?
Check out this Madrid walking tour with skip the line tickets to the Royal Palace!
Visit the Catedral de la Almudena
The Catedral de la Almudena, is a Baroque Catholic cathedral best known for its colorful chapels, Romanesque crypt, and museum. It’s extremely beautiful and interesting in that the paintings and decor within the church give it a very modern feel while the grand stone pillars and high vaulted ceiling make it feel like a relic of the past. It’s a great mix of new and old and definitely worth a stop.
Getting tired of walking?
Consider taking the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus, which connects all of the top sights in Madrid!
Head to the Plaza Mayor
The next hotspot to visit is the Plaza Mayor. This large central square offers beautiful architecture, overpriced restaurants and coffee shops, and of course a few street artists. You’ll find the equivalent of Plaza Mayor in most European cities! Make sure to snap a picture of the Philip III statue in the center of the square before moving on.
Taste the Tapas at the Mercado de San Miguel
Grab lunch at the nearby Mercado de San Miguel, a fabulous market located right next to Plaza Mayor. This fabulous marketplace features over 20 stands featuring a variety of tapas, wine, and other tasty treats in addition to some more traditional market items such as fruits, vegetables, and meat.
Make your way around the stands exploring and learning about Spanish cuisine. Stopping there for lunch enables you to enjoy all of the available food while beating the evening rush. It gets packed!
If you’re really into Spanish cuisine learn and taste more by doing a tapas crawl through Madrid or even take a cooking class to learn to make Spanish food for yourself!
Stroll through El Retiro Park
After a bit of a feast, it’s time to go for a walk through one of the best parks in Madrid – El Retiro Park. It’s located right behind the Royal Botanical Garden, but it is free to enjoy as compared to the gardens which charges an entrance fee.
Inside the park you’ll find statues, fountains, a “Crystalย Palace”, and then a lake where you can rent rowboats. Sometimes there are other events going on like free art exhibits. Enjoy all this beautiful park has to offer before heading to one of the most famous museums in Madrid – El Prado Museum.
Visit El Prado Museum
One of the best things to do in Madrid that you haven’t hit yet is visiting the Museo Nacional del Prado. This famous museum includes 7,600 paintings and 1,000 sculptures from artists like Velazquez, oya, El Greco, and more! Make sure to book your skip-the-line tickets to the Prado Museum ahead of time to avoid the long lines.
Take in a Flamenco Show
As the day winds down, it’s time to enjoy one last classic Spanish event – a flamenco show. After all, did you even go to Spain if you didn’t go to a flamenco show?
Make the most of your one day in Madrid with a one hour flamenco show that includes dinner and a show at the legendary Torres Bermejas. There are two show times offered so you can choose the time that works best for you! If you’re visiting from the US, you may want to try the earlier one due to the late dining times in Spain!
Other Top Things to See in Madrid
Even though you only have one day in Madrid, you can do a pretty spectacular job covering the main sites. If you have more time, or even a particular interest, you may want to add one of these into your Madrid itinerary.
- Marvel at art in the Reina Sofia Museum, home to the most significant collection of contemporary art in Madrid.
- Learn about the Real Madrid football team with a tour of the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
- Explore the history of bull fighting at the Madrid Las Ventas Bullring and Museum.
- Check out the reconstructed ancient Egyptian temple in Madrid at Temple of Debod.
Map of Your Day in Madrid
While it may seem like you’re running all over, it really is all centrally located in Madrid. Take a look at this map of Madrid to help you plan out your time there – particularly if you want to skip any of the stops above!
If it’s too much walking for you, there are other transportation options to make the most of your 24 hours in Madrid. Try a segway sightseeing tour or a private electric tuk tuk tour.
Where to Stay in Madrid
With just one day in Madrid, you’ll want to stay centrally to easily walk to all of the best sights. Fortunately, there are thousands of hotels in Madrid to choose from. To help simplify it, here are my top recommendations, but you can also search accommodations for yourself!
- Best Hostel in Madrid: The Central House Lavapies
- Best Budget Hotel in Madrid: Hostal Aresol
- Best Mid-range Hotel in Madrid: Hotel Regina
- Best Luxury Hotel in Madrid: Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Madrid
Add on More Days in Madrid
If you’re able to add more days in Madrid, you won’t be disappointed. There are tons of amazing things to do and see in Madrid, not to mention the day trips from Madrid are excellent. You can easily spend 3 days or even a week in Madrid!
Should you decide to spend more time in Madrid, here are the first places I’d spend your time:
- See the best of Spain with a full day trip to Toledo – My absolute favorite!
- Take a full day tour to Avila and Segovia from Madrid
- Go wine tasting in the Madrid countryside
- Visit the Escorial Monastery and Valley of the Fallen from Madrid
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