Madrid Travel Guide

1. Take a free walking tour

Free walking tours are one of my favorite activities to do in a new city. You’ll get the lay of the land, learn about the history and culture, and connect with a local guide who can answer all your questions. New Europe, Free Walking Tours Madrid, and Cat’s Hostel Walking Tours are the best free tours in the city. Just remember to tip your guide at the end!

2. Check out Puerta del Sol

This is Madrid’s most famous and central square. Originally, it was the site of one of the east-facing city gates and was adorned with an image of the sun, hence the square’s name (“The Sun Gate”). The square is actually semi-circular in shape and owes its current form to the major renovation work carried out between 1854-60. There’s a stone slab on the ground in front of Casa de Correos’ main entrance (the current headquarters of the Madrid regional government) to mark kilometer 0, as this is also the center of Spain’s radial road network. The area has plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops, and makes for an easy central location to meet up with friends. People congregate here on New Year’s Eve to celebrate under the clock on top of the Casa de Correos building. It’s tradition to eat a “lucky” grape for each of the 12 strokes of midnight.

3. See flamenco dancers

The highly emotive dance set to guitars and singing originated in Andalusia and migrated to Madrid by the early 19th century. Based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, the shows will leave you transfixed. You’ll find flamenco shows in many bars and taverns across the city, such as Las Carboneras where you can enjoy a flamenco show with a glass of wine for 45 EUR. The historic Corral de la Morería offers shows for 49.95 EUR, including a drink.

4. Visit the National Archaeological Museum

This museum is a must for those who love ancient artwork and archeological finds. You’ll find an incredible collection of everything from ancient statues to ornate gold chandeliers from across the Iberian Peninsula. There are items from ancient Greece and Rome, along with artifacts from the Visigoths, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Don’t miss the famous La Dama de Elche (a near-perfect condition bust of a 5th-century Iberian woman) and the Altamira pre-historic cave paintings. You’ll also see the Guanche Mummy of Madrid. He was embalmed by the indigenous people of the Canary Islands between the 11th and 13th centuries. Admission is 3 EUR.

5. Explore the Naval Museum of Madrid

When you think back on the world’s historical naval powers, the 16th-century Spanish Armada likely comes to mind. You can come here to learn about the nation’s rich naval history through historic maps from as early as the year 1500. It also has lots of old drawings, weapons, and navigation equipment, and a really interesting and detailed section on the Spanish Armada. It’s located on Madrid’s Art Walk near the Prado Museum and makes a nice stop in between the larger, more crowded galleries (most people skip this one). Admission is free, but donations of 3 EUR per person are suggested. It’s closed on Mondays.

6. Admire some modern art

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (Reina Sofía National Art Center) offers a fantastic collection of modern art. Works by masters like Picasso, Miró, Kandinsky, Dalí, and Bacon can all be found here. The centerpiece of the exhibit is Picasso’s famous Guernica painting, a 1937 oil painting that’s considered the most moving anti-war painting in the world. While I don’t love modern art, even I enjoyed this museum more than I thought I would. Admission is 12 EUR though free admission is available from 7pm-9pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays as well as from 12:30-2:30pm on Sundays.

7. Shop at the Mercado de San Miguel

This iconic indoor market is a fun spot to do your grocery shopping. It’s the oldest covered food market in the city and is also an iconic architectural landmark for its striking iron and glass structure. It’s the perfect place to snack on cheap tapas, pick up ingredients for supper, or do some people-watching. Open seven days a week, the market is a five-minute walk from Plaza Mayor and attracts the after-work drinks crowd in the evenings.

8. See the ancient Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BCE. It was given as a gift to Spain by the Egyptian government as a thank you for helping them relocate monuments from the Aswan Dam site to avoid flooding (the Aswan Dam is the largest embankment dam in the world and was built across the Nile in the 1960s-70s). The temple was rebuilt in Spain between 1970-1972 and can now be found in Madrid’s Cuartel de la Montaña Park on the top of a hill. Although the inside of the temple is off-limits, you can still walk along the outside while also admiring panoramic city views. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-8pm. It’s closed on Mondays. Admission is free.

9. Spend time in the Barrio de La Latina

This upbeat neighborhood and its maze of narrow lanes and streets lined with tapas bars, restaurants, and cantinas is perfect for exploring on foot. If you’re here on Sunday, peruse the offerings at the El Rastro flea market (open 8am-3pm) and stuff your face at one of the many food stalls. Be sure to step inside the 18th-century San Francisco el Grand Basilica or the Moorish San Pedro el Real church, which originally dates to the 14th century.

10. See the Plaza de Cibeles

Plaza de Cibeles is a famous plaza in Madrid, located along the central Calle de Alcalá and adjacent to Paseo del Prado. Here you can find the Buenavista Palace, now the headquarters of the Spanish Army. Free guided tours are available, and you see the changing of the guard here on the last Friday of most months. There’s also a Neoclassical 18th-century fountain dedicated to the Roman goddess Cybele (the mistress of wild nature). There is an observation deck at the city hall building (called the Mirador del Palacio de Cibeles) so you can take in the view (closed on Mondays). Admission is 3 EUR.

11. Watch a Real Madrid soccer match

Madrid’s soccer team is one of the best, not only in Spain but in the world. If you want to see soccer (or football as they say in Europe) at its best, watch a game. The stadium is always full, holding over 81,000 people, and the crowds get wild. If you want to experience local life, this is a must. Tickets start at 35 EUR.

12. See the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

The Convent of Las Descalzas Reales (which means “Monastery of the Royal Barefooted”) was built in the 16th century and was the former palace of Emperor Charles V and Empress Isabel of Portugal. Unmarried princesses and “spinster” noblewomen came here to live as nuns and they brought any wealth they had accumulated with them. These days, just a few nuns look after the grounds and its relics, which include (alleged) pieces of Jesus’s cross and the bones of St. Sebastian, who died around 288 CE. A Spanish Property of Cultural Interest, inside the building, you can see many works of art. For example, the main staircase is decorated with murals that date to the 16th and 17th centuries. Admission is 6 EUR.

13. Stroll Around the Royal Botanical Garden

Spanning some 20 acres, these botanical gardens are home to more than 5,000 species of plants and trees spread out over four picturesque terraces. There are also greenhouses, sculptures, and some immaculately landscaped gardens here too. Founded in 1755, the park has lakes, labyrinths, fountains, and lots of flowers that make it a serene and beautiful place to relax. For plant history lovers, there is also a library and archives building that contains over 2,000 works and antique drawings related to botany. Admission is 4 EUR.

14. Explore the Museo de la Historia de Madrid

Madrid’s Museum of History opened in 1929 and sheds light on the city’s evolution from the 16th century (when it became the capital) to World War I. A walk thorugh the small museum helps you experience the city as it was throughout the ages through a series of exhibits, artifacts, maps, paintings, and sculptures, including works by famous artists like Francisco Goya. Admission is free, and you can see the entire museum in about an hour.

For more information on specific cities in Spain, check out these guides: