What to do in Madrid for a day is a nice problem as there are lots of things to do in this city the whole year! Here, we will suggest the proper plan so that you can take advantage of every hour, from the time you get up till you go to sleep. You won’t miss out on any culture, leisure or dining. Enjoy!
A walking tour in the morning
We think the best thing you can do to get used to the city is to go on a walking tour. On our webpage you will find different routes that will show you Madrid following a specific trail. such as Austrians tour and Bourbons tour. However, if you want to have a general view of the historic center, you can also take the Madrid in two hours tour.
In that tour, we have prepared a mix of Madrid attractions so that you don’t miss anything interesting. This tour combines the buildings and monuments belonging to the Middle Ages, including the areas surrounding the Plaza de la Paja, up to the Habsburg dynasty period, such as Plaza de la Villa and Plaza Mayor, and to the Bourbons. This is the current dynasty at the throne and promotes important places like the Royal Palace, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Cibeles and Alcalá Gate.
What to do in Madrid for a day
A quick lunch of tapas
Working up an appetite after a nice walk, in order to take advantage of the time, the perfect solution is to have a quick lunch of tapas in a special bar or restaurant. We suggest that you visit San Miguel Market.This is a lovely place, located close to Plaza Mayor, where you will find tapas of high quality products. For example, Acorn Iberico ham, all kind of fish coming from seaside regions, tasty Spanish cheeses and sweet cakes with chocolate, cream and fruits. Of course, you will be able to partner all these delicacies with red and white local wines.
This isn’t the only place to eat tapas. You can also walk along Cava Baja street or around Plaza de Santa Ana. You will be amazed with the variety of locales, sometimes with Patatas Bravas, Croquetas or Boquerones en vinagre.
A quiet visit in the afternoon
Many tourists that wonder what to do in Madrid for a day finally decide to take a tour in the afternoon inside an interesting building or museum. If you like art, we recommend that you to go to the Golden Triangle of Art, a central area composed by Thyssen-Bornemisza, Reina Sofia and Prado museums. We have a certain predilection for the Prado Museum, as it contains one of the biggest collections of paintings in the world: Velazquez, Rubens, Tiziano, and Goya.
If you aren’t an art lover but you like football, you can go the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, the house of Real Madrid. You will be able to visit the whole stadium, getting to the field, the dressing rooms, and its museum. However, if you prefer to discover the tradition of bullfighting, you can go to Las Ventas bullring and attend a bullfight or just go on a tour around one of the most genuine Madrid attractions.
A lovely dinner in a flamenco restaurant at night
Finally, there’s no better way to end the day than having dinner in a flamenco restaurant. While you try the most typical dishes of Spanish dining, such as Paella and sangría, you will be impressed by a flamenco show, where dancers, singers and musicians perform a genre of music full of passion. If you want to enjoy, pay attention to the castanets, the guitars, the colourful dresses and the shoes with strong heels, among other details.
And if you still aren’t tired, don’t be shy and take advantage of one of the strongest Madrid attractions, its nightlife. In the streets around Puerta del Sol you will find lots of pubs open everyday where you can have a beer or a cup. If you prefer rock, indie and younger bars, you can get around Tribunal and Malasaña. Those who are looking for a gay atmosphere will find it at Chueca borough.
As you see, what to do in Madrid for a day is a problem with many solutions. This is our suggestion, what else would you do?
