The Best Madrid Attractions and Things to do
If you want to visit a European capital and a city full of entertainment and attractions day and night, go to Madrid, Spain. It is truly the city of nightlife, active and lively day and night!
This is the origin of some sayings related to the city, such as Madrid me mata (Madrid kills me) and Madrid nunca duerme (Madrid never sleeps)! The city is not only carefree and slow-paced but also houses precious masterpieces of art and architecture.
If you are planning your visit to the Spanish capital, let’s find out together what to see in Madrid, the best attractions, and things to do to feel like a local!
Table of Contents
Gran Via
A destination dedicated to shopping lovers is the Gran Via, which starts from Alcalá Street and ends at Plaza de España.
Completed at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was created taking inspiration from the skylines of New York and Chicago, two of the most famous American cities. Among the most emblematic structures are the Edificio Telefonica and the Edificio Metrópolis.
Today it is the most fashionable shopping street in all of Madrid and is invaded by citizens, tourists from all over the world and those who want to spend time looking at the splendid shop windows and making purchases of all kinds.
Not only that: there are several musical theaters here, so much so that the street has earned the nickname “Madrid’s Broadway”. Walking along the street you will immediately notice its lively character and you can indulge in an afternoon of relaxation and shopping, stopping for an aperitif in one of the many bars there.
The Gran Via runs through the entire historic center and can be reached by metro lines 1 and 5, Gran Via stop, and line 3, Callao stop. Numerous buses run throughout the area.
El Rastro
If you are planning to visit Madrid, the advice is to make sure you spend at least one Sunday morning or a public holiday in the city to reach the fascinating El Rastro flea market that develops along the streets of the Barrio de La Latina.
The name “El Rastro”, before being associated with the lively colorful stalls and the shrill voices of the vendors, actually represented the trail of blood left by the carcasses coming from the slaughterhouse and headed to the tanneries that were once located in this area.
A slow walk to discover this picturesque market, among the oldest in Europe, is an unmissable stop to be able to say that you have fully experienced the lively soul of the city that smells of tradition; it will be fun to observe all the vintage objects on display not only by the street vendors but also by the shopkeepers who open the doors of their charming antique shops and maybe make some extravagant purchases!
Barrio de las Letras and Calle de la Huerta
The Barrio de las Lettras is the artistic neighborhood of Madrid. It is located in the heart of the city, easily reachable from various monuments and museums, and is also one of the reference points of Madrid’s nightlife, not to be missed!
Here the beating heart is Calle de la Huerta, lively and artistic during the day and a true reference point for the nightlife. The street starts to fill up at aperitif time, so arrive at the right time: sit at one of the many tables, order a glass of wine, and enjoy the local tapas like true Spaniards!
The neighborhood is located between Plaza Mayor and the Prado Museum, easily reachable on foot from the latter in just 10 minutes (700 m). Reference stop Sol, metro lines 1, 2, and 3.
Puerta del Sol
The exact center of Madrid, km 0 from which all distances from the city are calculated. The heart of demonstrations, protests, and street artists in Madrid.
Today the hub of social life, it was once only the eastern end, hence the name of the square itself: puerta del sol = gate of the sun, and the sun, as we know, rises in the east.
Puerta del Sol is a square that competes with Plaza Mayor for recognition as the main square of Madrid. It is here that the Madrid New Year’s Eve is celebrated and it is here that, at the Real Casa de Correo, the headquarters of the presidency of the community of Madrid is located.
The building also houses a post office and a massive clock that marks the “campanadas”, or 12 chimes that signal the last seconds of the year that is coming to an end and the beginning of the new year. The Spanish mark the 12 chimes by eating 12 grapes, it is a widespread belief that those who manage to follow the rhythm will have a particularly lucky year.
In the historic center of Madrid, reachable by metro lines 1, 2, 3, and 5, Puerta del Sol stop.
Look carefully at the clock: if you look carefully at the famous clock in the square, you will notice that the number four is written in Roman numerals, but instead of being written IV, it has been written this way: IIII.
Puerta de Alcalá
This is one of the most representative monuments of Madrid, inaugurated in 1778 and built by order of Charles III. It is a triumphal arch in granite in neoclassical style, a precursor to other well-known ones such as the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin! Truly unmissable!
Puerta de Alcalá is located in Pl. de la Independencia and overlooks the northwest area of the Retiro Park, from Plaza de Espana you can reach it by walking along Gran Via for about 30 minutes.
MUSEUMS IN MADRID
Museum of the Prado
This is one of the most important museums in the city and also one of the most important and visited in the world: we are talking about the very famous Prado Museum in Madrid. If you intend to visit it, plan to dedicate a certain number of hours to it.
