20 Best Things To Do in Madrid

Madrid is a city that not only has monuments and museums: the cultural and leisure offer of this city is among the main ones in Spain and here it is impossible to get bored. Take note of what you can not miss
20 Best Things To Do in Madrid

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Tourism in the Spanish capital ranges from a visit to the Prado Museum or the Royal Palace to a tour of its streets and squares to a flamenco show or hire one of the excursions that can be done from Madrid to places like Toledo, El Escorial or Segovia. These are the 20 things you can not miss on your trip to Madrid.

1. Take a historical tour through the center of Madrid

Plaza Mayor of Madrid| ©mgphotography.uk
Plaza Mayor of Madrid| ©mgphotography.uk

The most authentic experience of any city is to walk around it. This is the most effective way to approach the charm of the city and get to know its history through its squares, buildings and monuments. I recommend you to try:

You can discover the historic center, the Barrio de las Letras, or the mythical bars of the city on a tour accompanied by an expert guide who will tell you interesting stories and give you tips for your trip.

Book a historical tour of Madrid

2. Stroll through the Retiro Park

Retiro Pond| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie
Retiro Pond| ©Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie

The Retiro is probably one of the most beautiful parks in Spain. Each of its areas is different, but all of them have in common the delicacy and order with which this park, which is, in turn, the lung of the center of the capital, is cared for.

Personally, what I like most is to sit with my friends on the stairs in front of the pond, letting the hours pass while I see families and couples going up by boat to have a good time. I also encourage you to have a drink in one of its kiosks or outdoor bars (although the food is quite expensive and not especially high quality, you will appreciate a good refreshment if you visit Madrid in summer. Also, if you go to Madrid with children you will find more than one free children's show for them.

Book a tour of the Retiro de Madrid

3. Go in search of the Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace| ©Sjaak Kempe
Crystal Palace| ©Sjaak Kempe

This impressive glass palace is for me one of the best kept jewels of Madrid. It is within the Retiro Park itself, but for me, it deserves a separate mention because it is a little away from the central area of the park, so not all tourists come and it is a real wonder for all the senses. There is always a musician livening up the atmosphere and several peacocks bathing in the small lake at the entrance.

Book a tour of the Retiro de Madrid

4. Marvel at the Prado Museum

Prado Museum| ©Emilio
Prado Museum| ©Emilio

It is the most important museum in Spain and its collection of paintings and sculpture brings together works from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century. Among the best paintings of the Prado Museum are those of artists such as Velázquez, Goya, Rafael, El Greco, Rubens and El Bosco.

I advise you to consider the possibility of visiting El Prado with a guided tour because each of his paintings hides behind not only the technique that you can perceive aesthetically but a message and a story framed in an era and a particular context. You can choose:

Getting to the Prado Museum is easy, as it is located within walking distance of Madrid's famous Retiro Park. I advise you to consult this list of restaurants near the Prado Museum if you plan to eat out after your visit, as this way you can save a few euros that you can invest in the store, where you will find fabulous things. In this article you have information about the prices of the Prado Museum.

Buy tickets for the Prado Museum

5. Discover contemporary art at the Reina Sofia Museum

Entrance to the Reina Sofia Museum| ©Rubén Vique
Entrance to the Reina Sofia Museum| ©Rubén Vique

If El Prado houses one of the largest collections of classical art in Europe, those who visit the Reina Sofia Museum will be able to see one of the best collections of contemporary art. The jewel in this museum's crown is Picasso's Guernica, but you will also find works by artists such as Miró, Dalí, Juan Gris, Delaunay, Yves Klein, or Francis Bacon.

To make sure you don't miss anything, I highly recommend a guided tour:

Otherwise, to avoid waiting, it is best to book your tickets online. I also suggest that you carefully check the opening hours of the Reina Sofia Museum before your visit to see if you can take advantage and eat at the museum restaurant or stop by the store, as both places are worth a visit.

Buy tickets for the Reina Sofia Museum

6. Immerse yourself in royalty by visiting the Royal Palace

Royal Palace| ©Maxim B.
Royal Palace| ©Maxim B.

Buy tickets for the Royal Palace of Madrid and visit it is like stepping back in time and put yourself inside a period film. If on the outside the surroundings of the palace, located opposite the Plaza de Oriente and with the Campo del Moro and Sabatini gardens next to it (free admission to both gardens) is already majestic, the interior of the Royal Palace of Madrid keeps fairytale rooms and valuable objects.

If you are planning a visit to the surroundings, check the opening hours of the Royal Palace and take the opportunity to see this monument.

