15 best things to do in Madrid

Sophisticated, globally minded, and built for late nights, Madrid isn’t short on things to do. From world-class art and royal landmarks to backstreet bars and neighborhood markets, the city blends culture with chaos in the best way. It’s not always cheap, but many of its highlights are worth the splurge – and a few don’t cost a thing.

These are the best things to do in Madrid – essential stops that show you what the city’s about.

1. Wander through El Retiro Park and row across the lake

Once a private playground for royalty, El Retiro is now Madrid’s most popular green escape – and one of the best places to slow things down. You’ll find open-air art exhibitions, puppet shows, tarot readers, and rollerbladers weaving past baroque statues. At its heart sits a tree-lined lake where you can rent a rowboat and paddle beneath the grand monument to Alfonso XII.

Don’t miss the Palacio de Cristal, a glass pavilion that hosts rotating art installations under its vaulted dome. If you're wondering about the best time to visit Spain, late spring hits a sweet spot – the crowds are thinner, the weather's pleasant, and Retiro's Rosaleda (rose garden) bursts with color. Pack a picnic, grab a bench under the cypress trees, and watch the city pass by at a gentler pace.

2. Marvel at masterpieces in the Prado Museum

If you're building a Spain itinerary, Madrid’s art triangle should be near the top – and the Prado Museum is the heavyweight. This isn’t just one of the best museums in Madrid; it’s one of the finest in Europe. Expect a serious lineup of Spanish masters: Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco all get plenty of wall space, alongside Rubens, Titian, and Bosch.

For something darker, Goya’s Black Paintings – pulled from the walls of his own home – are as intense as they are unforgettable. Nearby, the Museo Reina Sofía houses Picasso’s Guernica, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza fills in the gaps with everything from Dutch still lifes to American pop art.

Entry to the Prado is free on weekday evenings and Sundays – worth keeping in mind if you're planning ahead. But even if you're short on time, an hour inside is time well spent.

3. Catch sunset at the Templo de Debod

It’s not what you expect to find in a Madrid park – a 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple, rebuilt stone by stone. Gifted by Egypt in the 1960s for Spain’s help in saving Abu Simbel, the Templo de Debod now sits on a hill in Parque del Oeste, flanked by pine trees and reflecting pools.

The draw here isn’t just the monument – it’s the view. As the sun drops behind the city, locals gather on the grass, and the sky turns every shade of orange. For a city that stays up late, it’s an unexpectedly calm way to end the day.

It’s not the biggest attraction, but it still earns its place among the best things to do in Madrid, especially if you’re after a different kind of photo stop.

4. Eat your way through Mercado de San Miguel

If you want a crash course in the best Spanish food, skip the sit-down restaurants and head straight to Mercado de San Miguel. Housed in a 20th-century iron-and-glass structure just off Plaza Mayor, this indoor market is packed with stalls serving everything from Galician octopus and Cantabrian anchovies to Iberian ham carved to order.

It’s touristy, sure – but the food quality holds up, especially if you stick to regional specialties. Grab a glass of vermouth and work your way from croquetas to churros without leaving the building.

Wondering how many days to spend in Madrid? Even if you’ve only got a short stay, this is an easy win – centrally located, open daily, and perfect for grazing between sights. You won’t find the cheapest bites here, but for variety and atmosphere, it’s one of the city’s top food stops.

5. Watch a live flamenco show in a traditional tablao

You’ll hear flamenco before you see it – a sharp clap, a rasped lyric, the stomp of heels on wood. While flamenco is rooted in Andalucia, Madrid has some of the most respected tablaos (flamenco venues) in the country, with top dancers, singers, and guitarists performing night after night.

Skip the tourist traps offering dinner with a show. Go for a dedicated venue like Corral de la Morería or Casa Patas, where the focus stays firmly on the performance. The room is small, the lighting low, and when it’s done well, it hits hard.

Catching a live flamenco show easily ranks among the best things to do in Spain – not just for the music and dancing, but for the intensity of it. Flamenco isn’t background entertainment. It demands your attention, and in Madrid, it earns it.

