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Ah, Madrid. The mere mention of this city’s name is an invitation to travel and party. The Spanish capital, if it does not reflect the cultural diversity that characterizes the country, has a strong identity and is proud to host one of the richest historical heritages in Europe. Between its royal past, world-renowned museums, and no less famous art of living, this city of more than three million inhabitants is an ideal destination for tasting what has made and still makes Spain so great. In this article, we will list of the must-see things for a trip to Madrid.
🧳 Further south. And have you thought about Granada? This popular tourist destination is perfect for a long weekend. Here are our must-sees.
🗒️ What you need to know before your trip to Madrid
Before starting our list of essential things to do in Madrid, here are some quick tips for your next Spanish getaway.
When is the best time to visit Madrid?
We would be happy to tell you July and August, in the heart of summer, but the temperatures are also the hottest then, sometimes exceeding 40 degrees. June and September might therefore be better times for a Madrid getaway. But visiting in the month of May is a chance to enjoy the San Isidro festivities, particularly appreciated by the inhabitants of the capital. Anyway, whatever the time of year, except January and February, you should benefit from about twenty days of sunshine per month.
Where can I find a map of attractions or a Madrid metro map?
Have you searched on Google Images? If you haven’t found anything, don’t panic, we have! A map of Madrid’s attractions and metro stations is available on the website of the city’s tourist office. But to save you time, here they are: map of attractions | metro map
Which hotel should you choose in Madrid?
As is expected of a capital city, Madrid has a plethora of accommodation on offer. Many establishments are worth the detour, but here are three that caught our attention:
Do you have some spare money in your wallet to treat yourself? There is no shortage of palaces in Madrid, but The Principal Madrid is one of the most popular. For just over 300 euros a night, you’ll get a great location and views of Gran Via Avenue from the elegant rooftop terrace or the hotel’s restaurant and bar. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, of course.
You don’t want to ruin your budget for accommodation, but want a clean, comfortable room in a well-located hotel? Then consider the Artrip Hotel. This quaint but modern establishment has a crazy charm.
Finally, do you prefer originality? Take a look at the Silken Puerta Madrid. Here, carte blanche was left to designers to organize and decorate everything, and the result is surprising. An unforgettable stay guaranteed.
A last thing: If you want a really very conforable stay, have a look at our best hotels with a rooftop pool in Madrid.
🔝 15 essential things to do in Madrid
Now let’s get down to business, the things you need to do on your trip to Madrid! Here is our selection of essentials.
Visit the Prado Museum
We have all heard of it, we can’t talk about Madrid without mentioning its many museums, as beautiful and grandiose as they are. But the most famous of them is the Prado Museum, which is one of the largest museums in the world. It is also one of the main tourist attractions in Madrid, hosting an immense collection of paintings, especially of European origin, from the 14th to the 19th century. Here you will find the masterpieces of great painters like Francisco Goya, Diego Vélasquez, and Hieronymus Bosch.
Two other museums form the “Golden Triangle” of art in Madrid: first, the Reina Sofía Museum (more below), where you can notably see Picasso’s famous painting, “Guernica”, but also works by Dali or Miro. Next, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which contains a thousand works that the Spanish state purchased from the Thyssen-Bornemisza family in 1993.
Of course, Madrid has many other museums, including the National Archaeological Museum, the Cerralbo Museum housed in a splendid 17th century mansion, and the Railway Museum.
Admire the Royal Palace of Madrid
This is undeniably one of the most memorable things to do in Madrid. The palace of the Spanish monarchy should be a priority on your list of places to see in the capital. This magnificent building which housed the kings and queens of Spain for centuries seduces with its architectural style and the richness of its interior – there are nearly 3,400 rooms. The Hallebardiers room, the Columns room, King Charles III’s bedroom, or the Mirrors room are among the most interesting chambers to discover if you opt for a guided tour. This palace was built by order of King Philip V on the site left by the Royal Alcazar but was almost completely destroyed by flames in the fire of 1734.