Inside, there are many masterpieces by famous artists, including Caravaggio, Goya, Raphael, and Velasquez, to name just a few. The Prado Museum is a true treasure trove of testimonies of the history of art of our continent over the last five centuries. It is advisable to go to the Prado during the week, to avoid the large crowds of the weekend.
Opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 10:00 – 20:00
- Sunday and holidays: 10:00 – 19:00
Ticket price: full price €15. Reduced €7.50
Free admission days:
- Monday to Saturday: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday and holidays: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Museum access up to 30 minutes before closing
How to get there:
- Metro: line 2 Banco de Espana stop or line 1 Atocha stop.
- Bus: 9, 10, 14, 19, 27, 34, 37, 45.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Let’s talk about art again with the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid, an important museum in the city that houses the paintings belonging to the private collection of the German steel magnate, Thyssen-Bornemisza, from whom the entire collection also takes its name.
Having enriched himself during the Second World War, Baron Hans Thyssen-Bornemisza gave shape to the collection that his father had divided among his various heirs.
The museum is spread over 4 floors and has around 800 works, highlighting the history of European painting from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with masterpieces ranging from the German Renaissance to Mannerism, from Impressionism to Baroque and Rococo to the wonders of the Italian 14th century.
You can admire paintings by Van Eyck, Gauguin and Hopper, Caravaggio and Van Gogh. Given the large turnout, we recommend purchasing tickets for the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum online, to avoid queues at the ticket offices.
Opening hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
- Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00 – 19:00.
- Closed: every Monday, December 25 and 31, January 1 and May 1.
Ticket: Full price €13.
How to get there:
- Metro: Line 2 Banco de Espana Station.
- Bus: 1,2,5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 20, 27, 34, 37, 45
Reina Sofia Museum
If you are interested in works of art created from the early twentieth century to today, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid is a must-see. It is also one of the most important museums in Madrid and is spread over 4 floors.
The peculiarity is that the building in which the museum was set up served as a hospital until 1986. Today it houses numerous works by artists such as Picasso, Dalì, Kandinsky, and many others. Perhaps the most famous work of the Reina Sofia is Picasso’s “Guernica”, painted by the artist in 1987 in memory of the air raid on the Basque city of Gernika-Lumo.
Opening hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 10:00 – 21:00
- Sunday: 10:00 – 14:30.
- Closed: every Tuesday, December 24, 25, and 31, January 1 and 6, May 1 and November 9.
Ticket price: full price €12.
FREE ENTRY:
- Monday to Saturday: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday and holidays: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
- The museum closed until 30 minutes before closing
How to get there:
- Metro: Line 1 Estación del Arte and Line 3 Lavapiés station.
- Bus: 6, 10, 14, 19, 26, 27, 32, 34, 36, 37, 41, 45, 59, 85, 86, 102, 119, C1, C2 and E1.
MADRID’S MAIN SQUARES
Plaza Mayor
You would never guess that this square, until 1580, was the site of the city market, but not only that. Capital executions, popular festivals, and the most famous of Spanish events, the Bullfight, also took place here. Furthermore, between the 17th and 18th centuries, it suffered three major fires.
Currently, however, it has the appearance of an elegant square measuring 129 m in length and 100 m in width. It is a closed square, or rather, surrounded by three-story buildings, thanks to the renovation commissioned by Philip II of Habsburg in 1561.
It is located in the heart of the historic center and can be accessed from one of the 9 gates, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Arco de Cuchilleros. Reachable by metro lines 1, 2, 3, and 5, Puerta del Sol stop, or lines 2 and 5, Opera stop.
Plaza de Cibeles
Famous among football fans for its famous victory celebrations, Plaza de Cibeles is one of the symbols of Madrid and enchants tourists with its beauty!
It is characterized by splendid and imposing buildings such as the Palacio de Comunicaciones, now home to the offices of the Municipality, Palacio de Buenavista with the headquarters of the Army Headquarters, the Banco de España, or the headquarters of the Bank of Spain, whose interiors are enriched by paintings by Goya, Mengs, Maella, and Vicente López. Finally, there is the Palacio de Linares, much more recent than the others and created to house the Casa de América, the institution that wants to encourage cultural exchange between Spain and Latin America.
But the centerpiece of the entire square is certainly the splendid Fountain depicting the goddess Cibeles on a chariot pulled by lions.
It is located in the historic center, a 4-minute walk from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Reachable by metro line 2, Banco de España stop. Bus lines 1, 2, 9, 10, 15, 20, 34, 51, 52, 53, 74, 146, 202 and 203.
Plaza de Oriente
Next to the majestic Palacio Real de Madrid, you can visit one of the most elegant and peaceful areas of the city: Plaza De Oriente.
Walking inside its extremely well-kept gardens where colorful flowerbeds and verdant gardens stand out, you can admire in a central position the equestrian statue of Philip IV, which owes its particular balanced structure to the precious technical suggestions of Galileo Galilei, and twenty statues depicting as many Spanish sovereigns to celebrate the period of the reconquest.
