Madrid 10-day itinerary
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want a full Madrid trip with day trips.
- Pace
- Seven walking days, two day trips, and one slower day.
- Base
- City
- Estimated budget
- $800–$2,800
Day-by-day plan
Follow the stops in order. Walk times are estimates between nearby places.
- Day 1
City
Walk City in Madrid. Start at Museum Triangle, then Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Museum Triangle
Museum Triangle is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 2 · 26 min walk
Royal Palace
Royal Palace is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 3 · 9 min walk
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor may refer to:Plaza mayor, in Spanish-speaking countries, a major city square Plaza Mayor, Almagro, a plaza in the centre of Almagro, Spain Plaza Mayor, Madrid, a plaza in the centre of Madrid, Spain Plaza Mayor, Salamanca, a plaza in the centre of Salamanca, Spain Plaza Mayor, Segovia, a plaza in the centre of Segovia, Spain Plaza Mayor, Valladolid, a plaza in the centre of Valladolid, Spain Plaza Mayor, Lima, a plaza in the centre of Lima, Peru Plaza Mayor, Manila, a plaza in the centre of Manila, Phil
Eat · Café Comercial: See also es:Café Comercial.
Browse Madrid tours - Day 2
City
Walk City in Madrid. Start at Puerta del Sol, then Gran Vía and Plaza de Cibeles. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Puerta del Sol
The Puerta del Sol is a public square in Madrid, one of the best known and busiest places in the city. This is the centre of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. The New Year's celebration has been broadcast live since 31 December 1962 on major radio and television networks including Atresmedia and RTVE.
Stop 2 · 5 min walk
Gran Vía
Gran Via may refer to:Gran Vía, Madrid, street in Madrid Gran Vía, metro station in Madrid Gran Vía de Montero Ríos, street in Pontevedra Gran Vía de Don Diego López de Haro, street in Bilbao Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, street in Barcelona Granvia l'Hospitalet, a major business district of Barcelona Gran Via Productions, a film production company founded by producer Mark Johnson Gran vía (song), from Quevedo's 2024 album Buenas Noches, with Aitana
Stop 3 · 10 min walk
Plaza de Cibeles
The Plaza de Cibeles is a square with a neo-classical complex of marble sculptures with fountains that has become a symbol for the city of Madrid. It sits at the intersection of Calle de Alcalá, Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo del Prado. Plaza de Cibeles was originally named Plaza de Madrid, but in 1900, the City Council named it Plaza de Castelar, which was eventually replaced by its current name.
Eat · Honest Greens: Cuisine: organic.
- Day 3
City
Walk City in Madrid. Start at Mercado de San Miguel, then Catedral de la Almudena and Plaza de España. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Mercado de San Miguel
Mercado de San Miguel is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 2 · 6 min walk
Catedral de la Almudena
Catedral de la Almudena is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 3 · 11 min walk
Plaza de España
Plaza de España is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Eat · La Parrilla de Nino: La Parrilla de Nino listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
- Day 4
City
Walk City in Madrid. Start at Parque del Retiro, then Templo de Debod and Teatro Alfil. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Parque del Retiro
Parque del Retiro is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 2 · 42 min walk
Templo de Debod
Templo de Debod is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 3 · 15 min walk
Teatro Alfil
See also es:Teatro Alfil.
Eat · Taj Mahal: Cuisine: indian.
- Day 5
City
Walk City in Madrid. Start at Homenaje a las víctimas españolas que murieron en el campo de concentración nazi de Mauthausen-Gusen, then Museo Casa de la Moneda and Monumento a Claudio Moyano. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Homenaje a las víctimas españolas que murieron en el campo de concentración nazi de Mauthausen-Gusen
Historic: memorial.
Stop 2 · 76 min walk
Museo Casa de la Moneda
El Museo Casa de la Moneda alberga colecciones numismáticas y de artes gráficas: importantes dibujos, estampas, loterías, sellos. Posiblemente sea la mayor exposición numismática del mundo, cubriendo la historia de la moneda desde el siglo VII a. C. See also es:Museo Casa de la Moneda. Tourism: museum.
Stop 3 · 32 min walk
Monumento a Claudio Moyano
See also es:Monumento a Claudio Moyano (Madrid). Historic: memorial. Tourism: artwork.
Eat · La Pomarada: Cuisine: regional.
- Day 6
City
Walk City in Madrid. Start at Teatro Príncipe Gran Vía, then National Archaeological Museum of Spain and Teatro Maravillas. Stay on foot.
Stop 1
Teatro Príncipe Gran Vía
Teatro Príncipe Gran Vía on OpenStreetMap within walking or short-transit range.
Stop 2 · 17 min walk
National Archaeological Museum of Spain
Fundado en 1867, el MAN se inauguró en 1895 en su actual sede, en el Palacio de Biblioteca y Museos, edificio proyectado por Francisco Jareño y terminado por Antonio Ruiz de Salces. Visitas para grupos previa concertación de cita. See also es:Museo Arqueológico Nacional (España). Tourism: museum.
Stop 3 · 18 min walk
Teatro Maravillas
theatre in Madrid, Spain
Eat · Sexto: Sexto listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
- Day 7
Day trip toward Alcalá de Henares
Leave Madrid for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Stop 1
Alcalá de Henares
Listed as a next stop from Madrid. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Stop 2
Aranjuez
Listed as a next stop from Madrid. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Stop 3
Ávila
Listed as a next stop from Madrid. Check the regional train or bus the night before.
