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Madrid, the capital of Spain and the country’s largest city, is one of my favourite European capitals. With its grand architecture, majestic palaces, stunning museums and broad tree-lined avenues, it ranks right up amongst Europe’s great capitals like Paris and Vienna, at least in my book. What distinguishes Madrid from the other European capitals is its unique flair. You’ll see and feel it the minute you start exploring its streets. There’s nothing quite like it anywhere in the world. I fell in love with Madrid the first time I visited the city in 1992. Over the years, I’ve visited this city on numerous occasions. Without further ado, here are my recommended things to do in Madrid.

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Royal Palace seen from Plaza de Oriente

1. Explore Madrid on foot

Despite being Spain’s largest city, Madrid is perfect for visitors, like me, who love to explore a place on foot. The city centre is very compact, with the major sights such as the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor and Prado Museum all within walking distance (10-20 minutes) of each other. Madrid’s compact composition is due to King Philip IV who built a fence around the city in 1625. The fence forced the city to grow inwards instead of outwards and it wasn’t torn down until 1868. This fence, even though it doesn’t exist anymore, defines Madrid’s current city centre.

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Plaza Mayor

Madrid’s neighbourhoods

There really is no better way to explore this fascinating city and its colourful neighbourhoods. To get a great overview of the city, head for City Hall. Housed in an impressive cathedral-like palace (Cibeles Palace), this building alone is worth a visit. Buy a ticket for the ‘mirador’ for amazing views of the city. After you’ve taken in the view, choose any of the neighbourhoods to explore: classy Retiro and Salamanca, bustling Centro, atmospheric La Latina or trendy Chueca. As you walk around, take note of the gorgeous mix of architectural styles, from neo-Classical to Renaissance and neo-Gothic. I especially love the wrought-iron balconies that can be found throughout the city.

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A forest of shadows in a Madrid street

2. Get your art fix

Madrid is home to some of the most well-known museums in the world including El Prado (with its priceless collections of Velásquez and Goya), Thyssen (historic masterpieces by Italian, Dutch, German and Russian artists) and Reina Sofia (home of Guernica, arguably Picasso’s most famous painting). Madrid’s ‘Big Three’ are conveniently located within a stone’s throw of each other in an area called the Golden Triangle. You can also purchase the Art Walk Pass which includes skip-the-line entry to all three museums. If these three haven’t satisfied your arty appetite, head out to some of Madrid’s lesser-known museums like the Caixa Forum and La Casa Encendida.

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Prado Museum



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3. Eat & drink like a Madrileño

Most visitors will quickly become acquainted with the city’s tapas tradition because you simply can’t miss the plethora of tapas bars serving all sorts of hams, cheeses, tortillas and seafood. Special mentions go to Mercado de San Miguel (see point 7 below) and the Museo del Jamón (which features a staggering variety of hams).

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Seafood tapas at Mercado de San Miguel

Aside from tapas, try the cochinillo (suckling pig), cocido (a rich stew), lamb (cordero) and steaks at historic restaurants such as El Sobrino de Botín (a 300-year-old restaurant that’s listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest in the world), La Bola Taberna or Casa Paco. For something sweet and savoury, head for Chocolateria San Gines for hot chocolate and churros (deep fried dough sticks) and porras (similar to churros but thicker).

Churros and porras with hot chocolate at Chocolateria San Ginés
Churros and porras with hot chocolate at Chocolateria San Ginés

For the wine lovers, you have to visit Lavinia in the Salamanca district (literally a department store of wines!) if only to feast your eyes on the epic collection of wines. Oh, and you have to try a shot of vermouth (vermut de grifo – vermouth from the tap) in one of Madrid’s historic taverns along Cava Baja street in the La Latina district such as Bodega Ricla or La Perejila.

4. Sign up for a Tapas tour in La Latina

If you’re only going to do one tour in Madrid, sign up for a tapas tour in Old Madrid! The tours take you to some of Madrid’s best-loved tapas joints only locals know about and combine each tapas dish with the perfect wine pairing. Taste vermouth on tap, the fluffiest tortilla patatas and a variety of local cheeses and hams. My favourite food tour in Madrid is the Secret Food tour.

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Jamón Iberico, manchego (sheep cheese) and old sherry on the tapas tour
 

5. Go square-hopping

Madrid teems with squares, from the grandeur of Plaza Mayor and the hustle and bustle of Puerta del Sol (a focal point for street entertainment) to cosy neighbourhood squares. Grab a chair at any of the thousands of alfresco cafés, order a cerveza or vino and watch the world go by! Drinks are a tad more expensive when ordered out on a terrace (as opposed to at the bar) but the people-watching opportunities are more than worth the extra expense!

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Square in Madrid

6. Visit Madrid’s palaces and monasteries

If it’s your first time in Madrid, I highly recommend a visit to the splendorous Royal Palace (Palacio Real). Designed in a late-baroque style by Italian architects, the 18th-century Royal Palace, with its impressive halls and ornate Throne Room, is a must-see. Then cross the square to the cavernous La Almudena Cathedral for another jaw-dropping moment. If you’re in Madrid on the first Wednesday of the month, stick around for the changing of the Royal Guard at noon (featuring hundreds of guards and more than a hundred horses).

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Palacio Real
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La Almudena Cathedral (left)

In the vicinity of the Royal Palace, you’ll find the Monasterio de La Encarnación, most famous for its religious relics and a strange phenomenon which occurs every July 27th. A short walk away, another grand monastery awaits: the Monasterio Descalzas Reales. In its heyday, the monastery was one of Europe’s wealthiest. It literally means the ‘Monastery of Barefoot Royals’ and houses a stunning collection of tapestries and bejeweled religious ornaments.

