Explore Madrid in 2 Days: History and Culture from Sol

Got 48 hours in Madrid? Start at Puerta del Sol. Follow this route to hit the city's key historical and cultural spots, fast.

What to do on the first day?

Start early at Puerta del Sol. It's a 200-meter walk to Plaza Mayor. Grab a quick coffee, but don't linger. The Mercado de San Miguel is 300 meters away and the tapas spots fill up fast.

• Puerta del Sol: starting point, Madrid’s heart.
• Plaza Mayor: 200 m, great for photos and coffee.
• Mercado de San Miguel: 300 m, vibrant for quick bites.

Next up: the Royal Palace, 700 meters from the market. The gardens are free. For the interior, book online to skip the queue. Pro tip: it's free for EU citizens on Wednesday afternoons, but expect crowds.

Afternoon is decision time. Option A: Gran Vía for shopping and the theatre rush. It gets packed. Option B: The Prado Museum, 1.5 km from Sol. Don't try to see it all, pick a few masterpieces and focus.

How to make the most of day two?

Guests ask us this every week at reception. For day two, start at the Literary Quarter, 500 meters from Sol. Skip the main drags. Duck into side streets like Huertas and Cervantes. Then, it's a 1 km walk to La Latina for the taverns. That's where the real action is.

1. Literary Quarter: 500 m, perfect for a cultural stroll.
2. La Latina: 1 km, ideal for traditional Madrid cuisine.
3. Plaza de Santa Ana: 400 m from La Latina, terraces and tapas.

Finish the day at Plaza de Santa Ana, a quick 400-meter walk from La Latina. The terraces fill up by 8 PM sharp. Get there early if you want a table for tapas.

What to avoid on this route?

Don't get sidetracked. Retiro Park is huge—save it for a longer trip. Forget the metro for this route. Everything is walkable, and that's how you'll see the real city between the main sights.

More at interhostales.es:  Inter Puerta del Sol · Inter Plaza Mayor · our rooms

Further reading:  Royal Palace · Prado Museum · Madrid Metro