What to do in Madrid?
Madrid is the capital of Spain, and widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It has an exceptional blend of modern life, but also great culture, art, history and food. That’s why it can be a great idea to visit Madrid, since there are so many amazing things to do and places to check out. We highly recommend giving it a shot, especially if you’re interested in exploring the city and seeing the best stuff that it has to offer.
Go to the Royal Palace
One of the best things to see in Madrid has to be the Royal Palace. We love the idea of visiting the palace because it’s an iconic landmark. The architecture here is amazing and the palace itself has over 3000 rooms. In addition, it has the Throne Room, the Hall of Mirrors, along with the Royal Armory. When you are here, you can also go to Campo del Moro, a great park that’s right near the palace.
Attend some of the local festivals
Madrid is no stranger to a lot of great festivals. A lot of people come here every year to celebrate and enjoy some of the local festivals. There’s Noche en Blanco, where you can check the museums, theaters and galleries. We also have San Isidro in May, which celebrates Madrid’s patron with food, parades, music and national dresses.
Try and see Madrid from above
Is it possible to do that? Of course, and it’s actually a very cool experience that everyone needs to try out. What we love about this is the fact that you can go to the Faro de Moncloa, which is an observation tower 92 meter high, and you can see the city from above. There’s also Teleferico de Madrid, which is a very interesting cable car that takes you through the city.
You can also go to the Circulo de Bellas Artes Rooftop. You get a rooftop bar here, a view of the city and it’s a lot of fun. Some other spots can also give you a panoramic view of the city as well. That’s why it makes sense to explore the city and see what it has to offer, as it’s quite interesting and enjoyable as well.
Go to the local cathedrals and churches
Like many other cities, Madrid has a rich history from a religious standpoint. There are multiple cathedrals in the city, all of which can be a delight to visit. Some of the standouts for us are the Church of San Antonio de los Alemanes, which is a Baroque-style church that has amazing frescoes. That alone is worth visiting, because it comes with stunning views, and it looks nothing short of incredible.
Aside from that, you can go to the San Francisco el Grande, a church known for the Goya artworks, the amazing done, and overall astounding look. Then there’s also the Almudena Cathedral, which is right near the Royal Palace. It was finished in 1993 and it has more of a neoclassical look.
Check the Goden Triangle of Art
That entails 3 different museums that focus on art. The first one is Prado, a very popular museum that people from all over the world visit. It has Las meninas by Velazquez, and it also covers a plethora of other amazing European art. You will also like various works by Yoga, Titian or El Greco, among many other artists.
Also in the Golden Triangle of Art you have the Reina Sofia Museum. Here you can find Guernica made by Picasso, along with works made by Joan Miro or Dali, among others. And aside from that, you can also check the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. Here you can find more of a classical and modern art blend. There are paintings from the Renaissance period, but also pop art, impressionism and everything in between.
Explore Retiro Park
Parks in Madrid are quite expansive and this one definitely manages to stand out. You will be able to access the Crystal Palace here, which is an astounding architectural gem. Aside from that, the park itself is downright beautiful.
You can find rose gardens, some amazing shaded paths, but also a whole bunch of sculptures. In the park there are performers, such as puppet shows or musicians. And on top of that, you can also find all kinds of vendors in here too, which is something you need to keep in mind. It’s a great way to enjoy the local vibe, while also enjoying a lot of cool stuff.
Get a tour of Santiago Bernabeu
It’s the home of Real Madrid, and certainly one of the most popular stadiums in the world. A lot of people love the idea of visiting this place, mainly because you can get a tour and see the pitchside, trophy room, locker room and other cool spots. It truly is one of the best places to check as someone who likes Real Madrid or football in general.
Visit the Historic Center
Madrid has an astounding historic center that a lot of people love to visit for a very good reason. You can begin in Puerta del Sol, and then you can check kilometer 0 there. On top of that, you can then go west and check plaza major, which we think a lot of people will appreciate and enjoy. You can also check the Mercado de San Miguel, which is a great spot for checking Iberian ham, tapas, cheese and many other local goodies, which is a lot of fun.
Try out some of the best tapas in Madrid
Since Tapas are very common in Spain, you do want to try some of the ones in Madrid, if you can. There are all kinds of tapas, and you’ll find them to be incredibly interesting. Patatas bravas, Spanish tortilla, Boquerones en vinagre or croquetas are all a great and delightful experience to be had, and these are totally something you will enjoy, so you have to give them a try.
