35 Best things to see & do in Madrid

One of the finest museums in the world, the Prado was originally meant to be a museum of natural science. However, by the time it was completed in 1819, its purpose had shifted to that of a grand art exhibition space. Today, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, it is the single best collection of Spanish art and arguably the world’s finest collection of European art, dating from the 12th century to the early 20th century.

Its vast galleries are packed with household-name masterpieces and heavyweight artists – the stars of the show being Velazquez, El Greco and Goya. The hugely impressive permanent collection comprises around 8,000+ drawings, 7,600+ paintings, 4,800+ prints, and 1,000+ sculptures – though at any one time, only 1,300 works are displayed in the main building due to capacity constraints.

There are usually also several world-class temporary exhibitions running alongside the permanent collection.

This vibrant city was the epicentre of Spain’s 16th- and 17th-century ‘Golden Age’, when the kings and clergy patronised artists such as Velazquez, Murillo, Zurbaran and El Greco, and couldn’t purchase enough paintings by Titian, Hieronymus Bosch, Rubens and others.

Then, in the 19th century, came Picasso and Goya; the latter’s portraits of the Spanish royal family, Madrid’s citizens, its fiestas and demons are seared into the city’s soul.

The result was an unrivalled hoard of artistic treasure that you can see in the ‘Triangle of Art’ – the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza and Reina Sofia museums. These three are home to scores of masterpieces and each rank among the world’s greatest art museums. The Reina Sofia is home to arguably the most famous painting of the 20th century, Picasso’s Guernica.

If you have time for more, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes, the Lazaro Galdiano Museum and the Ermita de San Antonio de la Florida won’t disappoint – in any other city, they’d be top attractions.

Madrid’s world-class modern art museum, housed in a vast 18th-century former hospital with an extension by Jean Nouvel, has a collection encompassing art from the beginning of the 20th century onwards. The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art, and is home to outstanding collections of Spain’s two greatest 20th-century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali.

Works by other Spanish artists such as Miro, Chillida and Tapies sit alongside international names such as Francis Bacon, Donald Judd and Gerhard Richter, and there are always a few worthwhile temporary exhibitions. No wonder it ranks 6th on the list of the world’s most visited art museums.

Madrid is the capital of flamenco, in the same way that Hollywood is the capital of film. All the stars head to the capital’s famous tablao, or flamenco clubs – the singers to perform the emotion-packed cante jondo (‘deep song’); the dancers to stamp their heels fast and hard in a taconeo, to the percussive strumming of the guitar players.

The combination of the music, dancing and powerful rhythms are irresistible – on the best evenings, you will feel the duende, the ‘demon’ spirit of emotional catharsis, and find yourself shouting Olé!

The House of Borbon-Anjou, led by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, is the reigning royal house in Spain. Although not as globally renowned as their UK counterparts, the Spanish Monarchy remains high profile and (mostly) revered in Spain, and an integral part of the country’s culture and history.

This lavish 18th-century royal palace is their official residence (though they actually live at the Zarzuela Palace, also in Madrid). It’s an example of Neoclassical grandeur on an epic scale, with some 2,000 rooms.

Although only part of the palace is open to the public, ornate decorations bombard your senses at every turn – most opulent of all is the scarlet and gold Throne Room, with a ceiling painted by Tiepolo.

This outstanding art collection – accumulated by Swiss industrialist Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza – tells the story of 800 years of art history, from 13th-century Italian Gothic paintings all the way up to 20th-century Pop Art. One of the world’s largest private collections, this treasure trove of nearly a thousand paintings is housed in a grand 18th-century neoclassical palace

Major highlights include paintings by Ghirlandaio, Durer, Titian, Raphael, Degas and Kandinsky. There’s usually at least one temporary exhibition on, too, and a lovely terrace bar on the rooftop.

With over 6,000 restaurants serving dishes from all around Spain (and the world), Madrid is a funfair for foodies,. Join the locals at traditional restaurants, informal tapas bars, gourmet food markets, and the new Michelin restaurants setting off gastronomic fireworks.

As the capital city, Madrid has sucked up influences and talented chefs from all across Spain. There is a vast range of fresh seafood, fabulous tapas (patatas bravas were invented here), side by side with the hearty dishes of the interior – roast lamb, suckling pig and stews.

Alongside all these old favourites, a new breed of chef, each with their own personality and style of cooking, have made eating out in Madrid an adventure.

Football is a great Madrileno passion, and football in Madrid means either Atletico Madrid (red) or Real Madrid (blue). For an insight into just what football means to the city, head to Real’s 85,000-seater Bernabéu Stadium. Guided tours allow visitors to walk down the players’ tunnel, sit in the presidential box, and marvel at the silverware accumulated during the club’s illustrious 110-year history.

Even if you don’t like football, this is a fascinating insight into one of Madrid’s greatest sporting and cultural institutions.

This vast royal palace and monastery, 40km outside of Madrid in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains, was commissioned as a royal residence by King Philip II during the 16th century.

A rich collection of art includes works by Titian, El Greco, Velazquez and Bosch; the library is 55m long and contains more than 40,000 books and documents, while the octagonal pantheon contains the tombs of nearly every Spanish monarch.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984, for many the highlight of this vast complex is the lavish library, with ceiling frescoes by Pellegrino Tibaldi, Michelangelo’s disciple. Its collection of ancient and rare books includes the famous ‘Golden Gospel’, the Codex Aureus.

If you have even a passing interest in fashion, then it’s definitely worth seeking out Madrid’s brilliant costume museum, with over 150,000 garments illustrating the evolution of fashion through history, from the Middle Ages until today.

Permanent displays range from Hispano-Muslim designs to stunning pieces by the likes of Balenciaga, Paco Rabanne and Mariano Fortuny. Temporary exhibitions showcase a mix of contemporary designers and historical trends. The gift shop is a great place to pick up unusual presents, with a wide selection of contemporary jewellery and accessories.

