Itinerary
What to See in Madrid in 1 Week
A week with 55 stops: three days in Madrid and four day trips by train or bus to Toledo, Segovia, El Escorial, and Alcalá de Henares, with 27.5 km on foot
A week allows you to explore Madrid thoroughly and discover the surrounding World Heritage cities. The first three days cover the centre, museums, and neighbourhoods. The next four are day trips by public transport: Toledo and Segovia by high-speed train, El Escorial by bus from Moncloa, and Alcalá de Henares by Cercanías.
Before you go
- Buy your train tickets to Toledo and Segovia in advance on the Renfe website: they have allocated seating and sell out at weekends.
- Watch out for Mondays: the El Escorial monastery, the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Romanticism, and the Sephardic Museum in Toledo are closed. Use this day for Madrid or Alcalá.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the day trips: Toledo and Segovia have many steep hills, and the Silla de Felipe II is a walk through the forest.
- It is about 27.5 km on foot throughout the week, not counting train and bus journeys.
Day 1
Madrid de los Austrias, the Prado and the Retiro
From kilometre zero to the Royal Palace through the old town, lunch in the centre and an afternoon of art and parks along the Paseo del Prado.
The day at a glance
- 9:001. Puerta del Sol
- 9:202. Plaza Mayor
- 10:003. Royal Palace
- 11:454. Almudena Cathedral
- 12:305. Mercado de San Miguel
- 13:456. Barrio de las Letras
- 14:457. Prado Museum
- At sunset8. Retiro Park
- 19:009. Cibeles and Gran Vía
Day 1 · Morning
1. Puerta del Sol
Free
Puerta del Sol
9:00 · 15 min
The centre of Madrid and Spain: on the ground, in front of the Real Casa de Correos, is the kilometre zero plaque for the radial roads. Its tower clock chimes in the New Year, and on the corner with Calle del Carmen is the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the symbol of the city.
Tip: First thing in the morning the square is quiet and it is easy to take a photo of kilometre zero. Sol is also a major metro and Cercanías hub: a good starting point if you are staying outside the centre.
Next stop: 5 min walk (0.4 km)
2. Plaza Mayor
Free
Plaza Mayor
9:20 · 20 min
The grand arcaded square of the Habsburgs, finished in 1619 and rebuilt several times after fires. In the centre stands the equestrian statue of Philip III; on the north side, the Casa de la Panadería with its painted façade. It was once a market, a bullring and the setting for autos-da-fé.
Tip: Leave through the Arco de Cuchilleros to see the staircase and the towering houses of Cava de San Miguel. The terraces in the square are expensive: it is better to grab a coffee in the surrounding streets.
Next stop: 13 min walk (1.0 km)
3. Royal Palace
18 €; with the Royal Collections Gallery, 24 €
Calle de Bailén, s/n
10:00 · 1 h 30 min
Best to book a timed ticket
The official residence of the Spanish royals, built in the 18th century on the site of the old Alcázar, which burned down in 1734. It is one of the largest royal palaces in Europe: you can visit the Throne Room, Tiepolo's ceilings, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Pharmacy.
Tip: Book a timed ticket on the Patrimonio Nacional website and arrive at opening time. From October to March it is open from 10:00 to 18:00 (Sundays until 16:00). EU citizens and residents enter for free from Monday to Thursday afternoons, but expect queues.
Next stop: 3 min walk (0.2 km)
4. Almudena Cathedral
Free entry; museum and dome, paid
Calle de Bailén, 10
11:45 · 30 min
Madrid's cathedral, opposite the palace, took over a century to finish: it was started in 1883 and consecrated in 1993. The exterior is neoclassical, matching the palace; the interior is neo-Gothic, with brightly painted ceilings that surprise almost everyone.
Tip: The neo-Romanesque crypt has its own entrance on Cuesta de la Vega. If you want views, the cathedral museum includes a climb up to the dome, with the palace and Casa de Campo at your feet.
Next stop: 8 min walk (0.6 km)
Day 1 · Midday
5. Mercado de San Miguel
Free entry
Plaza de San Miguel, s/n
12:30 · 1 h
An early 20th-century iron and glass market next to Plaza Mayor, now converted into a gastronomic market: oysters, croquettes, ham, vermouth and small plates to nibble on from stall to stall.
Tip: It is convenient but expensive and gets crowded at midday. If you prefer to sit down, the streets between Plaza Mayor and Sol are full of traditional tapas bars.
