As I said in my previous article Where To Go In Spain, I don’t think you need to spend much time in this city. If I could go back in time, this is how I would spend my perfect two days in Madrid.
- Best way to enjoy your morning (breakfast)
- List of activities
- Best way to enjoy lunch & dinner
- Enjoy the nightlife
- How many nights you should spend in Madrid
Best way to enjoy your morning (breakfast)
If you arrived the night before, and you are starting your day early in Madrid, don’t waste any time. Get up and go walk around to find a little place to eat breakfast. Spain is known for its great tapas and meals. So breakfast is not a meal you will necessarily look up to, and it won’t be the highlight of your day. My advice is to save space in your stomach for something more special at lunch and dinner.
List of activities
Here is a list of activities to do in Madrid. This is what I did when I was in Madrid and it was perfect. Spending 2 days in this city would be plenty enough.
- Cathedral de la Almudena
2. Real Jardin Botanico (In the picture)
3. Tapas and wine tour. A classic to do in Madrid!
4. Museo del Prado: free entry from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. every Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Sunday. If you only have time for one museum, this iconic art museum is the one I recommend.
5. Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: free entry from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Monday through Saturday and 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Sunday. This contemporary art museum is another great option for highlights of the 20th century.
Best way to enjoy lunch & dinner
Lunch in Spain is normally between 2 and 3:30 p.m. Menú del día is the way to go for lunch in Madrid. It’s a concept, an option in the menu, that you can find in most restaurants in Madrid. It costs an average of €10-15. It includes a starter, main, bread, dessert or coffee and a drink. All that for one very friendly price. Here is a list of restaurants worth to spend your lunchtime at:
- La Casa de las Torrijas: Torrijas is the Spanish version of French toast.
- La Comlada: One of the cheapest spots in Madrid for a dish of the day (€5)!
- Mazal: The best spot for delicious bagels.
- Taberna de Maceiras: Good for seafood and fish.
Dinner in Spain is normally between 8 and 9 p.m. This is when you should focus on eating a lot of tapas and/or a full meal. Here is a list of restaurants worth to spend your dinnertime at:
- Mercado de San Miguel: It’s a market perfect to try tapas from different restaurants in the same place. If you spend only one night in Madrid, this is definitely the option I recommend.
- Bodega de la ardosa: Been there since 1892. They know what they are doing!
- Casa Dani: One of the best tortillas in the world.
Enjoy the nightlife
I specify to go out late because bars and clubs close at 5-6 a.m. The best area to go out is Huertas. You need to go to bars and clubs on Calle Huertas and its parallel streets. It’s very famous among travellers and students. This area is the go-to to see the liveliest part of the city and party until sunrise.
How many nights you should spend in Madrid
Here are the 2 options I mainly recommend:
If you arrive late at night there’s not much you can do except for dinner and going out late. That is why I would recommend waking up early the next morning and spending the full day in Madrid. You can sleep one more night (2 in total) and leave the next morning.
If you arrive in the morning / the day you can explore the city on the day you get there. Have a nice dinner and go out late. You can either leave in the morning or the afternoon, depending on how many activities you did the day before. In total, 1 night and 1 ½ day.
You have now had the perfect two days in Madrid. You have, in my opinion, seen the best side of it. It is now time for you to start exploring the amazing other regions of Spain in the following days. Check out Where To Go In Spain to know more!
