48 hours in Madrid: what to do, to see and where to eat
Madrid has an incredible amount of things to do, to see and places to drink and eat. Therefore, we always recommend to spend more than 48 hours in Madrid. Yet, if you only have limited time available, there are some essentials not to miss. Especially when you’re a conscious traveller that wants to meet the real soul of the city. Let’s go!
Day 1: Morning
- Allowing yourself half a day to see the major touristic sites is sufficient. You could start or finish at the Parque del Retiro, pass at the area of the Plaza del Sol and Plaza Mayor, and finish at the Royal Palace. To enjoy some more unique views of this latter, head to the Campo del Moro. From Parque del Oeste, you could also take the cable car, quite a specific site of Madrid as well.
- While in Madrid’s most central area, don’t miss out on some unique places. These include Madrid’s oldest bookshop Librería Desnivel, as well as some ideal places for lunch, including El Fogón Verde, Plant Grill, Al Natural, Yerbabuena or El Perro Gamberro.
- Extra tips for this area of Madrid: the neighbourhoods of Los Austrias and Las Letras and the landmarks: the Cybele Palace, the Prado Museum, El Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
Day 1: Afternoon
- Head Northwards into the very bohemian and progressive neighbourhoods of Chueca and Malasaña.
- Here you’ll find some very innovative sustainable fashion and objects stores, including Wanderer, Trendy&Green, The Circular Project Shop or Ecomanía.
- But they’re also known to be ideal places to get yourself pampered. You’ll find sustainable hairdressers and wellness institutes, such as Blow Dry Bar or Beauty Station.
- For food, check out vegan cafés VEGA, Pizzi & Dixie or Llantén Veggie Bar. Don’t miss passing by at lovely food stores Opción Vegetal and at Entre Col y Col in the Barceló food market.
- You could finish the day by checking out some local culture in the cultural center Conde Duque; head into a night of craft beer discoveries (for which Fábrica Maravillas is not to be missed) or discover what makes the lgbt nightlife of Madrid so renowned, in the Chueca area.
Day 2: Morning
- Southwards this time, into the very authentic neighbourhoods of La Latina and Embajadores. A flea market on Sundays, the oldest part of town (Los Austrias), the tapas, Lavapiés, it’s an area that breathes passion. Perfect for a morning stroll.
- It’s also an area that is known to be the artistic and cultural centre of the city, with some very famous institutes including La Tabacalera, La Casa Encendida, Cine Doré, Medialab Prado, etc.
- While walking this area, make sure to have a stop at Mercado de San Fernando, an authentic market in the city; at Distrito Vegano for art and vegan food, at El Pedal to get yourself a proper craft beer and at Sani Sapori, for the sweet tooth.
Day 2: Afternoon
- To finish your 48 hours in Madrid, you should head to one of the most exciting examples of urban development in Europe, which is the Madrid Río. A highway that got covered and is now a very vibrant park. Inside it, you also find the former slaughterhouse/now cultural center Matadero, which hosts all kinds of cultural events, including the sustainable Another Way Film Festival, the Mercado Social, the Madrid Productores market etc. etc.
- At the side of Madrid Río you can find Rutas Pangea. A sustainable tourism project entirely focused on cycling. You can rent bicycles there, do some tours of interesting spots in Madrid, and they organize cycling holidays all over Europe. Super interesting to check out.
If you’ve enjoyed this article on 48 hours in Madrid, follow us on or for more sustainable tips from around Europe.
More sustainable places: in Madrid or in Europe
Good Goal is an independent guide to sustainable places in Madrid and various other European cities. We visit every place ourselves and only list the most innovative ones. Our guide is made so that everyone can easily find the sustainable options, those that benefit local people, sustainable innovators and that show you the authentic and local Madrid. To keep yourself updated, please like our