Next stop: 12 min walk (0.9 km)
Day 1 · Afternoon
6. Barrio de las Letras
Free
Plaza de Santa Ana
13:45 · 45 min
Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Quevedo and Góngora lived here. From Plaza de Santa Ana, Calle de las Huertas heads down towards the Prado with verses by classic authors written on the ground. Lope de Vega's house is on Calle Cervantes, and Cervantes' remains are in the Convento de las Trinitarias.
Tip: Walk down Calle de las Huertas looking at the ground: every few metres there is a quote in golden letters. The Lope de Vega House Museum requires booking; check their website.
Next stop: 15 min walk (1.1 km)
7. Prado Museum
15 €
Paseo del Prado, s/n
14:45 · 2 h 30 min
Best to book a timed ticket
One of the world's great art museums: Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings and The Third of May 1808, Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights, plus El Greco, Titian and Rubens. Two and a half hours is enough for the essentials if you go in with a list.
Tip: Buy a timed ticket on the official website. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Sundays and bank holidays until 19:00. Entry is free from Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 17:00 to 19:00, but expect queues.
Next stop: 17 min walk (1.3 km)
Day 1 · Sunset and night
8. Retiro Park
Free
Plaza de la Independencia, 7
At sunset · 45 min
Madrid's great park, a former royal recreation garden and, since 2021, part of the Landscape of Light World Heritage site alongside the Paseo del Prado. The large lake, with its monument to Alfonso XII and rowing boats, is the perfect spot to watch the sun go down.
Tip: The Palacio de Cristal, five minutes from the lake, is free to visit. Leave through the Puerta de la Independencia to walk past the Puerta de Alcalá. The park closes during high wind alerts.
Next stop: 23 min walk (1.7 km)
9. Cibeles and Gran Vía
Free
Calle de Alcalá, 39
19:00 · As long as you like
The Cibeles fountain, opposite the former Palacio de Comunicaciones (now the City Hall), and the Metrópolis building, with its dome and golden winged statue, mark the start of Gran Vía: the avenue of cinemas, theatres, and early 20th-century buildings, which fills with light at night.
Tip: Walk up Gran Vía to Callao to see the Telefónica building and the Schweppes neon sign. For dinner, Chueca and Malasaña are just a stone's throw away, to the right of the avenue.
Day 2
Guernica, El Rastro and Sunset at Debod
Designed for a Sunday, the day of El Rastro. If it is a Saturday, swap the market for a walk around the corralas of Lavapiés.
The day at a glance
Day 2 · Morning
1. Reina Sofía Museum
12 €
Calle de Santa Isabel, 52
10:00 · 2 h
Best to book a timed ticket
The 20th-century art museum, housed in the former General Hospital with its glass lifts and the Jean Nouvel extension. Its most famous room holds Picasso's Guernica, and the collection continues with Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris, and the Spanish avant-garde.
Tip: Closed on Tuesdays. On Sundays it opens from 10:00 to 14:30 and entry is free from 12:30; on other days, from 19:00 to 21:00. Head straight to the second floor if you only want to see Guernica and its context.
Next stop: 10 min walk (0.8 km)
2. Lavapiés
Free
Plaza de Lavapiés
12:15 · 20 min
Madrid's most diverse neighbourhood: a former Jewish quarter, the birthplace of the traditional Madrilenian, and now home to residents from all over the world. Steep streets, corralas with continuous balconies, and theatres like the Valle-Inclán, right on the square.
Tip: Walk up Calle Mesón de Paredes to see the corrala on the corner of Sombrerete, the most photographed in the neighbourhood.
Next stop: 16 min walk (1.2 km)
Day 2 · Midday
3. El Rastro
Free
Plaza de Cascorro
12:50 · 1 h
Spain's most famous flea market: hundreds of stalls selling clothes, antiques, records, books, and quirky items, stretching down from Plaza de Cascorro along Ribera de Curtidores. More than just shopping, people come to browse and mingle with the locals.
Tip: Only on Sundays and public holidays, from 9:00 to 15:00. Wear your backpack on your front: there are many pickpockets. The antique shops on the side streets are also open during the week.
Next stop: 8 min walk (0.6 km)
4. La Latina: Cava Baja and Plaza de la Paja
Free
Plaza de la Paja
14:00 · 1 h 30 min
Madrid's oldest neighbourhood, built on the medieval layout. Cava Baja follows the moat of the old city wall and is packed with taverns and tapas bars; Plaza de la Paja, with the Church of San Andrés and the Capilla del Obispo, was the city centre before the Plaza Mayor existed.
