An extreme day trip to Madrid: How I spent 8 hours in Madrid

A day trip to Madrid, anyone? Madrid is a brilliant place for an Extreme Day Trip, whether you’re flying in and out for one day from the UK or you’re visiting from somewhere else in Spain. Madrid ticks every box:

• There are plenty of flights, so you can fly in the morning and fly home at night.
• There’s great transport from the airport to the city centre.
• There’s lots to see and do, even if you only have a few hours.
• It’s a walkable city, so you can see plenty without spending all day travelling between attractions.
• Uber is readily available and relatively cheap if you do need to hop in a car.
• The weather is generally a bit better than the UK, making it a lovely escape from our dreary weather!

I actually hadn’t meant to go to Madrid for an Extreme Day Trip. I was originally planning a three-day visit but, well, life happened and I couldn’t make it. Rather than cancel the entire trip, I rebooked a cheap outbound flight and decided to go for the day instead.

And I’m so glad I did!

I was genuinely blown away by Madrid. I’m not a big city person and, if I’m visiting a Spanish city, I’d usually opt for somewhere with a beach, like Valencia, Barcelona, San Sebastian or Malaga. Seriously, Spain does that city-and-beach combination very well, so I’d never really felt the pull towards Madrid.

But I absolutely loved it. It’s beautiful, lively, surprisingly easy to get around and full of gorgeous little streets, lovely cafés, rooftop bars and places to eat. I came home thinking I’d massively underestimated it!

If you’re looking for an easy European city break that you can squeeze into a single day, here’s exactly how I’d do an Extreme Day Trip to Madrid.

My flights to Madrid

I flew from Manchester Airport, which is really convenient for me.

My flights were:

• 7am departure with Ryanair
• 11pm return with easyJet

I booked the flights separately, which gave me a bit more flexibility with timings and meant I could choose the cheapest options.

You can use Skyscanner to find flights like these, including options with different airlines for the outbound and return journeys. Look for an early morning flight and a late evening return so you have as much time as possible in the city.

One thing to remember is that Spain is one hour ahead of the UK.

Getting from Madrid Airport to the city centre

You have a couple of options for getting from Madrid Airport into the city centre.

Option 1: The airport bus

You can take the Express Airport Bus 203 from outside the airport arrivals area. It costs €5.00 and you can pay by contactless card or Apple Pay/Google Pay as you board.

Get off at Plaza de Cibeles, which is a brilliant starting point for exploring Madrid. From here, you’re within walking distance of several of the city’s main attractions.

Getting the bus was straightforward, but I did queue for around 45 minutes and most people didn’t manage to get a seat. After an early flight, I wasn’t particularly keen on standing on a bus for the journey into the city so I was very grateful to have a seat.

On the return journey I waited a good 40 minutes again for the bus. Perhaps I could have timed things better but I just think it would have been a lot easier to take an Uber. Ubers are relatively cheap in Madrid and it would have saved me a good chunk of time.

Option 2: Take an Uber

If you’re travelling as a group, I’d definitely compare the price of an Uber. You can go straight from the airport to the city centre without waiting for a bus.

I’d also consider an Uber if you’re short on time. When you’re only in Madrid for one day, saving 45 minutes here and there makes a big difference.

My advice? Check the bus queue when you arrive and compare it with the Uber price. If there’s a long queue, I’d just get in a car.

How long did I have in Madrid?

There’s a one-hour time difference between the UK and Spain, so I arrived in Madrid at around midday and gave myself until 8pm before heading back to the airport.

That gave me approximately eight hours in the city and, honestly, it was a really nice amount of time!

If I’d taken an Uber from the airport rather than waiting for the bus, I could have arrived around 11am. I also could have pushed my departure from the city back to 9pm, giving me around ten hours to explore.

So, if you’re planning your own Extreme Day Trip to Madrid, I’d aim for an early flight, a late return and an Uber into the city if the price makes sense.

My itinerary for an Extreme Day Trip to Madrid

Madrid is a big city, but the main sights are relatively close together. You can walk between lots of them, and I found it easy to use Uber whenever I was getting tired or wanted to save a bit of time.

Here’s the route I’d recommend if you have around eight hours in the city.

1. Start at Plaza de Cibeles

Get off the airport bus or ask your Uber to drop you at Plaza de Cibeles.

This is a beautiful square with the impressive Palacio de Cibeles building, which is one of Madrid’s most recognisable landmarks. It’s a lovely introduction to the city and a great place to start taking photos.

From here, it’s a short walk towards El Retiro Park.

2. Explore El Retiro Park

El Retiro is a huge, beautiful park in the middle of Madrid and a lovely place to escape the busy streets for a little while.

On your way in, make sure you stop to admire Puerta de Alcalá, the enormous neoclassical gateway just outside the park.

Once inside, I’d head towards the boating lake, where you can admire the Monument to Alfonso XII and watch people rowing around the water. There’s a café nearby where you can stop for a coffee, breakfast or a little snack.

Give yourself some time to wander through the pretty tree-lined paths and make sure you visit Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace). It’s one of the most photogenic spots in the park, although it’s currently closed for restoration, so you’ll need to admire it from outside.

You could easily spend hours exploring El Retiro, but I’d allow around an hour for a little wander and a coffee.

3. Visit Mercado de San Miguel

Next, take an Uber to Mercado de San Miguel, a gorgeous covered food market close to Plaza Mayor.

This is a lovely place to stop for a little Spanish food and a glass of wine. There are lots of different stalls selling tapas, seafood, cheese, pastries and other tempting treats.

