16 Things To Do In Madrid: A Guide for First-Timer Visitors)

Looking for the best things to do in Madrid? Our guide covers the unmissable attractions, local experiences and neighbourhoods that make Madrid one of the most interesting and underrated capitals in Europe.

The thing we always find slightly strange about Madrid is that it doesn’t have a defining landmark like most other European capitals.

There’s no equivalent to the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Colosseum or the Brandenburg Gate. There’s just Madrid.

We’ve visited several times, and what keeps us interested in going back to Madrid is something many European capitals have lost: a genuinely lived-in feel.

Walking around Madrid still feels like being in a real city rather than a collection of sights. The streets aren’t always particularly pretty, the shops aren’t squarely aimed at tourists, and there’s a noticeable lack of touts annoyingly pulling you into overpriced restaurants.

Although we’ve put together what we think are the top sights, some of the best times we’ve had in Madrid have involved little more than wandering the streets, popping into shops that caught our attention and eating our way into the evening.

So that’s essentially what we’ve done with this guide. We worked our way through the best things to do in Madrid, included the places we think are genuinely worth your time, and left the rest out.

Map: Things to Do in Madrid

Most of Madrid’s main attractions are within easy walking distance of each other, so it’s very easy to see them all on foot. We’ve pinned everything in this guide to the map below, so you can get a feel for where everything is located.

If you’re in trip-planning mode, it might be a good idea to read our “Where To Stay in Madrid” guide.

What to Do in Madrid

1. Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace is one of Europe’s grandest royal residences.

We don’t normally get too excited about European palaces, but this one is pretty grand. The scale is enormous, and the interiors are lavish, with marble staircases, chandeliers, ceiling frescoes and ornate throne rooms.

If you like lavish decorations, you’ll love the Royal Palace. But if you’re short on time or you’re not particularly into this kind of thing, we wouldn’t judge you for skipping this one.

The palace can get very busy, with long queues, so buy a fast-track ticket and arrive as early as possible.

2. Wander Around Plaza Mayor & the Historic Centre

Plaza Mayor is the symbolic heart of old Madrid.

After weaving through narrow streets, the city suddenly opens into a huge square framed by arcades and terracotta-coloured buildings.

It’s very touristy these days, but there’s still something atmospheric about it. The best time we found to be here is very early in the morning before the crowds arrive, when it’s almost serene.

The square is worth seeing, but we didn’t spend long there. We picked it up on our walk towards Mercado de San Miguel via Calle Mayor. This is a great part of old Madrid and well worth a stroll.

3. Spend an Afternoon in Retiro Park

Spread over 125 hectares, Retiro Park was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status. It’s a nice break from sightseeing and a classic free thing to do in Madrid.

You’ll find locals jogging beneath tree-lined paths, couples boating across the lake, musicians performing near monuments, and friends gathering beneath the shade.

Any time of day is good, but it’s nice in the late afternoon when the shade is looking appealing.

If you’re looking for something to do nearby, the Prado Museum is not far.

4. Eat Tapas in la Latina

La Latina is packed with traditional tapas bars, lively terraces and narrow streets that fill with hubbub late into the evening.

Unlike in some European cities, where nightlife revolves around clubs or major venues, the evenings in Madrid often focus on grazing at tapas bars one after another.

In our opinion, La Latina is the perfect place to experience the tapa scene. Don’t skip the vermouth, and follow it with a tortilla Española, croquetas and patatas bravas.

Mercado de San Miguel is nearby. So we had a quick look in the market, but then ate around La Latina. It’s a bit cheaper and much more authentic.

On Sundays, El Rastro flea market takes place on the streets of La Latina. It’s one of the best flea markets we’ve ever been to, and we cover it in a bit more detail below.

5. See the Masterpieces at the Prado Museum

Even if you don’t usually love galleries, the collection at The Prado Museum is easy to digest and accessible. Rather than trying to cover every artistic movement equally, the museum focuses on masters.

Inside, you’ll find iconic works by Velázquez, Goya, El Greco and Rubens.

Although it’s smaller than many European galleries, you’ll enjoy it much more if you focus on a smaller number of galleries rather than rushing through endless rooms.

We spent about 3 hours exploring, and the late afternoon is usually the best time to visit.

6. Watch Sunset at Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple that was gifted to Spain in the 1960s and reconstructed overlooking western Madrid.

The temple itself is relatively small and not particularly interesting, but it’s a great place to catch sunset. The views over Madrid are excellent.

It’s a quick visit, but if you are really short on time, we wouldn’t particularly prioritise this.

A good way to see it is to have a good look around, then head to Gran Vía to find a rooftop bar for drinks.

7. Explore Malasaña & Chueca

This is probably what Madrid does best for us. Malasaña and Chueca are two neighbourhoods in Madrid that are interesting to stroll around.