Tip: On Sundays, after El Rastro, half of Madrid goes for a beer around here: arrive early or eat a bit later. Tapas are ordered at the bar and eaten in the surrounding streets.
Next stop: 7 min walk (0.6 km)
Day 2 · Afternoon
5. Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande
Paid visit, from Tuesday to Saturday
Calle de San Buenaventura, 1
16:00 · 30 min
An 18th-century basilica with one of the largest circular domes in Europe. Inside, it houses paintings by Goya, including one from his youth, and Renaissance choir stalls brought from a monastery in Segovia.
Tip: Tourist visits are from Tuesday to Saturday and are paused during services: if it is a Sunday, you will only see the facade and the square. Check the opening times before you go.
Next stop: 4 min walk (0.3 km)
6. Las Vistillas
Free
Calle de Bailén
16:45 · 20 min
The gardens offering views of the western side of Madrid: the Almudena Cathedral, the Casa de Campo, and, on clear days, the Sierra de Guadarrama. Next to it, the Segovia Viaduct spans the street of the same name.
Tip: Cross the viaduct along Calle Bailén to reach the palace from the cathedral side: the walk to Plaza de España skirts the Sabatini Gardens.
Next stop: 19 min walk (1.4 km)
7. Plaza de España
Free
Plaza de España
17:30 · 20 min
Redesigned in 2021, the square now links the Royal Palace and the Temple of Debod along a pedestrian promenade. In the middle stands the Cervantes monument with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza; around it rise the Edificio España and the Torre de Madrid, the skyscrapers the city built in the fifties.
Tip: From the square, follow Calle Ferraz uphill: the Temple of Debod park is five minutes away.
Next stop: 11 min walk (0.8 km)
Day 2 · Sunset and night
8. Temple of Debod
Free
Calle de Ferraz, 1
At sunset · 45 min
A 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple, gifted by Egypt to Spain for its help in saving the Nubian temples from the waters of the Aswan Dam. It was rebuilt stone by stone in this park in 1972 and is Madrid's most popular viewpoint at sunset.
Tip: The interior can be visited for free from Tuesday to Sunday, ideally booking ahead on the City Council's website as capacity is small. Outside, people come to see the temple's reflection in the water and the sky over the Casa de Campo.
Day 3
The Thyssen, the Salamanca Neighbourhood and Malasaña
The third great museum on the Paseo del Prado, 19th-century bourgeois Madrid, and the neighbourhoods with the best nightlife.
The day at a glance
Day 3 · Morning
1. Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
14 €
Paseo del Prado, 8
10:00 · 2 h
Best to book a timed ticket
The private collection of the Thyssen-Bornemisza barons, bought by the State in 1993. It fills the gaps in the Prado: Italian and Flemish primitives, Impressionists, German Expressionists, and American art, from Van Eyck and Caravaggio to Monet, Van Gogh, Hopper, and Lichtenstein.
Tip: Open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, and Saturdays until 23:00. On Mondays it only opens from 12:00 to 16:00, with free entry to the collection: if your third day is a Monday, change your morning schedule.
Next stop: 18 min walk (1.3 km)
2. National Archaeological Museum
3 €
Calle de Serrano, 13
12:30 · 1 h 30 min
From prehistory to the 19th century in a palace shared with the National Library. Here you will find the Lady of Elche, the Lady of Baza, the Visigothic crowns of the Treasure of Guarrazar, and, in the garden, a replica of the painted ceilings of Altamira.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 to 20:00, and Sundays and bank holidays from 9:30 to 15:00. No booking required.
Next stop: 4 min walk (0.3 km)
Day 3 · Midday
3. Salamanca Neighbourhood
Free
Calle de Serrano esquina con Goya
14:15 · 1 h 15 min
The grid extension laid out by the Marquis of Salamanca in the 19th century for the Madrid bourgeoisie: wide streets, mansions, grand doorways, and, on Serrano, Ortega y Gasset, and Goya, the major designer boutiques.
Tip: It is a great area for lunch: the streets perpendicular to Serrano have everything from market stalls to set menus. The Mercado de la Paz, on Calle Ayala, is one of the prettiest in the neighbourhood.
