48 Hours in Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the capital of Spain. If you plan a two-day trip or have an extremely long layover in Madrid, here is how you can spend your time exploring the culture and indulging in the local food scene.

Day 1
The Royal Palace is the official residences of the Spanish royal family, but is today used as a site for state ceremonies. There is a vast courtyard providing stunning views of the countryside. The panoramic view is beautiful and one can even get to explore the palace should they choose.

La Latina neighborhood has beautiful small alleyways and the oldest architecture in the city. La Cava Baja in this neighborhood is the most popular streets, lined with bars and restaurants for a good time. Explore El Rastro, the flea market, on a Sunday or public holiday.

Visit the Retiro neighborhood, a great spot for people who enjoy quiet. You can participate in water activities or do some yoga in the park.

Day 2
Explore Plaza Mayor, a public space in the heart of Madrid. Tourists can walk around, shop and admire the architecture of the buildings. The plaza has a rectangular shape with a quad area for tourists to gather and remark at the site.

Visit the Prado Museum, the art museum that contains paintings, sculpture and other types of works. It is also one of the most-visited museums in the world.

Explore the Huertas neighborhood as it is a place for fun, with the Main Street Calle Huertas lined with bars and restaurants. This is the party side of town, so get your dancing boots ready when visiting here.

Explore the cuisines offered in each neighborhood or at each site you visit. Be sure to make some time to get lost and explore by yourself.