I am excited today because I am sharing with you how to spend 24 hours in Madrid! I have been lucky enough to visit Madrid on several separate occasions while traveling to other parts of Spain. Since Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport serves as a large international airport, when flying from the US, many flights go through Madrid.
One of my favorite ways to discover a new city is adding a bonus day onto the front or back end of a trip. Although this doesn’t always happen, generally my trips to Spain include at least 24 hours in Madrid. While I could easily spend an entire vacation in Madrid, as you’ll see in this post, there is plenty you can accomplish in just one day.
Indeed, Madrid has it all! Great food and food markets, nightlife, art, history, and much more. The following will include highlights of the historical Spanish city while sharing the fun and modern side as well.
History and Sightseeing
Let’s start at the beginning. Madrid is the capital of Spain and its history dates back to the 860s. The city is located in the center of Spain and even has a famous landmark to display this fact. The Kilometre Zero is located in Puerta del Sol which is a large plaza in the city center.
Puerta del Sol can get incredibly crowded so be prepared to wait if you are looking to get photos here. The square is also the home of El Oso y El Madroño and the Tio Pepe sign.
Just a quick walk from Puerta del Sol is the famous Plaza Mayor. This huge square packs both history and modern life into one in such a unique way. Over several hundreds of years, the plaza has served as an open market, a bullfighting ring, and even the site of public executions. It has even survived several fires.
Nowadays, tons of visitors flock to Plaza Mayor each day. The area has several restaurants along the perimeter of the plaza and there is even a hotel nearby overlooking Plaza Mayor. I’ll discuss the hotel we stayed at (and loved) below.
Be careful when choosing a restaurant in Plaza Mayor, they tend to cater to tourists so you may find the food prices are very expensive and of lesser quality than you may find elsewhere. If you want to enjoy the plaza at one of these establishments, grab a glass of wine or a beer and watch the excitement. Once you’ve had your aperitif, head towards the locations in our food and wine section below for your meal.
Safety
Madrid is overall a safe city however, like any large city with tourists, pickpockets do exist. In crowded tourist areas, you’ll want to be especially careful and mindful of your surroundings. Keep your purse and wallet close and be alert, the advice I would give for visiting any city, even my own. Be smart and don’t carry all of your valuables when you are out and about.
While I don’t personally use a money belt or other type of wallet/purse for travel, I know many people do and love them. If you have one you love, by all means, keep using it! If you plan to go out on the town at night, be sure to mind your drink and use caution when headed home.
Where to Stay
You have plenty of great options when selecting a hotel in Madrid. I’ll share a few in different parts of the city that I’ve stayed in for reference. When planning how to spend 24 hours in Madrid, hotel selection is essential. You’ll want to find a place within your budget that allows you to be centrally located to the sites you are looking to experience the most.
Pestana Plaza Mayor
As mentioned, there are hotels that overlook Plaza Mayor and I would highly recommend them for a 24-hour visit due to their great location. In 2019, we stayed at Pestana Plaza Mayor and found it to be a great choice. While our room was on the smaller side, the view was amazing and we’d only be there for one night. If you are staying longer, you can always consider upgrading to a larger room. The hotel even has an amazing rooftop pool and lounge area.
Icon Wipton
Most recently I stayed in the Barrio de Salamanca, or the Salamanca neighborhood in English. We stayed for one night at a super cute boutique hotel called Icon Wipton. There are several incredible bars and restaurants nearby and the area, like much of Madrid, is extremely walkable. Whether you are looking for Michelin-starred dining or the food market at Cortes Ingles, a well-known Spanish department store, this neighborhood is sure to please.
Salamanca is also a great destination for luxury shopping! From Hermes to Chanel and all the luxury brands in between, the so-called “Golden Mile” is definitely a stop for the fashion enthusiast, even if you just window shop as we did!
