4 Days in Madrid Itinerary: What To Do in Madrid, Spain
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Madrid is an absolutely delightful city filled with a mix of modern and classic European culture. Our 4 Days in Madrid Itinerary allows you to see all the best things in the city and includes a day trip out to some amazing small towns in the
Madrid Four Day Itinerary: (Jump To)
About Madrid
The city is located practically smack dab in the middle of Spain. It is the second most populous metro area in the European Union and also sits at the highest elevation of any European capital city. While visiting to create this 4 Days in Madrid Itinerary, we found the city to be extremely affordable, especially for food and accommodations. There were plenty of sights and we enjoyed a lively nightlife. It never felt as touristy as other major European cities.
We booked five nights in the Spanish capital giving us four full days to explore. We planned to use one day to rent a car to road trip to the historic cities of El Escorial, Ávila, and Segovia. A second day was set aside to visit the Warner Brothers theme park, Parque Warner Madrid. That left us two days on the ground in Madrid, plus whatever time after our afternoon flight arrival from Los Angeles.
How To Use Public Transportation in Madrid
We touched down on time on our direct American Airlines flight. After breezing through customs and immigration we found our way to the subway ticket window. As with most cities in Europe, the subway system is by far the easiest way to get around.
A reloadable transit card must be purchased for a €2.50 service charge. Once purchased you can be loaded with cash to cover your fares. Single tickets range from €1.50-€2 with discounts when you buy ten tickets at a time.
A better option for your 4 Days in Madrid is the Tourist Travel Pass. They sell passes for Zone A and Zone T. You will likely be safe with a Zone A ticket unless you plan to travel far outside the city center (you probably won’t). We bought a two-day zone A ticket for €14.20 each. When buying the card they waive the €2.50 service charge, and you also avoid the €3 surcharge for trips to/from the airport. It’s a great deal.
We checked into our accommodations, the Hotel Meninas, located within walking distance of much of central Madrid and a major subway station. It was a perfect hotel in terms of location. The rooms were small but quiet and comfortable. The staff was particularly friendly and accommodating. The wonderful basement breakfast was worth every penny of the small upcharge when booking.
What To See in Madrid
We were out exploring the neighborhood by 4:30 pm, just three hours after touching down at the airport. Weary from our travels our 4 Days in Madrid began with some much-needed carbohydrates. Chocolatería San Ginés was opened in 1894, it is famous for its hot chocolate and churros. For about €4 we got a massive plate of churros and a huge cup of dipping chocolate. It was amazing; there was too much for us to finish.
Next up was a short walk to the Royal Palace of Madrid. The 18th-century palace is open daily for tours of its lavish interiors. The palace is home to the Spanish royal family, though they don’t ever stay there, reserving the building for state ceremonies. The design of the palace is said to have been inspired by the French Palace of Versailles. The exterior courtyard is enormous and also offers a hilltop view of the city.
The interiors of the palace are fit for a king. An exhibit on the royal armory begins the tour, from there you visit the King and Queen’s apartments, a royal chapel, and a room holding Charles III's throne, scepter, and crown. Some cool stuff.
Directly across the courtyard is the Catedral de la Almudena. The cathedral was built over 100 years with a long pause in construction during and following the Spanish Civil War. The building was finally completed in 1993. It’s free to visit if you’re so inclined. The interiors have a uniquely modern gothic flare.
Our walk continued along Calle Mayor, where around every corner lays another beautiful public square.
We stopped at Mercado de San Miguel a very popular outdoor market with numerous delicious food stalls. We couldn’t resist the urge to try a few of the tantalizing offerings.
The stalls are a little more expensive than other tapas due to the proximity to the tourist hub we were at the time. We tried a blood sausage tapas and one with a tiny quail egg with chorizo.
Nearby is Plaza Mayor, which is the historic core of Madrid, dating back to the 15th century. Despite being extremely popular with tourists, we failed to see the allure. The rectangular square is home to many restaurants and souvenir shops. A tall equestrian statue sits in the center.
