12 Things to Do in Madrid in October

The heat is definitely behind us, and the capital is opening its terraces and viewpoints to locals and visitors alike. It’s a month to enjoy outdoor events, visit museums, go on food tours, and make the most of Madrid’s nightlife.

Take note of these October must-sees and plan your itinerary with the best things to see and do in Madrid.

If you happen to visit Madrid during this time, you’ll find a calendar of commemorative events such as concerts, street theater, exhibitions, and film screenings, all aimed at highlighting the value of the Hispanic American community.

One of the activities is the Hispanic Heritage Concert, which features a lineup of entertainment shows, children’s theater, dance, and concerts by Hispanic American artists. Throughout October, you may come across various outdoor concerts and performances in Madrid’s squares and parks, as the program runs all month long. In addition, many of the city’s museums, galleries, and cultural centers offer lectures, workshops, and exhibitions so you can learn more about this meeting of two worlds.

Also on October 12, the Paseo de la Castellana hosts the military parade for Spain’s National Day to commemorate the country’s cultural and linguistic expansion beyond Europe.

The beautiful Retiro Park, filled with trails, fountains, lush greenery, and its wonderful lake with boats, takes on a special hue at this time of year, just like any natural landscape in autumn. Its green hues gradually give way to the brown tones that herald the arrival of winter.

This park is home to more than 15,000 trees, and within its 125,000 hectares, you’ll find an oasis of peace in the heart of bustling Madrid. It is also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

If you want to learn about its history and not miss its most special spots, I recommend taking a tour of Retiro Park with an expert guide. This way, you’ll fall in love not only with its beauty but also with its past. And if you prefer to explore on your own, don’t forget that in the fall, the park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

In the fall, it starts to get chilly in Madrid, so besides being the perfect time to seek shelter in some of its historic cafés, it’s also the perfect season to explore some of its major museums. Below are the ones I consider the most important in the city—and the ones you simply can’t leave without seeing:

• Prado Museum: It is Spain’s most famous art museum and one of the most visited in the world. It houses a vast collection of works by artists such as Goya, Velázquez, Rubens, Bosch, El Greco, and Titian, among others.
• Thyssen Museum: It houses works by both classical and modern artists and, along with the Prado and the museum mentioned below, forms part of Madrid’s Art Triangle.
• Reina Sofía Museum: It houses contemporary and 20th-century Spanish works. It features a permanent art collection that includes works by Dalí, Miró, and Picasso, among others. It is also known for its surrealist artworks.
• San Fernando Museum of Fine Arts: Finally, located on Alcalá Street, although this museum isn’t as well-known as the previous three, it’s worth exploring its halls to discover other works of Spanish art by renowned artists such as Murillo, Sorolla, and Romero de Torres, among others.

In October, the doors of over a hundred sites of Madrid’s heritage and cultural interest open as part of the Madrid Otra Mirada event, which promotes the protection and conservation of the city’s iconic landmarks.

Not only will you have the opportunity to explore buildings that are usually closed to the public, but you’ll also have access to over 200 free activities.

Exhibitions, lectures, workshops, concerts, children’s activities, and other offerings can be enjoyed at museums, theaters, churches, parks, gardens, libraries, cultural centers, palaces, and historic buildings throughout Madrid.

Useful Information

• You absolutely must reserve your tickets in advance for this event. The Madrid City Council usually sets up a website for visitor registration, as tickets are free but capacity is limited.
• You may also find it convenient to purchase a ticket for a sightseeing bus, which will make getting from one place to another easier so you can make the most of this great architectural and heritage celebration the city has to offer.

Fall has arrived, and soups are often an excellent choice to warm you up a bit. Madrid-style stew, seafood broth, Castilian soup, San Antón-style soup, or Galician consommé are fantastic options to soothe the soul after a good walk and face the nighttime chill that envelops Madrid’s autumn evenings.

I want to tell you that the city holds a record in the Guinness Book of World Records for being home to the oldest restaurant in the world. Founded in 1725, Casa Botín is one of the most cherished examples of traditional Spanish cuisine and the perfect spot to enjoy not only soups but also a variety of delicious roasts, desserts, and seafood.

And if trying new foods is your thing while traveling, a culinary tour of Madrid to discover the best tapas, wines, and dishes in Spain would be a great idea.

