Best Things To Do In Madrid

Introduction : 25 Best Things To Do In Madrid

Madrid stole my heart the moment I stepped onto its sunbaked streets. Spain’s capital isn’t just another European city—it’s a vibrant, passionate place where life is lived at full volume, history whispers from every corner, and the nights seem to stretch on forever. Unlike Barcelona with its Gaudí architecture or Seville with its Moorish influences, Madrid offers something uniquely its own: an intoxicating blend of regal elegance and down-to-earth charm that keeps pulling me back year after year.

Ready to experience the magic of Madrid for yourself? I’ve put together my 25 favorite things to do in this incredible city. From world-class museums to hidden tapas bars where locals actually eat (and not just tourists!), these recommendations will help you fall in love with Madrid just like I did.

1. Get Lost in the Prado Museum

Look, I know starting with a museum might seem boring, but trust me—the Prado isn’t just any museum. It’s Spain’s crown jewel, housing one of the world’s finest collections of European art. I still remember standing in front of Velázquez’s “Las Meninas” for what felt like hours, completely mesmerized by its complexity. The Goya rooms will haunt you (in the best possible way), and Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” is essentially a medieval acid trip on canvas.

Pro tip: Skip the lines by booking tickets online and go either first thing in the morning or a couple of hours before closing when the crowds thin out. The museum is massive, so don’t try to see everything in one go—your brain will turn to mush!

2. People-Watch at Plaza Mayor

This grand 17th-century square has seen everything from royal proclamations to bullfights and public executions. Today, it’s the perfect spot to sip an overpriced coffee and watch the world go by. The square comes alive with street performers, tourists taking selfies (guilty as charged), and locals cutting through on their daily commute.

I love grabbing a seat at one of the outdoor cafés, ordering a café con leche, and making up stories about the people passing by. Just watch out for the costumed characters trying to charge you for photos—unless you really want that picture with “Don Quixote,” of course!

3. Devour Chocolate con Churros at San Ginés

Ever had a religious experience involving fried dough? You will at Chocolatería San Ginés. This Madrid institution has been serving thick, rich hot chocolate with crispy churros since 1894. I’ve shamefully visited at both 7pm and 3am in the same day (they’re open 24 hours for a reason!).

The place is always bustling with a mix of tourists and locals, especially after a night of bar-hopping when nothing satisfies quite like dunking golden churros into a cup of chocolate that’s practically a pudding. Your arteries might hate you later, but your soul will thank you.

4. Stroll Through Retiro Park

Need a break from the urban hustle? Retiro Park is Madrid’s green lung and the city’s favorite playground. Once a royal retreat, this massive park is now where Madrileños of all stripes come to relax, exercise, picnic, and flirt (seriously, the Spanish excel at public displays of affection).

Don’t miss the Crystal Palace—a magical glass pavilion that hosts art exhibitions and looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. My favorite activity? Renting a rowboat on the artificial lake and pretending I’m in a period drama, complete with terrible British accent and imaginary parasol. The boats only cost about €6 for 45 minutes, making it one of the best-value activities in the city.

5. Visit the Royal Palace

Spain’s royal family doesn’t actually live here anymore, but this massive palace remains their official residence. With over 3,000 rooms, it’s one of Europe’s largest palaces, and the guided tour takes you through a dazzling succession of throne rooms, banquet halls, and royal apartments.

I was honestly blown away by the opulence—we’re talking ceilings painted by Tiepolo, walls covered in silk, and chandeliers that probably cost more than my lifetime earnings. The Royal Armory contains one of the best collections of historic weapons and armor in Europe, which is way cooler than it sounds, even if you’re not a history buff.

6. Experience Flamenco at Corral de la Morería

Flamenco isn’t actually native to Madrid (it comes from Andalusia in southern Spain), but the capital attracts some of the country’s best performers. Corral de la Morería is world-renowned and has hosted flamenco legends since 1956. Yes, it’s pricier than other venues and definitely on the tourist trail, but the quality is unmatched.