Next stop: 14 min walk (1.0 km)
Day 3 · Afternoon
4. Las Salesas and Church of Santa Bárbara
Free (during worship hours)
Calle del General Castaños, 2
15:45 · 20 min
The church of the former Salesas Reales convent, founded in the 18th century by Queen Bárbara de Braganza. Inside are the tombs of her and her husband, Fernando VI. Surrounding it is the Salesas neighbourhood, full of small shops, bookshops and design studios.
Tip: You can enter during worship hours. Stroll along Calle Argensola and Calle Fernando VI to see the neighbourhood's modernist buildings, such as the Longoria Palace.
Next stop: 7 min walk (0.5 km)
5. Chueca
Free
Plaza de Chueca
16:30 · 30 min
The neighbourhood that went from being run-down in the nineties to becoming Madrid's liveliest area and the heart of the LGBTQ+ community. Narrow streets, shops, terraces, and, in early July, the hub of the Pride celebrations.
Tip: The Mercado de San Antón, two streets away from the square, has a rooftop terrace. At night, the atmosphere shifts towards Calle Pelayo and Calle Libertad.
Next stop: 9 min walk (0.7 km)
6. Museum of Romanticism
Free until 30 November 2026; then 3 €
Calle de San Mateo, 13
17:10 · 1 h
An 18th-century palace furnished like a 19th-century bourgeois home: drawing rooms, a dining room, a piano, fans, and portraits, including a painting by Goya. The inner garden is one of the most peaceful spots in the centre.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. From November to April, it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 to 18:30 and Sundays from 10:00 to 15:00. Some rooms are closed for refurbishment.
Next stop: 7 min walk (0.5 km)
Day 3 · Sunset and night
7. Malasaña and Plaza del Dos de Mayo
Free
Plaza del Dos de Mayo
18:30 · As long as you like
The neighbourhood of the Movida madrileña of the eighties, now full of bars, vintage shops and terraces. The square remembers the uprising of 2 May 1808 against Napoleon's troops: the arch is all that remains of the Monteleón barracks, where Daoíz and Velarde held out.
Tip: The bars are clustered along Calle San Vicente Ferrer, Calle Espíritu Santo, and Calle del Pez. It is a good place for dinner without booking.
Day 4
Day Trip to Toledo
The city of three cultures, 34 minutes away by train. The entire historic centre can be explored on foot, with steep hills.
The day at a glance
- 9:151. Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes Station
- 9:502. Toledo Station
- 10:153. Plaza de Zocodover
- 10:454. Primate Cathedral
- 12:305. Church of Santo Tomé and The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
- 14:306. Synagogue of El Tránsito and Sephardic Museum
- 15:457. Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
- 16:158. Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
- At sunset9. San Martín Bridge
Day 4 · Morning
1. Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes Station
Train ticket not included
Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V
9:15 · Departure
Avant trains to Toledo depart from here. The historic 1892 iron and glass building is one of Madrid's most beautiful stations.
Tip: Buy your ticket in advance on the Renfe website: trains have allocated seating and early services fill up on weekends. There is roughly one train an hour.
Next stop: Avant train from Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes to Toledo
2. Toledo Station
Free
Paseo de la Rosa, 2
9:50 · 10 min
The station itself is worth a visit: a 1919 Neo-Mudéjar building with a clock tower, horseshoe arches and tiles, designed to introduce the city to travellers.
Tip: You can walk up to the historic centre in about 20 minutes, crossing the Tagus river via the Alcántara Bridge. If you want to avoid the hills, there are local buses and taxis right outside the station.
Next stop: 16 min walk (1.2 km)
3. Plaza de Zocodover
Free
Plaza de Zocodover
10:15 · 15 min
Toledo's main square, the former souk of the Muslim city and later the setting for markets, bullfights and executions. Above it looms the Alcázar, now the Army Museum.
Tip: The hill up to the Alcázar begins under the Arco de la Sangre. Comercio and Hombre de Palo streets lead straight to the Cathedral.
Next stop: 6 min walk (0.5 km)
4. Primate Cathedral
12 €
Calle del Cardenal Cisneros, 1
10:45 · 1 h 30 min
One of Europe's great Gothic cathedrals, started in the 13th century. Inside, you will find Narciso Tomé's Baroque Transparente, the carved choir, the Arfe monstrance and a sacristy featuring El Greco's The Disrobing of Christ, alongside works by Goya, Titian and Van Dyck.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:30 and Sundays from 14:00 to 18:30. Buy your ticket online or at the shop opposite the Puerta Llana, which is also the entrance.
