1 Day Madrid Itinerary
If all you have is just one day or a few layover hours in the beautiful and lively Spanish city of Madrid than this guide is perfect for you. How can you possibly explore Madrid in one day? Well exploring the capital of Spain in such a short time is certainly a challenge but to explore as much as possible is the goal. With only thirteen hours to spend in Madrid there was no time to lose so as soon as I stepped out of the airport the adventure began in quite a fast pace.
I opted for a Panoramic Tour for a quick digest of the best the city had to offer or in other words, Madrid at a glance! There are many companies out there that cover different parts of the city. My Panoramic Tour bus picked me up at the airport and it included Historic and Modern sights with occasional stops along the way. Our guide was Pablo, a twenty-something man who shared what he knew about each place in a fresh and charismatic manner. The tour included:
Plaza de Toros – Bullfighting season begins in March. But the best time to attend a fight is during San Isidro Fiesta where they hold every day.
Puerta de Alcalá – one of the five royal doors that gave access to the city of Madrid, now historic landmarks.
Palacio de Cibeles – it used to be the Palace of Communication but now acts as seat of the City Council. Its impressive architecture is what makes it a top visit for some tourists.
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu – the home stadium of Real Madrid and one of the worlds most famous football stadiums.
Metropolis Building – currently an office building but special for its architectural design and appearances in many movies, my personal favorite ‘El Club de los Incomprendidos’.
La Gran Via – upscale shopping street perfect for a wardrobe update and where the Spanish Broadway entertains.
Plaza de la Puerta del Sol – this public square is one of the busiest places in Madrid.
Kilometro 0 – Km. 0 is the spot where the streets of Madrid begin. It is said that whoever steps on the Km 0 stone will return to Madrid once again. With only one day here I didn’t just step on the stone I stomped it with hope of retuning hopefully for more that one day.
Lunch at La Taurina – great restaurant in the center of Madrid serving typical Spanish cuisine.
The Panoramic view ended with a full stomach and a happy heart and it was time to check into my hotel. Traveling on a budget doesn’t mean settling for less which is why I stayed at Hotel Florida Norte which is a four star hotel with free Wi-Fi, restaurant, café bar and gift shop. Nightly rates can be as low as $77! My room had a comfortable twin bed, air-conditioning, closet space, a fully equipped bathroom plus a great view.
After checking in there was still many places to knock off my list that were at a walking distance from the hotel.
Palacio Real de Madrid – this Royal Palace was beautiful beyond words. There are gardens open to the public around the Palace and guided indoor tours at €12.
Catedral de la Almudena – a Catholic Cathedral located next to the Royal Palace with a very impressive interior.
Plaza de España – where a statue of the famous characters from Don Quijote welcomes visitors.
My day in Madrid ended with a delicious diner at La Pacheca accompanied by a flamenco show that I will remember forever. The restaurant was full of energy as the musicians played live while the flamenco dancers tapped their feet to the rhythm and the crowd cheered Olé! Madrid is a city enriched with history, art, food unlike any other and music just as unique.