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Madrid – the city of museums, palaces, tapas, night clubs, flamenco, and flea markets – is a bustling cultural delight. But with so much to do and see in Spain’s capital city, creating a rock solid itinerary for your trip can be overwhelming.
Don’t worry though – in this article we’ll list 15 things to do and see in Madrid – things that’ll enrich your experience and make you feel you got the most out of your trip to this exciting European city.
Top things to see and do in Madrid
1. Museo Nacional Del Prado
Spain’s national art museum is also one of Europe’s most prestigious museums. Del Prado is known for its premium collection of European art, ranging from the 12th century to the early 20th century.
The most prominent artwork on display is Las Meninas by Velázquez, apart from other representative art by masters such as Francisco Goya, El Greco, Hieronymous Bosch, Peter Rubens, and Titian.
You can visit the museum Monday-Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and between 10 AM and 7 PM on Sundays and holidays.
2. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum of Art or simply the Thyssen allows you to immerse yourself in a breadth of European artistic styles, with its exhibits ranging from 13th and 14th century English, German, and Flemish art to more modern works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Gaugin.
You can visit the museum Tuesday to Sunday between 10 AM and 7 PM.
3. Reina Sofia Museum
Del Prado, Thyssen, and Reina Sofia are collectively known as the Golden Triangle of Art in Madrid. If you’re a connoisseur of modern and post-modern art, you’ll love the Reina Sofia Museum, which hosts prominent art works by stalwarts such as Picasso, Miro, and Dali.
The Reina Sofia is home to Picasso’s Guernica, Dali’s El gran masturbador, and the works of other representative artists such as Barcelona painter Antoni Tàpies, the renowned Basque painter Ignazio Zuloaga, Eduardo Arroyo, and a number of sketches by poet and playwright Federico García Lorca.
You can visit the Reina Sofia Wednesday to Saturday between 10 AM and 7 PM and on Mondays between 10 AM and 9 PM.
4. Parque del Buen Retiro
Located close to the Del Prado and at the edge of the city centre, Parque del Buen Retiro is Spain’s largest public park. It originally belonged to the Spanish monarchy before being turned into a place of public enjoyment in the 19th century.
If you need to slip away from the city centre for a quiet retreat, Parque del Buen Retiro is the perfect place to rejuvenate yourself. You can also check out the following attractions while you’re there.
What to see:
- The Rosaleda rose garden
- The Fountain of the Fallen Angel – a sculpture by Ricardo Bellver (inspired by one of the passages of Milton’s Paradise Lost).
- The art galleries in the buildings of the Buen Retiro Palace
5. Royal Palace of Madrid
Home to the Spanish kings from Charles III to Alfonso XIII, the Royal Palace of Madrid will take you on a tour of colorful Spain’s history. And if you’re lucky, you may just be able to witness the Changing of the Guard and the Solemn Changing of the Guard ceremonies exactly as they were performed during the time of King Alfonso XII and King Alfonso XIII!
The structure of the palace was inspired by Bernini’s sketches of the Louvre in Paris and is built in the form of a square overlooking a massive courtyard with galleries and a parade ground.
The palace has 3000 rooms, including the following:
Don’t miss:
- the main staircase with 70 steps design by famous Italian architect Francisco Sabatini
- the Royal armory
- the painting gallery
6. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
Football fans, you can’t go back without visiting the home stadium of Real Madrid – an enormous sports venue (seating capacity of 81,000!) that has hosted numerous international football tournaments.
The guided tour will take you to the Real Madrid museum, the locker rooms, the pitch, and the presidential box!
7. National Archaeological Museum
Founded in 1867 by the royal decree of Isabel II, the museum housed in a grand neoclassical building hosts exhibits from pre-historic times to the Renaissance – an incredible journey of world and European history you don’t want to miss.
You can visit the museum from Tuesday to Saturday between 9:30 AM and 8 PM as well as between 9:30 AM and 3 PM on Sundays and holidays.
8. Puerta del Sol
Puerta del Sol is one of the largest and most iconic squares in Madrid and is surrounded by bureaucratic and religious buildings. The grand New Year’s celebrations in this square has been broadcast live on Spanish national television since 1962!
9. Gran Vía
Located at the heart of the city centre, Gran Vía is Madrid’s most happening place with cool bars, theatres, cinemas, historic architecture, and ample opportunities to shop till you drop. No matter where you are during the day, we bet you’ll rush to Gran Vía every evening.
10. Plaza Mayor
Just a couple of blocks from Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor used to be the market district of Old Madrid and still attracts enthusiastic shoppers during the Christmas fair (November and December).
11. Mercado San Miguel
Mercado San Miguel or the San Miguel market gives you prime opportunity to immerse yourself into the culture of the city. This glass and iron structure is eye catching and hosts dozens of tapas bars, restaurants as well as stalls selling fresh fruits, veggies, and sea food produce.
If you’re on a food tour of Madrid, you can’t miss Mercado San Miguel.
12. El Rastro
El Rastro is Madrid’s largest open-air flea market that owes its name to a gruesome tradition: trails of blood left by animal carcasses carried to nearby slaughterhouses in the pre-modern era.
If you’re fond of eclectic goods – antiques, collectors’ items, vintage furniture, second-hand books – you need to plan a visit to El Rastro. It’s a colorful and quirky place for sure.
The flea market is held on Sundays and on public holidays.
13. Churros at San Ginés
Churro is a fried dough-pastry that’s crispy on the outside and soft at the centre (a Spanish and Portugese staple), and they are best sampled at San Ginés chocolateria in Madrid.
However, since this cafe and chocolateria serves thousands of tourists daily, you may have to wait in line till you get your hands on their signature churros – well worth the wait!
14. Bonhomie at a terrace bar
Madrid is full of chic places to drink and make merry, and the views from the terrace bars will amaze you! We recommend the following:
- Le Terrazza de Oscar – a classy and contemporary rooftop bar with a swimming pool/li>
- Tartan Roof at Azotea del Circulo – come for the sangria and beer and stay for the 360 degree view of Madrid’s skyline/li>
- Terraza Rooftop Jardines de Sabatini – this bar overlooks the gardens of the royal palace. The royal garden hosts a number of cultural events during summer, and Terraza Rooftop Jardines provides prime views./li>
15. Flamenco tablaos
Your trip to Madrid will be incomplete without a live Flamenco show. A tablao is at once an establishment that hosts flamenco shows as well as the dance floor on which a flamenco dancer performs.
We recommend the following tablaos in Madrid:
- Corral de la Morería – the oldest tablao in Madrid, with its first performance dating back to 1956/li>
- Casa Patas – a tavern and tablao located at the heart of Madrid/li>
- Torres Bermejas – founded in the 1960s, many flamenco big wigs have performed here/li>
The Wrap: What’s the best time to visit Madrid?
The peak tourist season in Madrid is July-August. But here’s the thing – during these two summer months, Madrid is not only teeming with international tourists, but also Spaniards on holiday. So, if you’re not one for elbowing through the crowd on your vacation, Madrid during summer time is not for you. Plus, the weather can get quite hot (often touching 95ºF).
During March to October, Spain enjoys daylight saving benefits, with the sun setting at 10 PM. This gives you plenty of time to wander around the city and enjoy everything it has to offer. Temperatures are also mild, so you wouldn’t be exhausted from all the sight-seeing. Lastly, most cultural events predominantly are organized during October to February – so if you’re into performance art, concerts, and limited-edition museum exhibitions, this is the best time to visit.
November-December – the winter months – are typically off-season in Madrid. This means less tourists and cheaper accommodations, but many outdoor cafes and shops are closed during this time.
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