Things to do · Madrid · Spain
19 best things to do in Madrid
19 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tim Adams, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The essential sights in Madrid are Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum and Royal Palace of Madrid. Of the 19 picks below, 7 are free, 10 work on a rainy day and 6 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Prado Museum
- Free sights
- 7
- Good on a rainy day
- Prado Museum
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prado Museum | Paseo del Prado | 3–4 hours | Mid-priced |
| Reina Sofía Museum | Atocha | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Royal Palace of Madrid | Palacio | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Retiro Park | Retiro | 2 hours | Free |
| Plaza Mayor | Centro | 30 minutes | Free |
| Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía | Centro | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour | Chamartín | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | Paseo del Prado | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Mercado de San Miguel | Centro | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Temple of Debod | Parque del Oeste | 45 minutes | Free |
| El Rastro | La Latina | 2 hours | Free |
| San Antonio de la Florida | Príncipe Pío | 30 minutes | Free |
| Madrid Río | Arganzuela | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop | Gran Vía | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Flamenco at a tablao | Centro | 1–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| National Archaeological Museum | Salamanca | 2 hours | Low cost |
| Teleférico cable car | Parque del Oeste | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Monastery of las Descalzas Reales | Sol | 1 hour | Low cost |
| CaixaForum Madrid | Paseo del Prado | 30 minutes–1.5 hours | Low cost |
The 19 best things to do
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Museum · Paseo del Prado
1.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. It is too large for one visit, so pick a route.
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
- Book ahead
- Buy timed tickets online, especially for weekends and holiday periods.
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Atocha
2.Reina Sofía Museum
Spain's national museum of 20th-century and contemporary art occupies a former hospital with glass lift towers and a Jean Nouvel extension. Its centrepiece is Picasso's Guernica, painted in 1937 after the bombing of the Basque town, shown with its preparatory sketches, alongside major works by Dalí and Miró.
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
Palace · Palacio
3.Royal Palace of Madrid
Built in the 18th century after the old Alcázar burned down, the official residence of the Spanish royal family is used for state ceremonies and is among the largest palaces in Europe. The visitor route passes the grand staircase, the Throne Room with its Tiepolo ceiling, the Royal Armoury and a quintet of Stradivarius instruments.
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
- Book ahead
- Queues can be long in summer and at weekends; buy a timed ticket online.
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Kids
Park · Retiro
4.Retiro Park
Madrid's 125-hectare former royal park, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the Paseo del Prado since 2021, has a boating lake overlooked by the colonnaded monument to Alfonso XII, a rose garden, shaded avenues and the Fallen Angel fountain, said to be one of the few public statues of the devil. Street performers and puppet shows gather on weekends.
Rent a rowing boat on the Estanque Grande in the late afternoon, when the heat eases.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Iconic
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Landmark · Centro
5.Plaza Mayor
Built in the early 17th century under Philip III, whose equestrian statue stands in the centre, this enclosed, arcaded square once hosted bullfights, coronations and executions. The painted façade of the Casa de la Panadería is its highlight, and in December it fills with a traditional Christmas market.
Eat a calamari sandwich in one of the bars on the streets just off the square rather than on the pricier terraces inside it.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Street · Centro
6.Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía
Puerta del Sol has the Kilometre Zero plaque, the Bear and Strawberry Tree statue that symbolises Madrid and the clock whose chimes lead the nation's New Year countdown. A short walk north, Gran Vía is lined with grand early-20th-century buildings such as the domed Metrópolis and the Telefónica tower, plus theatres staging musicals.
Look up rather than at the shops; the best view of Gran Vía and the Metrópolis dome is from the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Shopping
- After dark
- Architecture
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Experience · Chamartín
7.Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour
Real Madrid's home stadium has been rebuilt with a retractable roof and a steel outer skin. The self-guided tour includes panoramic views over the pitch, the trophy room with the club's European Cups, the dressing rooms and the players' tunnel.
Book a slot online and avoid match days, when tours are limited or suspended.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Tour slots sell out in holiday periods; book ahead on the official site.
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Museum · Paseo del Prado
8.Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Built on a private collection bought by the Spanish state in 1993, the Thyssen fills the gaps between the Prado and Reina Sofía, running chronologically from Italian primitives through Dutch masters, Impressionism and German Expressionism to American pop art. It is the easiest of the three big museums to see in one go.
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
1.Mercado de San Miguel
An iron-and-glass market hall from 1916 beside Plaza Mayor, now a gourmet food market where you graze on oysters, jamón ibérico, croquetas, stuffed olives and vermouth at standing counters. It is pricier than neighbourhood markets but easy and atmospheric.
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
Historic site · Parque del Oeste
2.Temple of Debod
This genuine ancient Egyptian temple, dating from the 2nd century BC, was given to Spain in 1968 in thanks for help saving Nubian monuments from the Aswan High Dam, and was rebuilt stone by stone in Parque del Oeste. Reflected in its pool, it is one of Madrid's favourite sunset spots, with views towards the Royal Palace.
