Madrid: The Best Places You Must See in Spain’s Capital

Madrid, the heart of Spain, may not have a sea, but it has plenty to offer. Especially in terms of history, culture and culinary experiences. I have to say that Madrid is not exactly one of my top Spanish cities, maybe because it’s really big and there are more museums than pretty streets. After all, statistically Barcelona is the most visited Spanish city, ahead of Madrid. I also can’t forget buying myself a winter jacket on my first visit here, because Madrid is not one of those warm Spanish cities and it feels colder than the weather forecast says, I underestimated it a bit. But the food, it’s great here!

Where to stay in Madrid

For accommodation in the centre, there is the Sol district. It’s also where the Sol metro station is, where all Madrid’s lines converge, so it’s a good starting point for travelling to the more distant parts of Madrid. As a centre, though, this will be the most expensive option.

The richest life, bars and restaurants are in La Latina and Malasaña. The most exclusive neighbourhood is Salamanca. On the other hand, Chamberí is quieter and a little further away from the centre. That’s where I stayed on my last visit and I walked to the centre.

Tickets, day trips and experiences in Madrid

Madrid has several attractions where it pays to have your ticket in advance. The Royal Palace and the Prado are often sold out or have long queues, especially in high season.

• Royal Palace – skip-the-line guided tour – The queues here can be enormous, especially in the morning. With a skip-the-line ticket you’ll easily save an hour of waiting.
• Prado Museum – skip-the-line ticket and tour – One of the most visited museums in Europe. Time slots sell out in advance, especially at weekends.
• Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – entry ticket – Tour capacity is limited and dates fill up fast. Without a booking you risk not getting in.
• Flamenco show at Tablao 1911 – The oldest flamenco tablao in the world. Small venue, limited seats, and in high season it sells out even a week ahead.
• Full-day trip to Toledo with the cathedral and monuments – Toledo is the most popular day trip from Madrid. An organised tour is more comfortable than going on your own, especially because of the monument entries.
• Hop-on hop-off bus Madrid – If you’re short on time and want to see as much as possible, the bus loops around the city’s main sights. The ticket is valid all day.

Things to see and do in Madrid

Churros in Chocolateria San Ginés

That’s right. The first place I head to when I get to Madrid is San Ginés. People have been coming here for churros and chocolate since 1894. The chocolate that the churros are dipped in here is almost the consistency of custard, you can have it with either churros or porras. Porras are similar to churros, but they are thicker, made of fluffier dough, and not as crispy.

There’s usually a queue, but there are plenty of seats and it usually moves quickly. You can also see a big spiral of churros and porras at the bar, from which small pieces are cut.

Retiro Park

A large city park with an artificial lake, Estanque grande del Retiro, which you can take a boat ride on. It was originally established as a royal garden in the 17th century.

There is the glass Palácio de Cristal and the Palacio de Velázquez exhibition space. There is also the monumental Fuente del Ángel Caído, an artistically decorated spring in the park.

Royal Palace and Sabatini Garden

One of the most beautiful royal palaces in the world. The original residence of the Spanish royal families, the Palacio Real is still used today for state visits. I don’t really seek out these tours, but here I have to say it was worth it, the rooms and halls are lavishly decorated, including set tables, and the crown jewels are part of the tour. Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos in most of the interior.

From Monday to Thursday, from 4 to 6 pm (with the last entry at 5 pm) the entrance is free, but beware, the queue is very long, at least for an hour (and you may not be able to get in line by 5 pm, which is a bit of a problem in high season). To be on the safe side, it’s better to book your tickets in advance online.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Almudena

It is located next to the Royal Palace and is dedicated to the patron saint of the city of Madrid – Our Lady of Almunden. Almudena Cathedral is also famous for its crypt, which is the largest in Spain and contains more than 400 columns and chapels. The crypt is built in Romanesque style and is the burial place of several noble families and important figures of the Diocese of Madrid.

Gran Vía

The Gran Vía is a large shopping street, like the Champs Elysées in Paris, full of well-known brands. It stretches from the Plaza de España to Calle de Alcalá.

