How to Spend a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Madrid

I'm Carol Cram, novelist and arts travel writer, and founder of Art In Fiction, a curated database of 2,700+ novels inspired by the arts. Artsy Traveler contains affiliate links for products and services I personally use and recommend. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the Disclosure for more information.

Madrid was a revelation. I had the opportunity to spend two weeks there while Gregg Simpson (husband, artist, frequent travel partner) had an art exhibition and I wondered what I’d do with myself.

I needn’t have worried. Madrid has so much to offer the Artsy Traveler that even after two weeks, I had plenty of reasons to return..

And while Madrid’s infectious energy rewards as much time as you can give it, you can, in one well-planned day, savor an enjoyable slice of what makes Madrid distinctive.

My Perfect Day itinerary distills that experience into one well-planned day that captures what makes Madrid distinctive. You’ll balance art, relaxed wandering, and memorable meals — and save the best for last with a flamenco performance that will leave you breathless.

Treat my Perfect Day itinerary as a framework rather than a checklist. Swap elements as you like, linger where curiosity pulls you, and leave room for serendipity. That is often when the most rewarding travel moments happen.

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What Is a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day?

A Perfect Day itinerary is my answer to a question I get asked often: if you only have one day in a city, what should you do? Not what the guidebooks say you should do, but what will actually make you glad you went?

Each Perfect Day itinerary is built around the things I love most when I travel: museums worth lingering in, neighborhoods worth getting lost in, meals worth slowing down for, and at least one experience that couldn’t happen anywhere else. I leave out the obligatory sights that everyone photographs (but sometimes don’t even enjoy), and I include the things that made me want to stay longer.

These itineraries are frameworks, not schedules. If you find a café you want to sit in for an extra hour, get comfy and order another coffee or glass of wine. If a museum pulls you in deeper than you expected, let it.

Your goal is to craft a day that feels genuinely yours rather than tick off bucket list sites just to say you did them.

If you love this approach, see the full list of cities at the end of this post.

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Highlights of a Perfect Artsy Traveler Day in Madrid

• Begin the day with a quiet walk through a historic park or garden.
• Visit one of Madrid’s major art museums. I recommend the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
• Enjoy lunch and people-watching in Plaza Major.
• Take a hands-on cooking class focused on Spanish cuisine.
• Rest and recharge before an evening out.
• Attend a flamenco performance.
• End the day with a late dinner and an evening stroll through the centro.

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Map of Madrid: Perfect Artsy Traveler Day

The map below shows the locations mentioned in this post. Click a number to read more.

A few days or even weeks before embarking upon your Perfect Day in Madrid, go online to secure tickets to your chosen art museum(s). Consider the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza or the Prado. Also, get tickets in advance for a flamenco performance; you’ll find plenty of venues to choose from in Madrid.

Ready? Let’s go explore a Perfect Day in Madrid.

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Morning in Madrid

When I travel, I love to get up early and spend an hour or two wandering around my neighborhood before stopping at a café for coffee.

On my recent trip to Madrid, I stayed across the street from the Jardines Sabatini, the lush gardens surrounding the opulent Royal Palace, so that’s where I’ll start.

Early Morning Walk through the Jardines Sabatini

The Jardines Sabatini (#1) are magical. In the early morning, you’ll enter through an iron gate that is locked at night and immediately have the twisty paths and gorgeous foliage all to yourself.

After a brisk walk, find a stylish café near the Royal Palace for a breakfast of pastry and, of course, coffee.

Taxi to the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

Taxis in Madrid are very affordable, and Übers even cheaper. Five minutes after using my phone to book an Über, I’m being whisked into the crazy Madrid traffic for the 10-euro trip. It’s money well spent.

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Mid-Morning in Madrid

Visit to the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid

Although not as well known as the Museo Prado (another excellent pick for an artsy day in Madrid), the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza (#2) has a wonderful collection and is not quite as overwhelming as the Museo Prado.

Start on the main floor with a visit to the stunning collection of 19th-century art, mostly by Impressionists. While the Thyssen doesn’t contain many super-famous pieces like the Musée d’Orsay does, it features a lot of variety and some stunning paintings.

Here are two of my favorites.

The Thyssen also houses a comprehensive collection of works from the 15th century right up to the mid-20th century. Here’s an interesting piece by American painter Edward Hopper.

TIP: Before traveling to Madrid, check what’s on and be sure to get your tickets for the major museums such as the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Museo Reina Sofía (home of Picasso’s Guernica) well in advance.

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Lunch in Madrid

After leaving the Thyssen, catch another taxi into the heart of Madrid—the Plaza Mayor (#3)— for lunch and people-watching.

