This isn't a sprint itinerary — it's built around Madrid's actual rhythm: late starts, long lunches, and evenings that run later than you'd plan for at home.
Start at Puerta del Sol, walk to Plaza Mayor, then the Palacio Real and Almudena Cathedral next door. Lunch in La Latina — this neighbourhood is built for tapas-hopping. Evening: wander Gran Vía as the lights come on.
Morning at the Prado — give it at least 2–3 hours. Walk through the Jerónimos quarter to Retiro Park for a slow afternoon; rent a rowing boat on the lake if the weather's good. Dinner in Salamanca or back toward Malasaña depending on whether you want polish or grit.
Two good options: a half-day trip to Toledo (30 minutes each way by AVE), or a slower morning at Mercado de San Miguel followed by a Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour if football matters to your trip.
Add Segovia or El Escorial as a second day trip, or simply slow the pace above — Madrid holds up well to unplanned wandering, which is often better spent than a packed checklist.
It doesn't try to fit in every museum or every neighbourhood — Madrid has enough for two weeks, and cramming it into three days usually means seeing less, not more, because you're rushing through what you do see.