6. Tour the Royal Palace of Madrid

The Spanish king doesn’t live here anymore, but the Royal Palace still knows how to impress. Inspired by the Louvre, it’s packed with lavish rooms, grand staircases, and an eye-watering collection of tapestries, chandeliers, and centuries-old armor. You’ll also find paintings by Goya, Velázquez, and Caravaggio tucked among the royal décor.

While it’s still used for official ceremonies, most of the palace is open to visitors, including the Throne Room and the Royal Armoury. Arrive early or book ahead to avoid queues, especially in peak season.

You can visit for free on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons if you’re an EU resident, but even at full price, it’s worth the ticket. It's not just about the history – it's about seeing the scale Madrid operates on when it wants to show off.

7. Join the crowd at a Real Madrid match at Santiago Bernabéu

Even if you’re not a football fan, watching Real Madrid play at the Santiago Bernabéu is hard to forget. The atmosphere inside this 80,000-seat stadium is electric – chants echoing from the stands, scarves waving in unison, and a level of skill on the pitch that lives up to the hype.

You don’t need a rivalry or a backstory to get swept up in it. Just grab a seat, grab a beer, and follow the roar of the crowd. If you’re not in town for a match, you can still tour the stadium – expect a behind-the-scenes look at the locker rooms, pitch, and trophy cabinet.

For sheer energy, this easily ranks among the best things to do in Madrid. It’s more than just a game – it’s a slice of the city’s identity played out in real time.

8. Stroll down Gran Vía for shops, shows, and old-school cinemas

Gran Vía isn’t subtle – it’s Madrid in full volume. Stretching from Plaza de España to Calle de Alcalá, this busy boulevard is lined with early 20th-century architecture, big-name shops, rooftop bars, and theatres that light up after dark. It’s where you’ll find Madrid’s take on Broadway, with long-running musicals and classic cinemas tucked between H&M and Zara.

It’s also a great marker for orientation. Several of the best areas to stay in Madrid – including Malasaña, Chueca, and Sol – sit just off the Gran Vía, making it easy to explore the city on foot.

Skip the fast fashion if you’ve seen it all before, and head to one of the nearby rooftops for a better view. From above, the Metropolis Building’s ornate dome and the skyline beyond are worth the detour. For shopping, people-watching, or just walking off your last tapas stop, Gran Vía delivers.

9. Take in the Reina Sofía’s modern art – especially Picasso’s Guernica

If you’re planning a trip to Spain and even vaguely interested in modern art, make time for the Museo Reina Sofía. Housed in a former hospital, this national museum focuses on 20th-century Spanish art, with a heavy-hitting collection that includes Dalí, Miró, and, most famously, Picasso.

The star is Guernica, Picasso’s monumental response to the bombing of a Basque town during the Spanish Civil War. It’s powerful, political, and impossible to ignore. Don’t rush it – the surrounding rooms offer useful context, with early sketches and war photography that put the painting into focus.

Alongside the Prado and Thyssen-Bornemisza, Reina Sofía forms Madrid’s “Golden Triangle of Art” – reason enough to call the city one of the best places to visit in Spain for culture. Entry is free on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons, but even if you’re short on time, it’s worth paying to see it properly.

10. Bar-hop your way through La Latina on a Sunday afternoon

Sunday in La Latina starts slow and ends loud. What begins as a morning browse through El Rastro flea market quickly turns into a full-blown tapas crawl, with locals spilling out of tabernas onto cobbled lanes, vermouth in hand. The action centers around Cava Baja and Cava Alta, two streets lined with traditional bars dishing out everything from callos (Madrid-style tripe stew) to grilled mushrooms and plates of jamón.

Don’t bother sitting down – the fun’s in hopping from one spot to the next, elbowing your way to the counter, and pointing at whatever looks good. La Latina on a Sunday is messy, noisy, and very Madrid.

