Maison Privé
Updated October 2026 · By Henry, founder of Maison Privé Experiences — guiding in Madrid for 8 years
I have been guiding visitors through Madrid for eight years, and every time I walk out the door I still see something new: a neoclassical façade I had never looked up at, a small detail carved into a monument. That is the first thing to know about Madrid — it rewards the person who looks twice.
If you are planning a first visit, here is my honest advice: what to see, what to eat, which neighborhoods to wander and how to plan three days without turning your vacation into a checklist.
Three days is ideal. Two days works if you plan well — see our 48 hours in Madrid itinerary.
Before the monuments, the people. Madrid is alive. You feel the courtesy of the people and you feel the happiness. It is as if you breathe this city — as if it truly has a heart, and we are all part of one living being. You can visit many beautiful capitals; very few make you feel that.
Plan two to three hours. Start with the Royal Palace and the Plaza de Oriente, then walk to Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. Late morning works well, followed by lunch nearby. A private Royal Palace tour lets you see the State Rooms at your own pace.
Choose the Prado for the Spanish masters — Velázquez, Goya, El Greco — or the Reina Sofía for modern art, including Picasso's Guernica. You do not need both in one day. With limited time, a private Prado tour shows you the masterpieces in about 90 minutes.
Rent a rowboat on the lake, visit the Crystal Palace and take a slow coffee walk. It is the best place in the city to rest between sights, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
An ancient Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid, in a park with views over the city. Arrive a little early to find a good spot for the golden hour.
Walk along Gran Vía when the buildings light up, stop for a drink, catch a musical, or explore the bars of Malasaña and Chueca. Madrid goes to bed late.
This is the part I would never skip. Every neighborhood in Madrid has its own personality, and walking from one to the next is the real sightseeing.
You cross into Salamanca and suddenly you feel like dressing well and walking slowly in the shade of its trees. Elegant streets, beautiful buildings and a calm that is very different from the center.
The Retiro is truly spectacular, and next to the lake stands the Monument to Alfonso XII, which looks like it has its own movie. Go and see it — and look up at the details.
The Barrio de las Letras, and Calle Huertas in particular, is something difficult to explain until you walk it. The Plaza de Matute and its street are perfect for a coffee, a glass of wine or a brothy rice (arroz caldoso).
For me, the best place to drink a vermouth like a local. Traditional taverns, small plates and a Sunday-morning atmosphere that Madrileños love. This is also the best area for a tapas crawl.
I will say it plainly: for me, there is no better sunset than Madrid's, and the best place to see it is the Parque del Oeste. If you know a better one anywhere in the world, email me at henry@prive-experiences.com — I will probably book a flight.
The food is great. In my opinion, Madrid is the second-best place to eat in Spain, right behind the Basque Country — and you should not miss that one either.
Have a fourth day? Take a day trip: a private Toledo day trip, or the most authentic village near Madrid on our Patones de Arriba day trip.
Madrid is walkable, but the distances add up, and jet lag is real. A private electric tuk-tuk tour with hotel pickup covers the historic center in one or two hours, with a local guide and photo stops. Traveling as a couple or celebrating something? Look at Madrid Romantic Escape or The Birthday Escape.
See the highlights with a local guide who loves this city. Hotel pickup available, from €89 per vehicle.
See details & book →Three days is ideal to see the main sights, wander a few neighborhoods and enjoy the food. With two days you can cover the essentials if you plan ahead.
The Royal Palace and historic center, the Prado Museum, Retiro Park, a tapas and vermouth crawl in La Latina, sunset at Parque del Oeste or the Temple of Debod, and an evening on Gran Vía.
Barrio de Salamanca for elegant streets, the Barrio de las Letras (Calle Huertas and Plaza de Matute) for cafés and rice dishes, La Latina and Cava Baja for tapas and vermouth, and Malasaña and Chueca for nightlife.
In our guide's opinion, the Parque del Oeste. The Temple of Debod, in the same park area, is also a classic sunset spot.
Yes. Madrid combines world-class art, great food, beautiful parks and friendly people, and it is easy to get around on foot, by Metro or on a private tour.
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