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SOUTHERN EUROPE · SPAIN
3-Day Madrid Itinerary
World-class art, tapas nights, and grand plazas
Spain’s high-energy capital runs late — golden-age art at the Prado, tapas bars that fill at midnight, sprawling parks, and grand plazas. A city that lives outdoors.
BEST TIME
April–June and September–October
BALLPARK
$400–$750 per person
Your 3-day Madrid itinerary
Day 1 · Arrive & settle in
Land, drop your bags, and ease into Madrid with something low-key nearby. Dinner starts at 9pm+ — do a late-afternoon snack so you can pace with locals.
Day 2 · Prado Museum
Spend the morning on the highlight, then in the afternoon or evening: retiro park and the crystal palace.
Day 3 · Last morning & departure
Squeeze in one more before you go — royal palace of madrid if you have time — then head to the airport.
Top things to do in Madrid
- Prado Museum
- Retiro Park and the Crystal Palace
- Royal Palace of Madrid
- Tapas crawl in La Latina
- Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol
- Reina Sofía and Guernica
More detail: the best things to do in Madrid →
LOCAL TIP
Dinner starts at 9pm+ — do a late-afternoon snack so you can pace with locals.
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