Exciting 4 Day Madrid Travel Itinerary

Are you looking for an exciting 4 day Madrid travel itinerary? These are some of the most recommended places to visit and things to do in Madrid. 

Planning a trip to Spain is super exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. As someone who loves to travel and is OBSESSED with Spain, I am giving you a travel itinerary filled with the best things to do in Madrid.

You are going to learn about places to visit like Plaza Mayor, Prado Museum, the Royal Palace, Retiro Park, and so much more. After learning about these places and some helpful tips, you are going to be ready for your next Spanish travel adventure!

This is my exciting 4 day Madrid travel itinerary.

Day One: Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol

Plaza Mayor

One of the most famous and recognizable squares in all of Spain, Plaza Mayor is a must-see. This charming attraction offers tourists souvenir shops, restaurants, and coffee shops. Soak up the sun while strolling through the square, or sit at one of the many terraces to enjoy the view. In the center of the square you’ll find the equestrian statue of King Philip III. 

Bar la Campana is a small restaurant near this square, famous for their calamari sandwich (bocadillo de calamares). I found the sandwich to be a bit dry, so I would recommend asking for mayonnaise and lemon to add to it. If calamari isn’t your thing, their bacon sandwich is another fan favorite. If you’re looking for a quick lunch, this is an easy place to visit.

Another must-see attraction near Plaza Mayor is Chocolateria San Gines. A world-famous chocolateria that has been around since 1894! In my opinion, they have the best hot chocolate and churros. This was our first stop on our Madrid travel itinerary. It will most likely be busy when you go, so here are a few tips:

There are two lines within the main entrance, the one on the left will be to order and the one on the right will be the line to wait for a table inside. If you prefer an outdoor table, make sure to sit at one that has already been cleaned. The staff does a good job of clearing dirty tables quickly. 

According to the Guiness Book of World Records, Restaurant Botin is the oldest restaurant in the world. It was established as a restaurant in 1725, but the building has records dating back to 1590. I recommend making reservations in advance using their website. For food, I highly recommend ordering the suckling pig and lamb, roasted in the traditional Castilian style. The pig was so delicious as well as several of their side dishes, like the croquetas!

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol is another beautiful square, about a 10 minute walk from Plaza Mayor. This is my personal favorite. There is something magical about the semi-circular shape, and like its name, the sun seems to always be shining here. The statue in the center is of King Charles III on horseback. This square is in the center of several major streets, including Calle Arenal which leads to Teatro Real. 

Near Puerta del Sol you’ll find a lot of shopping (including stores on Gran Via). Check out the local stores, panaderias, as well as bigger clothing label stores like Bershka, Zara, and Pull & Bear. 

Day Two: Prado Museum and Reina Sofia Museum

Prado Museum

If art museums are of interest to you, I would suggest devoting a whole day to them in your Madrid travel itinerary. 

The Prado Museum is the main national art museum of Spain. It  has works of art from famous artists such as Goya, Rubens, El Greco, and Velásquez. This museum is HUGE. You can easily spend an entire day here. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance so that you can get into the museum faster. 

Reina Sofia Museum

Another beautiful art museum is the Reina Sofia. One of Picasso’s most famous pieces is housed here: El Guernica. 

In the evening, I recommend getting tapas at Mercado San Miguel. This is a fun, trendy food hall, filled with a variety of food stalls. There is a little bit of everything to try here: jamon, tortilla, bocadillos, empanadas, olives, cheese, and more. I really enjoyed the olives stuffed with cheese and jamon. And they pair nicely with vermouth! The vermouth mojito was so refreshing! 

Day Three: Palacio Real and Tapas Tour

Palacio Real

Palacio Real is the Royal Palace of Spain. I highly recommend doing a tour of the inside of the palace. Purchase tickets in advance, direct from the official website (linked above). There are options to do a guided tour, audio tour, or self-guided tour. Plan to arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the start of your tour time, and get in line on the left side of the ticket entrance. The left side is for those who have already purchased tickets. 

If you can, plan your trip during the first week of the month. On the first Wednesday of each month, there is a solemn changing of the guard procession and it is free to observe. I found it to be such a cool experience, witnessing a century’s old Spanish tradition. It’s amazing that this changing of the guard involves HUNDREDS of horses and guards. 

Tapas Tour

What’s more Spanish than tapas? I highly recommend adding a tapas tour to your Madrid travel itinerary. With a tapas tour, a tour guide will take you around a few traditional Spanish bars and will help you order wine paired with traditional Spanish tapas. This is a fun experience to do with friends and family, or to meet new people.  

We booked a tapas tour with Get Your Guide. On our tour we went to four different bars. We started at El Lacon where we tried some very traditional tapas including pig ear stew and fried shark.  Next we went to Casa Gonzales. They had my favorite tapas of the night, delicious combinations of jamon and cheese.  Our third stop was Casa del Abuelo, where we had a glass of vermouth and the best gambas (shrimp) I’ve ever had. They were the perfect mini size, cooked in garlic and olive oil. Lastly, we went to Los Galayos, a bar that was once frequented by literature superstars. This was such a fun night where we indulged not only in the food and drinks, but also in learning more about Spain’s history and culture. 

Day Four: Retiro Park and Tuk Tuk Tour 

Retiro Park

Retiro Park is a beautiful, outdoor park in the city center. It is easy to spend a whole afternoon here. There are several different areas of the park to relax, enjoy the scenery, and a lot of food vendors for a small bite to eat or drink. 

Within Retiro Park, you’ll want to visit Palacio de cristal. This crystal palace was originally a greenhouse, built to display beautiful plants and flowers of the Philippines. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, free to visit within the park.

Tuk Tuk Tour

If you have the time and are visiting Madrid during warmer months, consider taking a tuk tuk tour. These smaller, electric vehicles are a fun way to see many parts of Madrid within a short period of time. You’ll find many tuk tuks waiting near the Royal Palace.

During our tour, we stopped to take photos of the royal chapel, as well as the Temple of Debod. We ended our tour near Circulo de Bellas Artes Azotea rooftop. I highly recommend paying 5 euro and visiting this rooftop. You’ll get incredible views of all of Madrid! I had the chance to visit during the day in 2016, and at night in 2023. I enjoyed seeing night views more, because of the incredible city lights. 

El Corte Inglés 

El Corte Ingles is a popular department store with locations throughout Spain. The Plaza Callao location offers a “gourmet experience” on the top floor. This floor has several food stalls offering Thai, Mexican, Italian, and pintxo dishes, perfect for foodies. The outdoor seating area offers beautiful views of the city. This is a great option for large groups (like ours) because there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

More Places to Enjoy

Other recommended places to visit include the Puerta de Atocha train station, Plaza de Cibeles, and Real Jardin Botanico. The train station has a beautiful indoor garden that is worth seeing. If you plan to visit other cities in Spain and will travel by train, chances are you will either enter or exit Madrid through this train station and see it then. Plaza de Cibeles is another beautiful square with a fountain and palace. Real Jardin Botanico is a magnificent garden worth seeing in the spring and summer months.

I absolutely love Madrid. It’s one of my most favorite cities that I’ve ever visited. For me there is more culture, history, things to do, and it’s cleaner and safer. I highly recommend visiting this historic Spanish city.

If you’re looking for other Spanish city itineraries, check out these posts:

Exciting 4 Day Madrid Travel Itinerary

Awesome 3 Day Valencia Travel Guide

This is my exciting 4 day Madrid travel itinerary.