The first-class art gallery boasts many famous masterpieces and mostly includes some of the finest art created between the 12th — 19th centuries. Make sure to book your ticket in advance online so you can skip the long lines once there.
While the Prado Museum gets most of the attention, there are many other museums that deserve a spot on your list of the best things to do in Madrid. With so many options at your fingertips, you could literally spend all of your time in Madrid exploring museums.
They even have tours on game days, so we recommend you check their schedule so you can put your game face on and cheer on Real Madrid after your tour! You can book a tour of the Bernabeu Stadium here. Chocolate lovers, ahoy! El Rastro hosts countless booths for anything you could think of: flamenco fans, clothes, toys, souvenirs, food, and everything else under the sun!
If you like to support local economies then this is definitely one of the best things to do in Madrid, as the vendors at El Rastro generally make their products themselves. Yes, really. Granted, what you see today is not its original construction, as it was taken down by a fire and rebuilt in Renowned for its musicals, the street is bustling with entertainment, well-known theaters, shopping, and restaurants. In addition to great musicals, there are also plenty of opera, plays, and dance performances for you to choose from.
This building, located smack dab in the middle of Madrid Centro, is home to the most beautiful view in Madrid. As I said before, Madrid is just one of those places with endless things to do. While I lived there, one of my favorite things to do was walk around large places with lots of people and see what interested me. We also like to visit their free exhibitions. A super fun museum dedicated to optical illusions which will make you feel like a little kid again. Since , the Museum of Illusions has been one of the best-loved visitor attractions in Madrid.
Locals and tourists adore its vast array of weird and wonderful mind-bending tricks, from the Rubin vase to the 3D stereogram and onto some lesser-known and very strange new ones. Accessible luxury is what you get with this latest from this latest leap from a chef who decided to leave behind his glittering Michelin stars to democratize gastronomy.
A type of experiential art gallery where you can touch, feel and of course, snap photos of everything around you. To take a dip into a pool of blue balls, explore a room with infinite mirrors, enjoy another full of coloured confetti, visit another with luminescent neon lights, and even pop into one with pink bubbles. All of these abstract spaces are set up to spark your imagination, and your skill with your camera lens or smartphone takes care of the rest.
Fokacha and Bel Mondo are the latest openings in the world of Italian gastronomy in Madrid, each one with its own style. The Italian signature cuisine here takes the form of porchetta pizzas, vitello tonnato, lampredotto For its part, Bel Mondo , at square metres, is one of the biggies to open in , and the debut of restaurant group Big Mamma in Madrid. The last X-rated cinema 'sala x' in the city converted into a cocktail bar, though they kept the projector for special screenings.
In a short time, Sala Equis has become wildly popular in Madrid. It's divided into three zones: the terrace at the entrance; the epicentre of the space, Sala Plaza, with its big screen, a bar with a variety of different eats, and an area where you can relax on wooden benches or lounge chairs, or even have a go on the swings; and finally the seat cinema for their film cycles.
Another great example of how traditional markets have been reinvented and have blossomed to serve up international cuisine. Don't miss: T ripea is one of the best market stalls to fill up on fusion cuisine in the whole of Madrid.
The most famous place to get 'churros con chocolate' in Madrid. It makes use of a prepaid ticket system to accommodate 5am queues of late-night revellers and chipper old ladies. If you fall into the former category, be warned: this place is very well-lit.
At least there are tables outside. Don't miss: Churros and the similar 'porras' make the perfect companions to a cup of thick dipping chocolate. A collection of paintings, including ones by Van Gogh, Caravaggio, Hopper and more. This bumper collection of artworks was once the private collection of Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. Luckily for the city of Madrid and the Spanish government who signed a purchase agreement for all of it in , old Thyssen-Bornemisza had pretty good taste.
Waffles in the form of genitalia? In Alameda de Osuna in the district of Barajas, you'll find El Capricho literally, 'The Whim' , a garden that is a jewel of Romanticism and a monument to 18th-century taste.
Within its 14 hectares lie an artificial river, lakes, woods, gardens, simulations of temples and other surprising nooks. The park's principal architect was Jean-Baptiste Mulot, a French gardener who had worked for Marie Antoinette, yet a large part of El Capricho is in the style of English gardens. A market where traditional butchers' and fishmongers' stalls live happily alongside those offering international cuisine, and where you can find activities for all ages.
