So, you’ve booked a city break for a weekend in Madrid. The Spanish metropolis, home to 3.4 million denizens and the second largest city in the European Union, is “the most Spanish of all cities,” Ernest Hemingway quipped. There’s a lot going on in Madrid. And with only one weekend, you’re going to have to make some decisions. Let us help. Here are some suggestions on how to best fill your weekend in Madrid.
Weekend in Madrid Suggested Itinerary
Friday Evening
If you’re arriving on Friday afternoon or evening, make a splash by taking a guided tour of Madrid’s tapas bars and taverns. Our Tapas, Taverns, & History tours takes you to some of Madrid’s historic bars and taverns. Here you’ll sample authentic Spanish bites and learn about the history of the city in between eats. Along the way, you’ll pause at some of the most iconic spots of Madrid. These include Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace, and Plaza Santa Ana, among others.
Saturday Morning
Spaniards tend to start mornings off very slowly, often rising from bed around 9am or later and eventually drifting down to the local bar for a cafe (translation: an espresso). Wherever you’re staying in Madrid, you’ll only be steps from an espresso-pulling bar.
Plan on spending more than a few hours exploring the Prado, one of the greatest depositories of incredible art on the planet. Among the 7,600 paintings and 1,000 sculptures, you’ll see works by such famous names as Raphael, Titian, Goya, Dürer, El Greco. You can also see the legendary “Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymous Bosch and Velazquez’s “Las Meninas.”
Exclusive early access to El Prado
If you want to maximize your experience, sign up for a morning VIP tour of the Prado in which you and a small group of others will be allowed to access the museum before the general public can enter. This will allow you to get up-close and personal with the many masterpieces inside the museum and won’t be disturbed by a selfie-taking mob of tourists. It’s 1.5 hours of prime time in one of the world’s great museums. No lines, no distractions, just awe and insight. This might be the highlight of your weekend in Madrid.
FEATURED REVIEW: Excellent – “Just what is says, it gets you in an hour early to see everything in peace ahead of the crowds. The guide was very knowledgeable and has great insights into the pictures and history of Madrid. For the early entry, you have to stay with the group, but once its over you’re free to explore on your own”.
Chris, October 2025
Saturday Afternoon
Do lunch the way the Madrileños do it: late and long. A 10-minute walk from the Prado, La Sanabresa is a local-favorite in the historical center that is about as old-school Madrileño as it gets. Order some gooey ham croquettes and maybe the Callos Madrileños, a hearty tripe stew. The restaurant is located at Calle del Amor de Dios 12.
Saturday Evening
The Matadero, located in the Legazpi neighborhood, was the city’s slaughterhouse when it first opened in 1924. But since 2007, the complex has been repurposed as a vibrant art center. Within the stunning architectural campus, there are temporary exhibitions and nightly performances that are worth checking out.
For a nightcap, stop by Salmon Guru, a fun and experimental cocktail bar. Try to get a seat at the bar, so you can watch the bartenders in action. If you get hungry, the menu of creative international dishes is excellent.
Sunday Morning
Take a tranquil Sunday morning stroll through Retiro Park. The almost 400-year-old greenspace is the main park of Madrid and visitors can get lost, in a good way. A fun way to escape the bustle of the Spanish capital.
Sunday Afternoon
Check out the Museo Reina Sofia. There are a lot of masterworks to see here, but many people gravitate here for one reason alone: to see Pablo Picasso’s plus-sized masterpiece. “Guernica”, is a painting about the violent horrors of the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
When you start to get hungry, head to Taverna Laredo. This is a classic Madrid spot for lunch, serving up Spanish tortillas spiked with pork jowl, scrambled eggs laced with top notch jamon Iberico, and tuna belly tartar, among other delicious offerings.
Sunday Evening
For dinner, head to Sala de Despiece, an innovative restaurant just steps from Gran Via (the main boulevard of the city). Waiters, dressed in butcher’s aprons, bring inventive plates to the table like eel, foie gras, and apple, as well as sweet breads paired with clarified cream and toffee.
FAQs – A weekend in Madrid
Why should you take a guided tour in Madrid?
Whether this is your first or your twenty-first visit to Madrid, a good guided walking tour can ground you, give you a deeper sense of the place, and you may meet other like-minded travelers along the way. Plus, the local expert guide can offer local recommendations. One other thing to add, you can have experiences that are not normally open to tourists, such as the private VIP tour of the Prado.
What time does the tour start and how long does it last?
The private tour of the Prado starts at 8:50am and finishes at 10:30am. So, that’s one hour and forty minutes. The museum opens at 10am, which means you’ll have more than an hour to explore while you have the museum to yourself and the museum employees.
When is the best time to visit Madrid?
Summer months can be hot and crowded, so if you can, try to visit during the shoulder season—April and May, September and October—when there will be fewer crowds, more affordable hotel prices, and less heat.
What other museums or activities should you add to your weekend in Madrid?
If you have extra time, consider visiting the third corner of Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art”: the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, located between the Prado and the Reina Sofía. It bridges the gap between the two, featuring masterpieces from Van Gogh, Monet, and Hopper. For something more active, rent a rowboat at the Retiro Park lake or join a flamenco show at Casa Patas or Cardamomo—two of the city’s most authentic tablaos. These experiences offer a deeper glimpse into Madrid’s vibrant culture beyond its world-class museums.
When all is said and done (and trudged and eaten to the point of being stuffed), you’ll be happy you took a guided tour. Sign up for the private VIP morning tour of the Prado: it will just be you and a small handful of others and you’ll have this world-class museum all to yourselves for a while. How many people can say they’ve experienced that? Answer: not many.