The first time I saw a live flamenco performance, I was shocked by how raw and emotional it was. The dancers stomp and twirl with such intensity, the singers wail with soul-crushing emotion, and the guitarists’ fingers move so fast they’re practically a blur. It’s intense, passionate, and 100% worth experiencing.

7. Shop at Mercado de San Miguel

Food markets are my happy place, and Mercado de San Miguel is food market perfection. This beautiful iron-and-glass structure near Plaza Mayor houses dozens of stalls selling everything from oysters and champagne to jamon ibérico and exotic fruit juices.

FYI, it’s definitely a touristy spot these days, but that doesn’t make the food any less delicious. My strategy is to grab a glass of vermouth (the Madrid drink of choice) and then wander around, picking up little bites from different vendors. The olive skewers and croquetas are particularly divine.

8. Bar-Hop Through La Latina

La Latina is Madrid’s most famous neighborhood for tapas bar-hopping, or what Spaniards call “ir de tapas.” Sunday afternoon on Calle Cava Baja is peak tapas time, when the street fills with Madrileños moving from bar to bar, each place specializing in different small plates.

I still dream about the garlicky gambas al ajillo (shrimp in sizzling olive oil and garlic) at El Viajero and the melt-in-your-mouth tortilla española at Juana La Loca. The beauty of tapas culture is that you never commit to a full meal in one place—just have a small plate and a tiny beer (a caña) before moving on to the next spot. Madrid dining is basically adult bar crawling with amazing food. What’s not to love?

9. Marvel at Guernica at the Reina Sofía Museum

If the Prado covers classical art, the Reina Sofía handles the modern stuff—and does it brilliantly. The museum is housed in a former hospital, with a stunning glass elevator added by architect Jean Nouvel.

The star of the show is undoubtedly Picasso’s “Guernica,” his powerful response to the bombing of a Basque town during the Spanish Civil War. Standing before this massive canvas depicting the horrors of war, I felt physically affected by its raw power. The museum also houses works by Dalí, Miró, and other Spanish masters. Don’t skip the courtyard, which is a perfect spot to rest your museum-weary feet.

10. Get Lost in the Literary Quarter

The Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter) earned its name as the stomping ground of Spain’s Golden Age writers like Cervantes and Lope de Vega. Today, it’s one of Madrid’s most charming neighborhoods, with pedestrian streets featuring quotes from famous authors embedded in the pavement.

I love wandering through its narrow lanes, browsing independent bookshops, and stopping at traditional taverns that have barely changed in a century. Café Gijón on nearby Paseo de Recoletos has been a meeting place for Madrid’s literary elite since 1888—the perfect spot for coffee and people-watching with a side of cultural history.

11. Shop on Gran Vía

Madrid’s answer to Broadway or Oxford Street, Gran Vía cuts through the city center with its impressive early 20th-century architecture and endless shops. Love it or hate it, this bustling thoroughfare captures Madrid’s energetic spirit.

The street is lined with everything from massive Zara and Primark flagships to historic theaters now showing popular musicals. I particularly enjoy visiting at night when the buildings are dramatically lit and the street pulses with life. Look up as you walk—some of the rooftop decorations and statues are incredible.

12. Tour Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Even if you’re not a football (soccer) fan, Real Madrid’s stadium is worth a visit just to understand how deeply this sport is woven into Spanish identity. The self-guided tour takes you through the trophy room (prepare to be blinded by silver cups), the players’ tunnel, and pitchside for a view of the massive 81,000-seat stadium.

I’m not even a Real Madrid supporter (don’t tell anyone in Madrid I said that), but standing in that enormous temple to football gave me goosebumps. The museum part is surprisingly interesting too, tracing the club’s evolution from local team to global powerhouse.

