Madrid: a 3-day plan and the best time to go

The best time to go

The most comfortable months for walking about are May, September and October: mild days and less rain. The warmest month is July, at about 93°F (34°C) in the afternoon. The wettest is October.

1. Jan47°38 mm
2. Feb51°39 mm
3. Mar57°48 mm
4. Apr64°52 mm
5. May73°42 mm
6. Jun85°22 mm
7. Jul93°9 mm
8. Aug91°14 mm
9. Sep81°24 mm
10. Oct69°66 mm
11. Nov55°54 mm
12. Dec49°40 mm

Bars show the typical night-time low to daytime high; the numbers are daytime highs in °F and rain in millimetres for the month. Averages for 2001–2020 from NASA POWER, so a given year can be warmer, colder or wetter.

Three days in Madrid

Written with AI from public facts about Madrid, then checked by Sureno's rules. Opening times and prices change: check them before you go.

Day 2 Palace and park at ease

Morning

Royal Palace of Madrid

Palacio district

Visit the palace exterior and square at a relaxed pace.

Afternoon

Retiro Park boating lake

Retiro Park

Rest by the lake and enjoy shaded paths and benches.

Evening

Tapas in La Latina

La Latina

Try simple tapas in this traditional neighbourhood.

Day 3 Art and farewell evening

Morning

Prado Museum visit

Paseo del Prado

See famous Spanish art with plenty of seats inside.

Afternoon

Gran Via window shopping

Gran Via

Enjoy a slow walk along the grand central street.

Evening

Churros at San Gines

Sol Centro

Finish with warm churros and chocolate nearby.

What to eat

• Cocido madrileno
• Tortilla espanola
• Churros with chocolate

Getting there

• Fly into Madrid–Barajas (MAD).
• From New York: about 7 h 26 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From Los Angeles: about 11 h 42 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• From London: about 2 h 9 min in the air, non-stop (a straight-line estimate; real routes take longer).
• Use metro and city buses for short trips. Taxis are useful for evenings and tired legs.
• Check official entry rules before travel.
• Wear comfortable shoes and take rest breaks often.

Plan the flight from your city

Where to stay

• SalamancaCalm streets with shops and easy metro links.
• RetiroQuiet area near the park for restful walks.
• CentroCentral base close to main sights on foot.

The official Madrid tourism siteWhere to sleep, on Wikivoyage

About Madrid

Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi). Madrid lies on the River Manzanares in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula at about 660 metres (2,170 ft) above mean sea level. The capital city of both Spain and the surrounding autonomo…

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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