Two days in Madrid

 

First Day

09:00 to 09:15 hours.  We start from the Puerta del Sol, just under the clock of the Twelve Grapes. There on the ground you’ll find the landmark of Spain’s kilometer zero. If you cross the road you can see the bear and strawberry tree, symbols of Madrid included in its coat of arms. Then we walk down Arenal Street where we find La Mallorquina, an ancient bakery.

09:15 to 09:45 hours. Walk until you find the traditional Chocolatería de San Ginés and drink a cup of chocolate with churros, the traditional daily breakfast for many locals.  

09:45 to 11:00 hours. Walk by Mayor Street down to the Plaza de Oriente, which features the Cathedral, the Royal Palace and the Royal Theater. The Royal Palace is worth a visit to see how the kings used to live in the 18th-century. There are some rooms that have been kept just as they were in times of King Carlos III.

11:00 to 11:30 hours. Take a look at the Cathedral. It's a mixture of different styles on the outside, with a fabulous interior inside.

11:30 to 12:30 hours. Take Mayor Street again and walk down to the Mercado de San Miguel. On the way you’ll encounter the Plaza de la Villa, the former city hall loaded with history. At San Miguel you can take part in its lively atmosphere. Maybe you feel a little hungry, why you don't try a snack?

12:30 to 13:30 hours: The Plaza Mayor is quite close; take the chance to visit it now. The frescoes on the facades, the hundreds of people walking around visiting its ancient shops, and the size of the square itself make its one of the most beautiful in Europe.

13:30 to 15:30 hours. It's time to have lunch, so we suggest you to visit Botín, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest restaurant in the world. Hemingway and other celebrities have also eaten here.

 

15:30 to 17:30 hours. Take the Carrera de San Jeronimo Street down until you face the Parliament on your left hand side, then walk down straight until you reach Neptune Fountain. Cross the road and walk for a couple of minutes to reach the most popular green area for locals, the Parque del Retiro. If you want to relax for a while after lunch, rent a boat and row in the lake for an hour.

17:30 to 20:30 hours.  Leaving the Retiro you´ll find the  Puerta de Alcalá, a gate that was built to commemorate and welcome the queen. Then take Serrano Street to Ortega y Gassett Street, where the Golden Mile starts.  All main luxury brands have opened shops here.

On the left hand side, Columbus Square opens before your eyes, including the gardens with huge concrete sculptures in honor of the Discovery of America.

20:30 to 22:30 hours. Now we suggest enjoying a Spanish dinner of our traditional delicious and fun Tapas. Plaza de Santa Ana is the place!  Plenty of outdoor bars greet people, locals and visitors, devoted to Tapas. Please check our selection of the best Tapas bars.

It's your first day in Madrid, you can't feel tired yet! What about challenging Madrid at night? The city offerings are unlimited: live music, discos, cocktail bars, or a drink in one of the awesome terraces.

 

Second Day

09:00 to 09:30 hours Have breakfast at Cafe Gijón, a popular cafe where people from Culture, Cinema and Arts used to gather to hold intellectual talks.

09:30 to 11:30 hours It's time to admire what the museums at the Walk of Art house inside. We would suggest you start from El Prado, probably one of the best museums in the world. Paintings and pieces from all times and all kinds of styles are on display. The museum can suggest different tours depending on the time you have.

11:30 to 13:30 hoursCross the road towads the vertical garden of CaixaForum and take in some of the fantastic exhibitions. If you prefer you could also continue on to the adjacent modern art museum, the Reina Sofia.

13:30 to 15:00 hours Lunch, what do you feel like eating today? Can we suggest something quick but delicious? Try the Tapas on the streets behind the Palace Hotel or if you prefer to enjoy a meal like President Clinton when he came to Spain, invited by King Juan Carlos, order "huevos estrellados" at Casa Lucio.

 

15:00 to 16:00 hours. For a light meal, stroll for a while around Cava Baja, one of the typical neighborhoods of Madrid.

16:00 to 19:00 hoursGo to Gran Vía, which just recently turned 100 years old, to see how our former cinema hub has been transformed into a commercial fashion center. Then take pedestrian Fuencarral Street to shop at cutting-edge shops and walk around Chueca, Madrid’s gay district that has been renovated into one of the city’s most attractive areas.

20:00 to 21:00 hours. Don't miss the sunset at te Debod temple. It was a gift from the Egyptian government to Spain. You'll feel like a pharaoh in far, exotic Egypt.

21:00 to 23:00 hours. Today we suggest something different for dinner. At the Atocha train station, surrounded by a unique tropical forest, you’ll be taken to Samarkanda. If you book a table at the restaurant of the same name, ask to have dinner in their pavilions.

23:00 to ... If you don't have to wake up early, do what you didn't enjoy yesterday: Live music bars, discos or cocktails...