Planning to visit the European side of the globe? But the time is running up, and you are still confused about the destination place. The solution lies in the heart of Spain, to which all the pulsating and vibrating veins of Spain are connected. Enjoy a weekend in Madrid leaving all stress behind.
Standing at the town square, breathing in the fresh air while watching the extravagant sunset behind the Temple de Debod, will give you the old vintage and modern vibes as well.
Why is the weekend in Madrid best for city breaks?
Madrid is the jewel in the crown, and it has all the features to be called the center of attraction as well as the capital city of Spain.
If you are looking for an aesthetic cafe and restaurant, rich culinary experience, stunning architectural heritage, and a lot more, then it’s high time to hit the road.
This article is the perfect itinerary guide that will clear your baffled mind about how to make the most of the weekend in Madrid.
Let’s get started 🙂
The Best Places in Madrid to Visit Over The Weekend
Kickstart your day with coffee and some eggs, Benedict, so that you’ll not miss any of the essence of Madrid.
Royal Palace of Madrid
One of the magnificent European palaces is open to the public to visit in Madrid. The palace covers 135,000 m2 and has approximately 3400 rooms above. This palace was under the possession of the Spanish royal family back in the 18th century.
Plaza Mayor
Want to go back to Spain’s Golden Age?
Then, take a bus to the Plaza Mayor (Towns Square), which flaunts the history and architectural heritage of Spain.
The captivating statue of Philip III is the favorite spot for capturing a moment in one frame. Moreover, Plaza Square is the city’s people-watching site that is embellished with shops, various outlets, restaurants, and a spot for multitudinous events.
Puerta del Sol
What can be a more lively time rather than late morning to spend in the most exciting part of Madrid, Puerta del Sol? Puerta del Sol is the public square spot that is the hustling corner of the city.
Reina SofÃa Museum
Want to explore art on the second day? Another piece of Golden Triangle Of Art is the best place to visit. I.e., Reina Sofia Museum.
The Reina Sofia Museum covers 1800 of the most fascinating art pieces, including Picasso, Dali, and Miro. Furthermore, it has expanded to over 84,048 square meters.
Palacio de Cristal
The palace was built with glass as the greenhouse during the 19th century, and later, it came under the possession of a museum for transient exhibitions.
So, you can’t just catch the beautiful views but also get the Pixi dust of the Royal charm.
Trust me, you are gonna come back to spend a long weekend in Madrid like me.
La Rosaleda
This is the enthralling rose garden, but there’s something more serene to be touched by in the La Rosaleda (rose garden). The blossoming scents and aura of flowers become a more captivating site for tourists during May and June.
The best weather in Madrid for holidays
The climate of Madrid matches that of the Mediterranean climate, so the summers are too hot, whereas the winters are too cold. However, the best time is to take your Mardid weekend flight during the spring and autumn seasons.
So, apart from these seasons, either you’ll be a hot dog or cold coffee in case you step into the boundaries of Mardid. However, the accommodation charges are much lower during these unsolicited weather conditions.
Hence, mark the suitable months in your calenders when you can enjoy them properly. During this period, mornings welcome you with the scents of blooming flowers, and the gentle breezes make your weekend in Madrid more glorious. And the night sends you sweet dream wishes with occasional rain showers.
- March, April, May (Spring)
- September, November (Autumn)
What are the things you can do for free in Madrid?
Visit to Royal Palace
You can visit the Royal palace for free on specific days of a few months as follows;
- Oct-Mar (4 pm to 6 pm) on Monday to Thursday
- April-Sep (5 pm to 7 pm) on Monday to Thursday
Visit to Museum
The visit to the museum is not free, and it costs approx 17 U.S. dollars per person. But you can enjoy the free visits offered by the museum. These are scheduled as follows;
- Monday-Saturday (6 pm to8 pm)
- Sunday (5 pm to7 pm)
Visit to EI Retiro Park
You can visit EI Retiro Park which is now open to the common people. This park covers the mesmerizing Crystal Palace, rose garden, and art galleries, surrounded by nature’s beauty.
What are the must-try foods in Madrid?
There are many famous Spanish foods that ignite visitors later. The restaurant chains offer many popular Spanish cuisines, which include Pulpo a la Gallega (octopus dish), La tortilla Espanola (potato and omelet dish), shellfish dishes, Patatas Bravas(potato dish), Gazpacho(Spanish dish), Mediterranean rice dishes, etc.
Which hotels in Madrid will suit your weekend itinerary best?
If you are here for a short time, like 2 or 3 days, then make sure to choose those Madrid hotels that are near the city center. Here are some suggestions:
- Hotel Madrid Gran Via 25
- Hotel Indigo Madrid-Gran Via
- Totem Madrid Hotel
- Petit Palace Cliper Gran Via
- Intercontinental Madrid hotel
- Melia Madrid Princesa
What are the top things to do in Madrid for the next two days?
Watching theatre
If you want to explore more of Madrid’s beauty, you can walk up to the nearby Teatro Real, also known as the Royal Theatre. This place has been adding value to tourism since 1870.
This is one of the best theatres in Spain that offers various live performances, opera, ballet, and many more, so you can’t get bored while experiencing the intriguing history and architecture during your weekend in Madrid.
Capturing beauty
You can capture these precious moments in Puerta de Sol. This place has many iconic statues. First is the bear and strawberry tree, which is the go-to spot for selfies. Secondly, the statue (9m) of Charles III in memory of the best mayor of Madrid. Hence, you can take a closer look at the traditions and culture of Spain.
Shopping
Shopping is the core of every voyage. Thus, you can take a bus to the streets of Gran Via, which is also known as Spanish Broadway. It covers most of the throng because of shopping centers, cinemas, and luxury hotels. So, you can enjoy it.
