Madrid is already one the most popular destinations in Europe. Its tourism office has stepped up efforts to boost event and improve connectivity with Barajas Airport.
Spend a day following a Madrid map and admire the opulent interiors of the Royal Palace or exploring Prado’s collection of Spanish masterpieces. Relax in the city’s vast green spaces like the UNESCO World Heritage Site Retiro Park or the enchanting Capricho Park.
Museums
The museums of the city offer visitors a wealth learning opportunities. There are many exhibitions, from a chapel in the center of the city to an elegant 19th-century mansion located in the Parque Florido. These include exhibitions on painters, musicians, and traditional costumes. Some are also great places to stretch your legs and break the museum-going monotony with a stroll through the gardens or some light refreshments.
One of Madrid’s most visited museums, the Museo del Prado is home to a collection that spans seven centuries of Spanish art. Highlights include works from Velazquez and Goya.
This vast museum complex is a must for anyone interested in Spain’s rich history and culture. UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with a mix European and American masterworks – from paintings, sculptures, mummies, musical instruments, and more.
The collection is spread out over seven floors, and it covers everything from Madrid’s founding to the evolution of the city. It also teaches about the inhabitants of the city through portraits, maps, blueprints, and drawings.
It’s not everyday that you can explore a palace which was once the home of a royal household. Include this in your Madrid tourism itinerary. The palace is only used for official events today, but it is open to the public so they can admire the paintings, furniture, armour, and other treasures that have been collected over the years.
This museum showcases the most enigmatic Iberian sculpture ever discovered, an undated piece of rock that may have been a tomb guard or a ritual cult statue. There’s also an exhibition dedicated to the city’s gastronomic tradition, housed in a former bakery.
The museum has a large collection musical instruments and handicrafts. It is a great place to learn more about traditional crafts. A display of traditional wedding gowns and tools of trade, as well a recreation of an old country cottage are also highlights. The museum also offers workshops, projections, or even stargazing sessions.
Nightlife
The nights in Madrid are wild, hedonistic, and always happening. The nightlife of the city is so diverse that it’s hard to know where you should start.
There are many bars, clubs, and restaurants in the city’s different neighborhoods, each with its own unique style and vibe. In fact, there are enough different options to satisfy every type of nocturnal mood and mood swing.
Chueca, the center of the city’s party scene, is where you can find the best parties. It’s a big church that is packed with clubbers and bar-hoppers as well as families, drag Queens, young couples kissing in the street, and tourists who are trying to take it all.
In the more upscale neighborhood of Malasana, hipsters flock to the quirky bar Via Lactea to get their groove on. This bar has a quirky interior and music from the 80’s that embodies the spirit of Madrid.
The rooftop bar offers incredible views of Madrid and is a great place to relax. There is a good selection of drinks to accompany your drink and a few nibbles. It’s the perfect place to relax in the summer months or to enjoy the sunsets and vistas in the cooler seasons.
Museo Chicote is another cool speakeasy in Madrid that was a favorite of Ernest Hemingway and Grace Kelly. This hidden gem can be accessed via the bathrooms of the Casa Suecia restaurant. If you are unsure about this, please ask at the bar. It’s the perfect blend of prohibition-era chic with a touch of Spanish flair.
Lastly, Bonded is one of the newer additions to Madrid’s nightlife scene and has quickly become a reference point for its elegant, sophisticated vibe. It is one of Madrid’s best clubs for dance music. Both house and tribal rhythms are played. The crowd is an eclectic mix of influencers and locals and the venue preaches good taste in music as well as style.
Parks & Gardens
Parks and gardens are found all over the city. They are an integral part of daily life for madrilenos. These luscious green spaces liven up a capital with imposing buildings that date back centuries. These green spaces are often used for leisure and cultural activities. Locals and tourists can row a boat in Retiro Park around the lake, visit a gallery, or stroll through the peaceful Sabatini or El Retiro gardens.
In addition to boosting the city’s environmental sustainability, parks and gardens are a key component in the tourism sector. These gardens and parks are a treasure of great value, offering visitors and residents a chance to relax, enjoy the nature, and get away from urban life. They also serve as an important connection with the rest of Spain’s ecosystem.
Some of the best and most famous parks in Madrid include Retiro Park, which is known as the lungs of the city; the Retiro Gardens and Temple of the Deity; the Royal Palace garden at Casa de Campo and the gorgeous Rococo-style Jardines El Capricho. The Retiro Park has something for everyone, from a rose-garden and the famous “Angel Caido” sculpture to a beautiful park with a circular fountain and rowboats.
Other notable parks include Parque Juan Carlos I, a child-friendly recreational wonderland, which is home to a miniature train, lakes, and a zoo. This is a great place to bring the family to have a picnic, or to enjoy ice-cream while watching the city.
Casa de Campo has a botanical garden with a wide variety of exotic plants and tress. Don’t forget to visit the ahuehuete or Montezuma Cypress, believed to be the oldest tree in the city. It dates back to 1630 and has survived the bombings during the Spanish Civil War.
The modern CaixaForum in Madrid, housed inside a former power plant and surrounded by lush vertical gardens, is a must see. The museum features multimedia exhibitions that include art, literature, music and poetry. It also hosts debates and workshops for both children and adults.
Food & Drink
From the old-fashioned bars where you discover exactly what Castizo means to the cutting-edge restaurants like DiverXO, Madrid has a food scene that is truly world-class. A new generation of chefs is reinterpreting traditional recipes and incorporating global influences. They are taking advantage of Madrid’s rich history.
You can try these new culinary trends at the city’s mercados. These indoor food labyrinths have been transformed by innovative design and business model to become multi-use space that houses bars, cafes and restaurants. Some of the most notable examples include Mercado de Anton Martin which features Yokaloka, or Mercado del Miguel which has over 150 dining and drinking options.
If you want to celebrate a special event in Madrid, then look no further than Coque. This restaurant offers a tasting menu based on fire and smoke. This restaurant’s team knows how to make your meal memorable. You will have a great experience when you dine there.
The best place to start your sightseeing tour of Madrid is with a visit to its famed art galleries. It is worth spending some time in the three major museums of Madrid: The Prado Museum (12th-19th Centuries, including works by Goya and Velazquez), the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (20th Century, including Picasso’s Guernica), and the Reina Sophia Museum (18th Century to the 21st Century, including paintings by Van Gogh and Renoir).
After all that culture, you’ll need something to refresh yourself. What better way is there to relax than with a glass of refreshing sherry. This is a wine that’s often overlooked by visitors to the city, but it’s well worth trying at some of the city’s finest sherry bars. La Venencia is one of our favourites. It has been open since the 1920s and Ernest Hemingway was a patron.
Around 6pm is when you should have your merienda, which is an afternoon snack to keep you going till dinner. Some of the most popular merienda dishes in Madrid include churros which are deep-fried strips covered in sugar and served with dipping sauces such as chocolate, bizcocho (sponge cake) or torrijas which is a sort of Spanish French toast. Leche frita, a type of custard or milk pudding that is firm and creamy, is another dessert you will find on menus in Madrid.