It’s a great option if you want to try a few different things without committing to a long sit-down lunch. You can grab a little bite, have a drink and soak up the atmosphere before moving on.

4. Wander around Plaza Mayor

From Mercado de San Miguel, it’s just a short walk to Plaza Mayor.

This enormous historic square is one of Madrid’s most famous sights, surrounded by beautiful buildings with balconies overlooking the square.

I’d definitely have a wander around, even if you don’t plan to eat here. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés around the square if you’d prefer a proper sit-down lunch, although I’d expect to pay a little more for the location.

5. Visit the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral

Walk towards the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, which sit opposite each other.

The Royal Palace is absolutely enormous and one of the most impressive buildings in Madrid. You can admire it from outside, wander around Plaza de Oriente and enjoy the views across the surrounding gardens.

If you have enough time, you could can go inside. I really wish I had now. I skipped it because I wasn’t sure I’d have enough time, but in hindsight I definitely would have! I’d definitely recommend getting a fast-access ticket or a skip-the-line guided tour.

Almudena Cathedral is right opposite the palace and is also worth a look. There’s a lovely little café tucked away behind the cathedral if you need a rest and a chance to sit down for a while. You can do a combined Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral Guided Tour which takes you to both and takes two hours.

6. Explore Gran Via

Next, make your way towards Gran Via, one of Madrid’s main shopping and entertainment streets.

This is where you’ll find beautiful architecture, big shops, theatres, restaurants and plenty of people enjoying the city. It’s a lovely street to simply wander along, doing a bit of shopping and stopping for a drink whenever something catches your eye.

You can walk here from the palace, although it’s a little further than some of the other stops. If you’re tired, just jump in an Uber.

I was starting to flag at this point, so I stopped at a cafe for a rest before carrying on. Don’t underestimate how much walking you’ll do on an Extreme Day Trip!

7. Have a drink at a rooftop bar

There are some fantastic rooftops overlooking the city, and they’re a lovely place to stop for a drink after a busy day exploring.

I went to Picalagartos, which has gorgeous views over Gran Via. It’s exactly the sort of place I’d recommend for a little afternoon or early evening treat. You’re meant to pay 5 euros to go in but no one charged me!

You can pre-book the 360 Sky Bar too to guarantee a spot on a rooftop bar. They fill up quickly!

8. Sunset at the Temple of Debod

If you’re visiting Madrid when the sun sets a little earlier, I’d definitely recommend heading to Temple of Debod for sunset. This was the highlight of my trip so I’d definitely make time for it.

The Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple that was gifted to Spain and rebuilt in a park overlooking the city. It’s a really unusual sight and the setting is beautiful, particularly as the sky starts changing colour and the city lights begin to come on.

There’s a large open area around the temple where you can sit, relax and enjoy the views across Madrid. It’s a popular sunset spot so it’s busy and there are buskers making it a really gorgeous atmosphere.

I’d check the sunset time before you visit and aim to arrive around 30 minutes beforehand. You can then enjoy the views, take some photos and soak up the atmosphere before heading back towards Gran Via for dinner.

9. Have dinner along Gran Via

Once the sun has set, head back down towards Gran Via for dinner.

There are loads of restaurants around here, so you won’t struggle to find somewhere to eat. You could go for traditional Spanish tapas, find somewhere serving paella or simply choose somewhere that looks inviting.

Madrid is famous for its late-night dining culture, so you won’t feel rushed to eat particularly early.

After dinner, it’s time to head back to the airport. I’d take an Uber to make the journey as simple as possible, especially after such a long day.

How much did my Extreme Day Trip to Madrid cost?

Not a lot!

I actually found Madrid a little cheaper than the UK, particularly when it came to food, drinks and getting around by Uber.

I spent a total of £88.27 on food, drinks, Ubers and buses.

This doesn’t include my flights, and your total will obviously depend on how much you eat and drink, whether you visit attractions, and how many taxis you take.

I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable the day was. You can see so much of Madrid without spending a fortune on transport or expensive attractions.

A little note about my trip to Chamberi

I was actually in Madrid on a work trip and had to take a little side quest over to a different part of the city.

I took an Uber over to Chamberi and spent around an hour and a half exploring this lovely neighbourhood.

Chamberi is a more residential part of Madrid, with pretty streets, traditional bars, lovely architecture and a much more local feel. I really enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t recommend squeezing it into your first Extreme Day Trip to Madrid.

There is already plenty to see around the main city centre, and I think you’ll have a much more relaxed day if you stick to the route above.

If I went back to Madrid, though, I’d love to spend a little longer exploring neighbourhoods like Chamberí and Carabanchel, which has become known for its galleries, artists’ studios and creative spaces.

Is Madrid worth visiting for an Extreme Day Trip?

Absolutely!

I went to Madrid expecting a nice day out and came home completely converted. It’s one of those cities that feels like it has a little bit of everything: beautiful architecture, lovely parks, great food, rooftop bars, shopping and plenty of atmosphere.

I also loved how easy it was to get around. You don’t need to spend hours navigating complicated public transport or travelling between attractions, and you can see a surprising amount in just one day.

Would I recommend spending longer in Madrid? Definitely. There are so many neighbourhoods, restaurants, galleries and hidden corners I’d love to explore properly.

But if you only have one day, don’t let that put you off. Book that early flight, pack your comfiest trainers and go!

Madrid is a brilliant city for an Extreme Day Trip, and I’d happily do it all over again.