ME Madrid Reina Victoria
The final hotel on my list of recommendations is ME Madrid Reina Victoria located in Plaza de Santa Ana. This plaza is extremely popular and features several restaurants and shops. You could practically spend hours enjoying Plaza de Santa Ana! Located close to Puerta del Sol, this is yet another nice location if you want to stay in the city center. ME has a super fun rooftop bar with amazing views overlooking the Plaza.
Lastly, While I have stayed at hotels during my time in Madrid, A quick search on Airbnb turned up several beautiful rentals in the city. In the city center, an Airbnb goes for around 100 USD per night, not bad at all. Depending on your budget, you can find the location that best suits you.
Food and Wine
Next, let’s talk about the food in Madrid! I love to experience the local cuisines while traveling and I could not write a post about how to spend 24 hours in Madrid without addressing the food here! Spain has some of my favorite dishes and cuisines and Madrid tends to feature dishes from across the country’s different regions. From tapas at the famous San Miguel Market to that thinly sliced Jamón, the city has some of the tastiest options around.
Surprising Seafood
Although a landlocked city, Madrid has some of the best locations to enjoy seafood. From oysters to scallops and everything in between, if you are looking for delicious seafood you are in the right place! I often assumed that Spanish coastal cities would have better offerings but Madrid has proven me wrong.
Above you’ll find the photo of percebes also known as the gooseneck barnacle. They are said to be one of the most expensive seafood dishes in the world! The reason? They are harvested in oftentimes dangerous conditions along the coast of the Galicia region of Spain and in the south of Portugal. In this article by VICE, you can read all about the divers who harvest them!
The next item on the food list is the bacadillo de calamares or the calamari sandwich. There are several places in the city that feature this super popular combination but my favorite is Bar la Campana, located close to Plaza Mayor. This sandwich is very typical in Madrid and most commonly consumed in and around Plaza Mayor.
Next, we have the navajas! I first discovered navajas a la plancha, grilled razor clams in English, during my first trip to Spain in 2015. These delicious clams are now my all-time favorite form of shellfish. Drizzled with a bit of olive oil and grilled on la plancha, which is a very hot flat-top grill, they are a real treat and can be found throughout most of Spain.
More Popular Dishes in Madrid
If you are looking for something a bit lighter, padrón peppers are a great choice. Seasoned with olive oil and flakey sea salt, these peppers are cooked until blistered and are super tasty. About 1 in 10 peppers are spicy and hot, which makes it the Russian roulette of peppers. If you don’t like spicy, be warned.
A few other dishes to add to your mealtime bucket list should include:
- huevos rotos which translates to broken eggs and is severed with potato
- tortilla (another potato and egg dish which is very popular across the country)
- croquettes de Jamón aka Spanish ham croquettes
- Salmorejo this soup is originally from the southern Spain region of Andalusia and includes tomato, bread, garlic, and olive oil
Fun fact: did you know that Spain is the largest supplier of olive oil in the world?
Finally, an absolutely fantastic dish is gambas al ajilio, or shrimp with garlic. You may have noticed that much of Spanish cooking is prepared simply using quality ingredients and this dish is no exception. Check out La Casa del Abuelo for their amazing rendition.
Nightlife
What would a quick 24 hours in Madrid be without a little nightlife? Depending on your preference, you can choose between dance clubs, and more traditional bars, or enjoy a few drinks on one of the many outdoor terraces found across the city.
Lavapiés is a super fun barrio (neighborhood) in Madrid with bright and vibrant street art as well as great spots to enjoy some tapas and a few cocktails.
I also found Radio ME, the roof bar atop ME Madrid Reina Victoria to be lively and youthful. Here you can dine, dance, or enjoy the views with friends while enjoying some of their creative cocktails.
How to Spend 24 Hours in Madrid
So there you have it, my guide on how to spend 24 hours in Madrid. This fantastic city does not disappoint! I find every time I visit Madrid, I am able to experience a different side of the city which keeps me wanting to go back! Enjoy your trip to Madrid, let us know what the highlight of your trip was in the comments below. Don’t forget to check out our post How to Spend 24 Hours in Boston for more guides and travel tips. Safe and healthy travels!