Both are packed with independent cafés, wine bars, vintage shops, cocktail spots and small plazas filled with outdoor terraces.

The vibe is younger, more creative and less formal than central Madrid.

Late afternoons are a good time to check things out as the cafés fill up and the city slowly transitions into the evening.

We highly recommend carving out some time to explore Malasaña and Chueca. Without this, you’re sort of missing out on Madrid’s thing.

8. Visit Mercado de San Miguel

Mercado de San Miguel is one of Madrid’s most famous food markets.

The restored iron-and-glass structure is beautiful, and inside it’s packed with tapas counters, wine bars, seafood stands and a whole lot more.

We really like going to Mercado San Miguel, and we’ve been many times, but it is always extremely busy. Sometimes, it’s nearly impossible to find a table. It’s also one of the most expensive places to eat.

What we would suggest is having a glass of cava with a bite of seafood at 11:30 AM-ish, then walking 4 minutes to Mercado de Antón Martín for the real, cheaper tapas experience.

9. Experience Gran Vía at Night

Gran Vía is a grand boulevard that cuts through the centre of the city with 20^th-century architecture, theatres, rooftop bars and high-end hotels.

During the day, it’s a little hectic and commercial, but at night, it’s far more enjoyable. Some of the buildings to check out are Edificio Metrópolis, Telefónica Building and Edificio Capitol.

Come for rooftop drinks, shopping, and a nice sunset stroll.

10. Watch a Flamenco Show

To be honest, seeing flamenco outside Andalucía, where it originates, is generally more of a tourist experience than anything particularly authentic.

But Tablao Flamenco 1911 in Barrio de las Letras is the oldest flamenco venue in the world, and probably the best option for first-timers. The venue is a Moorish-Andalusian masterpiece with lobed arches inspired by the Alhambra, and they host some of the best flamenco artists in the country.

If you haven’t experienced flamenco before, it’s a good thing to add to your Madrid plans. However, if you are travelling to Andalucía, we would recommend saving it for somewhere like Seville or Granada.

11. Visit Reina Sofía Museum

If the Prado focuses on classical masterpieces, Reina Sofía covers modern and contemporary art.

The museum’s most famous work, Picasso’s Guernica, is one of the most powerful anti-war paintings ever created. Even if you aren’t really into modern art, Guernica is worth seeing.

Morning is generally the quietest time to visit, but the gallery is free from 7 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm on Sundays. At all other times, book skip-the-line tickets.

12. Visit Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida

For us, this is one of Madrid’s most underrated attractions.

From the outside, Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida looks pretty dull, but inside there are remarkable frescoes painted by Goya.

It’s one of the few places in Madrid where you can experience his work in its original setting rather than inside a museum.

Located outside the main tourist centre, it takes a little while to get to, but if you’re into art, this could be a good one for you. Unfortunately, you can’t take photos inside, so you’ll just have to take our word for it.

13. Try Churros at San Ginés

San Ginés is Madrid’s most famous churros spot, dishing them up since 1894.

It’s very touristy, and there is often a queue, but there’s something nice about squeezing into the historic café.

We know this is something first-time visitors to Madrid will definitely want to do, but to be perfectly honest, churros in Madrid are pretty bad.

San Ginés is one of the most popular, and we liked the slightly chaotic atmosphere, but the doughnuts are sitting around in massive piles going cold and stale, and the chocolate is plain at best.

In our opinion, there’s much better chocolate to be had in Madrid, but it’s not the traditional stuff, unfortunately.

If you want genuinely great chocolate rather than the atmosphere, try Late & Late Chocolate for their excellent artisanal chocolates, or Yam Yam Cacao, which was by far the best chocolate we had in Madrid.

14. Visit la Almudena Cathedral & Crypt

La Almudena Cathedral is Madrid’s main cathedral and one of the city’s most striking buildings.

The cathedral itself is relatively modern by European standards and interesting to see, but the highlight for us was the rooftop view. Overlooking the Royal Palace, it’s a great way to see Madrid.

The one thing we really recommend, however, is the crypt beneath the cathedral. Romanesque columns stretch beneath softly lit, vaulted ceilings, and it has an eerie yet beautiful vibe.

The entrance to the crypt is on the south side of the cathedral on Calle Mayor.

15. Explore el Rastro Flea Market

El Rastro is Madrid’s most famous flea market and one of the liveliest things to do in the city.

Hundreds of stalls spill through the streets of La Latina, selling everything from antiques and vintage clothes to old records, furniture, books and complete junk. Some of it feels genuinely interesting. Some of it feels like chaos.

The main market runs along Ribera de Curtidores, beginning near Plaza de Cascorro.

The surrounding streets also fill with people drinking vermouth and hopping between tapas bars, giving the whole neighbourhood a fun, slightly crazy energy that feels very Madrid.

