2-Day Madrid Itinerary: My (Slightly) Alternative First-Timer’s Travel Guide

Visiting Spain’s sprawling capital wasn’t even the main reason for my trip to Spain. My week in Madrid was something of a side dish; tagged onto the end of my trip to Castilla-La Mancha to volunteer at an English language immersion programme. But I found a lot to love about the Madrileños and their city, even more than I expected. So, I’ve condensed my time there into the ideal 2-Day Madrid Itinerary for first-time visitors.

Madrid has been the Spanish capital since 1561. Its location makes logical sense because it sits almost in the centre of the country. After the fall of Spain’s dictator General Franco in 1975, La Movida Madrileña skyrocketed the country’s development, economy, and culture Much of what I knew about Madrid before my visit was all thanks to the películas of Pedro Almodóvar, my favourite filmmaker and famous Madrid resident. And today, Madrid is, as Almodóvar’s films faithfully implied, a home and haven to people from all walks of life. I loved visiting this city.

Before I detail my Madrid itinerary and my top Madrid tips, you might want to know more about my interests and travel style to ensure they align with yours. I’m a budget traveller and remote worker. When I travel solo (which is at least half the time), I stay in hostels and eat street food or sit in cafés. I love exploring landmarks and tourist hotspots but I also love cultural tours, spotting street art, drinking craft beer, and visiting bookshops. 

This Madrid 2-Day Itinerary reflects those interests but it’s still ideal for anyone new to Madrid. So read on for my ideal itinerary for Madrid complete with tips for accommodation and transport!

My 2-Day Madrid Itinerary

2-Day Madrid Itinerary: Day One

Breakfast: Chocolatería San Ginés

Let’s get this 2-day Madrid itinerary off to a great start by eating breakfast at Chocolatería San Ginés. And if you don’t expel salvia on the “G” in “Ginés” then you’re not saying it right. It’s a Madrid institution and the place to eat churros on your first day in Madrid. My advice: arrive before 9:30 and you won’t have to wait long for a table.

I also visited Chocolateria 1902 (literally two minutes walk away) and the churros tasted exactly the same but the vibe wasn’t as good.

Free Morning Walking Tour Around Madrid Landmarks

After stuffing my face with churros (seriously, I visited two chocolaterías so I’d know which to recommend. You’re welcome.), I wandered over to Plaza Mayor. The Tourist Office is the meeting point for walking tours in Madrid. I joined the three-hour Sandeman Europe’s free walking tour of the city (you can give a tip at the end) that started at 11:00. Some think these tours are a waste of time, but I think they are a great way to learn about a city you know nothing about.

Plus, I knew I didn’t have enough time to go inside many of the landmarks but I wanted to at least see them. On the tour, we visited Sobrino de Botin which is the world’s oldest restaurant, Catedral de la Almudena which is Madrid’s main cathedral, the Royal Palace of Madrid, and a few other places. Our guide was amazing (he and his husband run the English language tours! So cute!) and the three hours flew by.

After the tour, I visited Plaza de España and Temple of Debod by myself. The latter was in a really nice park but if you’re short on time you can skip them.

Lunch: Mercado San Miguel

You’ll be famished after your tour so head straight to Mercado San Miguel for lunch. I’m loving fancy food halls more and more because you can eat restaurant-quality food in a super chill atmosphere. It’s perfect for solo travellers! And I loved the market so much, I ate here twice during my week in Madrid.

On my first visit, I ate the most delicious empanadas and drank vermut (a Madrid favourite) with my new pal Álvaro from the English immersion programme. And on my second, I ate patatas bravas and pistachio cookies with a couple I met on a tapas tour (more on that later!). 10/10 would recommend.

San Ginés Book Shop (& Other Slightly Less Famous Madrid Landmarks)

After lunch, take a walk to some other famous plazas and streets in Madrid and perhaps a few random places in between. San Ginés Book Shop (closed Sundays) is a small but Instagrammable outdoor stall selling old books and postcards. From there, continue on to Puerta del Sol. This isn’t a very picturesque plaza but it has a few notable statues and monuments including Kilometre Zero which is the starting point of Spain’s six national highways.

Only a few minutes away is La Violeta. This sweet shop appeared on the last episode of Richard Ayoade’s Travel Man series on Channel 4 here in the UK. I get the impression that violet sweets are a traditional Madrileño treat so they’d make great presents! Change directions and head up to Gran Vía, Madrid’s biggest road and shopping street.

Read next: 13 Pedro Almodóvar Filming Locations to Visit in Spain

Witness the View from Círculo de Bellas Artes Rooftop Bar

I love to check out the best viewpoints in every city I visit. Temple of Debod has a bit of a view but another that was recommended to me was Círculo de Bellas Artes. If you want to visit all the cool places in Madrid you should go here because some of the most famous pictures of Madrid are from this viewpoint. It’s an arts centre but the most popular attraction is its rooftop which you can buy a ticket to enter.