Come at sunset and then walk south along the gardens to the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral as they light up.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Market · La Latina
3.El Rastro
Madrid's open-air flea market has spread down Ribera de Curtidores and the surrounding streets on Sunday mornings for centuries, with stalls selling antiques, clothes, leather goods, records and bric-a-brac. Afterwards, locals head to the bars of La Latina for vermouth and tapas.
Arrive early for antiques, keep your bag in front of you in the crowds and finish with tapas on Cava Baja.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
Religious site · Príncipe Pío
4.San Antonio de la Florida
Goya painted the dome and vaults of this small neoclassical chapel in 1798 with a lively crowd of ordinary Madrileños watching a miracle of St Anthony. The painter is buried beneath the frescoes, and entry is free.
Combine it with Casa Mingo, the Asturian cider house next door, and a walk along Madrid Río.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Off the beaten path
- History
Park · Arganzuela
5.Madrid Río
A riverside park built over a buried ring-road tunnel along the Manzanares, with cycle paths, playgrounds, fountains, historic bridges such as the Puente de Toledo and modern footbridges. Its southern end reaches Matadero Madrid, a former slaughterhouse turned arts centre.
Rent a bike and ride from Príncipe Pío south to Matadero for a weekend exhibition or market.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
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Viewpoint · Gran Vía
6.Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop
The roof terrace of this 1920s arts centre, watched over by a statue of Minerva, gives a sweeping view down Gran Vía, over the Metrópolis dome and across to the Cibeles Palace and the Sierra de Guadarrama on clear days. A small entry fee applies, and there is a bar.
Go about an hour before sunset and stay for the city lights; drinks are pricey but the view is the reason.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- After dark
Experience · Centro
7.Flamenco at a tablao
Flamenco comes from Andalusia, but Madrid has some of Spain's most respected tablaos, small venues where singers, guitarists and dancers perform at close range. Shows usually last about an hour and can be combined with dinner or drinks.
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
- Book ahead
- Good tablaos fill up; reserve a day or two ahead, especially at weekends.
- After dark
- Couples
- Rainy day
Museum · Salamanca
8.National Archaeological Museum
Spain's main archaeology collection runs from prehistory to the Middle Ages, with the Iberian bust of the Lady of Elche, Roman mosaics, the jewelled Visigothic votive crowns of the Treasure of Guarrazar and Islamic art from al-Andalus. A replica of the Altamira cave paintings is in the garden.
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
Experience · Parque del Oeste
9.Teleférico cable car
A cable car opened in 1969 glides about 2.5 km from Paseo del Pintor Rosales over the Manzanares to the Casa de Campo, Madrid's largest park. The ride gives views back over the Royal Palace and the Almudena Cathedral, and the top station has a café and picnic areas.
Ride out late afternoon for the light on the city skyline, and pair it with the Temple of Debod nearby.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Religious site · Sol
10.Monastery of las Descalzas Reales
Behind a plain façade a few steps from Puerta del Sol, this 16th-century convent of Poor Clare nuns founded by Joanna of Austria holds a remarkable collection given by royal and noble novices, including tapestries woven from designs by Rubens and a frescoed grand staircase. Visits are by guided tour only.
Tours are small and often in Spanish; book in advance through Patrimonio Nacional.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Guided tours have limited places; reserve ahead.
- Art
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Architecture · Paseo del Prado
11.CaixaForum Madrid
Herzog & de Meuron converted an old power station into this cultural centre, lifting the brick shell off the ground and adding a rusted iron top. Beside it, a vertical garden of thousands of plants covers a neighbouring wall. Changing exhibitions inside are usually inexpensive.
Pass by on the way between the Prado and the Reina Sofía; the vertical garden is free to see.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and San Antonio de la Florida |
| History | Prado Museum, Royal Palace of Madrid, Plaza Mayor and Temple of Debod |
| Views | Temple of Debod, Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop and Teleférico cable car |
| Outdoors and nature | Retiro Park, Madrid Río and Teleférico cable car |
| Food and markets | Mercado de San Miguel and El Rastro |
| After dark | Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía, Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop and Flamenco at a tablao |
| With children | Royal Palace of Madrid, Retiro Park, Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour and Madrid Río |
| On a rainy day | Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Royal Palace of Madrid |
What to book ahead
- 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.
- Monastery of las Descalzas Reales: Guided tours have limited places; reserve ahead.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do 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.
+What can you do for free in Madrid?
Retiro Park, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía, Temple of Debod and El Rastro. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Madrid when it rains?
Head indoors to Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and Royal Palace of Madrid.
+What is there to do in Madrid at night?
Puerta del Sol and Gran Vía, Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop and Flamenco at a tablao are best after dark.