Madrid itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · SpainJune–September
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 34
- Per day
- ≈ €93
- First stop
- 09:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Madrid itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for June–September. The first three days:
- Day 1 Prado and Retiro
- Day 2 Habsburg Madrid and the Royal Palace
- Day 3 Malasaña, Chueca and Gran Vía
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 4 and 5 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about €93 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 10:00–20:00
Prado and Retiro
Culture
Museo del Prado
Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya, Bosch. Book a timed slot online (15 EUR); entry is free 18:00-20:00 but crowded.
≈ €15 per personNature
Parque del Retiro
The lake (rowing boats 6 EUR), the Crystal Palace and the Fallen Angel statue.
FreeFood
Casa Alberto
A tavern dating from 1827 in Huertas; try the rabo de toro (oxtail stew) and vermouth.
≈ €25 per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Museo Reina Sofía
Picasso's Guernica; free on Saturdays after 14:30.
≈ €12 per personLandmark
Barrio de las Letras
Cervantes' neighbourhood, with verses written in the streets, and Plaza Santa Ana.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Museo Thyssen-BornemiszaThe third of the Golden Triangle of Art museums; a swap for the Reina Sofía.
- Mercado de San MiguelTapas stalls in an iron-and-glass market hall; touristy but worth seeing.
Day 2 · 09:00–15:30
Habsburg Madrid and the Royal Palace
Landmark
Plaza Mayor
The square is empty in the morning; have a bocadillo de calamares (fried squid sandwich) at Casa Rúa.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
Royal Palace of Madrid
Europe's largest palace. Book a timed slot online; see the Throne Room and the Sabatini Gardens.
≈ €14 per personCulture
Almudena Cathedral
Opposite the palace; look up at the colourful ceiling.
FreeFood
Chocolatería San Ginés
Churros con chocolate, served 24 hours a day since 1894.
≈ €5 per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Food
La Latina Cava Baja Tapas
A tapas crawl along Cava Baja: Casa Lucio (huevos rotos, broken fried eggs), Juana la Loca (tortilla) and Txirimiri.
≈ €25 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Casa BotínThe world's oldest restaurant (1725); order the cochinillo (roast suckling pig) and book ahead.
- Temple of DebodAn Egyptian temple famed for its sunsets; an alternative to the cathedral.
Day 3 · 10:00–21:00
Malasaña, Chueca and Gran Vía
Landmark
Gran Vía
Madrid's Broadway, with the Metropolis Building and the Schweppes sign.
FreeShopping
Malasaña Streets
Vintage shops and record stores; Plaza del Dos de Mayo.
FreeFood
Mercado de San Ildefonso
A street-food market on Fuencarral.
≈ €12 per personLandmark
Chueca
A colourful neighbourhood; head up to the rooftop bar at Mercado de San Antón.
Free- 5 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Círculo de Bellas Artes Terrace
A rooftop terrace above Gran Vía; sunset views and Calle de Alcalá.
≈ €5 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Lamiak MalasañaBasque pintxos.
- Museo de Historia de MadridThe city history museum in Malasaña; free entry.
Day 4 · 09:30–16:00Day trip
Toledo
Culture
Toledo Cathedral
AVE train from Atocha takes 33 minutes. Spain's largest Gothic cathedral, with works by El Greco.
≈ €12 per personCulture
Church of Santo Tomé
El Greco's The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.
≈ €4 per personCulture
Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
A Mudéjar synagogue in the Jewish quarter.
≈ €3 per personFood
Cervecería El Trébol
A local spot in Toledo for bombas (potato croquettes) and carcamusas (pork and tomato stew).
≈ €18 per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Nature
Mirador del Valle
The Toledo skyline from across the river. Take the tourist bus or a taxi, and head back by 17:00.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Alcázar of ToledoAn army museum with city views; an alternative to the viewpoint.
- Mazapán Santo ToméToledo's famous marzipan.
Day 5 · 09:30–16:00Day trip
Segovia
Landmark
Aqueduct of Segovia
AVE takes 27 minutes. A 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct built without mortar, 28 m high.
FreeCulture
Segovia Cathedral
The last Gothic cathedral built in Spain; it stands on Plaza Mayor.
≈ €4 per personCulture
Alcázar of Segovia
Said to have inspired Disney's castle; the tower has 152 steps.
≈ €9 per personFood
Mesón de Cándido
Serving cochinillo (suckling pig) beneath the aqueduct since 1898; the pig is carved with a plate.
≈ €40 per personNature
Mirador de la Pradera de San Marcos
The Alcázar seen like a ship's prow, from the riverside.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- José María SegoviaThe other classic for cochinillo.
- Royal Site of La Granja de San IldefonsoA Versailles-style palace 11 km from Segovia; an alternative to the viewpoint.
Day 6 · 10:00–18:30
Salamanca and Bernabéu
Culture
Sorolla Museum
The painter's home, with an Andalusian-style garden; quiet in the morning.
≈ €3 per personShopping
Calle Serrano, Barrio de Salamanca
A luxury shopping street; Platea is nearby for gastronomy and theatre.
FreeFood
Platea Madrid
A food market in a former cinema, near Colón.
≈ €20 per person- 45 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Tour
The Real Madrid museum and stadium tour; go if there is no match.
≈ €30 per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Culture
National Archaeological Museum
Home to the Lady of Elche; in Salamanca, a good refuge from the heat.
≈ €3 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- LhardyA restaurant dating from 1839; cocido madrileño (Madrid chickpea stew), Monday to Wednesday.
- Parque de El CaprichoA romantic park, open at weekends; an alternative to the stadium.
Day 7 · 09:00–14:00
Rastro and Lavapiés: a gentle farewell
Shopping
El Rastro
A huge flea market on Sundays (Ribera de Curtidores); on other days, antique shops.
FreeLandmark
Lavapiés
A multicultural neighbourhood with murals and the Tabacalera.
FreeFood
Casa Revuelta
Known for its bacalao rebozado (battered cod) tapa; a standing-room bar by the Rastro, open since 1966.
≈ €12 per personLandmark
Puerta del Sol Kilometre Zero
Spain's zero point and the Bear statue. Take the metro to Atocha; the airport is 30 minutes by Cercanías.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Taberna La ConchaVermouth and tapas in La Latina.
- Museo CerralboAn aristocrat's mansion; an alternative to Lavapiés.
Good to know: 6 things that make a Madrid trip easier
- A 10-trip metro ticket costs 12.20 EUR; the airport is 30 minutes by metro or Cercanías. Toledo and Segovia are 30 minutes by AVE (from Atocha or Chamartín); buy tickets in advance.
- The Prado, the Palace and the Reina Sofía need timed online tickets. The Prado is free 18:00-20:00 and the Reina on Saturday afternoons (expect queues).
- Summer reaches 35-40°C: visit museums at midday and rooftop terraces (azoteas) at night, and eat dinner at 22:00. In August locals are on holiday and some bars close.
- Tapas cost 2-4 EUR, a menú del día 13-16 EUR and cochinillo 30-40 EUR; churros at San Ginés cost 5 EUR. Round up the bill instead of tipping.
- Visit the Rastro on a Sunday morning; Lavapiés and Malasaña are best in the evening. Watch for pickpockets around Sol and on the metro.
- If Real Madrid are playing, book tickets months ahead; stadium tours run every day.
Spending: ≈ €650 per person for 7 days
- Food€350
- Entry and tours€160
- Local transport€80
- Other€60
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
On world lists: 2 places in this city
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Madrid?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 4 and 5; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Madrid cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about €93 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Madrid?
The first stop is at 09:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.