What to do in Madrid in 2 days
Madrid is a city full of possibilities. In fact, it is such an exciting place that we could dedicate a lifetime to know it and discover its exciting secrets. Unfortunately, few travelers are lucky enough to be able to do so, so our goal is to condense the best of its offer and organize it in such a way that you can know the essentials of this city in just over 48 hours.
In Madrid you will find good examples of art and relevant exhibitions, extensive shopping areas, good establishments of all kinds where you can enjoy local gastronomy, unique monuments full of legends and history and, above all, an exciting street environment with attractions for all Tastes, ages and hobbies.
Having said that, do you dare to join us? We will propose you what to do in Madrid in 2 days.
What plan do we have to get to know Madrid on a weekend?
In that, precisely, our proposal is based. In making a virtual trip from Friday to Sunday for the capital of Spain. If your trip is made during the week, do not forget to check the days and times of the premises, museums and establishments included in our proposal.
The first thing is to locate our accommodation and get rid of luggage to be able to travel lighter this great city. And, as it should be, we will start the tour of the authentic heart of the city: Puerta del Sol. We could say that it is the most typical scene of the city, the most crowded, the one that attracts tourists and neighbors and never disappoints.
Our advice is to take that you take the first few hours to explore this area, as well as its surrounding streets and Madrid´s Gran via. There you will find a lot of atmosphere, shops and places where you can eat, eat or dine.
Actually, it all depends on when you start the tour. If it is already late, we suggest that, on Saturday, you return to this area to start the route all aver. In any case, we propose several places to visit and that you can select depending on the time available.
In the Puerta del Sol is the so-called Kilómetro Cero, the point from where the kilometers of the Spanish radial roads begin to count. You should also visit the statue of the Bear and the Madroño, the distinctive symbol of the capital. If you deviate by the Calle Arenal, you will arrive at the Teatro Real. Right in the front, you will find the Plaza de Oriente and the Royal Palace, which you can visit on a guided tour. In the proximities is the Cathedral of the Almudena, the most important temple of Madrid.
If you take Calle Mayor, you will come directly to Plaza de la Villa, the nerve center of medieval Madrid. And, from there, a walk to the Plaza Mayor, full of bars and tapas terraces. One tip: you can not leave Madrid without trying their typical squid sandwiches.
If what you want is to visit a commercial area, we will return to the Puerta del Sol to access calle Preciados and walk to Plaza de Callao, the Gran Vía and make a route to the Plaza de España.
If you still want to and have the time, a good proposal is to approach the Temple of Debot, one of those hidden treasures to which we previously referred. It is a gift from Egypt to Spain in the form of an original temple.
All these proposals will occupy you the afternoon of Friday and all the Saturday. Remember that for the areas that we propose there are a thousands of bars and typical taverns, in addition to a long list of excellent restaurants where you can enjoy and taste the local gastronomy.
What can we do on Sunday?
This may be our second full day in Madrid, so it is advisable to start the activity in the early morning and enjoy the day and many of the attractions that this city offers us.
A good starting point for this day is the Fuente de la Cibeles, the most well-known monumental fountain in the capital. Then you can take the Paseo del Prado which runs to the Madrid Stock Exchange building, the Ritz Hotel and the Palace Hotel, the two most renowned hotel establishments in Madrid. Between one and another is the Fountain of Neptune, which also deserves to be visited.
But, without a doubt, this route has the best possible finish. We refer to the Prado Museum, the national art gallery and one of the most important museums in the world. Among its collections, it houses paintings by artists such as Velázquez, Goya, El Greco or Rubens, among others.
You should reserve enough time to stroll around El Retiro, a wonderful and extensive public park that contains, among other things, a historic garden. There are many street artists who delight children and adults.
Extra proposals to take into account
Maybe our proposal about what to do in Madrid in 2 days is enough.
However, we include here a list of other essential places, in case you have enough time or you can extend your visit a few hours.
- Puerta de Alcalá
- Reina Sofia Museum
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
- The Rastro
- Theme park
- Zoo
- Warner park
If you want to dedicate part of your stay to shopping, in Madrid there are several areas to visit. In the neighborhood of Salamanca you will find luxury brands; In the area of Recoletos, Gran Vía and Calle Fuencarral there are many shops and department stores where you will find all kinds of prices and styles.
Special mention should be made of some areas to go for tapas, such as Las Letras, La Latina or San Miguel Market. And, if you want to enjoy the intense nightlife of Madrid, you have a wide range of shows: theaters, musicals, flamenco, bars, cocktail bars and emblematic nightclubs. In Madrid there are things to do, visit and enjoy 24 hours a day.