There are many things to do Madrid, an exciting city to enjoy it to the fullest both day and night. There are few cities with the atmosphere of Madrid at night, at which time it is full of people in bars and terraces, having a beer or enjoying a good tapas. Nor can we forget its museums, squares, markets and monuments, or touring the Rastro market in search of a bargain or stroll through the Retiro park.
We have visited Madrid many times, a city that we love, whether for work or leisure. Some time ago we spent two weeks at Christmas visiting many of its most famous corners. Based on our experience we wanted to make a list 50 things to see and do in Madrid, especially for those who travel to the city for the first time. We start!
1. Go up to the rooftop terrace of the Círculo de Bellas Artes to enjoy one of the best views of Madrid.
2. Devour the typical and delicious squid sandwich with a cane at La Campana Bar.
3. Look for a bargain on a Sunday morning at the Trail, an open-air market where you can buy all kinds of objects, yes: watch out for pickpockets.
4. Find the Crystal Palace in El Retiro next to its artificial lake forming one of the most beautiful images and one of the best things to see in Madrid.
5. Stroll through the huge Plaza de España, with buildings such as the Tower of Madrid, that of the Asturian Mine Company, the Gallardo House, the Spain House or the Miguel de Cervantes Monument.
6. Tour the Gran Vía day and night, full of theaters, cinemas, restaurants and fashion stores.
A good option to learn more about the history of the city is to book this free tour of Madrid with a guide in Spanish. Free!
The Gran Vía of Madrid
7. Go for tapas, canes and mojitos through the terraces and bars of the La Latina neighborhood, mostly in the streets of Cava Alta and Cava Baja, one of the best things to do in Madrid. A good option is to book this tapas tour through some of the best bars in the city.
8. Find the Km 0 at Puerta del Sol, the point from which all roads in Spain depart.
9. SeeThe Guernica, one of Pablo Picasso's masterpieces at the Reina Sofía Museum, one of the best museums in Madrid.
For more information about the museum you can consult this post about the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid: time and price.
10. Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid, with its official rooms, the Armory and even a Royal Pharmacy.
More things to see and do in Madrid
11. Go for tapas and canes to the historic Mercado de San Miguel.
12. Observe the entire Plaza de Cibeles, with its famous fountain of the goddess Cibeles surrounded by buildings such as the Bank of Spain, the Palace of Communications, the Palace of Linares or Buenavista.
13. Walk, disconnect and enjoy the gardens of Parque del Capricho, located in Alameda de Osuna.
14. Cross the Arc de Cuchilleros and enter La Plaza Mayor, the most beautiful square and one of the best places to see in Madrid.
The main square
15. If we do not find a place to eat in the San Miguel Market, we can always approach the San Antón Market, with good tapas and a terrace with views.
16. Stroll through the beautiful and well-kept Gardens of Sabatini, at the back of the Royal Palace, one of the best things to do in Madrid.
17. Getting lost, shopping, partying in the Chueca neighborhood, the gay neighborhood and with more atmosphere of the city.
18. Take a picture under the Statue of the Bear and the Madroño at Puerta del Sol, one of the icons and one of the most essential places to visit in Madrid.
19. Staying in a central Madrid hotel, our last hotel was the original Room Mate Óscar, with one of the best terraces in Madrid, in the Chueca neighborhood.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods you can consult this post of where to stay in Madrid.
20. Book a day to make an excursion to Toledo, a World Heritage Site and one of the cities with the greatest monumental wealth. Considered one of the best excursions in Madrid.
21. Go up to the cafeteria of El Corte Inglés de Callao to make the most typical photo of La Gran Vía with the Schweppes sign and the Madrid Tower building in the background.
22. Enter the Almudena Cathedral, the only Spanish cathedral consecrated by a pope, with modern stained glass windows full of color.
