15 Things You Must Explore In Mardrid

Madrid is an energetic city known for its late nights, historic sites, and delicious cuisine. As the capital of Spain, there’s also a lot of history and art here, which you could spend weeks discovering. It’s also bursting with beautiful architecture. There’s an endless number of things to see and do in this metropolis.

I’ve been to Madrid numerous times. It’s an incredible place, where little alleys reveal hidden restaurants and bars, and locals like to start their nights late and go early into the morning. (It’s definitely a night-owl city.)

To help you make the most of your trip, here are my favorite things to do, from museums to food tours to cultural experiences and more

# Take a Free Walking Tour

I love taking free walking tours. They’re a budget-friendly way to see the main sights, learn some history, and get a feel for the city. You get access to a local guide who can answer all your questions and give you insider tips on where to go and what to do. Free Walking Tours Madrid and New Europe both offer comprehensive tours. Just make sure to tip your guide at the end!

For a more in-depth tour, Take Walks offers the best paid tours in the city. It’s my go-to walking tour company, because its tours are super detailed and insightful.

# Visit the Royal Palace

The palace’s construction began in 1735, and it was home to Spain’s monarchs until the 1930s; now it is only used for official state functions. You can explore the historic buildings and grounds via both guided and self-guided tours. The palace has over 3,400 rooms and encompasses a massive 1.4 million square feet. The interior is lavishly decorated with massive vaulted ceilings, paintings, murals, and intricate wood carvings.

# See the Cathedral of Madrid

Opened in 1993, the Catedral de la Almudena, which took over a hundred years to complete, is the main cathedral in Madrid. Built in the Gothic Revival style, it offers some beautiful views overlooking the city.

# Relax in Plaza Mayor

Dating back to the 15th century, this square is the heart of Madrid. It’s a popular place for locals and tourists to gather, eat, and shop. It’s a bit overpriced these days, but it offers some nice people-watching, and there are also usually events and concerts during the summer.

# Take a Food Tour

Madrid is a foodie’s dream. If you aren’t sure where to start, I suggest taking a food tour. I took the Devour Madrid Food Tour run by fellow bloggers and ex-pats Lauren and James. It was informative, delicious, and absolutely filling.

# Wander the Mercado de San Miguel

This massive covered market opened in 1916. It eventually fell into disrepair but was recently revitalized with amazing restaurants and food stalls. There are a lot of restaurants and stalls in which one can find affordable tapas and drinks. It’s very popular with the after-work crowd.

# See the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales

Built in the 16th century, the Convent of Las Descalzas Reales (which means “Monastery of the Royal Barefooted”) was the former palace of Emperor Charles V and Empress Isabel of Portugal. Single noblewomen were invited to reside here as nuns, bringing with them any wealth they had accumulated prior. Today, it is home to just a few nuns who look after the grounds and its relics, which include (alleged) pieces of Jesus’s cross, as well as the bones of St. Sebastian.

# Visit the Naval Museum

The Museo Naval de Madrid highlights the history of Spain’s historic naval capabilities and accomplishments. It covers the 15th century to the present, with information on ships, wars, and colonies and how those all related to Spain as a world power. The museum has all kinds of maps and drawings, as well as weapons and navigation equipment. It also houses the oldest map of the Americas, which was made in the year 1500. There’s a detailed section on the (failed) Spanish Armada that I found pretty insightful too.

# Stroll Around the Royal Botanical Garden

Founded in 1755, this park is home to lakes, labyrinths, squares, fountains, and lots of flowers. There are some 90,000 plants here and over 1,500 trees, as well as greenhouses, sculptures, and some immaculate gardens. It’s incredibly beautiful and serene.

# Explore the Reina Sofía Museum

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is home to the country’s national collection of art from the 20th century. It has many of Pablo Picasso’s works (including “Guérnica”), as well as art by Miró, Kandinsky, Dalí, and Bacon. Named after Queen Sofía, it is the ninth most-visited art museum in the entire world!

# Relax in El Retiro Park

Covering over 350 acres, this is Madrid’s main park. It’s the perfect place to relax and lounge on a beautiful day. There’s even a small lake where you can rent a rowboat. There’s tons of green space for picnics, walking paths, and a monument to the victims of the Madrid terrorist bombings in 2004. The famous Crystal Palace (it’s made completely out of glass) features a rotating collection of art too.

# Visit the Prado Museum

The Museo Nacional del Prado is the third most visited museum in the world. Opened in 1819, it has around 20,000 works by Spanish artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya; Flemish and Dutch artists, including Rubens, van Dyck, and Brueghel; Italian masters such as Botticelli, Tintoretto, Titian, Caravaggio, and Veronese; and German artists such as Dürer, Cranach, and Baldung Grien. You have to visit this place!

# Watch a Soccer Match

Spaniards are crazy about soccer. Real Madrid, the capital’s home team, is one of the most famous teams in the world. They play at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which has a capacity of over 81,000 people. Games here are super popular, and fans take them quite seriously. If they’re playing during your visit, be sure to watch a game. It’s an amazing experience!

# Explore the Museo de la Historia de Madrid

The Museum of History of Madrid covers the city’s evolution from the 16th century (when it became the capital) to World War I. Opened in 1929, it highlights daily life throughout the ages. There are lots of artifacts, maps, paintings, and sculptures to give you a much more nuanced understanding of Madrid.

# Visit the Temple of Debod

The Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple that dates back to the second century BCE. Originally located near Aswan in Upper Egypt, it was dismantled and given as a gift to Spain by the Egyptian government in 1968 as thanks for helping to relocate monuments from the Aswan Dam site. The temple can now be found in Madrid’s Cuartel de la Montaña Park. Although the inside of the temple is off-limits, you can still walk along the outside.