There’s also a bar on the rooftop so if you’re travelling with a friend then you might want to grab a pint or two up here, especially if you visit around sunset. You will probably need to book in advance if you are visiting on a weekend.

Dinner: Tapas Tour in the LGBTQ+ Neighbourhood

If you’re a member of the queer community (and even if you’re not) you have to visit Chueca. It’s the gay neighbourhood and home to one of the biggest Pride festivals in Europe. I booked a slot on this LGBTQ+ Tapas Tour in Chueca via Airbnb Experiences and I’m so pleased I did. Our guide, Ian, was such a laugh and he took us to some amazing local tapas bars. Even if you don’t book the tour, you need to visit Taberna de Angel Sierra regardless because it’s one of the last historic vermouth bars in the city.

Afterwards, I went for cocktails on the terrace bar of Mercado San Anton with the couple on my tour afterwards. Yes, this was the couple I went to Mercado San Miguel with! Tours are awesome whether you are alone or not because meeting other people when you’re travelling makes your whole trip even better.

And that’s day one of my 2-day Madrid itinerary! While day one tacked the north section of Madrid’s Centro, day two tackles the south…

2-Day Madrid Itinerary: Day Two

Breakfast: Pum Pum Café or Pum Pum Bakery

You will rarely see me in a proper restaurant when I’m travelling by myself, but I do love casual cafés. Especially for breakfast! Both Pum Pum Café and their Bakery were less than 10 minutes’ walk away from my hostel and I recommend them both. They serve classic brunch foods like eggs benedict, croissants, and great coffee. The bakery also sells cakes and their banana bread was *chef’s kiss.*

Stroll Through El Rastro & La Latina Neighbourhood

Since you’re not too far away, take a stroll through the La Latina neighbourhood of Madrid. In this part of the city, you will uncover all different types of street art from the stories-high murals to small, amateur efforts. If the second day of this 2-Day Madrid itinerary falls on a Sunday, you should visit El Rastro. It’s a huge flea market in La Latina and it’s one of the best free things to do in Madrid (if you don’t buy anything).

Granted, some of the stalls sell mass-produced t-shirts, nick-nacks, and the types of items you might see in any other market around the world. But they also have an antique section which was fun to look around. I even bagged myself a turquoise ring which I’m very chuffed with. Just keep an eye on your valuables!

Tapas at La Casa de Las Navajas

There’s no way this would be on my itinerary for Madrid if I hadn’t spent a day with Álvaro, with whom I visited Mercado San Miguel. He’s born and bred in Madrid and took me to this tapas place very near El Rastro called La Casa de Las Navajas which has been around since the 1970s. If you’re looking for non-touristy things to do in Madrid, this is as non-touristy as it gets.

Most of the servers don’t speak English (not that they have to! Just warning you) but there is a large, translated picture menu on the wall. We ordered vermouth (well, Álvaro ordered vermouth and I couldn’t let him drink alone) and a plate of razor shellfish which came with a bowl of olives. Honestly, it was effing delicious.

You stand at the bar while you eat and drink because it’s super casual. It’s so casual, you literally throw your napkins and olive pits on the floor and at the end of the day, the staff take a huge brush and sweep away the rubbish.

Lunch: Mercado Antón Martín

I told you I liked eating in markets, right? Honestly, I didn’t find time to eat at Mercado Antón Martín during my week in Madrid but I passed by and it looked pretty cool. Plus, it’s on the way to this afternoon’s activities. The market looks like it’s more of a produce market but they do have lots of small bars, restaurants, and tapas places that are perfect for lunch.

Museo Nacional del Prado

You cannot visit Madrid without stepping foot into at least one of their world-renowned museums. I think it might be illegal if you don’t! It was a tough choice between the Museo Nacional del Prado and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Though I really wanted to see Picasso’s Guernica at the Reina Sofía, I opted for the Prado instead. I’m happy with my choice because the building was beautiful and I saw some amazing art.

Unless you have about five hours to spare then you can’t gaze at every painting and read every plaque. My top tip is to get a floor plan from one of the help desks when you arrive which lists all the top artists and their work around the museum. If you concentrate on seeing only these paintings and sculptures, you’ll have seen all the best Goya, Picasso, Sorolla, and their other Spanish art pals’ paintings in the museum.

Stroll in Parque del Buen Retiro

After your cultural afternoon, you should have just enough time to stroll through El Retiro Park. It’s a huge park, like Madrid’s answer to Central Park, so there’s no way you’ll explore all of it. Concentrate on the section near the pond where you can watch people attempt to sail along the water in plastic blue boats.

Read next: 11 Top Movies Set in Madrid to Watch Before Your Trip

Dinner: Distrito Vegano

I’ll be honest again, I don’t have any more food recommendations for Madrid. When you’re travelling alone, sometimes you just want to head to the nearest Carrefour, buy some bread and hummus, and call it a day. But if I were going to venture out for dinner on the last day of my 2-day Madrid itinerary, I’d check out a vegan restaurant near my hostel like Distrito Vegano. I’m not vegan, but I do like to try the more ethical food options in cities when I travel.