Next stop: 5 min walk (0.4 km)
Day 4 · Midday
5. Church of Santo Tomé and The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
Paid entry
Plaza del Conde, 4
12:30 · 20 min
A small church with a Mudéjar tower housing one of El Greco's masterpieces: The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, painted for this very chapel. The knights attending the burial include portraits of Toledo locals from the time.
Tip: The visit is short and there is usually a queue: it is best to go before lunch. From here, the streets of the Jewish Quarter are full of places to eat.
Next stop: 2 min walk (0.2 km)
Day 4 · Afternoon
6. Synagogue of El Tránsito and Sephardic Museum
3 €
Calle de Samuel Leví, s/n
14:30 · 1 h
The synagogue built in the 14th century for Samuel ha-Levi, treasurer to King Pedro I: Mudejar plasterwork with Hebrew and Arabic inscriptions and a spectacular wooden coffered ceiling. It houses the Sephardic Museum, covering the history of Jews in the Peninsula.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. Entry is free on Saturdays from 14:00 and on Sundays.
Next stop: 2 min walk (0.2 km)
7. Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca
Paid entry
Calle de los Reyes Católicos, 4
15:45 · 20 min
A late 12th-century synagogue later converted into a church: five naves with white horseshoe arches on pillars with pinecone capitals. It is one of Toledo's most photographed interiors.
Tip: It is two minutes from El Tránsito. The visit is quick.
Next stop: 4 min walk (0.3 km)
8. Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes
Paid entry
Calle de los Reyes Católicos, 17
16:15 · 45 min
The monastery built by the Catholic Monarchs to celebrate the victory of Toro (1476). Its two-storey cloister is the finest example of Isabelline Gothic, and the chains of Christian captives freed in the Granada War still hang on its façade.
Tip: Go up to the upper cloister for a closer look at the coffered ceiling. It closes earlier than the Cathedral: check the opening times on their website.
Next stop: 5 min walk (0.4 km)
Day 4 · Sunset and night
9. San Martín Bridge
Free
Puente de San Martín
At sunset · 30 min
A medieval bridge over the Tagus, with defence towers at both ends. From here you can see the city perched above the river, and on the other side, the view of the historic centre turns orange at sunset.
Tip: To get back to the station, there are local buses and taxis; walking takes about 40 minutes. The last Avant train to Madrid leaves after 21:30: check the timetable on the Renfe website.
Day 5
Day Trip to Segovia
An aqueduct, a cathedral and an alcázar in a World Heritage city, less than half an hour by train from Chamartín.
The day at a glance
Day 5 · Morning
1. Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Station
Train and bus tickets not included
Calle de Agustín de Foxá, s/n
8:50 · Departure
Madrid's northern station, where high-speed trains to Segovia depart. You can get there by Cercanías from Sol or Atocha, and on Metro lines 1 and 10.
Tip: Buy your ticket on the Renfe website. Segovia-Guiomar Station is on the outskirts: local bus 11 links the station to the Aqueduct; bus 12 goes to the centre via a different route.
Next stop: Train from Chamartín-Clara Campoamor to Segovia-Guiomar (approx. 27 min) and local bus 11 to the Aqueduct (approx. 15 min)
2. Aqueduct of Segovia
Free
Plaza del Azoguejo
9:45 · 30 min
The best-preserved Roman structure in Spain, dating from the late 1st or early 2nd century: over 160 granite arches built without mortar, reaching almost 29 metres high in Plaza del Azoguejo. It carried water from the Frío river to the city.
Tip: Climb the stairs on the left of Azoguejo to the Postigo del Consuelo viewpoint: from the top, you can see the aqueduct head-on and at the height of the arches.
Next stop: 4 min walk (0.3 km)
3. Calle Real and Casa de los Picos
Free
Calle de Juan Bravo, 33
10:20 · 15 min
Calle Real runs up from the Aqueduct to Plaza Mayor through the heart of the city. Halfway up, the 15th-century Casa de los Picos has a facade covered in diamond-pointed granite blocks. Today it is an art school.
Tip: Calle Real is a mix of shops and bakeries: it is the perfect place to try ponche segoviano.
Next stop: 3 min walk (0.2 km)
4. Plaza de San Martín
Free
Plaza de San Martín
10:40 · 15 min
One of the most beautiful squares in Segovia: the Romanesque church of San Martín with its porticoed gallery, the statue of the comunero Juan Bravo, the Torreón de Lozoya, and noble houses from the 15th and 16th centuries.
Tip: Look closely at the capitals on the church portico, featuring scenes carved in stone.