The market takes place on Sundays from 9 am to 3 pm. It gets very busy from 11 am.

16. Visit the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum

If the Prado owns Spanish masters and Reina Sofía owns the twentieth century, the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum is a little bit of everything in between.

The collection spans seven centuries of Western art, from early Renaissance panels through to American pop art.

In our opinion, this is the most accessible of the three for non-art lovers. The layout is logical, and the collection is varied.

Entry is free on Monday, which means it’s busy, but late morning on a weekday is generally the quietest. Book skip-the-line tickets if you can’t make it on Monday.

If you plan on visiting all three major art galleries in Madrid (Thyssen-Bornemisza, Prado and Reina Sofia), you should buy the Art Walk Pass, which costs €32 and includes skip-the-line access to all 3 galleries.

Neighbourhoods of Madrid

That completes the main attractions we think are worth visiting in Madrid. But, as we mentioned in the introduction, some of our best times in the city have been exploring the neighbourhoods.

Here are the main areas we recommend checking out.

Malasaña

Malasaña is one of our favourite neighbourhoods in Madrid. It’s young, creative and slightly rough around the edges, with vintage shops, independent boutiques, record stores, cafés and plenty of bars.

It’s lively throughout the day but really kicks off in the evening, when people gather around Plaza del Dos de Mayo before heading to the surrounding bars.

Chueca

Chueca is Madrid’s main LGBTQ+ neighbourhood and one of the liveliest parts of the city. The streets are filled with restaurants, cocktail bars, independent shops and cafés. Plaza de Chueca is busy from morning until late at night.

In some ways, it feels more polished than Malasaña, but without losing any of its appeal. Calle de Hortaleza is one of the main streets we suggest you check out, which is lined with shops, cafés and bars.

Salesas

Immediately east of Chueca, Salesas is one of Madrid’s most stylish neighbourhoods. It’s quieter and more refined, with beautiful architecture, specialist shops, small galleries and excellent cafés.

This is a good area for independent fashion and design without the obvious luxury brands found in Salamanca.

Last time we were in Madrid, we stumbled upon Los 33 Restaurante, which had a fantastic atmosphere and excellent food.

La Latina

Everyone needs to have a stroll around La Latina, Madrid’s oldest neighbourhood, at some point. Narrow streets, traditional taverns and sunny squares, it’s all the Madrid we love.

On Sundays and public holidays, the streets around Ribera de Curtidores are taken over by the El Rastro flea market, as mentioned above.

We had lunch at El Buo after looking around the market. It’s got a cool, bustling local atmosphere, and the tortilla was the best we had in Madrid.

Where to Stay in Madrid

We’ve stayed in Madrid several times and, to be honest, it’s a very walkable city, so it doesn’t matter too much where you base yourself. As long as you stay relatively central, everything is within reach.

The different areas have a slightly different feel, so here is a quick rundown. But for a good overview, read our guide to Where to Stay in Madrid, which includes hotel recommendations for each neighbourhood.

• Sol / Centro — The most convenient base for the major attractions, with plenty of restaurants and excellent transport connections.
• Malasaña or Chueca — Good for independent bars and a younger, alternative atmosphere, plus restaurants, cocktail bars and LGBTQ+ nightlife.
• Barrio de las Letras — A characterful neighbourhood within walking distance of the Prado, Reina Sofía and Thyssen-Bornemisza museums.
• La Latina — Narrow streets, traditional tapas bars and lively neighbourhood squares, but with the El Rastro flea market taking over on Sundays it can get busy.

Food & Coffee in Madrid

Food and coffee are a very personal thing, and Madrid has plenty of both. So we haven’t provided an exhaustive list, just a few places we particularly liked.

For coffee:

• HanSo Café — A relaxed coffee house with a great selection of sandwiches and excellent coffee.
• La Bicicleta Café — A lively café and creative workspace with good coffee, brunch dishes and plenty of space to settle in.
• Toma Café — A small café specialising in great coffee, cakes and pastries. Their tomato bread is some of the best we’ve had in Madrid.

For food:

• El Social — A warm, intimate restaurant serving creative Spanish and international dishes designed for sharing.
• Josefita — We love this place. It’s a lively, informal restaurant specialising in traditional, home-style Spanish tapas.
• Taberna El Buo La Latina — A traditional tavern best known for its enormous Spanish tortillas, served with a variety of fillings.

How Many Days Do You Need in Madrid?

Madrid isn’t a city you need much time in, and it’s a perfect weekend break.

Two full days will give you enough time to see the major landmarks, including the Royal Palace, the Prado, and the Plaza Mayor, and to spend time in a couple of neighbourhoods and eat well.

With three or four days, you can explore the art museums properly, spend a morning in Retiro Park, and wander a little longer around Malasaña.

Our guide to planning a trip to Madrid has more practical information to get the most out of your visit.

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