Verdict
Madrid travel view

A Verdict itinerary

Madrid for a first trip

Start with the landmarks, neighbourhoods and meals that make the city clear. This is a first-trip shortlist, not a race to tick everything off.

Independent, never pay-to-rankGraded for your kind of tripHow we decide
The plan

16 places worth your time

Open any place for the full call, the tradeoffs and the practical details.

See every Madrid itinerary
  1. Toledo Day-Trip01Toledo (day-trip) · destinationToledo Day-TripThe standout day-trip if you only do one — but give it a full day, not a half.Read the verdict
  2. Royal Palace of Madrid02Palacio · attractionRoyal Palace of MadridA must for the palatial spectacle, but check it isn't closed for a ceremony that day.Read the verdict
  3. Museo del Prado03Paseo del Prado · attractionMuseo del PradoThe single most essential museum in the city, but go right at opening to beat the density.Read the verdict
  4. Guided Tapas & Wine Crawl04La Latina / Centro · experienceGuided Tapas & Wine CrawlA great unlock — the easiest way into Madrid's tapas culture on day one.Read the verdict
  5. Museo Reina Sofía (Guernica)05Atocha / Lavapiés edge · attractionMuseo Reina Sofía (Guernica)Do it for Guernica, Dalí and Miró, but the Prado should come first.Read the verdict
  6. Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza06Paseo del Prado · attractionMuseo Thyssen-BornemiszaBest as the second or third museum once you've covered the headlines — and an easy one to drop if the trip is short.Read the verdict
  7. Casa Labra07Madrid · restaurantCasa LabraA perfect, cheap first taste of Madrid's standing-tapas culture right in the centre.Read the verdict
  8. Taberna La Bola08Madrid · restaurantTaberna La BolaThe dish to understand traditional Madrid cooking, served in a perfectly preserved old tavern.Read the verdict
  9. Galería de las Colecciones Reales09Palacio · attractionGalería de las Colecciones RealesEasy to combine with the palace and the cathedral on the same square, but don't try to do all three deeply in one morning.Read the verdict
  10. Lhardy10Madrid · restaurantLhardyPop into the ground-floor counter for consommé and croquetas to taste the history without the full formal bill.Read the verdict
  11. Plaza Mayor11Centro / Habsburg Madrid · attractionPlaza MayorAn essential photo stop, but eat just off the square, not on it.Read the verdict
  12. Mercado de San Miguel12Centro / Plaza Mayor · experienceMercado de San MiguelA pretty introduction to tapas, just don't mistake it for where Madrileños eat.Read the verdict
  13. Almudena Cathedral13Palacio · attractionAlmudena CathedralWorth a look for the modern interior, but keep expectations modest.Read the verdict
  14. Plaza de España14Plaza de España · attractionPlaza de EspañaA handy crossing point and photo with Don Quixote, easily combined with Debod.Read the verdict
  15. Plaza de Cibeles & Fountain15Paseo del Prado / Cibeles · attractionPlaza de Cibeles & FountainA grand photo stop you'll pass anyway; allow a few minutes, no more.Read the verdict
  16. Puerta del Sol16Centro / Sol · attractionPuerta del SolWorth crossing for the bear statue and the sense of the city's centre, then move on.Read the verdict