Next stop: 5 min walk (0.4 km)
5. Segovia Cathedral
Paid entry
Calle del Marqués del Arco, 1
11:15 · 1 h
Known as the "lady of cathedrals", it is one of the last great Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Construction began in 1525 after the previous one was destroyed in the Revolt of the Comuneros. Its tower dominates the city skyline.
Tip: There are guided tours of the tower at set times; check their website for slots. Inside, the cloister is from the old cathedral, moved stone by stone.
Next stop: 2 min walk (0.1 km)
Day 5 · Midday
6. Plaza Mayor of Segovia
Free
Plaza Mayor
12:30 · 1 h 30 min
The centre of the city, featuring the bandstand, the Juan Bravo Theatre, and the church of San Miguel, where Isabella the Catholic was proclaimed queen in its atrium in 1474. Restaurants are clustered all around.
Tip: Segovia's signature dish is roast suckling pig; if you do not fancy a roast, the surrounding streets have plenty of tapas bars and set menus.
Next stop: 12 min walk (0.9 km)
Day 5 · Afternoon
7. Alcázar of Segovia
From 7 €; with the Tower of Juan II, 10 €
Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia, s/n
14:30 · 1 h 30 min
A fortress built on a rock at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers. It was a residence for the kings of Castile and an artillery college. It burned down in 1862 and was rebuilt with the sharp-towered profile that is its iconic image today.
Tip: From 1 November to 31 March, it is open from 10:00 to 18:00. The climb up the Tower of Juan II is bought separately; it has many steps, and from the top, you can see the whole city.
Next stop: 9 min walk (0.7 km)
Day 5 · Sunset and night
8. Pradera de San Marcos
Free
Pradera de San Marcos
At sunset · 30 min
The classic view of the Alcázar looking like the bow of a ship, seen from below next to the Eresma river. Nearby is the 13th-century church of Vera Cruz, which has a twelve-sided floor plan.
Tip: Walk down from the Alcázar via Cuesta de los Hoyos or Puerta de Santiago. To get back to the station, bus 11 leaves from the Aqueduct: allow for a 20-minute walk there and arrive at the stop with time to spare.
Day 6
Day Trip to El Escorial
Philip II's monastery, the town that grew around it, and a walk through the forest to the King's Chair.
The day at a glance
Day 6 · Morning
1. Moncloa Transport Interchange
Bus ticket separate
Calle de la Princesa, 89
9:00 · Departure
The underground bus station at Moncloa, on metro lines 3 and 6. Intercity buses 661 and 664 to San Lorenzo de El Escorial depart from here.
Tip: There are frequent departures, except on weekends: check the timetables on the Consorcio de Transportes de Madrid website.
Next stop: Bus 661 (via Galapagar) or 664 (via Guadarrama) to San Lorenzo bus station, then a few minutes on foot
2. Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
14 €
Avenida de Juan de Borbón y Battemberg, s/n
10:00 · 2 h 30 min
Best to book a timed ticket
Philip II's great project, built between 1563 and 1584 as a monastery, palace, basilica, and pantheon. You can visit the Pantheon of the Kings, the library with its frescoes, the basilica, the king's austere chambers, and the chapter houses, featuring works by Bosch, Titian, and Velázquez.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. From October to March, it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 16:45. EU citizens and residents enter for free on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons by getting tickets at the ticket office.
Next stop: 3 min walk (0.2 km)
Day 6 · Midday
3. Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Floridablanca
Free
Plaza de la Constitución
12:45 · 1 h 30 min
The centre of the town of San Lorenzo, featuring the Town Hall and streets of stone houses that grew around the monastery. Calle Floridablanca still has the tradesmen's houses built by Juan de Herrera to serve the court.
Tip: This is the area for restaurants and terraces. On weekdays, out of season, the town is very quiet.
Next stop: 2 min walk (0.1 km)
Day 6 · Afternoon
4. Real Coliseo de Carlos III
Free from the outside
Calle Floridablanca, 20
14:30 · 10 min
An 18th-century court theatre built for the royal family to enjoy performances during their stays in El Escorial. Inside, it retains its Italian-style auditorium and continues to host theatre and music.
Tip: You can only see the inside if you attend a performance. Check the schedule on their website if you are staying the night.
Next stop: 20 min walk (1.5 km)
5. La Herrería Forest
Free
Carretera de La Herrería
15:00 · 45 min
An oak and ash forest at the foot of the monastery, once a royal hunting ground. In autumn, the trees turn yellow and red, making the path one of the most beautiful walks around Madrid.
