Best things to do in Madrid, Spain

best things to do in Madrid Spain

Welcome to one of the warmest and most welcoming cities in Europe – Madrid, Spain: a city full of flavours and passion, beautiful colours and marvellous sights! Here is a city guide of the best things to do in Madrid.

It’s easy to fall in love with this wonderful place with its friendly culture and fun atmosphere. While there is so much to see and experience just by walking around this amazing city, there are some things you just can’t miss. In order to feel the real spirit of this sunny city and experience the most of the local atmosphere, you are invited to explore the true flavours of Madrid which I bet will stay with you forever!

Museums

best things to do in madrid spainWhat makes Madrid so special among all the capitals of European countries is its unique culture and history, which you are invited to explore in a rich array of history museums spread throughout the city.There you can learn all about the great Spanish Empire which spanned the globe in the 16th and 17th centuries.

You will also find some of the cutest ever boutique art galleries which will give a perfect insight into the local art scene and Spanish style.

 

A City of Parks

best things to do in madrid spainAfter visiting some of the best museums in Europe, you can take a walk in one of Madrid’s many peaceful parks. These elegant gardens are distributed throughout Madrid’s green heart, making them a perfect place for a nice and peaceful morning picnic with family and friends or a sunny afternoon walk.

There are so many of these gorgeous parks and gardens in Madrid though, so visiting them all is no easy task. The biggest is called Casa de Campo which is five times bigger than New York’s Central Park; while El Retiro is probably the closest one to the centre- just a few steps East from the Prado museum.

The biggest park in Madrid- ‘Casa del Campo’ is 5 x bigger than NYC’s Central Park!

Madrid’s Street Markets

best things to do in madrid spainIf you want to experience the true local spirit, the best thing to do in Madrid is to visit the colourful street markets. The city is world renowned for these! Hopefully you are in Madrid on a Sunday morning to enjoy all the colours that spread along Ribera de Coritodores and Plaza de Cascorro.

These give the feeling that you can taste the entire city by exploring some 3,500 open stalls, which offer pretty much anything you can think of. From typical souvenirs,s to delicious foods and fruits, from traditional clothes to antique furniture and jewellery: these markets have it all and so much more!

Where to stay in Madrid

madrid spain best things to doOkay, so Madrid is a HUGE city. Therefore, unless you want to spend a lot of time in taxis and in the metro, it’s important to stay in a good location. Before jumping onto Airbnb, figure out which area you want to stay in.

I recommend the neighbourhoods (barrios) of Palacio or Justícia, so you are close to most of the city’s attractions. Anywhere near to the Sol metro station is well located.

Madrid is also home to some of Europe´s best luxury hotels.

A Football (Soccer) Lover’s Paradise

best things to do in madrid spain

As it could have been expected, one of the most important phenomena the locals are super passionate and crazy about is of course football! The legendary Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is a real work of art and is one of the most popular attractions of Madrid.

Whether you are a football fan or not and whether you support Real Madrid or another club, the stadium is worth a visit. Real Madrid is one of Europe’s most successful and strongest football teams, having won a record-breaking number of European Cups. The Stadium is as legendary as the team with 85,000 seats and an impressive design.

You can take a tour inside of the Stadium and enjoy the great panoramic views as well as visit the dressing rooms of the players, the presidential box and the press room. You can also see the impressive trophy collection which is held in the Stadium and learn about the great history of the Real Madrid football club and the Stadium.

Best Things to Eat in Madrid

best things to do in madrid spainAfter all the fun you will have in the city, you will definitely build up an apetite. It’s time to get a bite in true Spanish style! While the sights of the city are super different and you have many options to choose from, Madrid keeps it quite nice and simple when it comes to food. You have a few main traditional dishes or or course, as a cosmopolitan city you can go for other international cuisines.

The typical lunch meal is the local stew called Cocido. There are actually hundreds of ways to prepare this dish and you can even find some tours which promise the best Cocido in the city.

And there are lots of restaurants offering a range of freshly prepared Paella each day.

Personally, I recommend the local calamari sandwich- it makes a perfect light lunch- it’s just delicious with a nice cold beer. Try it!

 

Spanish Flamenco Dancing

best things to do in madrid spainAnd now what about some passionate dancing? Did you think about Flamenco as well? Of course! You will be glad to know that even if the dance is not strictly native to Madrid, you can still find some of the best places to enjoy the most passionate dance in the capital!

 

Drinking and Nightlife in Madrid

Well, now it’s gotta be time to grab some drinks for the evening! So go out for some nice local beer or delicious wine and enjoy the Spanish nightlife. During Summer you will get to enjoy the cutest bars and restaurants in all different kinds of rooftops and terraces, which are always so welcoming. These bars are perfect to enjoy marvellous views of the city and admire glorious sunsets over a nice drink.

best things to do in madrid spainAbove all, you should definitely check out La Latina in Plaza de la Cebada! This is the typical meeting point for the younger crowd where at weekends you may find it near impossible to make your way through the busy streets of the area. Here you will find all the great nightlife happening and be sure to meet all kinds of people.

For the best clubs in the city, go to the streets of the Malasaña neighbourhood. Here you will have a wide choice of styles and music, and get to party all night long.

Madrid in Winter

Another one of the best things about Madrid is that you can have lot of fun even if you visit the city during Winter! The beautiful city is surrounded with gorgeous high mountains and this place can be a great option for your next exciting skiing trip. You can check out the popular Valdesquí resort, which welcomes hundreds of guests each year.

best things to do in madrid spainIn addition, there are plenty of cool day trips from Madrid to nearby castles, small cities and gorgeous gardens. So in case you have a free day while in Madrid, consider exploring some beautiful routes which will reveal some more of the great nature and treasures of the area.

 

Can you experience everything in Madrid?

There are so many things to do in Madrid! So much to explore, discover and experience. World famous theatre plays, magical musicals, historical sights, beautiful squares, magnetic small streets, crowded concerts, lovely live music and more. There is always something more and something new to learn about this magical place.  So in case you are not able to experience everything in one visit, don’t worry! You can always come back and enjoy some more of gorgeous Madrid. Once you get to a taste for the local spirit (and I don´t mean sangría), you will want to come back again!

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