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5-Day Itinerary
5 Days in Madrid
Five days is a proper city break. You get all three Golden Triangle museums without rushing, slow mornings in Madrid's most interesting barrios, a day trip that actually fits your pace, and evenings in Justicia and Barrio de las Letras that feel like real Madrid life rather than a checklist. Stay five nights and the city starts to feel like yours.
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Day-by-Day Overview
Day 1 — The Prado & Retiro
- Morning: Museo del Prado at opening — buy tickets online (€15). Two hours focused on Velázquez, Goya, El Bosco.
- Late morning: Retiro Park. Rowboat on Estanque Grande, Palacio de Cristal (free).
- Afternoon: Lunch near Atocha. Walk into Embajadores for the late afternoon.
- Evening: Tapas crawl through La Latina — Cava Baja and surrounds. Dinner at 22:00.
Day 2 — Reina Sofía & the Historic Core
- Morning: Museo Reina Sofía (€12) — Guernica, Miró, Dalí, Spanish avant-garde. Allow 2 hours.
- Afternoon: Walk to Palacio barrio. Palacio Real exterior (or full tour, €14). Plaza Mayor coffee.
- Late afternoon: Sol and Mercado de San Miguel for vermouth and jamón ibérico.
- Evening: Dinner in Barrio de las Letras — one of Madrid's literary quarters, where Cervantes once lived.
Day 3 — Malasaña, Chueca & Thyssen
- Morning: Long breakfast in Malasaña. Browse independent shops, vintage stores, and the weekly market.
- Late morning: Walk east into Chueca — independent fashion, food shops, and the best urban energy in the city.
- Afternoon: Thyssen-Bornemisza (€13, free Monday) — 800 years of European art. Two hours.
- Evening: Justicia neighbourhood bars and dinner. The area has excellent modern Spanish restaurants.
Day 4 — El Escorial Day Trip
- Morning: El Escorial is 45 km northwest of Madrid. Take the bus from Moncloa station (1 hour, €4 each way) or the Cercanías train (50 min).
- The Real Sitio de El Escorial is a 16th-century royal monastery and palace complex built by Philip II. The Pantheon of Kings houses the tombs of most Spanish monarchs since Charles I. Admission €14.
- Return to Madrid by mid-afternoon. Stop in Aranjuez if you take the train — Spain's "garden city" with a royal palace (Cercanías C-3, 50 min from Atocha, €3.50).
- Evening: Return to Madrid for dinner. A quiet evening in your hotel neighbourhood.
Day 5 — Salamanca & Barrio de las Letras
- Morning: Head to Salamanca district for Madrid's best shopping. Calle de Serrano, Calle de Claudio Coello, and Calle de Lagasca have everything from Spanish luxury to independent bookshops and food halls. Mercado de la Paz is excellent for gourmet food.
- Afternoon: Walk back towards the centre via Calle de Alcalá, stopping at the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop bar (€4 entry, cocktails with panoramic views).
- Evening: Barrio de las Letras — the literary quarter stretching from the Thyssen to Lavapiés. Calle de las Huertas is lined with restaurants and bars. This is where to have your final, slow Madrid dinner: order a bottle of Ribera del Duero and something long off the menu.
Budget Guide for 5 Days
Madrid is excellent value compared to other Western European capitals. Here's a rough per-person budget:
- Hotel: €55–120/night (5 nights = €275–600) depending on barrio and category
- Museums: Prado + Reina Sofía + Thyssen + Palacio Real = ~€54 total; save on free-entry days
- Food: €25–45/day for breakfast + menú del día + tapas evening
- Day trip (El Escorial): ~€20 transport + €14 entry
- Metro/transport: 10-trip metro card €12.20; consider tourist travel pass
Total budget range for 5 days: €600–1,200 per person (budget to mid-range, flights not included). Madrid's menú del día (€12–14 for three courses with wine) is your secret weapon for keeping food costs low without sacrificing quality.
Where to Stay for 5 Days
Five nights means you can choose a base and settle in. Centro covers everything. Justicia gives better restaurant access. Salamanca is quieter and upscale. All are within Metro range of the day-trip train stations.
Internal links for hotel searches by area: Sol, Embajadores, Malasaña, Justicia.
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