13. Discover Hidden Madrid at Descalzas Reales

This unassuming building near Puerta del Sol conceals one of Madrid’s best-kept secrets: a 16th-century convent founded by a princess, filled with priceless art that most tourists never see. The only way to visit is on a guided tour (available in English), which takes you through cloisters and chapels adorned with works by Titian, Rubens, and Brueghel.

What makes this place special is that it’s not just a museum—it’s still a functioning convent with a handful of nuns in residence. The contrast between the incredible wealth displayed in the artworks and the austere life of the nuns creates a fascinating tension.

14. Experience Sunset at Templo de Debod

An ancient Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid? Yep, you read that right. The Templo de Debod was a gift from Egypt to Spain in 1968 as thanks for helping save temples threatened by the construction of the Aswan Dam.

The temple sits in a park west of the Royal Palace, and it’s become Madrid’s favorite sunset spot. I’ve joined locals sitting on the grass with bottles of wine and guitars, watching the sun sink behind the mountains while the temple glows in the golden light. It’s one of those magical Madrid moments that costs absolutely nothing.

15. Feast on Cocido Madrileño

When in Madrid, you must try cocido Madrileño, the city’s signature dish. This hearty chickpea stew includes various meats and vegetables and is traditionally served in three separate courses: first the broth, then the chickpeas and vegetables, and finally the meat.

The best place to try it is at La Bola, where they’ve been making cocido in individual clay pots over an oak wood fire since 1870. Fair warning: this is not a light lunch! Cocido is serious business that will require either a substantial nap or very stretchy pants afterward. :/

16. Browse El Rastro Flea Market

Madrid’s largest open-air flea market takes over La Latina every Sunday morning, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from vintage clothes and antiques to live birds and questionable electronics. It’s chaotic, crowded, and completely essential to the Madrid experience.

After browsing (and inevitable haggling), do as the locals do and stop for vermut de grifo (draft vermouth) and tapas at one of the surrounding bars. Just keep a close eye on your belongings—where there are crowds, there are pickpockets.

17. Admire Art at Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

Completing Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art” along with the Prado and Reina Sofía, the Thyssen offers something different: a chronological journey through Western art from the 13th century to the 20th. What began as a private collection now fills a neo-classical palace with works from virtually every important movement.

I appreciate how the Thyssen fills the gaps between its more famous neighbors—you’ll find Impressionists, German Expressionists, and American abstract artists less represented in the other museums. The compact size makes it less overwhelming than the Prado, perfect for art lovers with limited time or attention spans.

18. Explore Trendy Malasaña

Once the epicenter of Madrid’s post-Franco countercultural movement known as “La Movida Madrileña,” Malasaña is now the city’s hipster haven. The neighborhood buzzes with vintage shops, third-wave coffee houses, craft beer bars, and young designers’ boutiques.

I love starting the day with perfect avocado toast at Toma Café, spending the afternoon browsing vinyl at Madrid’s best record stores, and ending with artisanal cocktails at 1862 Dry Bar. Plaza del Dos de Mayo forms the neighborhood’s heart, where locals gather on terraces year-round. It’s gentrified, sure, but still maintains enough edge to feel authentic.

19. Take a Day Trip to Toledo

Just 30 minutes from Madrid by high-speed train lies Toledo, the former Spanish capital perched dramatically on a hilltop above the Tagus River. Known as the “City of Three Cultures,” Toledo preserves the legacy of the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities that once lived together within its walls.

The medieval streets wind confusingly uphill to the massive Gothic cathedral, while El Greco’s masterpiece “The Burial of Count Orgaz” hangs in the Santo Tomé Church. I recommend getting pleasantly lost in the maze-like streets, stopping for marzipan (a local specialty), and taking in the view immortalized in El Greco’s famous cityscape.

20. Relax at a Traditional Taberna

Madrid maintains many traditional tabernas that have barely changed in a century, serving simple food and wine in surroundings heavy with history. Places like Casa Alberto (operating since 1827), La Venencia (where talking politics was once forbidden and photography still is), and Bodega de la Ardosa (with its famous tortilla) offer a glimpse into Madrid’s past.