You can make your own moral decision about the cruelty of bullfighting while checking out the interior of the famous bullfighting bar, La Torre del Oro. Inside are photos and memorabilia from bullfighting years gone by
What To Do at Night in Madrid
During our 4 Days in Madrid we wanted to make sure to experience some of the nightlife in the city. Still awake from excitement and jet lag, we returned to our hotel and freshened up before taking a quick subway ride to the La Latina District. When we exited the subway station we were surprised to walk into a massive street fair. It was a wonderful way to immerse ourselves in the local happenings.
In lieu of dinner, we spend the next few hours tapas-hopping. We bounced from location to location sampling tapas of all kinds. Each serving was only a Euro or two, and it was easy to fill up on the small bites. We also had some of the famous local sangria. It was a very memorable evening.
We were back at the hotel by midnight and up early the next morning for our first full day of our 4 Days in Madrid.
4 Days in Madrid - Day 1
Visit the Huge Madrid Flea Market
We left the hotel at about 9 am to visit the El Rastro Flea Market. The open-air market happens every Sunday morning near Plaza de Cascorro. The market takes over numerous streets and alleyways. The tented vendors are selling everything you could imagine from antiques to art and clothing. Time flew by as we spent the morning exploring all the interesting things the market had to offer. I’m so glad we woke up early to visit the first hour was the most enjoyable; the crowds started to hit around 10:30 am. We spent about three hours browsing the market.
Madrid Theme Park
Our plan was to spend the afternoon on day one of our 4 Days in Madrid at the small city amusement park, Parque de Atracciones. We decided to arrive in style via the Madrid Teleférico gondola ride. From the hillside Parque del Oeste, we caught the gondola taking us up and over the hillside where below we looked down on a neighborhood, the Manzanares River, and M-30 highway. The journey ends with a treetop ride over Casa de Campo, an enormous city park.
We exited the gondola at the station, which ended up being randomly placed in the middle of a natural area of the park, not near the entrance to the amusement park, or anything else for that matter. (If you’re a gondola enthusiast, I recommend the round-trip ticket from Parque del Oeste). We took a hot, but pleasant 20-minute walk/hike to the rear entrance of Parque de Atracciones.
As far as city theme parks go, this is a pretty good one. The park was opened in the late 1960s and had its last major remodel about 20 years ago. The park and facilities are showing their age. Despite being a beautiful sunny weekend day, the park was pretty empty. We were able to walk on almost every ride.
There are five rollercoasters in the park. We loved the newest coaster Abismo, a double inversion coaster added in 2006. The spider-themed Tarántula spinning coaster was also loads of fun. There is also a great log flume ride and a ridiculously cheesy Jungle Cruise rip-off.
At the front of the park is a new and shiny Nickelodeon land for kids. We spent about three and a half hours in the park and easily rode everything we wanted to, including a few extra rides on Tarántula.
We took the subway back to our hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening shopping in the unique shops around the Puerta del Sol plaza capping the evening off with dinner at Naif Madrid Burger & Bar. Their outdoor plaza seating is a wonderful place to enjoy a few drinks while the sun sets.
4 Days in Madrid - Day 2
We woke up early on Day 2 of our 4 Days in Madrid excited for another theme park day. This time at the much larger and more famous Parque Warner Madrid.
4 Days in Madrid - Day 3
El Escorial, Ávila, and Segovia Road Trip from Madrid
Day three in Madrid began with picking up our rental car for a day road trip to three amazing nearby Spanish towns El Escorial, Ávila, and Segovia. Read all about it here.
4 Days in Madrid - Day 4
Shopping in Madrid
We allowed ourselves some extra sleep for our final day of our 4 days in Madrid. After a late breakfast at our hotel, we were out and ready to explore shortly after 11 am. We walked from our hotel to the famous boulevard Gran Vía. This street is sometimes referred to as Spain’s Broadway. The street is lined with theaters, large shopping malls, and department stores.
