No. 01 · Museum
Museo del Prado
The Spanish royal collection — Velázquez, Goya, Bosch
One of the world's great galleries, holding Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings, and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights.
Read more →Spain
Madrid
Tapas, Goya, and the late-night Spanish capital
A high-altitude capital that eats dinner at 10 PM — royal palaces, the world's best art museums, and a tapas culture that runs every night.
When to go
April–June and September–October. July–August are hot; locals leave town.
Getting around
Metro is fast and cheap; walk the centre between Sol, Gran Vía, and the Prado.
Madrid highlights
Don't miss
The top places to start with if you only have a day or two — the essentials before you go deeper.
No. 02 · Landmark
Royal Palace of Madrid
Europe's largest royal palace by floor area
The Bourbon-era palace built on the site of Madrid's old Moorish alcázar — used today only for state ceremonies.
Read more →No. 03 · Attraction
El Retiro Park
350 acres of gardens, ponds, and Sunday strollers
Madrid's central park — once royal, now a UNESCO site full of rose gardens, Buen Retiro pond, and the iron-and-glass Crystal Palace.
Read more →Things to do in Madrid
4 hand-picked
A curated mix of landmarks, neighborhoods, and museums worth your time in Madrid, Spain — grouped by type below.
Landmark
1 place
Attraction
1 place
Museum
1 place
Where to stay
1 place
Where to stay in Madrid
4 neighborhoods
Madrid's centre is walkable, alive late, and best explored on foot between Sol, Lavapiés, and Retiro.
Centro / Sol
Plazas, palaces, transit hub
Best for: First trips with everything at your doorstep
Malasaña
Bars, vintage shops, late nights
Best for: Younger travelers after the scene
Chueca
LGBTQ+ heart, restaurants, shopping
Best for: Foodies and night owls
Salamanca
Boutiques, embassies, calm streets
Best for: Upscale and quieter stays
A 3-day itinerary, your way
If you only have a long weekend in Madrid.
Day 1
Habsburg Madrid
Royal Palace at opening, Plaza Mayor, lunch on Cava Baja, Prado in the afternoon, tapas in La Latina.
Day 2
Bourbon & Retiro
Reina Sofía morning (Guernica), lunch in Lavapiés, Retiro Park walk, sunset on Templo de Debod.
Day 3
Markets & Bars
San Miguel Market brunch, Thyssen-Bornemisza, Gran Vía rooftop drink, late dinner in Malasaña or Chueca.