7. Indulge yourself in Madrid’s markets

Madrid’s markets offer something for everyone, from the El Rastro flea market to the posh Mercado de la Paz (in the fashionable Salamanca district – top-notch charcuterie and wines). My favourite is the Mercado de San Miguel. Not really a market in the strict sense of the word, it’s more like one big deli and tapas fantasy! The vibe here is infectious and both locals and visitors are drawn by the delicious tapas and ditto wines. You could easily spend hours in Mercado de San Miguel hopping from one tapas counter to the next, glass of vino in hand.

Mercado de San Miguel
Mercado de San Miguel

Another market worth a visit is Mercado de San Antón in the Chueca district. Located in a modern, rather unassuming building, the Mercado de San Antón also has a great variety of tapas. After you’ve had your tapas fix, grab a cocktail (or two) and mingle with the locals at the rooftop bar.

 

8. Mingle with the locals!

There are hundreds, if not thousands of local bars and cafés scattered throughout Madrid and most of them have large television screens that show the news or sports programmes. Seek out an old tavern, bodega or cerveceria on a match day (football – or soccer – that is) especially when the local teams (Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid) play. If you’re looking to completely immerse yourself in Spain’s passion for food, drink and football, you can’t miss this experience. Two places I recommend for an authentic atmosphere are Fatigas del Querer and El Ñeru.

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A traditional tavern in Madrid

You can also choose to go to one of the football matches (Real Madrid’s massive El Bernabéu stadium is an attraction in itself) and feel the ground tremble beneath you but if you’re not too interested in the sport, going on a tour of the stadium is the next best thing.

9. Take a breather in Retiro Park & Botanical Gardens

If you’re looking for a respite from the busy streets, head for the Jardín de Botánico and the adjacent Retiro Park. Hectares upon hectares of lush greenery in tranquil settings await you. Retiro Park used to belong to the Spanish royal family before it became a public park in the late-19th century. With its monumental buildings and palaces (including the gorgeous Crystal Palace), serene lakes, impressive galleries and statues, Retiro is a favourite spot for both locals and visitors. Don’t miss seeing the Statue of the Fallen Angel (Estatua del Angel Caído), reputedly the only public statue representing the Devil anywhere in the world.

10. Shop till you drop!

Madrid truly is a shopping paradise. You’ll find all of the famous Spanish retail chains in Madrid – Zara, El Corte Inglés and Mango can be found along Gran Vía and Puerta del Sol. For independent brands, check out the area around Calle Toledo near Plaza Mayor. If you’re into uber-trendy boutiques, explore Calle Fuencarral just north of the Gran Vía. While you’re there, you might want to do more shopping in the neighbouring areas of Chueca and Malasaña!

There you have it! My suggestions for things to do in Madrid! Travel safe and have fun! 🙂

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22 Responses

  • That Jambon must have been so amazing, yum! Madrid and all these old world European capitals have been swimming through my mind recently. Time for another trip, I think!

  • LOVE TAPAS! Thanks for the list of great tapas bars. Can’t wait to visit those next spring!

  • Hi Nina,
    Mercado de San Miguel is perhaps a bit more expensive than the regular tapas bars but it really depends what you eat. There are tables (like a food court) and bar stools at several bars. There are so many tapas bars in Madrid – one of my favourites is the Museo del Jamon near the Plaza Mayor (they are in several locations). Also check out the tapas bars in the Cava Baja street. I highly recommend going for the tapas tour.

    Cheers,
    Keith

  • Hi,
    I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about the Mercado de San Miguel…is it an expensive place to eat at? (Compared to other tapas bars)…and are there usually tables? is it like a food court?

    Also, if you can recommend some nice (not too expensive) tapas places around Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, that would be great too 🙂

    Thank you! 😀

  • I Love Madrid ! I was there few weekd ago for a long weekend and the city is great. Lot of activities for everyone : Museums, parc, food, shopping. I see on your pictures we like the same places.

  • […] Read the accompanying post: “Ten Things To Do in Madrid“. […]

  • Keith – you sound like us… we left the corporate world to travel full-time by sailboat and RV in 2007 and haven’t looked back since… and you seem to travel like we do too, just letting the fun adventures come to you. Love it!! Hopefully we’ll get to Madrid someday… my dad was born there!!

  • Great Madrid post, Keith! Spain is a country I’ve yet to visit but it’s very high on my list.

  • me encanta Madrid! y churros con chocolate….!!!
    lovely article Keith..

  • Fab Madrid round-up and photos and I loved your Amsterdam in 2013 story too! Your posts are always fresh and insightful.

  • […] Em Madrid, um passeio altamente recomendável é o Tour de Tapas pelo agitado bairro de La Latina que, além de mostrar algumas das muitas escondidas jóias arquitetônicas e históricas do bairro, te leva a alguns dos mais bem frequentados bares de Tapas fora do circuito “turistão”, além de indicar os melhores vinhos para acompanhar cada mordida. Um tour essencial que, garante o blogueiro Keith Jenkins, te deixará com um sorrisão de orelha a orelha. […]

  • you gave me a travel idea and destination – it looks magical – someone one mentioned that modern metros like tokyo, KL or Singapore may have their charms and lures – but it is magic of “OLD IS GOLD” that will be never fade away.

    Looking at pics and reading this article prove her right!

  • Well noted, I personally will take your advise to walk! Housetrip seems good idea as well. Nice post!

    Regards.

  • Great post about Madrid! I lived in Madrid for three years about a decade ago and I’ll never get it out of my system – I love it! And I couldn’t agree more with your recommendations. To your #3 – eat like a local – I’d add El Abuelo for incredible tapas and España Cañi for the best sangria. Both are located in Huertas.

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