Example trip

A long weekend in Madrid

20 Nov – 23 Nov 2026

Velázquez, Goya and Guernica by day; vermouth, tapas and late nights in between.

Letras and the Prado

Arrival

Cocido at a 19th-century institution, an afternoon with Velázquez and Goya at the Prado, then vermouth and rabo de toro in the literary quarter and cocktails at one of the world's best bars.

Day 1 · Fri 20 Nov

12:30

Arrive at your hotel in Barrio de las Letras

14:00:00 – 15:45:00

Lhardy

Highlight~1h 45m

Cra de S. Jerónimo, 8, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Elegant since 1839; the cocido madrileño is the classic lunch order.

16:15:00 – 18:45:00

Museo del Prado

Highlight~2h 30m

Retiro, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Timed tickets online. Free entry 18:00–20:00 means a crowd from 18:00; your slot beats it. Prioritise Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings.

Book →

The Royal Palace and old Madrid

Royal Madrid

The Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and roast suckling pig at the world's oldest restaurant; siesta, the view from the Temple of Debod, then tapas and gin in Malasaña.

A Madrid Sunday

Rastro & Retiro

Churros for breakfast, the Rastro flea market and huevos estrellados in La Latina; the afternoon in Retiro with everyone else, the city's best rooftop view, and sherry to close.

Guernica, then fly

Modern art

Picasso's Guernica at the Reina Sofía (open Mondays, unlike most of Europe), a last round of tapas, then a fixed-fare taxi to Barajas.

Day 4 · Mon 23 Nov

10:00:00 – 12:00:00

Museo Reina Sofía

Highlight~2h

C. de Sta. Isabel, 52, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Closed Tuesdays, open Mondays. Guernica is in Room 205.10 on the second floor.

Trip prep

Booking

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Book: Sobrino de Botín

Due 6 Nov

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Book: Casa Lucio

Due 6 Nov

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Book: Museo del Prado

Due 13 Nov

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Book: Royal Palace of Madrid

Due 13 Nov

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Book: Salmon Guru

Due 13 Nov

Documents

Packing list

Documents & Money

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Passport or national ID card

Essential

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Card with no foreign-transaction fees

Essential

Contactless works almost everywhere, including public transport

Clothing

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Comfortable broken-in walking shoes

Essential

Expect 15,000+ steps a day

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Light waterproof layer

Make it yours — edit the stops, dates and packing list.

Get this trip — free

Day 2 · Sat 21 Nov

10:30:00 – 12:10:00

Royal Palace of Madrid

Highlight~1h 40m

Centro, 28071 Madrid, Spain

Book a timed slot; the Throne Room and the Royal Armoury are the highlights.

Book →

12:20:00 – 12:50:00

Almudena Cathedral

AI~30m

Calle de Bailén 10, Madrid

Right across the plaza from the palace — the crypt is worth a look.

13:10:00 – 13:40:00

Plaza Mayor

Highlight~30m

Pl. Mayor, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

Walk through, don't eat here.

14:00:00 – 15:45:00

Sobrino de Botín

Highlight~1h 45m

C. de Cuchilleros, 17, Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Open since 1725 — the oldest restaurant in the world. Cochinillo asado (suckling pig) from the wood oven. Book.

Book →

17:30:00 – 18:10:00

Plaza de Oriente & Sabatini Gardens

AI~40m

Plaza de Oriente, Madrid

After the siesta: the palace's formal gardens on the way to the temple.

18:30:00 – 19:15:00

Temple of Debod

Highlight~45m

C. de Ferraz, 1, Moncloa - Aravaca, 28008 Madrid, Spain

A real 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple; the park terrace looks west over the Casa de Campo — golden hour if the season's right.

21:00:00 – 22:30:00

Bodega de la Ardosa

Highlight~1h 30m

C. de Colón, 13, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Malasaña tavern since 1892 — tortilla, croquetas and draught Guinness.

22:45:00 – 23:59:00

1862 Dry Bar

Highlight~1h 15m

C. del Pez, 27, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Classic cocktails in a tiled old-Madrid room.

Day 3 · Sun 22 Nov

09:45:00 – 10:15:00

Chocolatería San Ginés

Highlight~30m

Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Churros for breakfast: chocolate con churros, the morning-after Madrid classic.

10:45:00 – 12:15:00

El Rastro

Highlight~1h 30m

Pl. de Cascorro, 4, Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Sundays only, until about 15:00. Watch your pockets.

12:30:00 – 13:15:00

La Latina's old streets

AI~45m

Plaza de la Paja, Madrid

Plaza de la Paja and the Cava Baja fill up for the Sunday vermouth hour.

14:00:00 – 15:45:00

Casa Lucio

Highlight~1h 45m

C. de la Cava Baja, 35, Centro, 28005 Madrid, Spain

Famous for huevos estrellados (broken eggs over fries). Book.

Book →

16:30:00 – 18:00:00

El Retiro Park

Highlight~1h 30m

Retiro, 28009 Madrid, Spain

Metro L1 Tirso de Molina → Atocha, or a 25-min walk. Rowboats on the Estanque, and the Palacio de Cristal glasshouse.

18:30:00 – 19:30:00

Azotea del Círculo (rooftop)

Highlight~1h

Azotea del Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid, C. del Marqués de Casa Riera, 2, Centro, 28004 Madrid, Spain

Small entry fee for the best rooftop view in Madrid, over Gran Vía and the Metrópolis dome.

21:00:00 – 22:15:00

Casa Labra

Highlight~1h 15m

C. de Tetuán, 12, Centro, 28013 Madrid, Spain

Where the Spanish Socialist Party was founded in 1879; famous for cod croquettes.

22:30:00 – 23:45:00

La Venencia

Highlight~1h 15m

Calle de Echegaray, 7, Centro, Centro, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Sherry only, straight from the barrel, no photos, no tipping. Unchanged since the 1930s.

A long weekend in Madrid

Letras and the Prado

Day 1 · Fri 20 Nov

The Royal Palace and old Madrid

A Madrid Sunday

Guernica, then fly

Day 4 · Mon 23 Nov

Trip prep

Booking

Documents

Packing list

Documents & Money

Clothing

Day 2 · Sat 21 Nov

Day 3 · Sun 22 Nov

Logistics

Tech & Accessories

Miscellaneous

Toiletries