Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Madrid?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Madrid?
Many visitors spend two to five days in Madrid during their trip. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because your journey calls for making the most of every moment. The city offers the chance to discover the big city activities, sample the delicious cuisine, listen to some live music, and find the best deals at the shops.
Madrid is a cosmopolitan city that has many beautiful parks and green spaces. There is beautiful architecture and grand boulevards, as well as excellent cafes, mouthwatering tapas, and a great nightlife scene. The city is rich in art and culture, but there are also many day trips nearby that can take you out of town.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Madrid? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Madrid?
One week provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Madrid at your own pace to discover the big city activities, sample the delicious cuisine, listen to some live music, and find the best deals at the shops. Then you can use the city as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.
How to spend a week in Madrid
In the big city of Madrid, you'll want to dedicate at least a full day to discovering the unique neighborhoods, world-class attractions, and lively activities that are spread around the city. Don't miss out on visiting some of the city's most unique neighborhoods. This is a big city that is filled with wide boulevards and natural parks. It has many wonderful parks, markets, and neighborhoods that you can explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Madrid City Tour | Bike or E-Bike | Exclusive Guided Tour ($60)
- Madrid Parks & Riverside Cycle Tour ($38)
- Madrid City Tour | E-Bike | Reduced Groups ($46)
The culinary scene in Madrid is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. The city has a mix of flavors that come from all of Spain. There are amazing markets where you can grab a meal or snack. There are also many high quality restaurants around town where you're guaranteed a good meal. Local favorites include roast suckling pig, Spanish omelette, and meat and chickpea stew.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Taste of Spain: Tapas Cooking Class with Bottomless Wine Pairing ($115)
- Entrance to the Traditional Flamenco Table and Tapas in Madrid ($27)
- Madrid Tapas Cooking Class at a Private Local Eatery ($97)
Madrid is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. Most tourists stay in the central part of Madrid where it's compact and relatively easy to walk to most tourist sights.
Shopping in Madrid is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. Gran Vía is a main thoroughfare in Madrid that is also popular for shopping. Calle Fuencarral is where you'll find the fashion shops and Calle Preciados is a fun pedestrian area to explore.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private Shopping Tour from Madrid city to Las Rozas Village ($197)
Live music is very popular in Madrid, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. Rock, jazz, and flamenco are all popular in the city. Some of the most well known music venues include Sala Caracol, Sala Clamores, and Costello Club.
The public transit in Madrid is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. The system includes the Madrid Metro, buses, and a light rail system.
Don't miss the Prado Museum during your trip to Madrid, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.
The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. Many tourists and international students hang out in the Huertas area, while Malasaña has a bohemian, hipster vibe with small clubs that play indie music. Chueca is a fun area that's known for being gay-friendly with many good bars. Finally, you'll find that the area around Avenida de Brasil is where famous DJs often perform.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Pub Crawl Madrid ($19)
- Pub Crawl Madrid-The Original since 2005-Shots-Fun-Clubs-Dance ($16)
- Madrid Tapas and Mysteries Walking Tour with Private Option and Pub Crawl ($94)
You'll find a few good museums and historic landmarks here, so it's worth your time to spend a day exploring a few of them. There are a number of cultural sights in the city including Museo Nacional del Prado, the Royal Palace and Gardens, and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Prado Museum Guided Tour - In Spanish - 7 people per tour maximum ($51)
- Prado Museum 3hrs Private Tour with Skip-The-line, and on foot Hotel Pick-Up ($240)
- Private tour: El PRADO MUSEUM with a painter. With skip the lines ($142)
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Madrid.
After you've explored most of Madrid, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Segovia and Toledo Day Trip with Alcazar Ticket and Optional Cathedral ($52)
- Segovia and Avila Guided Day Trip from Madrid ($65)
- Toledo Day Trip from Madrid with Guide ($29)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Madrid. Plenty of amazing options are available.
As the live music scene is so popular in Madrid, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Madrid is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Madrid.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Madrid?
With two weeks at your disposal, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Madrid has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind in your hotel or use Madrid as a base for day trips to nearby destinations. You can relax while enjoying the big city activities, the food, and the live music at your own pace. We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.
Madrid
How to spend 2 weeks in Madrid
With 2 weeks in Madrid, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time experiencing the city's neighborhoods, dining at local restaurants, hanging at the music venues, and browsing the shops. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- Segovia and Toledo Day Trip with Alcazar Ticket and Optional Cathedral ($52)
- Segovia and Avila Guided Day Trip from Madrid ($65)
- Toledo Day Trip from Madrid with Guide ($29)
- Panoramic Madrid Sightseeing Tour and Toledo Half-Day Trip from Madrid ($82)
- Day Trip to Toledo and Segovia with guided walking tours ($50)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Madrid, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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