At the intersection with Calle de Alcalá stands the Metropolis building, one of the most distinctive features of Madrid depicted on postcards. If you want to see it from above, the viewpoint is in the Círculo de Bellas Artes building, which is, among other things, a cultural centre. The terrace has a beautiful view of the whole city, and the entrance fee is 5 euros.

Plaza de Cibeles

At the end of Gran Vía is a large square (or rather roundabout), in the centre of which is the Baroque Fuente de Cibeles fountain, depicting the goddess Cybele sitting on a chariot drawn by lions. Spanish flags are always flying here.

There are several important buildings in the square: the Palacio de Linares, Madrid’s City Hall, the Banco de España, Spain’s central bank, and the Palacio de Buenavista, the headquarters of the Spanish Army General Staff. The Madrid City Hall Palacio is the dominant feature, with a view of the whole square from the top, as well as the Gran Vía, the Mirador de Cibeles. There is also a bonfire burning at the roundabout facing away from the Gran Vía, honouring the memory of the victims of Covid.

Plaza Mayor

One of the most important and oldest squares in Madrid, between Porta del Sol and San Miguel Market. The square has a rich history and in the past has been the scene of various events such as coronations, jousting tournaments, bullfights, inquisition trials (auto-da-fé) and public executions. Today, cultural events, markets and the traditional Christmas market are held here.

Puerta del Sol

The symbolic heart of the city. It is the main transfer station of the Spanish metro, and also the zero kilometer, Kilometro cero, from which the distance to all cities in Spain is measured. It is marked by a small plaque on the pavement.

The name Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun) dates back to the Middle Ages, when this gate, part of the city walls, was actually located here.

There is also a statue of El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Bush), a symbol of Madrid.

Mercado de San Miguel

Mercado de San Miguel is a popular gourmet market in Madrid, located near the Plaza Mayor. The market is housed in a 20th century glass and iron structure and is one of the oldest and best preserved markets in the city. It offers a wide variety of fresh and quality produce, tapas, Spanish specialties and wine, attracting locals and tourists alike to sample and shop.

On my first visits to Madrid, I was impressed by the vibrancy of the place, the people eating tapas, drinking wine and chatting. But on my last visit it struck me as mainly touristy, crowded, but still good.

Museo del Prado

Here too, entry is free from Monday to Friday from 6 to 8 pm and on weekends from 5 to 7 pm. But the queue is huge. The museum houses famous works of art by Goya, Rembrandt, Rubens, Raphael and Velázquez.

Reina Sofía Museum

The Museo Reina Sofía is one of the most important museums of modern and contemporary art in Spain. The museum is known for its extensive collection of works by Spanish artists, especially Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. Its most famous work is the painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso, which represents the tragedy of the Spanish Civil War.

Egyptian Temple of Debod

This structure in the Park del Oeste was donated to Spain by Egypt as a token of thanks for its help in saving the monuments during the construction of the Aswan Dam. Originally built in Aswan, the temple was dismantled and moved to Madrid. The temple is built so that the sun’s rays pass through its gates twice a year, which was a deliberate architectural and astronomical design.

Football stadiums in Madrid

For football fans, there are of course major football stadiums to visit. Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is open to the public between matches (admission costs €25). Atlético Madrid’s stadium – Wanda Metropolitano (entrance fee 16 euros), is considerably further away from the centre.

What to taste in Madrid

Madrid is a gastronomic city and you’ll find great places to eat, from renowned market stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and fine-dining. When it comes to Spanish cuisine, of course, it dominates, so you can try paella, tapas or Spanish tortilla, washed down with sangria or vermouth.

Madrid also has its own culinary identity, which is different from the rest of Spain. Although the city isn’t on the coast, there’s a variety of fresh fish and unique dishes you’re unlikely to find elsewhere in Spain.