Tip: The path starts next to the south façade of the monastery and goes down the La Herrería road. Bring water and comfortable shoes.
Next stop: 15 min walk (1.1 km)
6. Silla de Felipe II
Free
Carretera de La Herrería
16:00 · 30 min
Granite rocks carved into seats where, according to tradition, Philip II watched the monastery being built. They are most likely a much older altar, but the view of the monastery over the forest and the plain towards Madrid is the best in the valley.
Tip: The walk back to the town takes about 40 minutes uphill. Plan ahead to catch a bus back to Moncloa before dark.
Day 7
Day Trip to Alcalá de Henares
The city of Cervantes, the world's first planned university city, just 39 minutes away by Cercanías train.
The day at a glance
Day 7 · Morning
1. Atocha Cercanías Station
Cercanías ticket separate
Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V
9:30 · Departure
Cercanías trains to Alcalá de Henares leave from Atocha station very frequently throughout the day.
Tip: Take lines C2 or C7 and get off at Alcalá de Henares station, not Alcalá-Universidad. You can use a travel pass or a single Cercanías ticket.
Next stop: Cercanías C2 or C7 from Atocha to Alcalá de Henares (39 min) and about a 15 min walk to Plaza de Cervantes
2. Plaza de Cervantes
Free
Plaza de Cervantes
10:30 · 20 min
Alcalá's main square, featuring the statue of Cervantes, the bandstand, and the Santa María tower, the remains of the church where the writer was baptised. The University and the historic centre have been a World Heritage Site since 1998.
Tip: There is a tourist office right in the square with maps and schedules for the day's guided tours.
Next stop: 2 min walk (0.1 km)
3. Corral de Comedias
Paid guided tour
Plaza de Cervantes, 15
10:50 · 45 min
A 1601 courtyard theatre, one of the oldest in Europe. It served as a romantic theatre and a cinema before returning to its original layout, complete with the courtyard, galleries, and stage where plays by Lope and Calderón were performed.
Tip: It can be visited with a guide at set times and still hosts theatre performances. Check the schedule on the Corral's website.
Next stop: 3 min walk (0.2 km)
4. University: Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso
Courtyards free; paid guided tour
Plaza de San Diego, s/n
12:00 · 1 h
The founding building of the university created by Cardinal Cisneros in the late 15th century. Its Plateresque façade is one of the most beautiful of the Spanish Renaissance, and the King and Queen present the Cervantes Prize in the Paraninfo every year.
Tip: The courtyards are free to enter; the Paraninfo and the San Ildefonso Chapel, housing Cisneros' tomb, are only accessible by guided tour. Check the university's website for opening times.
Next stop: 5 min walk (0.4 km)
Day 7 · Midday
5. Calle Mayor
Free
Calle Mayor
13:15 · 1 h 30 min
One of the longest arcaded streets in Spain, the heart of the old Jewish quarter. Its stone and wooden columns support 15th and 16th-century houses with shops and bars underneath.
Tip: In Alcalá, it is customary to serve a tapa with every drink: a great place to eat while going from bar to bar.
Next stop: 2 min walk (0.1 km)
Day 7 · Afternoon
6. Cervantes Birthplace Museum
Free
Calle Mayor, 48
15:00 · 45 min
The house where, according to tradition, Miguel de Cervantes was born in 1547. It has been reconstructed as a wealthy 16th-century home around a courtyard with a well. It features a collection of Don Quixote editions in many languages.
Tip: At the door, a bench with statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza is a must-take photo.
Next stop: 4 min walk (0.3 km)
7. Magistral Cathedral
Free entry to the cathedral; paid entry for the tower and museum
Plaza de los Santos Niños, s/n
16:00 · 30 min
A Gothic cathedral built on the site where the Holy Children Justo and Pastor were martyred. It is 'magistral' because its canons had to be doctors of Theology: a title it only shares with St Peter's in Leuven, Belgium.
Tip: Check the schedule on their website: tourist visits, including the crypt and tower, have specific time slots outside of worship hours.
Next stop: 7 min walk (0.5 km)
Day 7 · Sunset and night
8. Archbishop's Palace
Free from the outside
Plaza del Palacio
At sunset · 15 min
The walled residence of the Archbishops of Toledo in Alcalá, featuring fortified towers. Catherine of Aragon, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs and Queen of England, was born here, and it is where Isabella the Catholic and Christopher Columbus first met.