Wandering around historical monuments
You can wander around the breathtaking historical temple of Debod. This has an anchored history in Egypt. This Egyptian temple was a present to Madrid due to the construction of the Aswan Dam, and it was relocated near the Royal Palace.
Nightlife in Madrid
At the end of the day, do you want to cherish the exciting dose of a night out? Then, take a short metro ride straight to the streets of Celle Gran Via. Here, you’ll feel like life is at the apex, and this scrap of the city never sleeps.
Strolling around the serene square
Furthermore, you can take a short walk to the Plaza de Espana to reach this iconic square. Segueing from the hustling city life to the serene square surrounded by monuments, fountains, and gardens is not a bad agreement, right?
Flamenco Show
Before the night ends, give a shot at the thrilling Flamenco Show. The performances showcase a variety of cultures (Gypsy, Jews, Moorish) and traditions which include songs, dances, dramas and much more. Each performance will represent a tale of emotions.
Hence, you’ll be at the edge of the emotional ride after watching the end of your weekend in Madrid.
Music concerts and foodie festivals
If you want to taste the slice of local Madrid with vibrant music concerts, foodie festivals, cafes, tapas, bars, and clubs, Malasana will be your host. There are many things to do on this lone planet, Madrid, and many places to visit.
What does Madrid offer for a long weekend?
If you are on a long weekend break, like 4 to 7 days, then this Spanish city has so much to offer.
Mercado de San Miguel
Walking around the markets of Madrid on foot leads to the exploration of many beautiful ambiances that attract tourists. Moreover, the diversity of Spanish cuisines in the food market of Mercado de San Miguel is the cherry on top of the weekend in Madrid.
Hence, your strolling will end up with a perfect lunch date here, so you can move ahead with the new enthusiasm.
Travel to neighborhoods of Madrid
After roaming around the Mardid, you can explore the beautiful residential district by taking a metro bus, or you can walk on foot if you have a good partner 🙂
Malasana
Wandering around to the north of Gran Via on foot can take you to another beautiful central neighborhood, Malasana District. Malasana has a tranquil aura that will fill colors and sprightliness during your long weekend in Madrid.
ChamberÃ
ChamberÃ, one of the best-known neighborhoods of Madrid includes culture, tradition, architecture, and historical heritage.
This residential district will instill serenity into your weekend in Madrid with its cultural offerings, such as the Sorolla Museum, landscape parks, restaurants, and shops, including El Corte Inglé, Mercadona, and many more.
How to get around with a 7-day Madrid itinerary?
The best thing about Madrid is that you barely have to pay to travel within the city. Most of the tourist attractions are close to each other, so you can walk on foot while breathing in the cool breeze of Madrid.
Metro stations
Firstly, in case you need to travel within the city, then the Metro is the most comfortable and easy way. Some important points to be noted are :
- You can catch the train after every 120 minutes (during rushy hours)
- Timing of the Metro is from 6 pm-1:30 pm.
Bus stations
Secondly, the expanded network of uses (approx 2K buses) is facilitating the public in the best possible way. So, you can take a round on a bus within the whole city, as they are clean, safe and reliable.
Taxi services
Thirdly, Uber taxis are a bit expensive (around 20-30$) if you want to travel within the city or to other cities. Hence, it also depends on your budget which option you would choose to set for the weekend itinerary in Madrid.
Madrid itinerary guide to maximize your time
The two-day trip to Madrid can cover many more places and much more joy if you preplanned everything properly. Here are some genuine tips that will help you to maximize your valuable time here.
- Prebooking of hotel
- Appointment of tour guide
- Manage your budget
- Keeping all the travel essentials
- Plan your itinerary
- Try to use public transport
- Manage the time of your visits
This place is breathtaking and sozzled in the beauty that will pause the running life for a moment around you. Also we all need that moment to actually feel and live in a moment, No?
What is Madrid travel advice for newbies?
- Make sure to convert your currency into a euro.
- Check the updates about the opening and closing timing of the places you want to visit in Madrid.
- Make sure to book the hotel near the city center so there would be a lower chance of missing any destination place.
- Keep the cash (€) because it will be helpful.
- Make sure to learn a few phrases in the native language (Spanish) like Hola (Hello), Buenas tardes (Good evening), Por favor(Please), Disculpe(Excuse me), Lo siento (I’m sorry).
- Make sure to have 50 to 80 $, so you can spend it easily while on the weekend in Madrid, including traveling, food, and shopping.
- Before buying any ticket, make sure to get information about free visit hours.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, the weekend in Madrid will leave you enchanted and eager to return because you will find the rich culture, cuisines, royal monuments, modern buildings, arts and museums, and whatnot in the heart of western Europe.
So why not follow this guide and let the spirit of Mardid inspire your voyage 🙂
FAQs
Are two days enough to get most of the weekend in Madrid?
Two days can be good enough to explore the main sites of attraction in Madrid. With the tour guide, you can get to most of Madrid.
Is Madrid a good place to visit for the weekend?
Yes, Madrid is a good place to visit for the weekend because of its cultural diversity and vibrant places that enthrall every visitor.
Is Madrid affordable or expensive?
When you compare a weekend in Madrid to other European cities like Paris, London, or New York, you’ll find it much more affordable and cheaper.
Is the weekend in Madrid better than in Barcelona?
Every city has its uniqueness. Beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder, and the perception during traveling decides which city matches your vibe.
Can we visit Madrid in a day?
Yes, you can reach out to all the essential parts of the city with a good itinerary guide and a reasonable budget. Furthermore, this walkable city will allow you to get the most out of it.