Cocido madrileño is one of Madrid’s most popular and authentic dishes. A hearty dish of chickpeas and stewed meat (beef, chicken, pork) and root vegetables and potatoes. Callos a la madrileña are beef tripe in a sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices, usually flavoured with chorizo and spicy pimentón.

Bocadillo de calamares is a sandwich with fried calamari. A popular tapas is oreja a la plancha, pork ear cut into pieces and pan-fried, crispy and fatty. In the San Miguel market you’re bound to come across gulas in the form of pintxos on a baguette, made from baby eels, or more cheaply, an imitation from cod.

Where to eat in Madrid

As I said, you shouldn’t miss the churros at the chocolateria San Ginés and the tapas at the Mercado de San Miguel. Other markets with fresh food and tapas and food worth checking out are Mercado de la Cebada and Mercado San Antón. Like everywhere in Spain, if you don’t want to spend time hanging out in restaurants and want to try local food, the mercado is a good choice.

Malacatín is a traditional restaurant where you can taste local dishes from the Madrid area.

Festivals and holidays in Madrid

Pompous celebrations, festivals and parades are a part of Spain, and Madrid is no exception. In May, Madrid’s biggest festival San Isidro, celebrates the city’s patron saint, St Isidore. The city comes alive with concerts, traditional dances, parades and bullfights.

In November is the Fiesta de la Almudena, celebrating the patron saint of the city, Our Lady of Almudena, with a procession through the city and a mass celebrated in Almudena Cathedral.

In July is the Music Mad Cool Festival, one of the biggest music festivals in Spain with world rock and pop stars.

Where to go on a trip from Madrid

For the main things in Madrid, 2 or 3 days will do you fine (depending on how much time you spend in museums or eating), the other days you can think about a trip, there’s plenty to do in the area and not necessarily in the vicinity. The trains from Madrid are fast, so you can even get to Córdoba or Valencia in 2 hours. Of the closer ones, the following are worth considering:

• Toledo – one of Spain’s most historic cities, the “city of three cultures”. The city has beautiful streets, rich history and the Alcazar. By train from Madrid you will be here in 30 minutes (from Atocha).
• Segovia – is at the foot of the Sierra de Guadarrama and is famous for the monumental Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar Castle that inspired Disney’s castles, and the Gothic cathedral, also 30 minutes by train (from Chamartín).
• Aranjuez – royal palaces and gardens, great local gastronomy and boat trips on the Tajo River, just 50 kilometres south of Madrid.

Where is Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and is located in the central part of the country on the Meseta Plateau, about 650 metres above sea level (which, incidentally, is one of Europe’s highest metropolises). The nearest coastline is over 300 kilometres away.

How to get to Madrid

Madrid has plenty of direct flights to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD). The easiest way from the airport to the centre is the Exprés Aeropuerto shuttle bus. It costs 5 euros, takes about half an hour and runs 24/7.

You can also take the C1 or C10 train from the airport straight to Atocha Station. There is a pink metro line 8 to the centre too, or bus 203, which takes about three quarters of an hour. By the way, Atocha station has a little botanical garden inside.

If you are already travelling in Spain, you can get here by train from Valencia, Barcelona or Seville. There are two train stations, Atocha and Chamartín, both on the metro. Atocha is closer to the centre, but it mainly depends on where your train stops. Trains from Valencia, for example, stop exclusively at Chamartín.

Transportation around Madrid

If you’re staying in central Madrid, you might walk a bit, but Madrid is easily walkable. The exceptions would be travelling to and from football stadiums and airports. For everything else, there’s the metro and buses.

Individual tickets cost EUR 1.50. If you’re here for more than one day, a package of 10 Metrobús tickets for 12.20 euros (+ card for 2.50) may be the best value. But until June 2023, there was a 50% discount, so it was €6.10. This is valid for both metro and bus, even with a transfer.

Another option might be the unlimited Abono Turístico tourist tickets for 1, 3, 5 or 7 days (from 8.40 euros to 35.40 euros), but these are only worth it from 5 rides a day upwards (which seems unrealistic unless you need to pop to every single station between two sights).