Built after the Spanish Civil War, the market has been modernised over the years, both in appearance and its stock. One of the best cocktail bars in the world. This project from Argentinian bartender Diego Cabrera is ranked number 19 on the list of the World's 50 Best Bars that came in early October The decor of psychedelic neons combines perfectly with a menu boasting stupendously imaginative cocktails that employ the most unusual ingredients and cutting-edge techniques and are served original receptacles.
Cabrera's latest creations take you on a trip to the Amazon. Don't miss: Pair your cocktail of choice with one or more of the gastro offerings by Estanis Carenzo. The best — and only - Egyptian temple in Spain. Strangely enough, Madrid has one too. The Templo de Debod dates back more than 2, years and honours the gods Amun and Isis. But wait, the history boys all shout, when did the Egyptians come to Madrid to build a temple? But in the Egyptian government sent each and every historic brick of this place to Spain as a thank you for helping to preserve monuments that could have been destroyed by the Aswan Dam.
Which, in a way, is almost a cool a story as if it had been in Madrid for thousands of years. Don't miss: Time your trip to the viewpoint perfectly so you can snap the sunset on your phone. What appears to be an everyday haberdashery with a great location next to the Apolo theatre in Plaza de Tirso de Molina is really a thriving nightclub with three dance floors that can hold a thousand party people.
They play all kinds of music, serve top-notch cocktails, and even offer gourmet food in this 'secret' spot that's been uncovered thanks to word of mouth that's made it so well-deservedly popular. A cultural centre in a stunning building. Personally, we love doing a bit of both, while making sure never to leave the building without at least a quick trip up to the rooftop terrace.
Don't miss: Those rooftop views never get old. One of the most modern theatres in Madrid, whose programme features contemporary dance and theatre. Despite having been around for less than a decade, the Teatros de Canal has managed to establish itself as one of the most appealing stages in Madrid.
The modern facilities are home to two theatres, which welcome plays, zarzuelas, cabaret shows, dance performances, opera, and concerts for all tastes. Around 1. There are also guided tours available if you want to uncover backstage secrets and perhaps run into that ghost that lives in the building. Don't miss: The contemporary dance cycles, which are among the best in the city.
One of the most innovative and modern cultural centres in Madrid. Some of the most avant-garde and exciting art comes together in La Casa Encendida. Don't miss: The summertime open-air cinema and concerts, the 'Puwerty' festival for teenagers, and the She Makes Noise women's electronic music festival, among plenty of other plans on the programme. This striking building was once the Palacio de Telecomunicaciones and is now a great place to see interesting exhibitions on city life, live music and the handiwork of contemporary artists.
Don't miss: If you want to flood your own Instagram feed with beautiful views, head to Terraza Cibeles on the sixth floor and Mirador Madrid on the eighth. One of the city's main traditional markets with stalls selling fresh produce, craft beer and prepared deli-style food. Centrally located just a few metres from the square of the same name, the market is filled with traditional stalls dedicated to the sale of fresh products, as well as small stands offering cuisine from all over the world, be it Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Colombian or Taiwanese.
A park with one of the best panoramic views of Madrid. This park, charmingly known as the one with 'Seven Tits' because of its hills, is in Puente de Vallecas and is one of the best places in town to watch day turn into evening.
It used to be a dump site, and thus the uneven terrain. An old power plant converted into a cultural centre. Located in Madrid's Art Triangle, the CaixaForum welcomes visitors with an impressive metre-high vertical garden at its entrance, which features 15, plants and different species. The centre's schedule of events is suitable for all ages, and it boasts an extensive cultural and educational programme featuring exhibitions, workshops, conferences, courses and concerts.
During summer, the programme includes night-time concerts, films, and various other activities. Don't miss: The spectacular vertical garden, and the diverse exhibitions you can enjoy for less than a fiver.
Espacio Abierto 'Open Space' is exclusively for children to relax, have fun and learn. You'll find Espacio Abierto inside the gorgeous Quinta de los Molinos park, and it's a great place to bring babies and for kids up to 16 years old to hang out. There are games, puppet shows, music, workshops, and loads of things to do, even if what the kids want to do is just relax on a sofa and read a good book.
