Madrid is one of those cities that you never get tired of visiting. So whether it is your first time or you feel like revisiting the most emblematic spots of this great city, from Hoteles Silken we suggest 2 urban walking routes around Madrid. Don’t forget to let yourself go!
Madrid in 24 h
What to see in the centre
The first route we suggest is the longest one, about 7 kilometres to see Madrid in one day. If you have more time, you can divide the route. It is especially recommended to reserve at least a full day for museums: the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum or the Reina Sofía Art Centre are just some of the places you will pass along the way. A special mention goes to La Casa Encendida, where in addition to exhibitions you will always find concerts and performances. Starting point: This route begins at Plaza de Colón, one of the most emblematic places in Madrid. From any of the Silken hotels you can get there comfortably by metro, directly with line 2 from Hotel Silken Torre Garden stopping at Príncipe de Vergara, or by transferring also to line 2 if you are staying at Hotel Silken Puerta Madrid. From Hotel Serrano by Silken you can get there with a walk of about 10 minutes.
Madrid in one day
On this circular route you will pass through the most essential Madrid in 24 hours. Starting, as mentioned, at Plaza de Colón, continue along the iconic Puerta de Alcalá and from there to the equally famous Cibeles fountain where Real Madrid celebrates its victories – Atlético fans celebrate at the nearby Neptuno fountain. Afterwards, we invite you to take Gran Vía until you reach Plaza Callao, unmistakable thanks to the famous Schweppes neon sign on the Carrión building. Once you have taken the obligatory photo, continue east towards Plaza España, a large green space in the city centre, although even greener are the beautiful Sabatini Gardens of the Royal Palace of Madrid, which you can visit afterwards. The complex is large and you may spend a couple of hours there, so afterwards the reward will be some well-deserved tapas in Plaza Mayor. After the break, it is time for the famous Puerta del Sol, the place where the New Year’s Eve chimes are broadcast and also where kilometre 0 of Spain’s radial roads is located, along with the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree and the iconic Tío Pepe sign. Once the snapshots are taken, the next stop is the Congress of Deputies before heading into the 120 hectares of Retiro Park, where the route ends.
Madrid in 48 hours
The most iconic museums
48 hours in Madrid go a long way if well planned, although the truth is that a single in-depth visit to any of the museums we suggest could last weeks. In fact, it is not unusual to find art students taking advantage of their free time to sit in front of the most famous works and reproduce them in their own style. So that you know what not to miss, we suggest a small guide to each of the essential museums in Madrid. You will see that most of them are very close to each other in what is known as the “Art Triangle”.
Prado Museum
Address: Calle Ruiz de Alarcón 23.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 and Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 19:00
Works you must not miss: Las Meninas by Velázquez or The Nude Maja by Goya
Free: Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to 20:00 and Sundays and holidays from 17:00 to 19:00
Reina Sofía Art Centre
Address: Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00 except Tuesdays when it is closed. Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00
Works you must not miss: Guernica by Picasso
Free: Monday from 19:00 to 21:00, Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00 to 21:00 and Sunday from 13:30 to 19:00, as well as specific holidays published on their website
Cosmocaixa
Address: Paseo del Prado, 36
Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 20:00
Works you must not miss: temporary exhibitions. What is always worth seeing is its vertical garden visible from the outside.
Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
Address: Paseo del Prado, 8
Opening hours: Monday from 12:00 to 16:00, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00
Works you must not miss: Hotel Room, Edward Hopper
Free: Mondays from 12:00 to 16:00, access to the permanent collection is free thanks to one of its sponsors.
We hope you enjoy your stay in Madrid. Remember that you can book Hoteles Silken at the best price on our website.
