MacQueen

• Royal Palace (Palacio Real) - timed - dq
  • Arrive at opening time. Book a timed-entry ticket online in advance.
  • Spend 1–1.5 hours inside (Throne Room, state apartments, armoury).
  • Also see the exterior of Almudena Cathedral next door and Plaza de Oriente.
• Prado Museum - timed - (90–120 minutes is realistic) dq
  • Velázquez’s Las Meninas
  • Goya’s works (including the Black Paintings)
  • El Greco and Bosch

Morning: Historic Core & Royal Madrid

09:00 – Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
Arrive at opening time. Book a timed-entry ticket online in advance.
Spend 1–1.5 hours inside (Throne Room, state apartments, armoury).
Also see the exterior of Almudena Cathedral next door and Plaza de Oriente.

10:45 – Plaza Mayor & surroundings
Walk through the Austrias quarter.
Stop at Mercado de San Miguel for a quick snack or coffee.
Continue to Puerta del Sol (Km 0 of Spain).
Midday: Art & Lunch

12:00 – Prado Museum
Book tickets online. Focus on the highlights (90–120 minutes is realistic):

    Velázquez’s Las Meninas
    Goya’s works (including the Black Paintings)
    El Greco and Bosch

13:30–14:45 – Lunch
Options:

    Tapas in La Latina (Cava Baja area)
    Classic bocadillo de calamares near Plaza Mayor
    Casual spot in Barrio de las Letras

Afternoon: Park & Views

15:00 – Parque del Retiro
Stroll the park (Crystal Palace, the big pond/Estanque, and gardens).
Very pleasant after the museum.

16:30 – Optional short walk
Puerta de Alcalá and Plaza de Cibeles if you have energy.
Evening: Sunset & Tapas

18:00–19:00 – Templo de Debod
Egyptian temple with excellent sunset views over the western part of the city. Free entry.

Afterwards – Dinner & nightlife

    Tapas crawl in La Latina or Malasaña
    Or a more formal dinner near Gran Vía

Quick Tips

    Must-book in advance: Royal Palace and Prado Museum tickets.
    Walking distance: Roughly 6–8 km total (very manageable).
    Transport: Almost everything is walkable. Use Metro only if needed (Lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 are useful).
    Pace adjustment:
        Short on time → Skip the full Prado interior and just do the exterior + Retiro.
        Love art → Spend more time at the Prado and drop Templo de Debod.