Rainy day · Madrid · Spain
8 things to do in Madrid when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fernando, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum and Royal Palace of Madrid. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 15–19 hours across 6 areas; all charge for entry. April is usually the wettest month, with about 7 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 15–19 hours
- Areas
- Paseo del Prado, Atocha and Palacio
Madrid on a rainy day
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Museum · Paseo del Prado
1.Prado Museum
Head first to Las Meninas in the central Velázquez room, then to the Goya rooms on the lower floor; the free final hours of each day bring long queues.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Atocha
2.Reina Sofía Museum
Go straight to the Guernica room on the second floor early in the visit, then explore the cloister garden.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
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Palace · Palacio
3.Royal Palace of Madrid
Visit the Almudena Cathedral opposite and the Sabatini Gardens and Campo del Moro beside the palace, which are free.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
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Experience · Chamartín
4.Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour
Book a slot online and avoid match days, when tours are limited or suspended.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Museum · Paseo del Prado
5.Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Start on the top floor and work down to follow the collection in chronological order.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
Market · Centro
6.Mercado de San Miguel
Visit mid-afternoon on a weekday to avoid evening crowds; for local prices, try the Mercado de San Fernando or Antón Martín instead.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Centro
7.Flamenco at a tablao
Choose a small tablao with a strong reputation over a large dinner show, and sit near the front.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- After dark
- Couples
- Rainy day
Museum · Salamanca
8.National Archaeological Museum
Allow time for the Iberian and Visigothic rooms, which are unique to Spain.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Paseo del Prado | Prado Museum and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | 3–4 hours + 2–3 hours |
| Atocha | Reina Sofía Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Palacio | Royal Palace of Madrid | 2 hours |
| Chamartín | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour | 1.5–2 hours |
| Centro | Mercado de San Miguel and Flamenco at a tablao | 1 hour + 1–2 hours |
| Salamanca | National Archaeological Museum | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 2 low cost, 6 mid-priced. Book ahead for Prado Museum, Royal Palace of Madrid, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour and Flamenco at a tablao. The longest visit is Prado Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Prado Museum: Buy timed tickets online, especially for weekends and holiday periods.
- Royal Palace of Madrid: Queues can be long in summer and at weekends; buy a timed ticket online.
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour: Tour slots sell out in holiday periods; book ahead on the official site.
- Flamenco at a tablao: Good tablaos fill up; reserve a day or two ahead, especially at weekends.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Paseo del Prado): Prado Museum, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Paseo del Prado): Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Atocha and Palacio): Reina Sofía Museum → Royal Palace of Madrid, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Chamartín and Centro): Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour → Mercado de San Miguel → Flamenco at a tablao, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Salamanca): National Archaeological Museum, at least 2 hours.
The wettest months
- April: highs of 18°C (64°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Mild and green, with occasional showers; Easter brings processions, torrijas and busy hotels.
- January: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold, crisp and often sunny, with frosty nights; museums are quiet and the January sales begin.
- May: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 6 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm, sunny and one of the best months, with the city's own festivals and terraces full in the evenings.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Barrio de las Letras — The literary quarter of Huertas, with quotations inlaid in the pavements
- Salamanca — Elegant 19th-century grid of luxury boutiques and smart restaurants
- Lavapiés — Multicultural, working-class streets near the Reina Sofía
- Retiro and Los Jerónimos — Quiet, elegant streets between the Prado and the Retiro park
More of Madrid
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Madrid?
Prado Museum. Spain's national art museum, opened in 1819, holds the world's greatest collections of Velázquez and Goya — including Las Meninas, The Third of May 1808 and Goya's Black Paintings — along with Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, El Greco, Titian and Rubens.