Madrid in four days
This is a quick guide to Madrid’s must-see spots when you have just a few days. We suggest some visits and experiences you should not miss on your holiday, but above all, we advise you to spend as long as you can in the city. This is the only way to enjoy all the culture, entertainment, leisure and life of one of Europe’s liveliest capitals.
Day 4
Would you like to mingle with the people of Madrid like one of the locals? As well as a return trip to the Paseo del Arte, we suggest venturing into a popular neighbourhood and getting to know the people of Madrid. And for a quiet stroll, we show you one of the prettiest and least-known parks in Madrid.
Reina Sofía National Art Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
We suggest visiting at least one more museum on the Paseo del Arte. The Reina Sofía National Art Museum is the home of famous paintings like Picasso’s “Guernica” and “The Great Masturbator” by Salvador Dalí. The collection features works of modern and contemporary art dating back to the late 19th century.
And the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is one of the world’s finest private art collections. It has works from the 14th century up to the Pop Art of the 20th century. Its temporary exhibitions are especially interesting.
There are more museums on the Paseo del Arte, including CaixaForum, the Naval Museum, the National Museum of Decorative Arts, and the Museum of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando.
Malasaña district
One of the most popular areas of Madrid with a youthful, alternative atmosphere. A walk around these streets reveals the most modern face of Madrid, with independent designers and vintage clothes shops side-by-side with more traditional ones. You will also find plenty of bars and pavement cafés, which start getting crowded and lively in the early evening. Streets like Calle Conde Duque are full of fun places to get a drink.
La Latina
This neighbourhood represents the past and present of Madrid. The site was the first walled enclosure of the city in the Middle Ages, and it is now one of the most popular areas to visit in the evening and at the weekend. Visit streets like Calle Cava Baja or Cava Alta, and squares like Plaza de La Paja or La Cebada, to see where many Madrid locals like to gather for drinks and tapas with their friends.
The district also has other charms. For example, watching the sun set from Las Vistillas park with the Cathedral of la Almudena in the background; exploring its famous Sunday flea market, “el Rastro”; visiting the Basilica of San Francisco el Grande, or taking part in the fiestas of La Virgen de La Paloma (around 15 August).
El Capricho park
Would you like to discover a lovely park that hardly anyone knows? This is El Capricho, near Madrid Airport. It is an excellent example of Spanish landscape design, and ideal for a couple to stroll around, or for families.
Dinner at a gourmet market
Try out a trend which is fast catching on in Madrid: gourmet markets. These spaces combine the charms of a traditional food market with a varied and original range of places to eat. There are several in Madrid, and they are a great option for a delicious dinner and a chance to sample small servings of Spanish food. Some of the best known are San Miguel (next to Plaza Mayor), San Antón (in the Chueca district), and San Ildefonso (on Calle Fuencarral). Platea (opposite the Jardines del Descubrimiento park) is particularly original, combining food and culture, with theatrical and circus performances, music, etc. Other gastro-markets include Moncloa Market (in the Moncloa university district) and San Fernando (in Lavapiés).