First morning 

10:00 - Art with capital letters: the Art Triangle

There is a wide variety of art in Madrid, both in terms of quantity and quality, and although you may only spending forty-eight hours in the city, you cannot leave without at least taking a look at some of the best museums in the world. 

You can begin your Madrid adventure by heading to the Art Triangle (Reina Sofía, Prado and Thyssen) museums. Given that it would be impossible to visit them all, on this first visit we will focus on the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. 

Everything in this museum is amazing, but the second floor is really exceptional; this is where you will find Picasso's Guernica and a fantastic collection of Dalí paintings. 

Although your heads may be filled with images, make sure you take note of the impressive glass lifts and the building complex itself, designed by the architects José de Hermosilla and Francesco Sabatini.

12:00 - Through the Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter)

After visiting the Reina Sofía museum, it is nice to wander through theBarrio de Las Letras (located only 5 minutes away) and breathe in the air of the intellectual and literary side of Madrid. These streets were home to some of the most important figures of the Spanish Golden Age of literature such as Quevedo, Gongora and Lope de Vega. Several of open-air theatres of the time were also located here but are now no more than a memory. If you need a break after taking in everything in the museum, you can sit on one of the terraces on the Plaza de Santa Ana, from where you will be able to see the façade of the Teatro Español (one of the old theatres). 

Another option is to enjoy a cool drink on the street called Calle Huertas, which owes it name to the fact that there were vegetable gardens (huertas) bordering this street until the 16th century. Keep an eye on the street surface as you walk, as you would not want to miss one of this area's unique features: the street paving is covered in prose and poetry quotes from authors such as Cervantes and Calderon de la Barca. If your legs are up to it, continue walking as there is a lot to see and enjoy. You will find a wide variety of shops on this street that run from the most traditional to the most avant-garde. Before eating, you can also head towards number 87 on Calle Atocha. This is where Juan de la Cuesta's printing works were located and the site where the first edition of Don Quijote de La Mancha was printed in 1604, as commemorated by a plaque at the site. 

First afternoon 

14:00 - Drinks and tapas

Making the most of the fact you are in a district that has everything, it is a good idea to find a nice spot to eat. For tapas simply go to Estado Puro in Plaza Cánovas del Castillo, where we will find traditional designer tapas and well-drawn beers. 

If, on the other hand, yo want to sit down and relax in a more cosy environment, then try La Vaca Verónica (Moratín, No. 38) where they will delight you with a menu full of simple but delicious dishes, especially the veal sweetbreads. 

To finish off the meal, you can go to Plaza del Ángel and have a coffee at Café Central; a legendary spot that has been putting on daily jazz concerts for over twenty years. They have never missed a day and the musicians are top-quality. 

While you are in the area, you could over to the neighbouring Calle Atocha and go see the Häagen-Dazs Calderón Theatre, one of the city centre's most beautiful buildings, opened in 1917 with the name Teatro Odeón. 

16:00 - An essential "retreat"

Before tackling the rest of the day's tour, what better than a leisurely stroll around the park known as El Retiro ("The Retreat"), where you will be able to see one of the very few statues of the devil that exist in the world. The Fountain of the Fallen Angel, by the sculptor Ricardo Bellver, depicts the moment Lucifer is expelled from paradise and condemned to hell, with a snake coiled around his neck. Created in 1855, it is one of the attractions of this green area located right in the heart of Madrid's city centre. 

During your walk through the park it would be impossible to not notice a very unusual building, the Palacio de Cristal. It was built in 1887 for the Philippines Exhibition and is "inspired" by the famous Crystal Palace in London.

In general, these gardens are ideal for taking the children to see puppet shows, for a boat ride on the lake, etc. Indeed, El Retiro's lake is one of the most emblematic spots in the park. At one time there was even a stage in the middle of the lake where small-scale theatre performances on Sundays and classical music concerts were held. 