If you want any further spots for tapas, go to the Cava Baja street, as well as the La Latina neighborhood. And while there, you can also explore the Malasana or Chamberi if you want to get some amazing, local food and all kinds of other delightful stuff.
Go and check out a flamenco performance
There is no denying that a lot of people want to come to Spain just to see a Flamenco performance. These are amazing, and they truly encapsulate many things people appreciate when it comes to the local history of Spain. You can find such performances at a lot of venues, like the Cardamomo, Casa Patas or Corral de la Moreria. They have some great performances to be had, and you will appreciate the uniqueness provided by the entire experience, which is a thing to keep in mind.
Enjoy shopping in Madrid
Madrid is obviously one of those cities where you can find a lot of amazing shopping locales and venues. What’s really cool about Madrid is the fact that you can enter Gran Via, and here’s where you can do a ton of amazing shopping. Not only do you get access to some of the local retailers, but at the same time, you also get cinemas, shops, theaters and so on.
It truly helps you enjoy the shopping experience and it makes it fun, which is exactly what you need to take into consideration here. Moreover, you can also go shopping in the Salamanca district, El Rastro and so on. The opportunity to shop there is amazing, and with so much stuff to do and places to see, it truly is an amazing way to shop in Madrid, which is why you have to give it a try for yourself.
Go on a day trip from Madrid
If you embark on such a trip, you can go to some pretty popular spots. Toledo is right near Madrid and it’s a UNESCO world heritage site. It has medieval streets, an amazing cathedral and even paintings from El Greco. On top of that, you also have Segovia, which is famous for its Roman aqueduct and great castle. It’s also possible to visit El Escorial, where you can find a royal palace, the burial place of Spanish monarchs, but also a library and a basilica, too. It’s amazing and a lot of people will love it!
Enjoying a night out in Madrid
What’s really cool about Madrid is that you can have a great time here no matter if it’s day or night. Yes, the nights out here can be a lot of fun. Chueca and Malasana are great nightlife districts that you want to check out. In addition, there are Sala el Sol or Café Central if you want to enjoy some live music. Then there are local clubs, too. You can have plenty of fun here even during night time, it truly depends on what you are looking for and what experiences are the most interesting for you in the end.
Get some churros and local sweets
In case you have a sweet tooth, Madrid is definitely a spot to consider. Churros with chocolate are by far some of the most popular sweets here, and they can be served with a variety of drinks. On top of that, Chocolateria San Gines offers some incredible churros, and they are the go-to spot for a lot of people. If you’re here and want to try some other sweets, we recommend tarta de Santiago, rosquillas and torijjas. These are all great, interesting things to try out, and a lot of people appreciate them.
Explore the Lavapies
It’s a cultural district in Madrid and here you can find a mix of influences, ranging from Asia to Africa, Latin America and even the Middle East. In here, you can go to the La Tabacalera, but also Casa Encendida or Calle Argumosa. These are all some amazing spots within the city where you can learn more about the local culture, and it’s a vibrant experience to check these out, as you learn more about the multi-cultural side of the city.
Enter the Temple of Debod
One of the things you won’t expect to find in Madrid is definitely the Temple of Debod. It’s an ancient Egyptian temple that was gifted to Spain at the beginning of the 20th century. You can find it in Parque del Oeste. Granted, the temple itself is rather small, but the hilltop will provide you with one of the best places to see the sunsets in Madrid. It’s definitely worth visiting, not only for the historical experience, but also for the great views.
Enter a food tour or cooking class
A great way to enjoy local food is to either enter a cooking class and learn how to prepare it yourself or you can enter a food tour. The idea of learning how to prepare a Spanish omelet, gazpacho, paella or anything like that is very interesting and totally worth a shot. A lot of people will love the local food tours, mainly because they cover some of the top spots to eat in Madrid, and it’s well worth visiting those.
Go to the Matadero Cultural Center
The center is known for the concerts, the fact that it has creative workshops, along with concerts, film screenings, art exhibitions and many other. What makes it very different is the fact that it resides in a former slaughter house, and thus it has a very rough, industrial look to it. Yet despite that, it does bring in a lot of fun activities for visitors.
Conclusion
Clearly, there are tons of things to do and stuff to see in Madrid. If you are passionate about history, food, culture or anything like that, Madrid certainly delivers. It’s a wonderful city to see, one that embraces the modern culture, while also appreciating the past through its architecture, historical artifacts and museums. That’s why, if you are in Spain, Madrid is a place you do not want to miss! If you want to see how it compares to Barcelona, check out this post.