I’m particularly fond of Bodegas Ricla, a tiny family-run place where the wine comes straight from barrels behind the bar, and the anchovies are some of the best I’ve ever tasted. These establishments represent a disappearing Madrid, so visit them while you can.

21. Eat Your Way Through Mercado de San Antón

For a more local market experience than San Miguel, head to Mercado de San Antón in Chueca. The ground floor houses traditional market stalls selling fresh produce, meat, and fish, while the first floor offers international food stalls where you can eat on shared tables.

My favorite part is the rooftop terrace, where you can enjoy drinks with views over Madrid’s rooftops. You can even buy ingredients downstairs and have them cooked for you at the restaurant. It’s a perfect example of how traditional markets are reinventing themselves for the 21st century.

22. Dance Until Dawn

Madrid’s nightlife is legendary, with clubs that don’t get going until after 2am and continue until breakfast. The city caters to every musical taste, from techno temples like Mondo to indie haunts like Ochoymedio to traditional venues where you can dance flamenco-inspired chotis during the San Isidro festival.

I’m not as young as I once was, but I still love the energy of a Madrid night out—the way strangers become best friends by 4am, the impromptu dance circles that form to cheer on particularly enthusiastic dancers, and the traditional end-of-night churros as the sun comes up.

23. Visit the National Archaeological Museum

Often overlooked by visitors rushing between the art museums, this gem houses treasures from Spain’s diverse past, from prehistoric times through the Roman and Moorish periods. The Lady of Elche (a mysterious Iberian bust) is the museum’s rock star exhibit, along with a stunning reproduction of the Altamira cave paintings.

What I appreciate about this museum is how it contextualizes everything you see around Spain. Those Roman ruins you’ll encounter everywhere? You’ll understand them better after visiting here. The Islamic decorative motifs? You’ll recognize their evolution after seeing the museum’s Moorish collection.

24. Hang Out in Plaza de Santa Ana

This lively square in the heart of the Huertas neighborhood strikes the perfect balance between touristy and local. Lined with outdoor terraces and anchored by the historic Teatro Español, it attracts a mixed crowd throughout the day and night.

I like coming here for the Spanish ritual of aperitivo—pre-lunch drinks and snacks—at places like Cervecería Alemana, a wood-paneled beer hall where Hemingway was a regular. The square transforms throughout the day, from morning coffee drinkers to lunch crowds to evening revelers, providing a perfect snapshot of Madrid’s social culture.

25. Take in the View from Círculo de Bellas Artes

For the best panoramic view of Madrid, head to the rooftop terrace of this cultural center on Calle Alcalá. For a small entrance fee, you can ride the elevator to the top for breathtaking vistas stretching from the Gran Vía to the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains on clear days.

The rooftop bar serves decent cocktails at predictably inflated prices, but you’re paying for that million-dollar view. I typically come up for sunset and watch as the city lights begin to twinkle on, with the silhouette of the Palacio de Comunicaciones particularly dramatic against the darkening sky.

Madrid may not have Barcelona’s beaches or Seville’s perfect oranges, but what it offers is even better: a city that feels truly alive at all hours, where tradition and modernity dance together on every corner, and where strangers still chat at bar counters like they’ve known each other forever.

The Spanish capital rewards those who embrace its rhythms—who aren’t afraid to eat dinner at 10pm, who understand that a quick drink often turns into an all-night adventure, and who appreciate that sometimes the best travel experiences happen when you put away the guidebook and just follow the crowds of locals to that bar that doesn’t even have a sign out front.

Whether you’re admiring masterpieces at the Prado, inhaling the steam from a perfect cup of chocolate con churros, or dancing until your feet hurt, Madrid offers a intensity of experience that few other European capitals can match. It’s a city that doesn’t just welcome visitors—it pulls them into its whirlwind and leaves them forever changed. ¡Que viva Madrid!