48 hours in Madrid | practical itinerary

Madrid is the capital of Spain and one of the liveliest cities in Europe! Although it’s not as frequently visited as London or Paris, the city offers plenty of amazing cultural and gastronomic experiences. If you decide to include it in your Eurotrip, check out my practical itinerary to enjoy 48 hours in Madrid!

Before sharing my itinerary, I need to be clear: 48 hours in Madrid is not a lot of time! The city offers countless interesting sights and activities, and you’ll only manage to cover the basics in two days. In my opinion, the ideal amount of time to explore Madrid more calmly is four days.

If you have more time, plan to visit some nearby cities. Salamanca, for example, is 215 km from the capital and can be a great day-trip option. Another great suggestion is Toledo, located just 75 km from Madrid.

How to get to Madrid

If you’re studying abroad in Ireland, you can easily get to Madrid on a Ryanair flight. Departing from Dublin, the journey takes approximately 3 hours.

If you’re coming from Brazil, airlines such as Iberia and TAP offer frequent flights to the Spanish capital. On average, the flight time is 10 hours from São Paulo and 12 hours from Rio de Janeiro or Belo Horizonte. However, this is just an estimate, depending on your layover, the trip may take longer.

Visa and required Documents

A valid passport is mandatory! It’s important to note that Brazilians do not need a visa to visit Spain for up to 90 days. Like France, Italy, and other countries on the continent, Spain is a member of the Schengen Agreement, which allows Brazilians to travel freely among the member countries.

However, travelers may be asked to present proof of travel insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 and proof of financial means to support themselves during their stay, without working. In addition, proof of exit from Spain (such as a return or onward ticket) may be required to show that the traveler won’t exceed the 90-day limit.

Keep in mind that it’s not 90 days per Schengen country, but 90 days total. For example, a traveler can spend 45 days in Spain, 15 in Portugal, and 30 in France. After 90 days, they must remain outside the Schengen area for 180 days before being allowed another 90-day stay.

Now let’s get to the list of things to do with 48 hours in Madrid!

Puerta del Sol

A great way to kick off your 48-hour itinerary in Madrid is at Puerta del Sol. This is where you'll find the famous statue El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree), which is a symbol of the city. The area is always lively and full of energy, surrounded by bars, restaurants, and shops.

Plaza Mayor

From there, take a short walk (about 350 meters) to the Plaza Mayor. This stunning square is one of Madrid's most iconic spots and perfect for photos, people-watching, or just taking in the historic architecture.

Mercado San Miguel

If you're a fan of central markets, you're going to love Mercado San Miguel. It's located near Plaza Mayor and is a great place to take a break, grab a tasty snack, and explore the variety of traditional Spanish foods.

Royal Palace of Madrid (Palacio Real)

Visiting the Royal Palace is like stepping into Spain’s rich history. Even from the outside, you’ll be impressed by its size and elegance. If you decide to go inside, plan to spend about 2 hours exploring.

• Opening hours:

  • Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  • Sundays and holidays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    
    

• Ticket price: General admission: €6

El Retiro Park

If the day is pleasant, a great idea is to visit El Retiro Park and have a picnic there. It is the most important park in the city and on weekends it is full of locals enjoying the day and exercising.

For the second day of your 48-hour itinerary in Madrid, I suggest visiting the Prado Museum, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and, if you are a football fan, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which is home to Real Madrid.

Prado Museum

In the museum you will find a vast collection of Spanish paintings. Be sure to admire the painting "Las Meninas" by Velázquez, "The Third of May 1808" by Goya, "The Garden of Earthly Delights" by Hieronymus Bosch and "The Bacchanal" by Titian.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM. On Sundays and public holidays, from 10 AM to 5 PM. More details on the official website! https://www.museodelprado.es/visita-el-museo

Ticket: 15 euros. However, the museum has free access at certain times. To take advantage of the free entry, visit from Monday to Saturday between 6 PM and 8 PM. On Sundays and public holidays, the free entry time is from 3 PM to 5 PM.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Continuing with your 48-hour itinerary in Madrid, we have the Reina Sofía, which is a modern art museum. There you can appreciate one of Pablo Picasso's masterpieces, Guernica.

Opening hours: on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, it is open from 10 AM to 8 PM. On Sundays, from 10 AM to 2:30 PM. It is closed on Tuesdays.

Ticket: if bought at the ticket office, it costs 10 euros. If bought online, it costs 8 euros. Like the Prado Museum, it has free admission times. From Monday to Saturday, from 6 PM to 8 PM (except on Tuesday, as it is closed). On Sundays, from 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Football fans will love visiting the stadium! It is possible to learn much more about the Real Madrid team, access the locker rooms and the pitch. I suggest setting aside at least two hours for the tour.

Opening hours: open every day of the year, except December 25th and January 1st. From Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 AM to 7 PM. On Sundays and public holidays, from 10 AM to 6:30 PM.

Ticket: 14 euros if purchased online. At the ticket office it costs 17 euros.

That's it for today! I hope you enjoyed my practical itinerary to make the most of 48 hours in Madrid! The city is fantastic, I'm sure you'll love it too! If you still have any questions or want to leave a suggestion, use the comment box below!

 Kisses and see you around the world!