Other Fun Things to Do in Madrid

Since I was in Madrid for a week, I visited a few more random places that I didn’t include in my Madrid itinerary. So if you’re looking for more fun things to do in Madrid, I’ve got you covered!

• Atocha Station Botanic Gardens – Atocha is Madrid’s main train station and there is a surprising and rather beautiful garden inside.
• Iglesia de San Antonio de Los Alemanes – Can you visit a Catholic country and not step into a church? I can’t, and the bloody gorgeous frescoes in this church didn’t disappoint.
• J & J Books and Coffee – This is a second-hand English bookshop that’s also a bar. The staff were lovely and welcoming.
• Bodega de la Ardosa – I didn’t visit this bar, but Travel Man also featured it and when I passed by it seemed cute. If you fancy dry or sweet vermouth with some tapas then why not give it a shot?
• Bee Beer – I needed to find lunch on my first day in Madrid and this place was in the right, erm, place at the right time. They have two locations (the other is in Chueca) and the one I went to also served food. The stout beer (Capítan Pistacho) and homemade hummus platter I ordered were both utterly incredible. I’d walk back to Madrid for either one of those.
• Cafe de la Luz – Álvaro took me to this cafe hidden down a street off the Gran Vía because it’s one of his favourite cafes. Let me tell you, I was surprised this 6ft-something, strapping Spanish man liked drinking tea (from a ceramic teapot) in a cafe cluttered with cottagecore furniture. But the atmosphere was cosy and the homemade cakes were delish so how could I judge?
• Cafe Del Art – I went to this cafe with the two ladies I met on the LGBTQ+ tapas tour and loved it! Cool decor, great coffee, and it looked ideal for remote workers.
• Cine Doré – This is a beautiful Art Deco cinema not far from my hotel and appears in a few Pedro Almodóvar films including Pain and Glory (2019).

How to Travel to Madrid: Flights

I live in the UK but I move around sometimes. So I travelled to Madrid from Manchester Airport and returned to Edinburgh Airport via good ol’ Ryanair and I booked with them directly. I had to pay for their priority option because I was away for a month in total and needed to bring more than just hand luggage. But as always, I used Skyscanner to compare dates and airlines to ensure I picked the cheapest option for me. In total, I paid £98.95 for my February flights. Unfortunately, I couldn’t be too flexible on the dates so I know you can book the same journey for cheaper.

How to Get Around Madrid: Public Transport

Luckily, Madrid is a big bloody capital city so it has a cracking metro system. You can use public transport to get to and from the airport and around the city. I literally never use taxis as a solo traveller because a) they’re more expensive and b) I feel less safe using them. Madrid’s is also super easy to use and if you are staying in the centre of Madrid, it’s even easier.

There are no physical “tickets” on the Madrid metro, you’ll need to get a red Madrid Public Transport Card (TTP) before your first journey. You can do this at any of the ticket kiosks at the airport or wherever you arrive because you can change the language setting to English. Single journeys cost around €1.50 to €2 but you can load up your card with 10 journeys for €12.20 (at the time of writing). The problem is remembering how many journeys you have left if you can’t be bothered to use the machine to check!

It costs a little more to travel to Madrid Airport on the metro. But don’t worry about whether or not you’ve paid enough for the journey to the airport as you can top up your card when you get there. You can find out more about the Madrid Metro here. I didn’t use the buses so I cannot comment on those. Unless you have certain accessibility needs, I don’t think you’ll need to use them.

Accommodation in Madrid: Hostels & Hotels

I stayed in two different accommodations in Madrid during my entire two weeks in Spain. The first was the H10 Tribeca Hotel way up in the northern part of the city. Usually, I book my hotels through Booking.com but, on this occasion, booking directly with the hotel was cheaper because I signed up for their free membership scheme.

I only stayed at this hotel because it was right around the corner from the meeting point for the English immersion program. I didn’t have breakfast included but it was a fantastic mid-range hotel and it cost me around £80 per night. The only reason I don’t recommend it to you is that it’s way too far away from the city centre. Choose a hotel near any of the attractions on this 2-day Madrid itinerary and your experience will be much better.

After the program, I stayed for one week in Madrid at 2060 The Newton Hostel in between El Retiro Park and La Latina. It was in a fantastic location, the decor was modern, and I’m really happy I chose it. If you’re also a remote worker, they have a room called the “bunker” where you can work on your laptop which is so ideal. I paid £111.40 for seven nights in February so obviously, I’m very happy with that figure! I booked through Hostelworld because it was cheaper than booking on the hostel’s site and I only needed to pay a small deposit at the time of booking.

And that’s my 2-Day Madrid itinerary from my trip there in February 2022! Are you planning a trip to Madrid or have you already travelled there? Let me know in the comments below!

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