If you’re visiting Madrid for 4 days or more, it might be a great idea to take a guided excursion to nearby places like Toledo, located just an hour from Madrid.

In Toledo, you can visit its cathedral, one of its main attractions, stroll through its cobblestone streets, and explore more of this city, where Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures converge. Year-round, you’ll find tours available to Toledo that include transportation and guided visits.

You can also visit beautiful Segovia, which is well worth exploring to enjoy its diverse cultural, historical, culinary, and architectural offerings.

From the Royal Palace to the Puerta de Alcalá, passing through the streets of Arenal and Mayor, as well as the Puerta del Sol and Cibeles, October is the month to enjoy the Madrid International Light Festival throughout the city.

This event also takes place in other European cities such as Lyon, Brussels, Lisbon, and Turin. Madrid’s October nights are filled with light to celebrate art and creativity through illuminated installations, light performances, and laser projections on Madrid’s landmarks.

An additional option to everything you can enjoy on a night out in Madrid.

Although it is not a traditional holiday celebrated in Spain, if you are in Madrid toward the end of October, you can join in the wide array of Halloween celebrations you’ll find throughout the city.

All Saints’ Day is also celebrated in many Catholic and Spanish-speaking countries, an ancient tradition that honors the memory of those who are no longer with us. What better way to get into the spirit than with a walk through the Almudena Cemetery, where the remains of prominent figures from Spanish history rest—a stroll that might well end with a concert or outdoor show.

You can also get a taste of Mexico with the intriguing and mysterious Day of the Dead celebration, which is also commemorated with an annual event at Casa de México, where you can sample skull- or bone-shaped pastries, pan de muerto, and watch parades of skeletons. Highly recommended.

I find the autumn scenery perfect for visiting a place like the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, a treasure trove that houses the scientific legacy of over 200 years of natural history.

Here you’ll find a comprehensive collection of plants and herbs from around the world, carefully preserved in beautiful, expansive gardens. The garden offers audio guides in several languages available at the entrance, as well as temporary exhibitions and much more.

If you’re visiting Madrid in October, I recommend planning your trip in advance, especially if you’re traveling with children and looking for activities for them.

Useful information

• Price: €4 to visit the garden, €6 including admission to the exhibitions at the Villanueva Pavilion. Free admission every Tuesday starting at 2:00 PM.
• Hours: in October from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
• Address: Royal Botanical Garden, Plaza de Murillo, 2. 28014 Madrid

Since 1991, the Madrid Film Festival has marked the start of fall. For two weeks, the city showcases the best of Spanish independent cinema and the global film industry.

Great Spanish directors have made their debuts here, and each year the festival serves as a springboard for new filmmakers, playing a crucial role in promoting emerging independent European and Latin American productions.

With screenings in cinemas throughout the city, workshops, and meet-and-greets featuring renowned directors and actors from the global independent film scene, this event will let you experience the bohemian and avant-garde lifestyle that characterizes Madrid and enjoy a day of movies in the Spanish capital.

If you happen to be in Madrid in October, what better experience than visiting the Madrid Games Week fair, the annual gathering that brings together the video game industry, professionals, and fans to share the latest news, releases, and technological advancements in the sector.

One of the fair’s most famous pavilions is dedicated to virtual reality, where you can experience the most innovative trends in simulators, arcade zones, sports games, cosplay, and digital interaction.

There are also live competitions and a massive fair with specialty shops, where you can find unique souvenirs, books, virtual reality games, and much more—all inspired by manga comics, e-sports, or the classic characters of this pixelated world.

Marathons have become a way to raise awareness about many issues plaguing society. This race, better known as the Perrotón, promotes the adoption and responsible ownership of pets. It’s a charitable event supported by the city’s public figures, animal rescue organizations, the veterinary industry, and civil society.

The race is approximately four kilometers long , and the entry fee is €15 for runners—both human and furry. Along the route , which begins at Plaza de Colón and ends at the Jardines del Descubrimiento, there are also impromptu adoption centers where participants can—why not?—find the love of their four-legged life.

Check the event’s official website to learn everything about how to sign up and the participation requirements.

Carolina’s Traveller Tip

If you’re a woman, love running, and marathons are your thing, you can sign up for the Women’s Half Marathon, which also takes place in October and covers a distance of approximately six kilometers.