Book a visit to the Royal Palace

7. Be amazed by the aqueduct of Segovia

Aqueduct of Segovia| ©MarinoCarlos
Aqueduct of Segovia| ©MarinoCarlos

In addition to the advantages that Madrid has as a city, its geographical location makes it the perfect starting point to explore nearby cities and one of them is Segovia, presided by its famous stone aqueduct and known for the suckling pig they serve in their restaurants (booking in advance). Getting to Segovia from Madrid will take you no more than an hour.

Visiting Segovia on an organized tour will also take you, if you wish, to other nearby cities. In either case you can go and come back in one day and discover Segovia and Toledo and their places of interest such as the cathedral or the Alcazar.

Book an excursion to Segovia

8. Discover Toledo and its medieval atmosphere

View of Toledo on the banks of the Tajo river| ©Greg Clarke
View of Toledo on the banks of the Tajo river| ©Greg Clarke

Getting to Toledo from Madrid is also easy and fast. Toledo is located an hour away from Madrid and attractions like its impressive cathedral make it one of the most visited cities in Spain. The charm of taking a guided tour to Toledo is to walk through its narrow stone streets (most of them uphill) and observe in each of its corners the traces of the three cultures that formed the city: Christian, Muslim and Jewish.

And if you want to make the most of your time, you can choose to take a day trip to Toledo and Segovia and get to know two of the most emblematic cities around Madrid.

Book an excursion to Toledo

9. Experience Spanish culture at a flamenco show

Flamenco Show| ©Flavio~
Flamenco Show| ©Flavio~

The art of flamenco is part of Spain's cultural heritage and Madrid is one of the places with the greatest variety of venues to enjoy a show. Flamenco is performed with guitars, singers and dancers in the famous tablaos and many of them are located in restaurants where you have the option to order drinks and food during the show.

Some options in Madrid are:

Tickets for flamenco shows sell out quickly, so I recommend you to book your tickets online in advance.

Buy tickets for a flamenco show in Madrid

10. Tour the streets of Madrid comfortably on its tourist bus

Tourist bus through the streets of Madrid| ©Son of Groucho
Tourist bus through the streets of Madrid| ©Son of Groucho

Madrid is a huge city and walking around it in a few days is an exhausting experience. In addition, in each of its areas you have a different store to explore, a restaurant with a terrace where you can have an aperitif, or a square where you can sit and relax. To see all that Madrid has to offer without getting exhausted, the best thing to do is to take a tour on a sightseeing bus.

Book your ticket for the sightseeing bus

11. Stroll through the neighborhoods of Madrid

Barrio Salamanca and its stores| ©PromoMadrid
Barrio Salamanca and its stores| ©PromoMadrid

Surely in the tour through the center of Madrid (either guided or individually) you will already discover the most emblematic places and monuments of the city, but you will still have a very important part: its neighborhoods. This is where you will find its true essence, and that is why I recommend you:

Take a private walking tour of Madrid

12. Get to know the mythical Santiago Bernabeu stadium

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium| ©Vienna Reyes
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium| ©Vienna Reyes

Whether you are a Real Madrid fan or not, having the opportunity to visit the stadium of one of the best soccer clubs in the world is something you can't do in every city.

The Santiago Bernabéu stadium itself organizes a tour with panoramic views of the stadium, exclusive access to the dressing rooms and the dugouts, entrance to the pitch and a tour of the trophy cabinets, the press room and the presidential box. And if you want an even more personalized experience, you can opt for:

Book a guided tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

13. Taste Madrid's gastronomy and markets

San Miguel Market| ©Joy
San Miguel Market| ©Joy

There is no doubt that there are spectacular restaurants in Madrid, but if you really want to try the authentic local cuisine, the best kept secret of the city are its neighborhood markets.

The well-known Mercado de San Miguel is a delight to the eye and taste, with many options for gourmets, and despite having become a tourist attraction has not lost an iota of its authenticity.

However, if you want something totally genuine stop by the Mercado de La Cebada, in the heart of La Latina neighborhood, or my favorite, the Mercado de San Antón in Chueca, where you will not find so many crowds and you can enjoy one of the best beers in the city with some wrinkled potatoes, croquettes, and international delicacies. You also have the possibility to book one of the wine and tapas tours available in Madrid.

Book a tapas tour in Madrid

14. Enjoy the exhibitions at the Matadero

Entrance to the Matadero| ©Fred Romero
Entrance to the Matadero| ©Fred Romero

Don't be scared, as cruel as its name may sound, the Matadero is a cultural space in the mythical neighborhood of Legazpi, next to the river in Madrid. There you can see unique exhibitions, music concerts, have a snack or eat in one of its occasional food trucks or in its Cantina, and take a walk along the river. A perfect option to spend a Sunday morning.

