What to see in Madrid in 2 days
Wondering what to see in Madrid in 2 days? Our city is ideal to enjoy an unforgettable weekend getaway because, although Madrid's entertainments and secrets are countless, it is possible to get to know and enjoy its must-sees in short trips.
Unlike other European capitals, Madrid is a perfect city to get to know on foot, as it is possible to plan routes in which the walk itself is an attraction. If you only have a weekend, it's the right bet, although you'll want to come back, you'll leave with the feeling that you've made the most of your 48 hours.
Of course, having accommodation in a privileged location is key, so you can spend all your time getting to know this wonderful city. We suggest our wonderful 5-star Hotel Madrid Gran Hotel Inglés, located in the emblematic Barrio de las Letras, in the heart of the capital.
We tell you what to see in Madrid in 2 days and propose a perfect plan to fall in love with the capital in 48 hours.
Day 1
We propose you to dedicate the first day to those must-see places in the capital that you will surely have heard about hundreds of times with a tour that you can comfortably do on foot from our Gran Hotel Inglés. Let us recommend you to finish your tour with a delicious dinner in our restaurant, Casa Lobo; you will enjoy the best Mediterranean gastronomy to recover your strength after a day of sightseeing.
Gran Vía
Start your tour on Madrid's most emblematic street: La Gran Vía. This street is known for its hustle and bustle and its shops, some of which are key to the history of fashion. Did you know that Gran Vía is home to the first shop of the acclaimed Spanish fashion house Loewe?
Of course, you can also enjoy the wonderful architecture of its buildings; you will love the Metrópolis Building, the Carrión Building and the Telefónica Building.
Puerta del Sol
Once on Gran Vía, take Calle Montera to the famous Plaza del Sol, where you will find the famous kilometre zero, the reference point for measuring the roads in Spain.
You can also see the famous "Tío Pepe" illuminated sign and the statue of the "Bear and the Strawberry Tree", Madrid's emblem.
Calle Preciados y del Carmen
Two of the most popular streets you can take from Plaza del Sol are Calle Preciados and Calle del Carmen, both of which end at Plaza de Callao, where you can find one of the most beautiful and free viewpoints in Madrid located on the top floor of El Corte Inglés. In this square you will also find the Edificio Capitol, famous for its Schweppes sign.
Calle Preciados is one of the most exclusive shopping streets in Madrid, once known for its Galerías Preciados, one of the favourite places for locals to shop. On Calle del Carmen, on the other hand, you will find the famous Doña Manolita lottery administration.
Plaza Mayor
Back in the Plaza del Sol and down the Calle Mayor you will come to the Plaza Mayor, declared a Spanish Historical Heritage Site and a great example of Herrerian or Classicist architecture.
Be sure to enjoy a good coffee or a glass of beer accompanied by a delicious tapa in one of the many bars with a traditional atmosphere.
San Miguel Market
The San Miguel Market is one of the most exclusive in the city and a delight for gourmets. Here you can buy all kinds of culinary delights, both local and international.
The markets are one of the great charms of Madrid, unlike other cities, where you can buy food to take away but the custom is to eat it in the market itself.
Almudena Cathedral
Madrid has hundreds of churches, basilicas and cathedrals to remember but, without a doubt, the Almudena Cathedral stands out above all others.
The construction of this temple lasted from the end of the 19th century to the end of the 20th century and different architectural styles can be appreciated: neoclassical on the outside, neo-Gothic on the inside and neo-Romanesque in the crypt. Don't miss the opportunity to climb up to the dome for breathtaking views.
Royal Palace and Sabatini Gardens
Opposite the Almudena Cathedral you will find the imposing Royal Palace, one of the city's main monuments and the largest royal palace in Eastern Europe and one of the largest in the world.
You can visit its exterior or pay an entrance fee to see the important historical and artistic heritage inside, including an interesting armoury.
The Sabatini Gardens are beautiful natural spaces in palace style that can be visited free of charge.
Temple of Debod
As the last stop on your tour, we recommend you visit the magical Temple of Debod and enjoy one of the best sunsets in Madrid.
This Egyptian temple dates from 200 BC and was a gift from Egypt to Spain in 1968 for the help it gave at the time to save Abu Simbel from being submerged under the waters of the Aswan High Dam.
Day 2
On your second day in Madrid, we suggest a tour in which you can visit some of the city's emblematic monuments, enjoy a moment of relaxation in its green spaces, dedicate a moment to culture and finish with a bit of shopping to take home a souvenir of the city.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España is one of the largest squares in the city and is the starting point of the emblematic Gran Vía street.
Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy some of the historic buildings and monuments that surround it, such as the impressive 142-metre-high Madrid Tower, the Monument to Miguel de Cervantes, the Casa Gallardo, the flagship of the modernist style, or the building of the Asturian Mining Company.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden is a natural jewel in the heart of the capital, where you will find a wonderful collection of 5,000 species of living plants from America, Europe and the Pacific spread over four terraces that take advantage of the natural slopes of the terrain. Europe and the Pacific spread over four terraces that take advantage of the natural unevenness of the terrain.
In this beautiful botanical garden you will also find a library and a large archive with more than 10,000 drawings. On a tour of the garden and its greenhouses you can learn about general botanical contents and find out about curiosities, the history and peculiarities of the specimens.
Retiro Park
To continue enjoying nature during your second day in Madrid, we suggest you to visit the Retiro Park, a must-see where, if the weather is good, we recommend you to enjoy a delicious picnic in any of its wonderful green spaces.
Don't miss the lake in the centre of the park and the wonderful viewpoint just behind it, take the lift up to enjoy views of the entire Retiro Park.
Take the opportunity to visit the Crystal Palace, a peculiar construction with transparent walls of singular beauty.
Puerta de Alcalá, Plaza Cibeles and Plaza Neptuno
If you take the gate of the Retiro Park leading to the Plaza de la Independencia you will find the famous Puerta de Alcalá right in the centre. It is one of the five royal gates that gave access to the city in neoclassical style inspired by the Roman Triumphal Arches.
If you take Calle Alcalá you will come to the impressive Cibeles fountain, which is located in the square of the same name at the intersection between this street, the Paseo del Prado and the Paseo de Recoletos. Continue along the Paseo del Prado to reach the fountain of Neptune, inspired like Cybele by Roman mythology. These are some of the places we have already mentioned in the content on What to see in the Barrio de las Letras.
Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Prado Museum
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Museo del Prado are two must-sees for art lovers located on the Paseo del Prado, and together with the Museo Reina Sofía make up the famous Triángulo del Arte or Triángulo del Oro.
Together, these three museums allow visitors to trace the evolution of art from the Middle Ages to the present day.
If you want to complete the cultural offer, in the surrounding area you will also find the Caixaforum museum with a wide range of interesting temporary exhibitions and the National Centre for the Visual Arts, located in the former Tabacalera factory in Madrid, where you can enjoy modern and avant-garde art.
San Jerónimo el Real and Serrano
Continue your walk along the Paseo del Prado to reach Calle Serrano and be sure to stop along the way to visit the Church of San Jerónimo, a former monastery from the 16th century that was later converted into a parish church with neo-Gothic touches, where you can see stained glass windows and a Baroque cloister.
In Calle Serrano you will find some of the most exclusive brands and boutiques in the city, don't miss the opportunity to buy a nice souvenir of your trip in some of these fantastic shops.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Madrid with the plans we have proposed throughout this article. Don't miss the opportunity to get to know the capital by staying at our wonderful hotel in the heart of the city.