Don't miss: Check the calendar to see what's on, as the programme is full of creative endeavors that stimulate the imagination. Once a tobacco factory, this indie-friendly cultural centre is now an uber-cool destination. Before it became the innovative cultural hub it is today, La Tabacalera was a large urban factory producing tobacco. Don't miss: Get your geek on in a good way with talks on everything from feminism to the economy, and more.
One of the loveliest rooftop terraces in central Madrid. In the middle of La Latina, just some metres away from Plaza Mayor, The Hat is one of the most attractive and best valued places to stay in the Spanish capital. The owners describe it as having the freedom of a hostel and the service of a hotel.
But the main attraction here has got to be the rooftop terrace — a fabulous spot to take in the sunset with a cold beer or a warm coffee depending on the season and a good variety of snacks without having to spend three weeks worth of wages. Inside number 23 in Paseo de Recoletos stands a space completely dedicated to art that definitely deserves more recognition.
Exhibitions, concert series, debates, guided tours and workshops are just some of the varied activities, dedicated to all types of artistic genres, on the programme. The Foundation's main priority is to offer a space for visitors to reflect on the environment and the problems we face today, with particular focus on the importance of water as a vital resource for our planet.
The venue is also well-known for its photography competitions, which attract hundreds of fans every year. Don't miss: The free, quality art exhibitions, which bring in thousands of locals and visitors to Madrid. A cultural centre that aims to strengthen ties between Spain and Ibero-America, and which just happens to be housed in a hunted palace. You can also catch stage plays and live music performances. A classic theatre dedicated mainly to the most iconic operas in the country.
Plaza de Oriente is home to one of the most beautiful and emblematic buildings in Madrid. As well as being a temple for opera, zarzuela and ballet, the Teatro Real has been a hugely symbolic building for the city's culture ever since its construction over two centuries ago. Every season the biggest national and international stars take to the stage, which is also open to the public for guided tours that let you explore the auditoriums and even dressing rooms.
The city is notorious for its hard-charging nightlife. In between, pack your days with a stroll through Retiro Park, whirlwind stops at colorful markets, and perhaps even a primer on the cultural heritage of bullfighting.
Whatever moves you when you travel, these highlights will keep any itinerary stacked for days. These are the best things to do in Madrid. Click the link to read our complete Madrid city guide.
Traditionalists will prefer the Prado; this museum, however, is decidedly contemporary. Like most popular museums, this place gets busy. Arrive early to get a head start on long museum lines, which reach their crescendo during the last two hours of the day—when admission is free.
Bullfighting is an undeniable part of Spanish culture, and Las Ventas, in the Salamanca district, is an iconic landmark known for its Moorish design and ceramic tiles. Today, in spring and fall, the venue remains an important arena for bullfights. Bear in mind that good seats in the shade aren't cheap—and that many travelers won't have the stomach to watch the bullfights or may simply not want to engage with the practice.
If you're interested in seeing the arena, though, you can still tour it without seeing the main spectacle. You'll also see photo-snapping tourists and some families—on the other side of the river is Casa de Campo , an amusement park and zoo. It's a great way to gain a new perspective of the city, especially its vast quantity of green spaces.
Packed with important artwork, this private residence of the Alba family relatives still live on the second floor , has finally flung open its doors to the public. You could be forgiven for having flashbacks from the Prado here. What is particularly special here, beyond the artwork display, is the large library onsite that includes handwritten work from Christopher Columbus the largest collection in the world and a first edition of Don Quijote by the famous Miguel de Cervantes.
Although it's a working train station, Atocha is known for much more than its resident mode of transit. In the spectacular atrium, the original part of the station is a botanical garden features more than 5, plants spanning different species.
Surrounding the gardens are dozens of shops and dining outlets, making this a hub of activity—even if you don't plan on actually leaving Madrid. And if you are , arrive early so you can explore the rich complex. You'll find Palacio de Cibeles at one of the city's most important intersections along the famous Paseo del Arte. The building, today the seat of Madrid City Council, was once the city's Telecommunications Palace, housing Spain's post office headquarters.
Inside is a newly opened cultural center with regular concerts and rotating exhibits.
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