If you’re after local color and great food in one hit, this easily ranks among the best things to do in Madrid. Skip breakfast – you’ll make up for it by mid-afternoon.

11. Browse antiques and oddities at El Rastro flea market

Held every Sunday and public holiday, El Rastro is Madrid’s most famous open-air market – and a full-blown local ritual. Stretching through the streets around La Latina, it’s a chaotic mix of antique stalls, secondhand books, vintage clothes, military surplus, flamenco vinyl, and the occasional bit of junk. Haggling isn’t expected, but wandering is.

If you're exploring Spain with kids, El Rastro offers a change of pace – just keep a close eye on the crowds. Older children might enjoy hunting for odd souvenirs or quirky collectibles, while food stalls and nearby cafés give everyone a reason to take breaks.

The market gets packed by midday, so it’s best to arrive early and explore side streets like Calle de San Cayetano, known as the street of painters. Loud, lively, and often unpredictable, El Rastro is as much about the atmosphere as the finds.

12. Snack like a local with churros and chocolate at San Ginés

Tucked down a side street near Puerta del Sol, Chocolatería San Ginés has been serving churros and chocolate since 1894 – and they haven’t changed much. Expect golden, ridged churros served with a cup of thick, almost pudding-like hot chocolate that’s made for dunking. It’s not subtle and it’s not light, but it’s a Madrid classic for a reason.

You can stop in for breakfast, a midday sugar hit, or – if you're keeping local hours – around 4 am after a night out. Either way, expect a queue and counter service that moves fast once you're in.

Of all the things to do in Madrid, this is one of the easiest to tick off. It’s quick, cheap, and delivers the kind of satisfaction that only fried dough can. Skip the tourist cafés and head straight here – it’s old-school, no-frills, and hits the spot every time.

13. Explore the literary quarter, Barrio de las Letras

Once home to Spain’s literary giants – Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Quevedo – Barrio de las Letras still feels like a place where stories live in the streets. Lines of poetry are etched into the pavement, old bookshops and antique stores line narrow alleys, and quiet plazas offer a break from the buzz just a few blocks away.

It’s a great area to wander without a plan. Visit Casa de Lope de Vega, the playwright’s former home turned museum, or stop for a coffee on Calle de las Huertas, where locals linger well past lunchtime.

Today, the barrio blends history with modern touches – indie galleries, design stores, and a growing number of bars and restaurants. It’s less flashy than neighboring Sol or Gran Vía, but that’s part of the charm. If you want a glimpse of Madrid’s creative soul, this is where to start.

14. Grab rooftop drinks with a view at Círculo de Bellas Artes

Madrid isn’t known for a skyline, but the view from the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop makes a strong case. From the terrace, you get front-row views of the Gran Vía, the Metropolis Building’s winged statue, and the distant peaks of the Sierra de Guadarrama on a clear day. It’s one of the highest rooftops in the city – and one of the best for sunset.

There’s a small fee to access the roof, but it’s worth it for the panorama alone. The bar serves decent cocktails, though most people are here for the view, not the drinks.

If you’re shortlisting things to do in Madrid, this is a solid pick, especially after a day spent navigating galleries or busy plazas. It’s central, easy to reach, and offers a quieter perspective on the city – literally and figuratively.

15. Take a day trip to Toledo or Segovia

Madrid’s great, but so are its neighbors – and both Toledo and Segovia are close enough for a day trip. Trains to Toledo take about 35 minutes, dropping you into a hilltop city packed with medieval lanes, El Greco paintings, and a mash-up of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish heritage. Don’t miss the towering cathedral or the 10th-century mosque turned church.

Segovia, in the opposite direction, is all about dramatic architecture – the Roman aqueduct, a fairy-tale castle that inspired Disney, and hearty Castilian food that demands a long lunch. Try the roast suckling pig if you're hungry and brave.

Both cities are easy to reach by train or bus and give you a sharp contrast to Madrid’s scale and sprawl. If you’ve got an extra day, either one will deliver something the capital can’t – a deeper dive into Spain’s layered past in a much smaller space.