🇪🇸 Madrid in 2 Days: A Visitor's Itinerary

I only had two days to explore Madrid, but it was more than enough to experience the city's highlights. Here’s my efficient two-day itinerary covering major attractions: Day 1 Arrived at the hotel near Puerta del Sol around 4 PM — just a 10-minute walk to the square. 🌅 Templo de Debod → 🍽 Dinner at Puerta del Sol Perfect for sunset photos! It was already dark when I arrived, but the views were still stunning. You can see the city skyline and distant cathedrals from here. Walked 10 minutes to Plaza de España to see the Don Quixote sculpture. Metro station nearby made commuting easy. 🍽 Dinner: Taberna La Fragua (Puerta del Sol) A Xiaohongshu-recommended spot popular with locals. We ordered: Spanish paella Oxtail stew (highly recommend!) Jamón ibérico Cost: ~€25 per person. Day 2 Morning: Churrería San Ginés → Plaza Mayor → Royal Palace → Almudena Cathedral → Mercado de San Miguel 🍳 Breakfast: Churrería San Ginés A century-old institution. We had churros with chocolate and an egg breakfast set — ~€15 per person. Passed by Plaza Mayor on the way to the palace. 🏰 Royal Palace Closed for an event, but we caught the cavalry change of guard and a live band performance! ⛪ Almudena Cathedral Free entry to the main floor. Roof access costs €8 (no student discount for UK cards). The city views are worth it. 🥙 Lunch: Mercado de San Miguel Try the tapas stands — fresh and made to order. A bit pricey but great atmosphere. Afternoon: Thyssen Museum → Retiro Park → Reina Sofía Art Center → Dinner 🖼 Thyssen Museum Free on Mondays (closes at 4 PM). Features works by Picasso, Monet, and Dalí — organized chronologically. 🌳 Retiro Park Crystal Palace was under renovation, but the park is ideal for a stroll or boat ride. Beautiful at sunset. 🎨 Reina Sofía Free after 6 PM. Arrive by 5:30 PM to avoid long queues. Guernica is awe-inspiring in person. 🍤 Dinner: Abuelo (near Puerta del Sol) Oreja was cash-only, so we chose this spot instead. Highlights: garlic shrimp and sangria. ~€25 per person. #Madrid #SpainTravel #MadridFood #TravelGuide