⏰ Attend the changing of the royal guard. Do you want to treat yourself to a little flavour of history, a bit like in London? Visit the Royal Palace on the first Wednesday of the month. You will see the changing of the royal guard, involving 400 men (halberdiers and other spearmen) and a hundred horses launched in a spellbinding choreography. A great show for young and old.
Treat yourself to a night at the opera at the Teatro Real
Don’t go too far! Opposite the Royal Palace, in the Oriente Square, stands the Teatro Real (official site). It is a must-see place in Madrid, and for good reason: thanks to its exceptional acoustics, it is ranked among the best opera houses in Europe. Built between 1817 and 1850, it has since seen performance by many renowned opera singers.
To enjoy a show in this opera, your wallet must be full because the seats are certainly not free – a bit like in all the great opera houses in Europe. However, if you only want to go in discovery mode, you can opt for a daytime visit with an audio guide. This visit includes the dressing rooms, the theatre rooms, the foyer, and all the exhibition halls.
Celebrate whatever you want at Puerta Del Sol
Puerta Del Sol is the symbolic centre of Madrid and Spain. This is where the Real Madrid football team celebrates its titles. It is also from here that all the main streets of the city begin. This square takes its name from its shape: a semicircle with alleys and avenues radiating out like sunbeams. Its construction began in the middle of the 18th century with the Casa de Correos, the Royal Post Office. In the square, you will find the famous bronze statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, made by the sculptor Antonio Navarro Santafe, who was inspired by the city’s coat of arms.
Explore the Plaza Mayor
In Spain, the Plaza Mayor usually refers to the central square of a city. No wonder, then, that Madrid’s is steeped in history. Built in 1690, it has always played an important role in the life of the people of Madrid. In the centre of the square stands a statue of Philip III on horseback, dating from 1848. The Plaza Mayor is surrounded by buildings with particularly remarkable architecture. Once there, don’t forget to visit:
- The Bakery House. Opened in 1619, this four-storey building, flanked by Flemish-style towers, originally housed the town’s main bakery.
- The butcher’s house. This building, located south of the Plaza Mayor, was where meat was stored for the Madrid markets. Today it is a luxury hotel.
- The Cutlers’ Arch. This building owes its name to the old Rue des Couteliers, a corporation that supplied the butchers of the Plaza Mayor market. It now houses one of the oldest restaurants in the world, Sobrino de Botín.
Marvel at the Royal Botanical Garden
If you love plants, then visiting the Royal Botanical Garden should definitely be on your list of things to do in Madrid. Located right next to the city’s most famous museum, the Prado Museum, this eight-hectare space, founded in 1755 by King Ferdinand VI, houses 90 000 plants and flowers, and 1,500 trees from all over the world. It is divided into seven large sections and has five greenhouses that allow for the cultivation of species that are poorly adapted to the continental Mediterranean climate of the Spanish capital. This is an opportunity to discover plants that you did not know existed, or to rest quietly in a magnificent green setting.
Culture at the National Museum of the Reina Sofia Art Centre
If the Prado is the most prestigious museum in Madrid, the Reina Sofía Art Centre (Centro de Arte Reina Sofia) is no less important. It is a modern and contemporary art museum. The works presented range from 1900 to the present day. It is in this museum (official site) that you can admire Picasso’s famous painting of the Spanish Civil War: “Guernica”. You will also find the works of other renowned artists such as Miro, Dali, Juan Gris, and even Delaunay.
Eat churros and drink hot chocolate in San Gines
If you are a fan of churros or simply very food-oriented, you will love Madrid, but above all an address that appears in all the good guides: Chocolaterie San Ginés . Founded in 1894, this churreria, the most famous in the Spanish capital, serves authentic churros to dip in hot chocolate, which is also delicious. Again, a must in Madrid!
Chocolateria San Ginés | Pasadizo de San Gines 5, Madrid
But if you want other good addresses, here are two:
Churreria Los Artesanos 1902 | Calle de San Martin 2 Semi-esquina con la calle Arenal, Madrid
Maestro Churrero | Plaza Jacinto Benavente 2 Carrera de San Jeronimo 9, Madrid
🥧 Nothing but the best. Do you want to try the best churros in Madrid? Then check out our selection of establishments.