There are a couple of more must-see places in the vicinity of the park: one, at the southern exit, alongside the Paseo del Prado, is Calle Claudio de Moyano, better known as Moyano's Hill and famous for the booksellers' stands set up beside the railings of the Botanical Gardens. The other is Atocha station, which was the first railway station in Spain for national routes and houses an indoor greenhouse that is a breathtaking sight.

18:00 - The most authentic route

After leaving El Retiro, take Calle Antonio Maura, then Carrera de San Jerónimo and head towards Plaza Mayor. Along the way, you will get the ancient and traditional sensations of bygone centuries thanks to the traditional shops selling everything from combs to sweets. Once in Plaza Mayor (where stalls for stamp and coin collectors are set up every Sunday) make sure you view the Arco de los Cuchilleros. This is perhaps the most famous of the plaza's nine gates. Built by Juan de Villanueva, the arched gate has several bars and restaurants. 

Although t is not quite dinner time yet, it is worth taking a break in El Sobrino de Botín restaurant, founded in 1725. Apart from the quality of its food, this restaurant is famous because it is mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest restaurant in the world... still in operation, of course. Another option would be to sample a traditional cocido madrileño (Madrid stew) in La Bola bar or in Lhardyrestaurant, where they serve one of the best stews in Madrid. 

Before eating, take a detour to see the very famous and much-photographed Puerta del Sol. There you will find two of the most-photographed symbols of the city: the slab that marks kilometre zero for all Spain's motorways and the statue of El Oso y el Madroño (that is, the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the two element on the city's coat of arms). 

20:30 - Rest in La Latina

It has been a long and eventful day and Madrid's nightlife awaits you. Taking advantage of the fact that you are in the old quarter, stay and have dinner in the district known as La Latina. This area is lively and bustling seven nights a week and there are so many good places that the problem will be choosing just one; however, to name just a few options you can try La Posada de la Villa (Calle Almendro, 13), El Viajero (Plaza Cebada, 11) or, the popular Casa Lucioin particular, which was awarded a Repsol Sol, where you can taste its speciality egg dish, "los Huevos de Lucio"…

You can eat anything from traditional scrambled eggs or tripe stew, to a good calamari roll for those on a tighter budget. Alternatively, there are also high-quality options for more refined palates with more generous budgets. 

23:30 – Beyond the Madrid nightlife scene

With dinner over, you cannot end the day without having a few beers and enjoying Madrid's nightlife in places such as El Bonanno tavern (one of the area's most fashionable spots) or La Corolla, where they combine good wine and good music. 

And for those who are in no hurry to turn in, there is Berlín Cabaret; a venue where you are sure to be entertained by comedians, magicians and showgirls. 

Alternatively, if you prefer more sophisticated venues, you may need to move through the city a bit. At this time of night there is not too much traffic and you will soon be in the places frequented by Madrid's beautiful people, such as Castellana 88,  Fortuny, El Confidencial, Bisú or Novísimo. 

You can end the night in any of these places but you might want to keep an eye on the clock because there is more Madrid to see tomorrow.

Second morning 

09:30 - Taking it slow

You can start this second and final day in Madrid by doing something that is typical for those who live in Madrid on a Sunday or a public holiday morning: walk around El Rastro, Spain's largest open-air market. 

Here we can find everything from typical souvenirs to craftwork, vintage clothing, records, second-hand books, stickers, stamps, antique furniture and just about anything you could imagine. 

In this small universe, which is not for those who do not like crowds, it is advisable to wander around and take your time rummaging through the stands while you watch real characters, such as the wafer biscuit vendors or the clowns that hand out balloons and smiles to children.

12:00 – La Castellana: Monuments and exclusive shopping

Leaving the "old and narrow" Madrid for something more modern and monumental. One thing that surprises visitors to the capital is the monumental scale of its plazas, buildings and palaces. Perhaps people from Madrid are used to it but not those visiting the city for the first time. 

The National Library, with its impressive façade and the neighbouring Plaza de Colon, with its Jardines del Descubrimiento in the eastern part are two good examples. 