Tip: It can only be seen from the outside. To return, the station is about a 20-minute walk away; trains to Madrid leave very frequently until late at night.
If you have time to spare
- Aranjuez. The Royal Palace and the gardens along the Tagus river, including the Jardín del Príncipe and the Casa del Labrador. You can get there on the C3 Cercanías train from Atocha or Sol; check timetables on the Renfe website.
- Bernabéu Tour. The renovated Real Madrid stadium, featuring a museum, changing rooms, and panoramic views from the top. Tickets from 37 € online; by metro, get off at Santiago Bernabéu.
- CaixaForum Madrid. Temporary exhibitions in a former power station opposite the Royal Botanical Garden, featuring a vertical garden on its facade.
More itineraries in Madrid
Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Puerta del Sol (Matt Joseph, CC BY-SA 4.0); Plaza Mayor (Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0); Royal Palace (Basilio, CC BY-SA 4.0); Almudena Cathedral (Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0); Mercado de San Miguel (Juan Antonio Flores Segal from Madrid (Spain), CC BY 2.0); Barrio de las Letras (Gerda Arendt, CC0); Prado Museum (Emilio J. Rodríguez Posada, CC BY-SA 2.0); Retiro Park (Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0); Cibeles and Gran Vía (El fosilmaníaco, CC BY-SA 3.0); Reina Sofía Museum (Joseolgon, CC BY 4.0); Lavapiés (Liberaler Humanist, CC BY-SA 3.0); El Rastro (Javier Perez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0); La Latina: Cava Baja and Plaza de la Paja (Ricardo Ricote Rodríguez from Madrid, España, CC BY 2.0); Royal Basilica of San Francisco el Grande (Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0); Las Vistillas (Luis García (Zaqarbal), CC BY-SA 3.0); Plaza de España (Leeturtle, CC BY-SA 3.0); Temple of Debod (Adrian Diez, CC BY-SA 3.0); Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum (Luis García (Zaqarbal), CC BY-SA 3.0); National Archaeological Museum (Javier Pérez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0); Salamanca Neighbourhood (Asqueladd, CC BY-SA 3.0); Las Salesas and Church of Santa Bárbara (Zarateman, CC0); Chueca (Zarateman, CC0); Museum of Romanticism (Gerda Arendt, CC0); Malasaña and Plaza del Dos de Mayo (Nicolas Vigier from Paris, France, CC0); Puerta de Atocha-Almudena Grandes Station (CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS, CC BY-SA 4.0); Toledo Station (King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0); Plaza de Zocodover (Lourdes Cardenal, CC BY-SA 3.0); Primate Cathedral (Ana Aranguren, CC BY-SA 3.0 es); Church of Santo Tomé and The Burial of the Count of Orgaz (CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS, CC BY-SA 4.0); Synagogue of El Tránsito and Sephardic Museum (Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0); Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca (Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0); Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes (Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0); San Martín Bridge (Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0); Chamartín-Clara Campoamor Station (Lojwe, CC0); Aqueduct of Segovia (Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0); Calle Real and Casa de los Picos (Palickap, CC BY-SA 4.0); Plaza de San Martín (Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0); Segovia Cathedral (Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0); Plaza Mayor of Segovia (Emilio J. Rodríguez Posada, CC BY-SA 4.0); Alcázar of Segovia (Selbymay, CC BY-SA 3.0); Pradera de San Marcos (Malopez 21, CC BY-SA 4.0); Moncloa Transport Interchange (Draceane, CC BY-SA 4.0); Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (José Luis Filpo Cabana, CC BY 3.0); Plaza de la Constitución and Calle Floridablanca (Zarateman, CC0); Real Coliseo de Carlos III (Dorieo, CC BY-SA 4.0); La Herrería Forest (Dorieo, CC BY-SA 3.0); Silla de Felipe II (Esetena, CC BY-SA 3.0); Atocha Cercanías Station (CARLOS TEIXIDOR CADENAS, CC BY-SA 4.0); Plaza de Cervantes (Raimundo Pastor, CC BY-SA 4.0); Corral de Comedias (Zarateman, CC0); University: Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso (Raimundo Pastor, CC BY-SA 4.0); Calle Mayor (Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY 2.0); Cervantes Birthplace Museum (MottaW, CC BY 4.0); Magistral Cathedral (Zarateman, CC0); Archbishop's Palace (Raimundo Pastor, CC BY-SA 4.0).