This museum is the embodiment of Madrid’s reputation as a style capital.

Madrid’s patron saint is celebrated on 15th May, and for a week around that date, the city hosts a whole spectrum of street parties, concerts, processions and bullfights, culminating in fireworks over the lake in Retiro Park.

The main festival is in Parque de San Isidro, beside the Manzanares River, where Isidro performed miracles during the 11th century, while other events pop up across the old town.

Many Madrilenos dress up in traditional garb called chulapo – men sport checked waistcoats and caps, while women wear lace dresses with fringed shawls and carnations in their hair. This time of year is a vivid, festive and cultured time to get to know Madrid.

Madrid’s foodie hotspot: a gourmet hub housing 33 shops and street stalls, selling the highest-quality local produce – including more than 100 varieties of cheese. A Madrid institution, the market buzzes from morning until late at night.

Opposite the Royal Palace and the seat of Madrid’s Catholic Archbishop. Building started in 1880 and only officially finished in 1993, when it was subsequently consecrated by Pope John Paul II. Inside, it surprises with contemporary chapels, cupolas, statues and décor. Worth a stop if churches are your thing.

Madrid’s big, Baroque main square, completed in 1619, is enclosed by stately symmetrical buildings and porticoed walks. For centuries it was the theatre of city life – witnessing coronations, bullfights, jousts, football matches, beatifications, and executions. Today, it’s Madrid’s beating heart, packed with cafés and restaurants.

A grand museum showcasing the history of Spain, from prehistoric times to the modern era. It houses over a million objects including art, sculpture, and artifacts from various periods, such as Roman, Visigoth, and Moorish. LKook out for the beautiful prehistoric bust of the Lady of Elche, Roman weapons and glittering Visigothic gold.

During June and July, the focus is on photography in Madrid with events and exhibitions popping up at museums, galleries and bookshops all over the city. Grab your camera and join in with one of the biggest cultural events in Spain, which attracts professionals and enthusiasts from across the globe.

The programme includes exhibitions, competitions, workshops and talks by internationally renowned photographers. Events spill out onto the streets, particularly along Paseo de la Castellana and Calle Huertas.

Founded in 1858. Spain has long been one of the greatest producers of abanicos – traditional hand fans. This small studio upholds that tradition. The highest quality hand-made fans – with handles made from wood, ebony or bone – are made on site. Each one is a unique, gorgeous work of art.

Built in the 18th century, this imposing Neoclassical basilica is an architectural masterpiece, home to the fourth biggest dome in Europe. Inside are intricate decorations, an ornate altarpiece and paintings by Goya and Zurbaran.

Grab the best views of the city from this cable car, which runs from Paseo del Pintor Rosales to the Casa de Campo park and zoo. It’s a 2.5km ride and takes around 11 minutes.

Once the gardens of a royal palace, the city’s main park stretches across 350 acres of glorious green space in the heart of the capital.

This renowned institution has been producing exquisite tapestries and textiles for centuries. You can take a tour of this ‘living museum’, founded in 1721, where expert weavers continue Spain’s illustrious tapestry and textile traditions.

Young chef David Munoz is at the helm of Madrid’s acclaimed three Michelin-starred restaurant, creating unique food ‘pictures’ in a Cirque du Soleil ‘Dream World’ atmosphere: there’s nothing quite like it.

With two weeks in May and June of foodie events from tapas crawls to cooking workshops, this internationally-renowned food festival features 450 participating establishments offering over 550 food-related activities.

The Marques de Cerralbo’s horde of artworks and curio includes El Greco’s Ecstasy of St Francis and fantastic Japanese armour.

A world-renowned annual contemporary art fair featuring painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art from both national and international galleries and artists. It takes place over four days in February, in the majestic setting of the Palacio de Cibeles.

Madrid’s lively Sunday morning flea market sells everything from ceramics to fabrics, handmade shoes and antiques. It has been held in the La Latina district for over 400 years.

If you need some time out from the hectic delights of this vibrant city, head to this excellent hammam, a modern-day version of the traditional Andalusian bathhouse experience, to soak in the hot spa baths. Traditional treatments include steamy massage, hot stones and kessa gloves.

A fantastic private collection of over 12,000 ceramics, jewellery, small bonzes, coins, carvings, manuscripts and other fascinating artefacts from the nineteenth century back to the prehistoric period. It’s housed in a historic Madrid, with original baroque painted ceilings.

Founded in 1818, the enormous, wedding-cake Teatro Real hosts world-class opera, dance and flamenco concerts.

A quirky zoological and botanical park home to over 4,000 animals from 500 different species, including giant pandas, penguins, and crocodiles. There are themed ‘ecosystems’ – such as the polar ecosystem, the Amazon rainforest, and the African jungle.

This royal convent was founded by the daughter of Emperor Charles V in 1559 – it’s now packed full of Golden Age art, priceless masterpieces and valuable religious relics, all paid for by the dowries of former nuns accumulated over the centuries.

The Madrid home of early 20th-century artist Joaquin Sorolla, known as ‘the master of light’, is now filled with his neo-Impressionist works.

Away from the tourist crowds between the Chueca and Malasana districts, this street market is designed for socialising. It covers three floors, with two terraces and 20 wildly diverse stands and bars; it frequently hosts events.

Spain’s oldest cocktail bar, founded in 1931; along with bucketloads of atmosphere is a wall of photos of the movie stars (Sinatra, Grace Kelley etc.) who once sipped drinks here. Go for Sunday afternoon brunch with a DJ.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Botin which first opened its doors in 1725 – and has always been renowned for its suckling pig and roast lamb – is the oldest restaurant in the world.