The square is also known for a curious legend according to which the twenty historical figures represented in sculptures come to life in the middle of the night to come down from the pedestal and wander undisturbed inside the gardens, this does nothing but add charm to a place that will conquer you at first sight especially if you decide to reach it at sunset!
Plaza de España
Plaza de España is an iconic square located in the center of the city, at the western end of the Gran Vía. It is known for its monument to Miguel de Cervantes, the fountain with the statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, and the historic buildings that surround it.
It is also one of the main centers of the city and is always very lively and busy! It can be an ideal point of arrival or starting point for a walk along Gran Via.
The closest metro stop to Plaza de España in Madrid is Plaza de España, served by lines 3 and 10 of the Madrid metro.
Plaza de Toros Las Ventas
For lovers of Spanish traditions, a visit to the Plaza de Toros is a must, where Las Ventas is located, the largest bullring in Madrid and all of Spain.
Here, in Las Ventas, the best matadors in the world present their skills during bullfights, which is why it is a place very dear to the people of Madrid; even the Plaza de Toros of Las Ventas itself is considered the most important bullring in the world.
The “Mecca of bullfighting” was built in 1929 and was designed entirely in neo-Mudejar style, with exposed red bricks and a ring that extends for 61 m. To learn more about the history of Las Ventas, you can take a guided tour called Las Ventas tour, which includes a visit to the Museo Taurino della Comunita di Madrid, the Puerta de Cuadrillas, the Chapel, the pasillo de Enfermería, the Callejón, and the Ruedo.
Get to know the world of bullfighting up close: if you take part in the Las Ventas Tour, you will have the opportunity to see a demonstration of bullfighting up close; in practice, it consists of simulating the bullfighting of a bull with students from the Madrid Bullfighting School.
MADRID’S MAIN PARKS
Buen Retiro Park
Simply called El Retiro, Madrid’s Retiro Park is a stop especially recommended for families with children. It is a green area of 118 hectares where you can indulge in various activities: stroll here and there, stop to watch the performances of street artists with more or less improvised shows, drink something refreshing in one of the many bars surrounded by greenery or take a boat ride on the lake.
Along the Street of Statues, in Spanish Paseo de la Argentina, some sculptures portray the various sovereigns of Spain and a fountain dedicated to the Devil!
Participate in one of the cultural events: from the end of June to mid-July the long tree-lined avenues fill up with book stalls on the occasion of the Book Fair; instead, every week you can attend one of the shows of the Teatro de Titeres, or the Puppet Theater.
The Park, however, still has a regal feel: part of the lake is protected by the imposing monument of King Alfonso XII, inaugurated in 1922 and still a meeting point for many Madrilenians and beyond.
Palacio de Cristal
Today, the symbol of the Park is certainly the wonderful Crystal Palace, built in 1887 to house an immense exhibition of botanical species from the Philippine Islands for the occasion an indigenous village was also set up, a meticulous reconstruction to discover the plants and animals of the exotic world even more interesting and realistic.
Opening hours:
- Spring and summer (from April to September): 6:00 – 24:00
- Autumn and winter (from October to March): 6:00 – 22:00.
Ticket price: free.
How to get there:
Metro: Atocha (L1), Estación del Arte (L1), Ibiza (L9), Retiro (L2)
Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid
The Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid was founded together with the Manzanares in 1755 by order of King Fernando VI; at the beginning, it collected only two thousand plant species, today instead there are a total of 30,000 plants and flowers, as well as 1,500 trees of various species.
The splendid and luxuriant botanical garden of the city of Madrid boasts terraced outdoor sections full of ornamental, aromatic, medical plants and orchards, and two large greenhouses; among the “special collections” are the bonsai received as a gift from Felipe González.
Everything that is kept inside is the result of the meticulous and continuous scientific expeditions that have affected the whole of Europe.
Casa de Campo Park
Casa de Campo Park covers over 15,000 hectares and is the largest public park in Madrid, as well as a place to escape to enjoy many activities!
You can walk around the Lago de la Casa de Campo and relax in one of the many bars located on its banks;
Take the Teleferico, the funicular of the park, to enjoy a spectacular view of the entire city (12:00-18:00; return ticket €6.00);
If you are traveling with your family you can visit the Zoo Aquarium (every day approximately 10:00-18:00, full price from €24.00) or the Parque de Atracciones, a historic amusement park (approximately 12:00-19:00, Entrance from €22.90).
Finally, you can visit the Piscina El Lago, which has outdoor and indoor pools ideal for hot summer days (every day from 9:00-21:00. Full price €4.50).
CHURCHES OF MADRID
Almudena Cathedral
A stone’s throw from the Royal Palace, we encounter another story of ruins and subsequent reconstructions: that of the Almudena Cathedral, a much more troubled history than that of the nearby Palace, which bears the mark of 5 centuries of clashes, stormy negotiations between the Catholic Kings and the bishops of Toledo, economic and political problems.