We fell in love with the department store Primark. The store specializes in trendy European fast fashion. We continued shopping Gran Vía enjoying the notable buildings, especially the Metropolis Building, a famous Madrid landmark.
At the end of the boulevard is Palacio de Comunicaciones. For €2 you can climb to the top of the building for a commanding view of Gran Vía and the skyline of Madrid. The interior of the building, originally a central post office and communications center, is now home to gallery space and government offices. The central rotunda has a gorgeous glass ceiling.
Relax in Madrid’s Famous Park
We next visited the nearby El Retiro Park. It’s a large city park with numerous statues, gardens, and beautiful hidden surprises. A large man-made lake offers the chance to paddleboat and enjoy the adjacent sculptures.
We spent about an hour walking through the two-kilometer-long park, stopping at the Palacio de Cristal a former greenhouse built almost entirely of glass and iron in 1887. The greenhouse now houses free gallery exhibits from the Reina Sofía Museum.
We exited the park to the south and found the nearest subway ride to Malasaña, a hipster neighborhood slightly north of the city’s historic center. There are lots of coffee shops and vintage stores to explore if that’s your thing. We failed to see the charm in the neighborhood, opting to return to our hotel to regroup for a night out.
LGBT Night Life in Madrid
The LGBTQ+ bars are centered in the Chueca district. The area is home to many gay bars, clothing stores, and restaurants. The area is easily reached on the subway, exit at the Chueca stop. The streets in the neighborhood have an odd way of disorienting your bearings, so it’s best to be mindful of your way back to the subway.
Like much of Europe, the bar scene in Madrid is pretty laid back until well after midnight. Combining our 10 pm bar arrival, with the fact that it was a Wednesday night lowered our expectations for the evening. We did manage to find a fun drag show and a packed house at LL Bar and friendly locals and travelers everywhere we went.
We were back in our hotel bed safe and sound by 1 am. The next morning we had a 10:30 train to Barcelona.
Things To See In Madrid:
Royal Palace of Madrid
Chocolatería San Ginés
Catedral de la Almudena
Mercado de San Miguel
Plaza Mayor
El Rastro Flea Market
Parque de Atracciones
Shopping on Gran Vía
Palacio de Comunicaciones
El Retiro Park (Palacio de Cristal)
Madrid Itinerary
4 Days in Madrid Itinerary - Day 1: Arrival and Exploration
Arrive in Madrid in the afternoon.
Visit Chocolatería San Ginés for churros and hot chocolate.
Tour the Royal Palace of Madrid and the Catedral de la Almudena.
Stroll along Calle Mayor and visit Mercado de San Miguel.
Explore Plaza Mayor and La Torre del Oro.
Experience the nightlife in La Latina District.
4 Days in Madrid Itinerary - Day 2: Flea Market and Theme Park
Visit El Rastro Flea Market in the morning.
Spend the afternoon at Parque de Atracciones.
Take the Madrid Teleférico gondola ride for panoramic views.
Explore unique shops around Puerta del Sol plaza.
njoy dinner at Naif Madrid Burger & Bar.
4 Days in Madrid Itinerary - Day 3: Road Trip to El Escorial, Ávila, and Segovia
Rent a car and drive to El Escorial, Ávila, and Segovia.
Explore the historical sites and landmarks in each town.
Return to Madrid in the evening.
4 Days in Madrid Itinerary - Day 4: Shopping and Park Exploration
Visit Park Warner Madrid
4 Days in Madrid Itinerary - Day 5: Shopping and Park Exploration
Explore Gran Vía boulevard and shop at Primark and other stores.
Visit Palacio de Comunicaciones for city views.
Relax in El Retiro Park and visit Palacio de Cristal.
Explore the Malasaña neighborhood.
Experience the nightlife in Chueca district.
Return to the hotel and prepare for departure the next day.
