Two Day Budget Itinerary for Madrid, Spain

If you ever find yourself in Spain, you have to take a trip to its capital — the insanely cool city of Madrid! This place has it all: castles, cathedrals, tapas, history, sangria, and some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. It honestly felt like a wild mix of New York City and Washington D.C., just with way more charm and sunshine. I only had two days in Madrid, but I could’ve easily spent weeks wandering around and still not seen it all. So, if you’re planning a short trip to Spain and want to make the most of it without spending a ton, here’s a quick and easy Madrid itinerary to help you hit the highlights — all on a budget! I hope you enjoy this 2 day itinerary for Madrid on a budget!

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What To Bring To Madrid

Rick Steves Spain Travel Guide Book

• I am typically not one for one for any type of guide book or tour. However, this is something I will 10000% bring with me every time! This book has everything- from walking routes, culture tips, emergency number, and more! 10/10 recommend!

MUST-HAVE TRAVEL PRODUCTS FOR 2025!

• Everything you could need for your trip! One… another blog post. Two… an Amazon list!

Stay Reachable!

I’m not one for going off the grid; this is a great way to stay in touch with your parents (since mine are always stressed the whole time I’m gone!). Use AIRLO! The best ESIM out there!

DAY 1: Explore Central Madrid on Foot

Wander!

You could just wander around this city forever without getting bored. Start your day by heading towards the center of the city and just exploring! Head wherever the wind takes you. For the first half of the day, go check out some of the places below! Make sure you have comfy walking shoes and a full water bottle, because you’re about to get your steps in! All of the places below are within walking distance, so no need to taxi or bus or train!

• Start out at Puerta del Sol (far right!)

• Head over to La Mallorquina Bakery (second to right)! It’s adorable and has the most delicious and beautiful pastries! Take a second to sit and catch your breath, eat some chocolate croissants, have some coffee, and hit the road again!

• Plaza Mayor! This is one of the most famous plazas in Madrid! It’s beautiful and definitely worth checking out.

• Wander over to Plaza de la Armería. Surprise surprise! Another plaza! Super cool, super old, super awesome. The buildings are perfectly crafted and so full of history! This was a personal favorite.

• Go explore Palacio Royal! You can walk around and look at it from the outside for free. Admission is 12 euros if you want to head inside!

Lunchtime!

This lunch was my favorite in all of Madrid! Head over to Mercado de San Miguel, an incredible indoor market with tons of seafood, empanadas, fruit, drinks, and pretty much everything you could think of!

Museum!

After lunch, go explore the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía! This is an incredible spot with famous Picasso paintings! It’s beautiful and 100% worth a visit. Prices vary depending on if you get them online, what day it is, etc. but expect to pay about 12 euros.

Dinner

Inside the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, there’s an adorable restaurant on the first floor by the exit called El Jardín. They have fantastic food and drinks. Be sure to take a look! Eat dinner here and then treat yourself to some ice cream from one of the hundreds of heladerias on the street!

Discoteca

After dinner, start getting ready to go out! There’s an awesome discoteca (which is basically just a bar but a little fancier) called Kapital! Head over around 12 a.m. and explore the seven floors of this discoteca, which even include a karaoke floor!

Day 2

Parque de El Retiro

This park in Madrid is gigantic! You could spend days here and not see everything! It’s beautiful and a must-visit spot in Madrid! Explore the lake, take a boat ride, and go see the Palacio de Cristal! Inside the park is also an incredible garden that you’ve got to check out. It’s called La Rosadela de Retiro. Everything is within walking distance. Just plug it into your Apple Maps and off you go!

Lunch

Grab a quick lunch inside the park at a little stand! There’s also ice cream and churros with chocolate all over the place, so be sure to try both!

Museum

After your morning in the park, walk over to the Museo Nacional del Prado. This is another incredible museum in Madrid that’s worth seeing! It costs around 15 euros but is definitely worth it.

Plaza and Dinner!

Head over to Plaza de Cibeles. You can see the incredible palace, as well as go inside and climb to the top for a rooftop view of Madrid! AND it only costs 3 euros! Best thing ever. In addition to that, get dinner on a rooftop overlooking Madrid at the Terraza Cibeles Cocktail Bar. Have a nice night in, watching the sun set over the city.

Madrid Travel Tips

• My first tip is to download the app Voi. This is an electric scooter app when you can find scooters and ride them around from place to place. These are SUPER handy when you’re exhausted, and even if you’re not exhausted, its super fun!

• Keep an eye out for pickpockets! Especially in a big city like Madrid, they are everywhere! Keep a hand on your bag at all times, and don’t keep your passport, phone, or money exposed at any time!

• There are a ton of crazy looking people dressed up as Elmo, bears, Mario, and literally everything else. DON’T TAKE A PICTURE OF THEM OR WITH THEM! They will press you to pay them and intimidate and scare you. Generally, as a rule of thumb, keep your distance!

• Another thing to look out for, but a good thing this time, are the street names! They’re written or painted or decorated onto buildings on every street, often with a mural or some other little painting or ceramic! This was one of my favorite parts about Madrid and Spain in general!

Thanks For Reading!

And just like that, my 2 days in Madrid flew by! This city totally stole my heart — from the churros and sangria to the late-night karaoke floors and peaceful parks. If you’re trying to figure out what to do in Madrid in 48 hours, I hope this little guide helps you hit the highlights, especially if you’re traveling on a budget.

There are honestly so many free things to do in Madrid that I never felt like I was missing out — just walking around and soaking up the vibes was half the fun. If you’re looking for a quick Madrid short trip idea or you’re planning a longer adventure through Spain, definitely keep this spot high on your list.

Also, if you have any go-to spots I missed — like your personal pick for the best food in Madrid or secret budget-friendly gems — let me know! I’m always down for more Madrid travel tips, especially the kind that don’t break the bank. And if you found this Madrid itinerary helpful, save it, share it, or send it to a friend who needs help figuring out things to do in Madrid on a budget. Happy exploring!