Designed in the 16th century, it was only built starting in 1879. It is dedicated to the Virgin of Almudena, an image of which is preserved in the crypt, the main attraction of the building.
The heterogeneous style can be perceived both inside and outside where a large and elegant slate dome rises to dominate the city.
Don’t miss the statues of St. John the Baptist, the work of the French sculptor Robert Michel, and Christ at the Column by Giacomo Colombo. Crossing Cuesta de la Vega, near the church, you can also see the remains of the 19th-century Arab wall.
Before leaving this sacred place, we would like to point out the presence of the Museo de la Catedral de la Almudena, inside which you can see a series of objects that retrace the history of the church and the Madrid diocese; by visiting it, you will also have the opportunity to access the Dome of the Almuneda, a panoramic point that is unmissable during your stay discovering Madrid.
Opening hours and ticket prices for the Almudena Cathedral
- The cathedral cannot be visited during liturgical celebrations.
- From September 1st to June 1st: every day from 09:00 to 20:00
- From July 1st to August 31st: every day from 10:00 to 21:00.
Ticket price: €1 as an entrance fee.
How to get there:
- Metro: line 2 or 5, Ópera stop
- Bus: 3, 25, 39 and 148.
Monasterio de las Descalzas reales
It was originally the palace of the state treasurer Alonso Gutiérrez but in 1555 it was purchased by Philip II’s sister, Juana of Austria, and transformed into a convent. The nuns inside were Franciscans but were known as the Royal Discalced Nuns due to their aristocratic origins.
Frescoes, tapestries, ceramics, embroidered robes, sculptures, and precious liturgical objects make this place an award-winning museum and, not infrequently, a place of peace compared to the traffic and noise of the Puerta del Sol and Gran Via, just a short distance away.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS IN MADRID
Royal Palace
A must-see during a trip to the capital is the wonderful Royal Palace of Madrid! The current building is the result of the reconstruction, which took place in 1764, of the ruins of what was the residence of the Spanish royal family.
The ancient palace was destroyed during a fire in 1734. You can notice, admiring its facade, the similarity with the Louvre Palace in Paris.
The palace is the largest in Europe, with its 135,000 square meters of surface area and over 3,000 rooms! It also houses some precious collections, including that of Stradivari string instruments or that of weapons and armor that have belonged to the royal family since the 13th century. However, to this day, the Spanish royals do not stay here but at the Zarzuela Palace.
It houses some enviable collections of inestimable value, such as the string instruments signed by Antonio Stradivari preserved in the Capilla Real, or the ancient ceramic vases and cabinets for storing medicinal plants in the Real Farmacia, including the medical prescriptions of the royal family.
In the Real Armería, on the other hand, the collection of weapons and armor that have belonged to the kings and the royal family since the 13th century is kept.
However, despite the magnificence of the building and its treasures, the sovereigns of Spain do not stay in these apartments, but their private residence is the Zarzuela Palace, in the wooded area of Monte de El Prado, north of the center of Madrid and the Royal Palace remains, however, the seat of official events and state ceremonies.
Winter opening hours (October to March):
- Mon-Sat: 10:00 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00)
- Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 – 16:00 (last admission 15:00
- Summer opening hours (April to September):
- Mon-Sat: 10:00 – 19:00 (last admission 18:00)
- Sunday and public holidays: 10:00 – 16:00 (last admission 15:00)
Gardens:
- Mon-Sun and public holidays: 10:00 – 20:00
- Closed: every Monday, 24, 25 and 31 December, 6 January and 1 May.
Ticket price: €12.
- Access to the Belvedere is free from Monday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 22:00.
How to get there:
- Metro: Lines 2 and 5 Opera stop, Lines 2, 3, and 10 Plaza de España stop.
- Bus: 3, 25, 39, 46, 62, 75, 138, 148, C1, C2, SE712, N16, N18, N19, N20.
Temple of Debod
A short distance from Plaza de España stands the Templo de Debod, certainly one of the most unusual monuments in the city of Madrid. This splendid Egyptian temple is located on a hill a short distance from Plaza de España and probably dates back to 200 BC.
It may seem strange, you will think that it is an imitation, but it is not: in 1907 in Egypt, on the occasion of the works for the Aswan Dam, some monuments were made safe and among them, there was precisely this Temple.
Spain was one of those countries that welcomed UNESCO’s appeal for help and, as a thank you, together with the USA, Italy, and the Netherlands, received as a “gift” one of the 4 temples saved and restored and that today we can admire inside the Parque del Oeste.
Visit at sunset: we recommend going to the Temple during sunset when the colors of the sky are reflected on the water creating a wonderful play of reflections.
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