Eat · Pack snacks from town. Do not count on a full menu at a small station.
Browse Alcalá de Henares day trips - Day 8
Day trip toward Aranjuez
A second day outside Madrid. Keep the same hotel base.
Stop 1
Aranjuez
Listed as a next stop from Madrid. Book the earliest practical train or bus.
Stop 2
Ávila
Listed as a next stop from Madrid. Book the earliest practical train or bus.
Stop 3
Chinchon
Listed as a next stop from Madrid. Book the earliest practical train or bus.
Eat · Eat near the station before you leave. Plan dinner back in Madrid.
Browse Aranjuez day trips - Day 9
Do one thing slowly
No new neighborhood. Use the spare day on a single activity.
Stop 1
Orquesta Nacional de España
Tickets are sold at ticket offices in the Auditorio Nacional de Música, Teatro María Guerrero, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro de la Comedia, and Teatro Valle-Inclán.
Stop 2
Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid
The Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, founded in 1903, is a Spanish symphony orchestra. Since 1998, it has been the principal orchestra of the Teatro Real.
Stop 3
Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid
Orquesta de la Comunidad de Madrid is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Stop 4
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
Performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above), at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, and online.
Eat · Go back to a place that already worked.
- Day 10
City
Keep Madrid on foot. No new tickets required.
Stop 1
Parque del Retiro
Parque del Retiro is a listed stop in this neighborhood.
Eat · Eat near the hotel.
Where to stay
Sleep near the walking base. Pick an area, then search hotels by neighborhood.
The centre
First-time visitors
Stay inside walking range of the first-day stops in Madrid.
Things to book
Tours and tickets that match this plan. Book anything that needs timed entry.
Budget
Rough mid-range spend for 10 days in Madrid, excluding long-haul flights. Hotel nights drive most of the range.
- Budget: about $800 (hostel/budget hotel, transit, street food)
- Mid-range: about $1,400 (3★ hotel, sit-down meals, a tour or two)
- Comfort: about $2,800 (nicer hotel, taxis, paid attractions)
Transportation
Get in
thumb|right|Madrid-Barajas airport Terminal 4 : Main article: Madrid–Barajas Airport | url = http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/madrid-barajas/en | email = | address = | lat = 40.472222 | long = -3.560833 | directions = | phone = | tollfree = | fax = | hours = | price = | wikipedia= Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport | wikidata = Q166276 | image = Barajas overview1.jpg | lastedit = 2018-05-04 | content = All commercial flights into Madrid use this airport, which is 13 km north-east of the city. There are direct flights from most major cities in Spain and across Europe, several from the Americas as well as a few African and Asian connections. There are two terminal complexes, widely separated: Terminals 1, 2 & 3, and Terminals T4 & T4S. To transfer between them land-side use the free shuttle bus.
Get around
thumb|277px|Map of the Madrid Metro Madrid proudly sports one of the best public transportation networks in the world and the second largest metro network in Europe after London's. Buses and subways work with the same tickets, and operate within the integrated transit network of (Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás 3, M-F 08:00-20:00). With that said, be aware that Madrid's transportation infrastructure can appear complicated and daunting at first, so take extra time to know where to go and how to get there because it will not be as simple as in other European cities or what your map app is telling you. A single ticket for Zone A costs €1.50 (max.
Where to eat
Simple meal ideas near the day’s walking route.
Café Comercial
See also es:Café Comercial.
Honest Greens
Cuisine: organic.
La Parrilla de Nino
La Parrilla de Nino listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
Taj Mahal
Cuisine: indian.
La Pomarada
Cuisine: regional.
Sexto
Sexto listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
Brasa y Leña
Brasa y Leña listed on OpenStreetMap near the walking centre.
Picado Fino
Cuisine: local.
Optional alternatives
Add one if a walking day finishes early. Don’t stack them onto the same afternoon.
La Trashumancia
Annual event during which the centre of Madrid is free of cars and is instead filled with shepherds exercising their ancient right to drive sheep and livestock through the city.
Madrid Gay Pride
Annual event held between the last week of June and the first of July, with more than 1.5 million people in the street from all around the world. It began as a weekend party, but lately turned into a full-week extravaganza.
Before you go
Questions
- Do I need a car in Madrid?
- No for this plan. The days stay inside walking range, then local transit to MAD. thumb|277px|Map of the Madrid Metro Madrid proudly sports one of the best public transportation networks in the world and the second largest metro network in Europe after London's. Buses and subways work with the same tickets, and operate within the integrated transit network of (Plaza del Descubridor Diego de Ordás 3, M-F 08:00-20:00). With that said, be aware that Madrid's transportation infrastructure can appear complicated and daunting at first, so take extra time to know where to go and how to get there because it will not be as simple as in other European cities or what your map app is telling you. A single ticket for Zone A costs €1.50 (max.
- Is 10 days enough?
- Yes if you want Madrid plus day trips. Use the 5-day plan if you will stay in town.
- Where should I stay?
- Base near City so the first walking day starts at the hotel. Room Mate Mario Hotel is a listed option, not a ranking.
- Where do I eat?
- Each day names one sit-down stop. Café Comercial is on the list. Keep the rest as bakeries and market counters.
Other Madrid trip lengths
- Where to stay in Madrid
- Best time to visit Madrid
- eSIM for Spain
- Travel insurance for Spain
- Airport transfers
Daily stops compiled from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA), Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, and OpenTripMap. Updated 2026-08-25. Edited by Lina Varela.