15. Renew your Instagram feed at Ikono

Ikono Style Gallery| ©Shaira Dela Peña
Ikono Style Gallery| ©Shaira Dela Peña

Ikono Madrid is an installation art gallery where everything you see is interactive. You can dive into a pool of blue balls, get lost in a room of infinite mirrors, dance under confetti and neon and many more things that will delight your smartphone camera.

Buy your ticket to Ikono

16. Go shopping on Gran Via

Gran Via Shops| ©alevision.co
Gran Via Shops| ©alevision.co

In the famous Gran Via in Madrid you will not only see the most luxurious hotels in the capital, but you will stop at each of its spectacular shop windows. Whether you feel like indulging yourself or if your thing is low cost shopping, you will find things for all tastes and budgets.

It is also a good place to buy souvenirs in one of its historic kiosks. Discover it from top to bottom and finish the walk in the beautiful Retiro Park.

17. Enjoy a musical

Gran Via Theaters| ©Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias
Gran Via Theaters| ©Jose Luis Cernadas Iglesias

Whether you are a theater fan or not, the musicals on Gran Via are guaranteed to be a different experience. For several hours you will forget the hustle and bustle of the capital and you will not be able to take your eyes off the incredible costumes, dances and musical numbers of mythical works such as The Lion King.

If you don't feel like spending the afternoon watching a musical, there are also other options such as going to a funny monologue at the mythical Chocita del Loro. There are musicals all year round, but if you go to Madrid in winter you will find Christmas premieres and it will also be a perfect plan to take shelter from the cold.

18. Take a stroll through the Capricho Park

Capricho Park| ©itorres
Capricho Park| ©itorres

The Capricho Park, in the Alameda de Osuna, is a romantic fantasy in the style of European foliés like the Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo. Inside you will see small palaces, promontories with sculptures inspired by Greek mythology and a fairytale atmosphere. Especially recommended if you visit Madrid in autumn.

It opens during very specific hours and not all year round, so before you go make sure you can visit it.

19. Experience pure theater in the Teatros del Canal

Canal Theaters| ©PromoMadrid
Canal Theaters| ©PromoMadrid

One of the modern theaters in Madrid, where you can see contemporary dance and theatrical performances. Its cycles are among the best in terms of stage in the city, and their tickets are much more affordable than most shows in other European cities. It is located in the neighborhood of Chamberí, where you can also stroll after the performance and discover the trendy bars of Ponzano street.

20. Visit the surroundings of Madrid

Aranjuez Palace| ©manuel m. v.
Aranjuez Palace| ©manuel m. v.

As we have already seen, you don't need to leave Madrid to see different places (although with nearby cities like Avila, Toledo, Segovia or Salamanca the temptation is great). You can explore the surroundings of the capital on a guided day trip from Madrid, and discover places like the Monastery of El Escorial, the Valley of the Fallen, the Palace of Aranjuez or the Granja de San Ildefonso among others.

If you have to choose, I recommend you to go to El Escorial from Madrid, because besides visiting the Escorial Monastery, you will be surrounded by nature and great restaurants to eat. There is a lot to see in El Escorial.

Book an excursion to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen

Plan your visit to Madrid

Transportation from the airport| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney
Transportation from the airport| ©Joaquín Montaño - Midjourney

In a capital city like Madrid, there are things to do all year round. The months of July in Madrid, August in Madrid and September you will find the city with few people as the high temperatures deter the locals, but if you go to Madrid in October, November or December you will see that the streets are full of people especially during the weekend. So I recommend you to take advantage of Saturday or Sunday to make an excursion to the surroundings.

If you stay more than 3 days in Madrid you will have time to see the city and visit other areas of Spain. I leave you different itineraries so you can plan in detail your visit. Of course I recommend that if you are going to spend only a few hours in Madrid take a look before the transfers from Barajas airport so that on arrival you know where to go saving time and making the most of your visit.

Book your transfer from the airport

Reviews from other travellers

4.7
· 90 Reviews
  • T
    T. R.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The stadium experience was amazing, but it would be great if they included more historical information in the tour.
  • L
    L. R.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The visit to the stadium was incredible, a unique experience for any football fan.
  • K
    K. D.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved visiting this iconic place where you can feel the passion for football. It was impressive to see the team's history and trophies up close.
  • K
    K. J.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The visit to the Bernabeu is the best, you have a great time. Don't miss it, it's amazing.
  • P
    P. N.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The experience was unique and very visual, but it would be ideal to have more time to enjoy each room without feeling rushed.