Ready-made trips · Spain
Madrid in 4 days
The Prado and the Barrio de las Letras, tapas and late dinners, and a day to Segovia's Roman aqueduct and castle.
- Length
- 4 days
- Best time
- March to June, September to November
- Pace
- Moderate
- Day trips
- Segovia
Four days in Madrid: The Prado and the Barrio de las Letras, plus a day trip to Segovia. Each full day is one of our own checked days, planned to be walked in order, with opening hours checked and lunch and dinner suggestions close to the stops.
Day by day
1First Evening in MadridArrival
- When you arrivePuerta del SolBustling square and city hub.Tip: Madrid's central square and the symbolic center of Spain — the bear and strawberry tree statue is a popular meeting point and photo spot.
Lunch nearby: Los Galayos or Casa Labra
Dinner: Sobrino de Botín or Estado Puro
2The Prado and the Barrio de las Letras
- MorningPrado MuseumSpain’s top art museum.Tip: Free entry the last two hours before closing (check current times) — a good option if you just want to see the highlights without the full-price crowd.
- AfternoonReal Jardín BotánicoThe 18th-century botanic garden beside the Prado.Tip: The glasshouses are a calm break between museums.
- EveningBarrio de las LetrasThe old literary quarter of Cervantes and Lope de Vega, full of tapas bars.Tip: Plaza de Santa Ana is the heart of it for evening tapas.
Lunch nearby: Café Murillo or Estado Puro
Dinner: Taberna La Concha or Casa Labra
3Segovia: the Aqueduct, the Cathedral and the AlcázarDay trip to Segovia
- MorningSegovia AqueductRoman aqueduct.Tip: A remarkably well-preserved Roman aqueduct, built without mortar — walking beneath its arches in the main square gives a real sense of its scale.
- AfternoonSegovia CathedralGothic cathedral.Tip: Known as the 'Lady of Cathedrals' for its genuinely elegant Gothic architecture — one of the last major Gothic cathedrals built in Spain.
Lunch nearby: José María or Mesón de Cándido
Dinner: José María or Mesón de Cándido
4La LatinaLast morning
- Before you leaveLa LatinaCava Baja and the tapas bars of old Madrid, busiest on Sunday afternoons.Tip: After the Rastro on Sunday, all Madrid goes for vermouth here.
Lunch nearby: Taberna La Concha or Casa Lucio
Dinner: Chocolatería San Ginés or Casa Labra
Where to stay
Barrio de las Letras
The literary quarter between Sol and the Prado, full of tapas bars.
Antón Martín and Sevilla metro; a walk to the museums.
Sol & Centro
The historic centre around Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor.
Sol metro and Cercanías trains, with direct lines to the airport.
La Latina
Old Madrid of tapas lanes, churches and the Sunday Rastro.
La Latina metro.
Everything in the plan is ready to book
The full plan has a map of each day, directions between stops, opening hours, restaurant choices, hotels in these areas and tickets, tours and trains linked to book with the provider you choose.
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