Normally, I advise fellow travelers to avoid high-rent areas like the Plaza Mayor when looking for places to eat, but sometimes, it’s okay to break that rule and settle in at one of the many outdoor cafés.

Why? Because the view of the surrounding buildings is just too spectacular to miss, and the ambiance can’t be beat. The Plaza Mayor is a must-see public space.

Construction was begun in the 17th century by King Philip III. His bronze equestrian statue stands in the middle of the massive square.

Return to the Plaza Major in the evening on your Perfect Day or another day to enjoy a drink in the shadow of the floodlit buildings.

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Afternoon in Madrid

After your plaza break, browse the souvenir shops in the area, and then head for a tapas cooking class.

A Tapas Cooking Class

I highly recommend taking a cooking class in Madrid. Here’s my experience taking the class during which I learned to make ten tapas.

The 2.5-hour cooking class starts promptly. I tie on my apron and join an international group of fellow travelers to listen to the chef.

She’s a dynamic presenter who is obviously passionate about food and cooking.

She assigns a dish to each person. My job is to make a cold tomato soup. I cut up garlic and a lot of fresh tomatoes, then whirl them in the blender. I then add several pieces of bread which help the soup thicken and finally, I drizzle in about a quarter of a bottle of olive oil.

After much blending, the result is smooth, fresh, and very red. And the taste! Wowza!

I also help to make a Spanish omelet made with potatoes—a little heavy for my taste.

Other tasty treats included flat-breads spread with various sauces, skewers of quince (a kind of solidified jam) with melon, and Parmesan cheese lollipops. The food is hearty and there’s plenty of it.

The group barely makes a dent on eating all the food we prepared. I hope there was someone to give the leftovers to.

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Evening in Madrid

In Madrid, dinner isn’t served until about 9 pm (and even that’s considered a tad early) so after your cooking class, I suggest returning to your hotel for a short rest before joining the throngs of strolling Madrileñoson on your way to a concert.

The people of Madrid love to stroll throughout the evening. Whole families, with babies in strollers and toddlers rushing about, are on the move. People are smiling and laughing.

When you join them, you’ll feel like you’re a part of the community despite being a visitor.

Flamenco Concert

As any Spaniard will tell you, Madrid is not the historic home of flamenco. That honor goes to Seville. However, several venues offer flamenco performances that are well worth the money.

The one I choose includes a plate of olives and other snacks and a glass of wine or a soft drink.

As is the case with every flamenco performance I’ve seen, the dancers are incredible and the music exhilarating. I never tire of going to flamenco shows when I’m traveling in Spain!

Read more about seeing flamenco shows in Spain.

Late Dinner

And finally, it’s time for a late Madrid dinner. I confess that I find the Spanish cuisine a little too heavy. Potatoes, ham, and beef dominate, and you won’t find many fresh vegetables. Salads do not appear to be a thing in Spain, at least not in my experience.

The food is, however, tasty and there’s a lot of it.

TIP: Order fewer dishes than you think you’ll want. Portions in Spain are generally very large. Two dishes are usually enough for two people.

Here’s an article that describes the various options on a Spanish menu.

Stroll Home

End your Perfect Day in Madrid with a stroll through the medieval streets of the centro to the wide plaza in front of the floodlit Royal Palace.

It’s a gorgeous building that is reminiscent of Buckingham Palace in London, likely because it dates from a similar era.

Here’s a post about the two weeks I spent in Madrid: Exploring Fascinating Madrid–Europe’s Best-Kept Secret for the Artsy Traveler

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Where to Stay in Madrid

I favor hotels and apartments near the centro or just on the edge of the ZTL (traffic limited zone) if you’re driving. Here are two of the places I’ve stayed:

• ApartoSuites Jardines de Sabatini: Located just to the west of the center of Madrid and across the street from the Royal Palace (the rooftop terrace overlooks the palace). I stayed twelve nights and could not have been more satisfied with my choice. The hotel is stylish and well appointed and the staff are extremely helpful and friendly, always smiling and saying hola every time we leave or enter the lobby.
• NQN Aparts & Suites: This place is right in the centro and is perfect if you don’t have a car. You can walk to almost everything. The suites are small but modern and well appointed.

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Tours of Madrid

If you enjoy taking tours while traveling (and I recommend them as a great way to see more in less time), then check out tours from GetYourGuide and Tiqets.com and the free walking tours offered through GuruWalk.

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Recommended Novels to Read Before You Go

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All Perfect Day Itineraries

Browse every city featured in the Perfect Day series below.