Página de inicio

tourist services

two days in Madrid

In Madrid, visitors will find extraordinary art collections, vibrant shopping areas, Spanish and international cuisine and a pulsating street life. Two days are not enough to really experience the city, but here are a few suggestions to give you a taste of what the Spanish capital has to offer.

From the Art Walk to Hapsburg Madrid

Madrid is an exceptional destination for art lovers. Near and around Paseo del Prado, three of the world's most prestigious art galleries can be found. The Prado Museum showcases a complete collection of Spanish paintings going back to the Middle Ages up to the 19th century in addition to having an impressive collection of Italian and Flemish works. Even if your visit here is very brief, you can't miss Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's The Third of May 1808, Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights, and Titian's Bacchanal. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum recounts the history of western art from the 13th century to the end of the 20th. In its collection there are paintings by Ghirlandaio, Caravaggio, Van Gogh and Rothko, among others. And the Reina Sofía Museum (MNCARS) tells the story of Spanish and European art from the avant-garde to the present, with the focus of its collection being one of Picasso's masterpieces, Guernica. It is recommended to spend at least half a day, if not a full day, to experience one of these museums.    

Very close by are the Botanical Gardens and the Retiro Park, where visitors can continue their day with a leisurely stroll. To go to old Madrid, it's worth making your way up Calle de las Huertas that cuts through the Literary Quarter, which is brimming with antique shops, tapas bars and charming cafés. Further down, Plaza Mayor is the epicentre of Hapsburg Madrid. From here in just 10 minutes you can be at Plaza de la Villa, where the City Hall is located, and Plaza de Oriente, with two of the most iconic buildings in the city: the Royal Palace, the inside of which you must see, and the Teatro Real opera house that has a continuous opera and ballet programme. In this part of the city, the views of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range will take your breath away.

Tapas and original cuisine

Another great place to go for tapas is La Latina district. Very close by, Mercado de San Miguel market boasts delicatessen stands and specialised bars offering exquisite products and raciones, or dishes to share. Those with a fine palate will want to visit any of the hundred-year-old taverns that are located in the centre of the city. Some serve typical local fare, like cocido (Madrid-style stew), and others are ambassadors of the cuisine found elsewhere in Spain, such as Galicia, Asturias and the Basque Country.

You can find international food in the vicinity of Plaza de España and more sophisticated restaurants in and around Gran Vía and Paseo de la Castellana, which runs north-south through the whole city. In this area lies the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid; the AZCA business complex; Plaza de Castilla, with its emblematic inclined towers; and the newest skyscrapers of the Cuatro Torres Business Area, which shows Madrid's most modern side.

The best shopping

International brands, traditional shops, speciality stores, innovative fashion and the creations of young designers all coexist within the streets of the city. When it comes to shopping, then Madrid has exactly what you're looking for: the perfect gift or that item on your wish list. In the Salamanca District, especially along Calle Serrano and Calle Ortega y Gasset, many luxury brands can be found. At the other end of Paseo de Recoletos, around Calle Almirante, there are shops brimming with style and personality. And right next to Gran Vía, where all the department stores are located, Calle Fuencarral and the Triball neighbourhood show off young fashion trends in their shop windows. 

Open 24 hours

An afternoon of shopping may end in the evening, around 9, when the shops in Spain close. Then the night begins. Madrid is known round the world for its nightlife: theatres, musicals, flamenco bars, pubs and clubs, where you can dance into the early hours. The city has a packed cultural calendar so you can always be sure you'll find exactly what you are in the mood for, be it a modern play, a musical for the whole family or an afternoon of bullfighting.

Over the last few years, some central hotels have turned their roof decks into sophisticated chill out lounges with views overlooking the city, and a number of new bars serving refreshing cocktails have sprung up around the capital. This may be one of the best ways to wrap up your visit to Madrid, but there is so much more to discover in the city that we're sure you won't be able to stay away for long.

• Print
• Send to a friend