3-day Madrid art and tapas
Prado, Royal Palace, Retiro, and tapas in three days.
3 daysFirst-timersBest: April–June, September–October
Last updated: 2025-03-15
Day 1 – Prado and Retiro
- Prado Museum
- Retiro Park
Morning Prado (book ahead; allow 3–4 hours). Afternoon Retiro Park (boat, Crystal Palace). Evening tapas in La Latina or Huertas.
Tips:
Prado: free last 2 hours (Mon–Sat); or buy skip-the-line. Focus on one floor if short on time.
Day 2 – Royal Palace and Plaza Mayor
- Royal Palace
- Plaza Mayor and Sol
Morning Royal Palace (book ahead). Walk to Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Afternoon Gran Via or shopping. Evening rooftop or Malasaña.
Tips:
Palace: book online. No photography inside. Allow 2 hours.
Day 3 – Reina Sofia or day trip and departure
- Reina Sofia (Guernica) or Toledo trip
- Last tapas and transfer
Reina Sofia for Guernica and modern art, or half-day Toledo (train 30 min). Transfer to MAD or Barajas (metro 30–45 min from centre).
Tips:
MAD: allow 1 hour from centre. Reina Sofia: free Mon–Sat late afternoons; check times.
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