Have a good time at El Retiro Park
Want to give yourself a break after hours of walking through the Spanish capital? Rest at El Retiro Park. In this green haven of 125 hectares, comprising nearly 15,000 trees, you will have the choice between strolling through the various gardens – including the Rose Garden, the garden of perennial plants, and the gardens of Cecilio Rodríguez – or sitting down and devouring a good book. Opt for a boat trip or simply take a nap, the Spanish way. Whatever you choose, you will not escape the delicious cool winds that sweep through this verdant park. Do not miss the Crystal Palace either, which is simply splendid, especially at sunset.
Go see a Flamenco show in Las Tablas
Flamenco is a traditional musical genre from Spain which combines song and dance and is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Certainly, the bastion of this art is in Andalusia, especially in Seville, but the Spanish capital also has its own must-see places. So, if you like this style of dance, or have simply heard of it, go and attend a Flamenco show in a hall in the city, in this case Las Tablas or Torres Bermejas.
Las Tables | Plaza de Espana 9, Madrid
Torres Bermejas | Calle de Mesonero Romanos, Madrid
Visit San Miguel Market
In this traditional market made of metal, founded in 1916 and transformed into a modern gastronomic space, you will find a wide variety of food: cold meats and cheeses from all over Spain, fresh fruit and vegetables, local produce, seafood of all kinds, homemade chocolates and ice cream, fruit juice squeezed in front of you, sangria, and Iberian wines… All the cuisines are magnified at the Mercado San Miguel. What’s more, as in any self-respecting market, you will be able to taste before buying. Beautiful discoveries are placed in perspective, therefore, in the heart of Old Madrid.
Treat yourself to a shopping spree
Visiting Madrid without doing some shopping? You do not believe it ! The Spanish capital is one of the bastions of fashion in Europe. For the big names, head for the Gran Via, one of the city’s thoroughfares. Zara, H&M, and even the shops of Madrid’s two emblematic football clubs can be found there. For more cultural offerings – think tech and books – head to Preciados Street, which connects Puerta del Sol to Gran Vía, where you will also find Spanish brands. In Fuencarral Street, narrower than the other two, you will discover a nice mix of international brands, such as Calvin Klein, Decathlon, and local ones. But don’t miss the Malasaña district for more alternative brands, tattoo parlours, and retro shops.
Attend a football match at the Santiago Bernabeu
The mythical Santiago Bernabeu football stadium (official site) is a real tourist attraction in the Spanish capital. A bit like Old Trafford in Manchester, Real Madrid’s lair knows how to greet its visitors. A guided tour of almost an hour will be offered to you so you can discover the players who made it so legendary and all the trophies they have won. Above all, we advise you go there on a match day to appreciate the breath-taking atmosphere. Are you more of an Atletico Madrid fan? Don’t panic, the Cívitas Metropolitano (official site) is also open to visitors.
Visit the library of the Athenaeum of Madrid
The Ateneo is an essential cultural institution in Madrid, and even wider Spain. This society of thinkers (official site), created at the beginning of the 19th century, settled in the current building when it was built in 1884. The Athenaeum comprises of nineteen sections, representing all the cultural and scientific disciplines, and has one of the finest collections of books in the country.
Treat yourself to a change of scenery at the Temple of Amun
And if, to finish, you want to treat yourself to a bit of Egyptian heritage in the heart of Madrid? Visit to the Temple of Amun (or Debod). This ancient Egyptian Nubian temple, dating from the 2nd century BC and dedicated to the Egyptian god Amon, was rebuilt in the west of the capital and then opened to the public in 1972, on Príncipe Pío mountain. It is a gift from Egypt to Spain for helping to save the monuments of Nubia. The water that surrounds it makes for very beautiful photos and the view of the surroundings is breath-taking.
And there you have it! We hope that this small selection of things to do in Madrid has helped you prepare for your Spanish getaway. Have other ideas? Share them in comments.