Walking all of Paseo de la Castellana on foot be a little tiring, but it is worth it, as it is the city's main thoroughfare. On either side you will see the ministries, embassies and the head offices of the most important banks. This is the bustling business side of Madrid with its new icons (the Torre Picasso or the Torre Europa in the AZCA business complex, among others) that hide many surprises. 

One of these is the Open-Air Sculpture Museum (under Enrique de la Mata Gorostizaga bridge). There you can view sculptures by Botero, Chillida and other contemporary artists.

Alternatively, for those who are not so struck on seeing loads of monuments, we have a plan B: Shopping along Madrid's "Golden Mile". A set of streets in which the city's luxury boutiques are located. 

During your walk along La Castellana, you will reach Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Here you can take a detour and go in along Calles Serrano, Ortega y Gasset, Príncipe de Vergara, Velázquez, Jorge Juan…

Here you will find a new temptation at each turn: Versace, Dolce&Gabanna, Hermès, Chanel, among other brand names on Ortega y Gasset. Loewe,  Adolfo Domínguez or Cartier on Calle Serrano, to give a few examples. A marvel for the senses but a real challenge for the wallet.

Second afternoon 

13:30 - Temple of football

By this time you will be getting peckish and be looking for a place to eat. As you are already in La Castellana, you could do something unusual but fantastic: head towards the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium and try some first-rate suckling pig in one of the two restaurants inside this emblematic football stadium:  Puerta 57 and Real Café Bernabéu. Meanwhile, you can view the pitch and stadium used by the stars of Real Madrid, live and in person. 

For families, the best thing is to visit the museum first and let the little ones (and not so little ones) get carried away with the multitude of trophies and memories. For those that are not such big football fans, there are nice restaurants in Concha Espina. Try the delicious char-grilled meats (Aragon-style) at El Antiguo Cachirulo (Concha Espina, no. 4). In José Luís (Calle Rafael Salgado, no. 11), recommended by the Repsol Guide, you observe tradition and eat a tasty Madrid stew, the house speciality. 

16:30 - Enlightened café

Leaving the football scene and returning to intellectual Madrid, and, as it is time for coffee, take the Metro from Santiago Bernabéu and get off at Colón. This will bring you out on Paseo de Recoletos, where you can head towards number 21. This is the city's literary café par excellence: Café Gijón. 

Since 1888, this unmissable spot has been bringing together the cream of the Madrid's literary and art worlds and during the post-war period it was a hub for cultural talks, gatherings and debates. You rarely go there for a coffee without bumping into a recognisable face. It is the perfect spot to take a break reading the newspaper and recoup energies for the last stage of your tour. 

18:00 - Heart of street-life

Before immersing yourselves in Chueca, the perfect street-life district, take a stroll around the area surrounding Plaza de Callao. This is one of the city's nerve centres and a meeting point for many Madrid citizens. Along these streets you will find cinemas, you can spend an afternoon shopping in the department stores and shops or relax drinking a coffee on any of the cafe terraces. Just five minutes away is the end of your tour: Chueca. This very well-known district of Madrid, located alongside the Gran Vía between Calle Fuencarral and Calle Barquillo, is famous for it spirit of freedom, conviviality and fun. Plaza de Chueca, Plaza del Rey and Plaza Vázquez de Mella are at the heart of the action. 

Throughout the day these streets are filled with people who put the world to rights over a coffee or the second-last beer. Its streets have been the backdrop for many films, particularly by Pedro Almodóvar, such as Tie me up, Tie me down, with Antonio Banderas. Such is Chueca's fame that it is also mentioned in a large number of Spanish songs. Here you can check out the other side of Madrid; simply take a walk along its streets looking at shop windows of every kind. The more daring can opt for a surreal haircut, but you can also buy trinkets, look at graffiti and buy vintage clothing at a good price and which will serve as a reminder to come back again another time.

More information: 
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