How to Spend a Perfect Two Days in Madrid

Santa Maria la Real de La Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain

I recently spent a week in Spain with two days in Madrid, which was unbelievable. We started our trip in the Spanish capital, Madrid, an amazing city bursting with life, history, and beauty. Though I would have loved more time, two days was enough to see all the major sites. If you’re planning a two-day visit to Madrid, I’ve outlined the best itinerary to make the most of your time in this wonderful city.

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1. Take a Guided Tour on an Eco Tuk Tuk

I was skeptical about doing this tour at first, but it turned out to be so much fun and a great way to see the city for the first time. It was a two-hour tour aboard an eco-friendly electric Tuk-Tuk driven by a local guide. The tour is fully guided, allowing you to see and learn about all the amazing sites in Madrid. We passed by iconic landmarks such as the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Real Basilica de San Francisco el Grande, the Plaza de la Independencia, and the Prado Museum. We even made a stop at the beautiful Parque del Oeste or West Park.

The Parque del Oeste is also home to The Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple built in the 2nd century BC. The temple is open to the public, and visitors can explore its interior and exterior free of charge (though you may have to wait in line as they limit the number of people who can enter).

2. Walk around the Gran Via

After our Tuk Tuk tour, we walked over to the Gran Via area to explore. Gran Vía is truly the heart of Madrid and one of the most famous streets in the Spanish capital. We stayed in this area at the Hotel Regina, an awesome centralized location. The architecture here is stunning, with many buildings featuring contrasting white and black that were just beautiful to me. Gran Vía is the perfect place for shopping, dining, watching street performers, and people-watching on the streets of Madrid.

3. Have Drinks and Tapas at the Riu Plaza 360º Rooftop Bar

Glass balcony at the 360 Rooftop Bar at the Riu Plaza Espana rooftop bar

If you want stunning panoramic views of Madrid, check out the 360 Rooftop Bar and El Edén Gastrobar. The 360 Rooftop Bar & El Edén Gastrobar is situated on top of the Riu Hotel and offers an amazing place to sit atop the roof and enjoy drinks with amazing views. El Edén Gastrobar, located indoors, is a genuine treat for tapas as well as breathtaking views. We had dinner at El Edén for tapas first and then enjoyed a cocktail on the rooftop. This is a must-do! I recommend booking reservations in advance to avoid waiting in line to get to the top.

4. Visit Plaza Mayor

Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain

After enjoying tapas and wine at the Rooftop 360, we headed over to Plaza Mayor. In Madrid, things started picking up later in the night, around 9 PM, and it was about 8:30 PM when we arrived. We found a lovely restaurant with street seating (Plaza Mayor has plenty of these) so we could have a drink and people-watch as the plaza got busier.

Plaza Mayor is located in Madrid’s historic center and is walkable if you are in the city (it’s about a 15-minute walk from Gran Vía). The plaza is beautiful and known for its stunning architecture, lined with restaurants and shops. It’s considered a great gathering area in Madrid and is typically a hub of activity and entertainment. This is a must-visit stop, and I recommend going later at night as it becomes bustling after 9 PM.

5. Mercado de San Miguel

Mercado San Miguel at night in Madrid, Spain

For a late-night snack and drink, we headed over to Mercado San Miguel. This place is a large market housed in a glass structure with stands offering amazing food and drinks from tapas, and seafood to sweets, beer, cocktails, and wine. It always seemed to be packed and lively with people and had open table shared seating. The atmosphere reminded me of a festival, but it’s more of a permanent marketplace. The San Miguel market is worth a stop to taste the delicious cuisine and drinks.

1. Royal Palace of Madrid Guided Tour

Outside of the Royal Palace of Madrid

You can’t go to Madrid without visiting the Royal Palace; it’s a beautifully intricate and historical building and is the largest royal palace in Western Europe. Within the palace is an extensive collection of art, furniture, tapestries, and decorative objects, showcasing the legacy of Spain’s royal family. Each room seems more beautiful and detailed than the next, all decorated in different color themes, with the most amazing chandeliers I’ve ever seen.

We chose to book a morning guided skip-the-line tour, which I highly recommend. The lines at the Royal Palace are long, and the palace itself is huge, so having a guide was really beneficial to navigate through it and learn about its history. Our guide was great and spoke English. Each of us had a headset to wear so that we could hear her clearly throughout the tour. The best part was that being on the tour allowed us to avoid standing in line for a long time (there was still a queue, but it did not take long to get in).

Another place worth visiting while at the Royal Palace is the Sabatini Gardens. These are small but beautiful gardens characterized by geometrically trimmed hedges and manicured lawns. You can stroll along the tree-lined paths and relax while enjoying the view of the gardens.

2. Parque del Retiro de Madrid

Lake and boaters at the Parque del Retiro in Madrid, Spain

After the Royal Palace tour, we grabbed a taxi to Parque del Retiro de Madrid. Wow! This park is amazing. It’s worth walking through to see how immaculate Madrid keeps its parks; they truly take pride in the beauty of the landscape throughout the city, and Parque del Retiro de Madrid truly demonstrates this.

The first site you should walk to in Parque del Retiro is the Crystal Palace. This is one of the most iconic landmarks in the park. The Crystal Palace was built in 1887 as a greenhouse for the Exposition of the Philippines, held in Madrid. The palace’s design is wonderful, and as you stroll to the back, you’ll find a lake with a fountain, where black swans and turtles swim around.

The last stop in El Retiro Park you must go to as you walk through the park and past the Crystal Palace is the Estanque Grande del Retiro. As you stumble upon it, you will find a beautiful lake called the Great Pond, where you’ll see couples and families on rowboats and pedal boats that can be rented for spending an afternoon on the pond. There is also a snack shop where you can buy drinks and food with outdoor seating just behind the lake.

3. Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol square with statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree

One last venture was to Puerta del Sol, a bustling public square in the city center that offers many shopping opportunities. It’s just a short walk from Gran Via and surrounded by shops, restaurants, cafes, and theaters, if you’re in doubt about where to eat or shop, head here. The square is home to several great landmarks and monuments, including the iconic Tio Pepe neon sign, the equestrian statue of King Charles III, and the famous Bear and Strawberry Tree statue, which is the symbol of Madrid.

4. Madrid Old Town Tapas & Wine Small Group Tour

Drinking Vermouth in Old Town Madrid, Spain

On our last night in Madrid, we went on an Old Town Madrid Wine and Tapas Tour. This was such a great experience! It was a small group, and it offered the most amazing wine and tapas experience. Our guide took us to places we never would have ventured on our own, and we tried different tapas that I never would have known to order. It was exquisite. We visited three different tapas restaurants and tasted Madrid Vermouth along with amazing wine. It was so much fun, and I didn’t realize how these types of food tours can expose you to things you never knew you could experience!

Day Trip from Madrid

On day three of being in Madrid, we took the train on a 30-minute ride to the town of Toledo. If you have an extra day, this is a highly recommended stop as the town is amazing, historic, very interesting, beautiful, and has great shopping! Click here to see what we did in one day in Toledo.

View of the Tagus River and buildings on a hill in Toledo, Spain
Toledo, Spain

It wouldn’t be a trip to Spain without indulging in some great Tapas. Below are some of the great ones we tried.

Click here for my Packing List of What to Pack for Spain in April

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