🇪🇸 Madrid for a weekend

What to see in two days

1. Prado Museum
2. Retiro Park and the Crystal Palace
3. Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral
4. Plaza Mayor and San Miguel Market
5. Reina Sofía Museum (Guernica)

Where to stay

• Sol / Gran Vía: Central, many metro lines, busy Hotels on the map
• Las Letras / Huertas: Between the museums, tapas bars Hotels on the map
• Malasaña: Young, cafés and vintage shops Hotels on the map
• Salamanca: Elegant and calm, near Retiro Hotels on the map

Neighbourhood advice only: we do not earn from hotel bookings.

From the airport

Metro line 8 from the airport to Nuevos Ministerios (about 15 min, airport supplement), or the 24-hour Exprés Aeropuerto bus to Atocha / Cibeles (about 40 min).

Official transport sites: Metro de Madrid · EMT Madrid (Exprés Aeropuerto)

When to go

Best: April–June and September–October. July–August are very hot (often 35 °C+); winter is sunny and cold but fine for museums.

Average weather by month

Averages for 2016–2025: daytime high and days with rain (1 mm or more) per month. Source: Open-Meteo (ERA5).