Madrid · Madrid region · Spain
The essential things to do in Madrid sit within walking distance of each other: Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor in the old Habsburg quarter, the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral about ten minutes further on, the Prado and its neighbours on the Paseo del Arte, and Retiro Park, which together with the Paseo del Prado has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
Beyond the museums, Madrid is about its neighbourhoods: the Sunday Rastro market and tapas in La Latina, the squares of Malasaña and Chueca, multicultural Lavapiés and the shopping streets of Salamanca. Two full days cover the highlights; three or four let you see the museums properly and add a day trip to Toledo or Segovia. Opening times and prices below come from the official websites, as of October 2026.
These are Viator experiences in Madrid: guided visits to the museums and the Royal Palace, walking tours, tapas tours and day trips. Each one shows its price and reviews from people who have done it; availability depends on the date you choose.
Pedestrianised Puerta del Sol is where most walks start. Look for the clock on the Real Casa de Correos, which rings in the New Year on Spanish television, the Kilómetro Cero plaque from which Spain's radial roads are measured, and the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree.
Calle Mayor leads to Plaza Mayor. Juan Gómez de Mora gave its buildings a uniform look from 1617, and after the fire of 1790 Juan de Villanueva closed the corners and added nine arches; the best known is the Arco de Cuchilleros with its steps. The equestrian statue of Philip III stands in the middle, and the Casa de la Panadería houses the Madrid Tourist Centre. From here, carry on to Plaza de la Villa and Plaza de Oriente.
From October to March the Royal Palace opens Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 and Sunday 10:00-16:00, with last entry an hour before closing. A standard ticket costs €18, and Patrimonio Nacional advises buying online because capacity is limited. EU citizens and residents and Latin American nationals can visit at no charge Monday to Thursday 16:00-18:00 in winter, with proof of nationality and at the ticket office only. The Campo del Moro gardens below are open access.
Opposite, Almudena Cathedral, consecrated in 1993, asks for a €1 donation to enter; its museum, which includes the climb to the dome, costs €8. For sunset, the tourist board points you to the gardens of the Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple.
The three big galleries are all within roughly a kilometre, but the tourist board suggests half a day to a full day for each, so spread them out. If you plan to see all three, the Paseo del Arte pass costs €32.80 in 2026.
The Paseo del Prado and Buen Retiro, known as the Landscape of Light, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021. The park covers 125 hectares, is open access and from October to March opens 6:00-22:00.
The classic plan is to hire a rowing boat on the large lake, step into the Crystal Palace, an iron-and-glass pavilion from 1887 now used by the Reina Sofía for exhibitions (it can close when it rains), and leave via the Puerta de Alcalá, built in 1778, or the second-hand bookstalls of the Cuesta de Moyano.
Gran Vía, begun in 1910, is lined with cinemas, theatres and shops, and the rooftop of the Círculo de Bellas Artes looks straight down it. Each neighbourhood has its own pace:
Football fans can visit Real Madrid's stadium on the club's official tour, which includes the museum and a panoramic view of the stands. It is not a match ticket. Prices, times and how to get there are on our Bernabéu Tour page.
Even the tourist board admits a couple of days is not enough. With two full days, spend the first on Habsburg Madrid, the Royal Palace and Debod, and the second on one museum, Retiro and the Barrio de las Letras. Three or four days leave room for another museum, the neighbourhoods and a day trip.
The centre is walkable; the Metro runs 6:00-1:30, and the Tourist Travel Pass covers all public transport for 1 to 7 days. Until the end of 2026, Line 10 is closed between Nuevos Ministerios and Cuzco for works, with a replacement bus. From the airport, the Express bus to the centre costs €5.10.
Toledo, 70 km south, is a World Heritage city with more than 2,000 years of history. Segovia, also on the World Heritage List, is about 30 minutes away by high-speed train or an hour by car on the A-6, and its Roman aqueduct still stands on two tiers of arches.
In winter, the Sierra de Guadarrama has two ski areas close to the city. Puerto de Navacerrada is reached on the A-6 to Collado Villalba and then the M-601, or on bus 691 from Moncloa, which also stops at Valdesquí. The season depends on snowfall, so check the webcams before you go.
Two full days cover the main sights. With three or four you can give half a day to each big museum, explore the neighbourhoods and add a day trip to Toledo or Segovia.
In the last two hours of each day: Monday to Saturday 18:00-20:00 and Sundays and public holidays 17:00-19:00. It covers the collection, and tickets are issued at the desk while capacity lasts.
Tuesday. The rest of the week it opens 10:00-21:00, except Sunday, when it closes at 14:30.
Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral in the morning, the Prado in the afternoon, then Retiro Park or sunset at the Temple of Debod.
Yes. Puerto de Navacerrada and Valdesquí are in the Sierra de Guadarrama, reached by car on the A-6 and M-601 or by bus 691 from Moncloa. Opening depends on the snow each season.