A One Week Itinerary to Madrid

Madrids Royal Palace
Madrid's Royal Palace | ©Eric Titcombe/Flickr
Jessica Jones

If you’re planning on visiting Madrid for a week you’ll have plenty of time to explore the major sights and fit in a few hidden gems too. From world-renowned art galleries and parks to street art and tapas crawls, read on to discover how best to tackle Madrid in a week.

Monday

A great introduction to Madrid is exploring its most famous sights. Start the day with a hearty breakfast at one of the city’s oldest and most famous bakeries, La Mallorquina or El Riojano, then explore:

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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

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3. Kenya

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Puerta del Sol – don’t miss the statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, the official symbol of Madrid that has appeared on the city’s coat of arms since the 13th century (bears used to roam freely through the forests surrounding Madrid).

Plaza Mayor: Madrid’s 400-year-old main square has seen it all, and its history is etched into the benches surrounding the square’s street lights.

Opera: Check out the Teatro Real, Madrid’s major opera house.

Royal Palace: Just behind the Teatro Real is Madrid’s Royal Palace. You can marvel at Europe’s biggest royal palace from outside, on the Plaza de Oriente, or pay admission to see the palace’s vast collections of art, furniture and armour.

Gran Vía: Walk down Madrid’s cinematic main thoroughfare, then head up to the Gourmet Experience at the top of the Corte Inglés department store on Plaza de Callao for great views of the street and its iconic Schweppes sign.

Mercado San Miguel: Have a drink and a bite to eat in this beautifully-restored covered food market, where you can sample some tapas and a nice Spanish wine.

Tuesday

If you’re an art fan, then do two of the museums in Madrid’s Golden Triangle today, the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza (Reina Sofia is closed on a Tuesday so we will do that tomorrow, it would be too much to do all three in one day anyway).

After your art fix, explore Retiro Park. Take a picnic or rent a boat on the lake for a relaxing, fun-filled afternoon. Stroll down the tree-lined Paseo del Prado and see the impressive Palacio de Cibeles, which used to be the headquarters of Madrid’s post office (surely the fanciest post office in the world?!).

Enjoy a relaxing drink and soak up the views from the top of the Circulo de Bellas Artes, one of the best rooftop bars in the city.

Retiro Park

Wednesday

You can’t miss Guernica, Pablo Picasso’s masterly depiction of the bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War that is housed in the Reina Sofia, the third of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of art galleries.

Afterward, explore the Barrio de Las Letras, Madrid’s literary quarter, where you will find the beautiful Plaza Santa Ana, some of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite haunts and Mercado Antón Martín – a covered market that has everything from mouth-watering jamón (cured ham) to Japanese and veggie stalls.

Down from Antón Martín is Lavapiés, Madrid’s diverse, multicultural barrio. Check out its street art by walking down Calle Embajadores and exploring the Tabacalera, a former tobacco factory that is now a community-run cultural space and gallery. Alternatively take a street art tour run by local experts, to really get under the skin of the city’s growing urban art scene.

Eat in Lavapiés in a traditional tavern or a hip new restaurant specialising in international cuisine.

Tabacalera, Madrid

Thursday

Take an early morning tour of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium if you want to explore the history of one of the best football teams in the world, Real Madrid.

After – or instead of, if football’s not your thing – head to Malasaña, a hip area of the city where you can browse vintage shops, check out some cool homewear stores and enjoy a leisurely brunch in one of the barrio’s hip cafés. Don’t miss the neighbourhood’s superb street art.

Thursday night is a good night to head into La Latina, it’s not as busy as the weekend but still has a good buzz. Calle Cava Baja has lots of tapas bars and is a good place to start the night.

Finish your night with chocolate and churros at Chocolatería San Ginés – it’s open 24 hours a day so is a popular place for a late-night snack.

Santiago Bernabéu stadium

Friday

Leave the city today for a day trip to either Segovia or Toledo, two stunning cities that are within easy reach of Madrid by train.

Back in Madrid, catch the sunset at the Templo de Debod, Madrid’s very own Egyptian temple.

Eat in one of Madrid’s oldest restaurants tonight to get a real sense of the history of the city and its longstanding traditions.

Toledo

Saturday

Rent bikes and head down to the river and either into the Casa de Campo (enjoy a drink on one of the café terraces around the lake) or the Matadero, a former slaughterhouse that is now a thriving cultural centre. It often has an outdoor food and drink market on at the weekend, check its website for details.

Tonight is a good night to go out in Malasaña, one of Madrid’s hippest neighbourhoods that has a great mix of traditional old taverns and cool new bars.

Sunday

Rise early-ish for a trip to El Rastro (9am-3pm) Madrid’s biggest and most famous street market that sells everything from quirky souvenirs to antiques. Have a caña (little beer) and a bite to eat at one of the bars lining the market’s route – one of the joys of visiting.

After El Rastro, locals go to La Latina for Sunday afternoon tapas. Cava Baja and its surrounding streets are the most popular place.

End the day and your trip by catching a film at the Cine Doré, a beautiful old cinema in Lavapiés. Tickets are a bargain €2.50 and it shows old classics, world cinema and has regular special seasons dedicated to a particular actor or director.

Cine Doré

To see more of Spain, read this guide to the most romantic holiday destinations in Spain through Culture Trip.

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