23. Go shopping on Fuencarral street and Preciados street, two of the main commercial areas of Madrid.
If you prefer to forget about preparations or have little time, you can book the best tours and excursions in Spanish in Madrid
If you prefer to forget about preparations or have little time, you can book the best tours and excursions in Spanish in Madrid24. Going crazy with Street-Xo food, we assure you that the wait in line will be worth it.
25. Do some running or cycling through the Madrid Río space, which runs parallel to the Manzanares.
26. Relax and stroll through El Retiro, the most famous park and one of the best things to do in Madrid.
Crystal Palace in the Retiro Park
More places to see in Madrid
27. Wait for the train while we walk through the greenhouse garden of the Atocha Station.
28. Take a picture of La Puerta de Alcalá, one of the Madrid symbols.
29. Be surprised to see the design of the CaixaForum building, it is worth the entrance.
30. Walk around Puerta del Sol, one of the most famous squares in the city, where New Year's Eve is celebrated with its famous bells and where you will see the old Tío Pepe sign.
31. Tour the Santiago Bernabéu, the stadium of one of the most legendary football clubs in the world, Real Madrid.
32. Release adrenaline in the roller coasters of Warner Park.
33. Try the famous broken eggs with potatoes at Casa Lucio.
34. Watch the sunset at the Temple of Debod, a 2,200-year-old gift from Egypt.
Sunset at the Temple of Debod, one of the best things to do in Madrid.
35. See a flamenco show at the Corral de la Morería, the oldest tablao in the city.
36. Admire the facade of the Bakery House in the Plaza Mayor, from the VX century, the first house to be built in the square and one of the places to see in Madrid.
37. Eat a good plate of corns in the classic and elegant restaurant Lhardy, one of the best restaurants to eat in Madrid.
38. Discover the most futuristic side of the city in Las Cuatro Torres, formed by the 4 tallest skyscrapers in Spain: the Caja Madrid Tower, the PwC Tower, the Crystal Tower and the Espacio Tower.
39. Have a good hot chocolate with churros at Chocolateria San Ginés, one of the best things to do in Madrid.
More things to do in Madrid
40. Rent a boat and paddle through the Retiro pond with the monument to Alfonso XII in the background.
41. Seeing a musical or play in some of the mythical theaters of La Gran Vía, the Lion King was spectacular!
42. Start a route to get to know Madrid night through the Malasaña neighborhood in the emblematic Plaza del Dos de Mayo.
43. Spend a morning at the Prado Museum. Just to see Las Meninas de Velázquez, it is already worth the entrance. A good way to explore it is with a guided tour and thus avoid queues or book this ticket in advance.
We recommend you complete this list of the best works to see in the Prado Museum.
The Prado Museum
44. See the beautiful white marble Neptune Fountain in the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, a symbol for Atlético de Madrid fans.
45. Dance on the seven floors of the most famous disco in Madrid: Kapital.
46. Visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in the Villahermosa Palace, with one of the most important art collections in the world.
47. Book an excursion on the train from Felipe II to the huge Royal Monastery of the Escorial, a World Heritage Site, which includes a royal palace, a basilica, a pantheon, a library and the monastery. This tour is on the list of the best getaways near Madrid.
For more information you can read this post on how to get to El Escorial from Madrid.
48. Sit on one of its benches and enjoy the sunset in the Plaza de Oriente looking at the colors of the Royal Palace.
49. Take a guided tour of the El Pardo Palace, where we can visit the palace, the gardens and the Royal Chapel.
50. Have a good cocktail at the 1862 Dry Bar while we remember the phrase "From Madrid to heaven, and from there, a little hole to see it"
* Book your transfer Airport ⇆ Centro or Hotel de Madrid here
- Full day Toledo excursion
- Excursion to El Escorial and Valley of the Fallen
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Tour
- Excursion to Ávila and Segovia
- Guided tour of the Prado Museum (skip the line)
- More excursions and tours here
If you feel like helping us complete the list of 50 things to see and do in Madrid, add yours in the comments.
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Madrid guide in one day
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Madrid guide in one day
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