Madrid 3-Day Art & Tapas Trip
Three days of Spain's capital: the Prado's Velázquezes, Guernica's white room, Retiro's rowboats and tapas crawls that end after midnight.
Trip overview
- Velázquez, Goya and Guernica in 48 hours
- Retiro's rowboats
- The tapas crawl that starts at 21:30
Best time to visit
March–June and September–October are ideal. Summer bakes — tapas move outdoors only after sunset.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 · The Golden Triangle
- 🖼️09:00The Prado's Velázquez & Goya rooms
- 🌳14:00Retiro Park's Palacio de Cristal
- 🎨18:00Reina Sofía's Guernica
- 🍢21:30La Latina tapas crawl
- 🖼️
Day 2 · Royal & Market
- 👑10:00Royal Palace & the Armory
- 🥘13:00Mercado de San Miguel grazing
- 🌅16:00Templo de Debod's sunset
- 🍷21:00Cava Baja's tavern route
- 👑
Day 3 · Markets & Departure
- 🧺10:00El Rastro flea market (Sundays) or Malasaña vintage
- 🍲13:00Cocido madrileño lunch (the heavy one)
- 🥖16:00Chocolate con churros & airport
- 🧺
Budget
Estimated total cost: 360 EUR for 3 days.
Includes accommodation, local transport, food, and activities. International flights not included.
Travel tips
- March–June and September–October are ideal. Summer bakes — tapas move outdoors only after sunset.
- Carry local currency for small eateries and street food; cards are widely accepted in cities.
- Book popular restaurants in advance during peak season.
- Use public transit where possible — most stops in Madrid are tourist-friendly.
Recommended restaurants
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