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10 Best Things to Do in Madrid, Spain

Madrid is an exciting city with beautiful parks, lovely neighborhoods, and some of the most famous works of art in the world. This is a big city with lots to see and do, so it helps to remember a few key highlights to help guide your trip. Fortunately, lots of the city’s top attractions are within walking distance of each other, so you can explore the things that interest you the most at your own pace!

See the Museo del Prado The grand entrance of this essential museum to visit
Credit: The grand entrance of this essential museum to visit by bigstock.com

See the Museo del Prado

What Is It? There are lots of museums in Madrid, but if you only have time to visit one, make it to the Museo del Prado. 

Why Do It? The Prado Museum has thousands of paintings and hundreds of sculptures that celebrate Spanish, Italian, and Flemish art. 

Good to Know: This is a very popular museum with lines often extending out the door.

People-Watch in Plaza Mayor
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People-Watch in Plaza Mayor

What Is It? To take a break from sightseeing in Madrid, stop at one of the open-air cafes around Plaza Mayor. 

Why Do It? This public square in the middle of Madrid is an ideal place to relax and people-watch for a while. Order a cup of coffee or glass of wine and take in the scenes of street performers and tourists from all over the world. The square is busiest in the late afternoon and evening. 

Good to Know: It is very touristy here, which means the shops are pricey and most of the best restaurants are a little more off the beaten path. But it’s still worth a visit, and there are also holiday markets held at the plaza seasonally.

Sample Spanish Tapas
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Sample Spanish Tapas

What Is It? It would be a shame to spend some time in Madrid without experiencing the culinary bliss of authentic Spanish tapas.

Why Do It? A tapeo is a bar crawl that focuses on both tapas and drinks, and you can even take a tapa tour of the city for a seriously immersive experience. 

Good to Know: Recommended tapas bars in Madrid include Casa Gonzalez, La Venencia, and El Tempranillo. Make sure and try typical foods like cocido madrileño, huevos rotos, and a famous sandwich called the bocadillo de calamares.

Relax in Retiro Park El Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain
Credit: El Retiro Park in Madrid, Spain by bigstock.com

Relax in Retiro Park

What Is It? Retiro Park, also known as Parque del Retiro translated as “The Retreat,” is east of Central Madrid and full of gardens, lakes, playgrounds, and lots of green space. 

Why Do It? The park once was home to Felipe IV’s palace but is now open to the public. This is a great place to rent a paddleboat, walk through the rose garden, and even watch outdoor theater performances that are family-friendly.

Good to Know: If you’re traveling around town by public transit, you can get to the park by hopping off at the Retiro, Ibiza, or Atocha metro stations.

Watch a Real Madrid Football Game A great stadium to enjoy a game of football
Credit: A great stadium to enjoy a game of football by bigstock.com

Watch a Real Madrid Football Game

What Is It? In the north-central region of Madrid, you can visit Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, the city’s main fútbol (soccer) stadium.

Why Do It? The Real Madrid team plays here, so definitely plan to attend a game if you can. Even if the team isn’t playing during your visit, it’s still worth stopping by the stadium to take a tour. The tour route includes a history room, photomontages, the presidential box, dressing room, dugouts, press room, official store, and more. 

Good to Know: Hop off at the Santiago Bernabeu metro stop if you’re traveling by public transit.

Browse the Rastro Open-Air Flea Market
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Browse the Rastro Open-Air Flea Market

What Is It? El Rastro isn’t your average flea market, and it’s a market that dates back to the 15th century. 

Why Do It? Most of the market is along Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores between Plaza de Cascorro and Ronda de Toledo. Here’s a great place to find little souvenirs, clothing, jewelry, handbags, and an exciting atmosphere with live music. There are also lots of stores that line the streets behind the market that you can pop into as well. 

Good to Know: The market is popular among both locals and tourists.

Watch a Live Flamenco Show
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Watch a Live Flamenco Show

What Is It? Music and dancing is a huge part of Spanish culture, so catching a live performance in Madrid is a must. 

Why Do It? There are many places to watch traditional dancing, including the performance venue known as Tablao Flamenco Cardamomo. Corral de la Morería and Casa Patas are other great local options. 

Good to Know: Since Madrid is such a large and popular city to visit, many of the top performers in the country come here to show off their skills.

Try Locally Made Beer
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Try Locally Made Beer

What Is It? You might expect to see local people in Madrid drinking lots of wine and sangria, but beer is a big beverage of choice here.

Why Do It? Lots of local restaurants and bars open up their patios when the weather is nice, providing perfect places to sip a brew. Mahou is Madrid’s popular and very drinkable pilsner. 

Good to Know: There are also microbreweries in Madrid that are fun to visit, such as Fabrica Maravillas, Be Hoppy, Mad Brewing, and Más Que Cervezas.

Explore the Conde Duque Neighborhood
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Explore the Conde Duque Neighborhood

What Is It? As far as neighborhoods go, Conde Duque is a great place to wander around and get to know the city a bit better. 

Why Do It? The Conde Duque is a performance space for music, theater, dance, exhibitions, and film. You can catch a performance here and also check out the fashion shops, public squares, and old taverns here. 

Good to Know: It’s quieter and less touristy than other parts of the city with a free-spirited and local vibe.

See the Ancient Egyptian Templo de Debod
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See the Ancient Egyptian Templo de Debod

What Is It? One of the more unusual attractions to see in Madrid is an ancient Egyptian temple called the Templo de Debod. 

Why Do It? This temple was given from Egypt to Spain in 1968 as a gift for helping to save historic sites that were at risk of flooding. You’ll find it in Parque de la Montaña, surrounded by a reflecting pool. While it’s beautiful to see during the day, it’s absolutely stunning while lit up at night. 

Good to Know: In the evenings, you’ll often find young adults hanging out and getting ready for a night out on the town. There’s no cost to see the monument and feel free to take all the photos you like.

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