Madrid is the capital of Spain and one of the most populated cities in the EU. Known for it’s great culture, museums and authentic spanish tapas I knew I had to visit! I was advised that I could possibly see most of Madrid in a day. Technically I had a little over 24 hours in Madrid, an extra day would have been nice but it was definitely enough! Madrid is very convenient and most of the places are close enough to walk. Here’s a quick 24 hour itinerary to Madrid!

Where to Stay

I stayed at Hotel Liabeny which was a great experience! I loved the location since it was a block away from the main street with lots of shopping and a few blocks from the public square Puerto del Sol.

Night 1

My boyfriend and I landed in Madrid around 9pm and rushed over to the Real Madrid vs Real Betis soccer game at the Santiago Bernabeau Stadium. When visiting Spain, a soccer game is a must! We made it to the game right on time since it was a late game. The crowd in Spain is intense!! I got yelled at a few times for standing at the front taking photos. haha. Everyone was screaming and having so much fun watching the game and I had a blast! Tickets were purchased through Viagogo.

Day 1

Museo Del Jamon – The Ham Museum was our first stop of the day and very close to our hotel. The shop provides the customers with over a dozen selection of the best ham in the world! Definitely order the croissant & ham sandwich. Address: Calle Mayor, 7 28013

Chocolatería San Ginés is roughly a block away from the Ham Museum so we decided to try the best churros in Madrid! This place is a must and do not leave Madrid without trying it! When we arrived it was very busy, we had to stalk people to get a table and once we did we ordered the hot chocolate churro. Simple, yet amazing. The churros are eaten with a cup of hot chocolate, where I was dunking my churro into the chocolate and even drinking it from the cup because it was THAT good! It’s also open 24 hours and a popular spot for locals after a late night out. Address: Pasadizo San Ginés, 5, 28013

Mercado de San Miguel was our third food stop and by this time it was lunch. We walked around and roamed the streets a bit before we ended up at the market, the market is only a 5 minute walk from San Gines. I was so excited when I walked in and didn’t know where to begin! We walked around the entire place before we decided to eat everything! Below are a few photos of what we had. Wine is also very cheap so don’t forget to get a glass. =)

Puerta del Sol is a public square in madrid. We decided to walk around since there was a flea market happening in the area and it was on the way to our next stop, the Royal Botanical Garden.

The Royal Botanical Garden was a 15 minute walk from Puerto del Sol. I was a little unimpressed by the garden, it’s probably much prettier during spring. It is located next to the Prado Museum, the Spanish Art Museum of Madrid.

El Retiro Park is located in the same area, it is one of the largest parks in Madrid. It’s a great place to people watch and eat gelato!

Palacio de Cristal is located within the park, it’s a glass and metal structure built in 1887. We found some lovely ducks to feed and also a colorful tent!

After the park we were exhausted! We rested a little back in the hotel before heading out to dinner at El Tigre for awesome tapas! After dinner we did a little more exploring…

Almudena Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral in Madrid. This was a short taxi ride around our hotel. We arrived right after the rain had stopped and the reflection of the building from the rain was beautiful! The lighting of the cathedral was also stunning!

The Royal Palace of Madrid is across from the Alumdena Cathedral. The palace is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family.

Temple of Debod was roughly a 15 minute walk from the Royal Palace. The temple is an ancient Egyptian temple that was moved and rebuilt in Madrid. I was hoping to visit this place during sunset as it’s a great photo opportunity but since it was raining we did not have time. I highly suggest visiting during sunset!

Other Attractions

Day Trip to Toledo

Watch a Flamenco Show

Bullfight Tickets

Reina Sofía Museum – Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art

If you’re short on time – take the hop on hop off bus for great views of Madrid!

Other Places to Eat

Gastromaquia: Calle Pelayo, 6, 28004

Casa Lucas: Calle de la Cava Baja, 30 28005

El Club Allard: Calle de Ferraz, 2, Bajo derecha, 28008 – 2 star Michelin restaurant

Diverxo: NH Eurobuilding, Calle de Padre Damián, 23, 28036 – 3 star Michelin restaurant

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One Week in Spain!

If you have any questions please feel free to comment below!