Things to Visit in Madrid: Art, Tapas, and Nightlife
Experience Madrid's world-class art museums, vibrant tapas culture, and legendary nightlife scene. Covers the Prado, Royal Palace, Retiro Park, La Latina bars, and day trip options.
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World-Class Art Museums
Spend a morning at the Prado Museum
One of the world's finest art collections, with masterpieces by Velázquez (Las Meninas), Goya (The Third of May), Bosch (The Garden of Earthly Delights), and El Greco. General entry is €15, but it's free the last 2 hours before closing daily. Allow at least 3 hours for highlights.
Visit the Reina Sofía for Guernica
Picasso's monumental anti-war painting is the centerpiece, but the museum also holds major works by Dalí and Miró. Entry is about €12; free Monday and Wednesday-Saturday evenings 7-9 PM and Sundays 12:30-2:30 PM. Photography is allowed everywhere except the Guernica room.
Explore the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Fills the gaps between the Prado and Reina Sofía with Impressionism, German Expressionism, and Pop Art. Hopper, Monet, Van Gogh, and Lichtenstein all under one roof. Entry is about €13; free on Mondays from noon. The triple museum Paseo del Arte card (€32) covers all three.
Landmarks and Architecture
Tour the Royal Palace (Palacio Real)
Europe's largest royal palace by floor area, with 3,418 rooms. Only about 50 are open to visitors. Entry is €16 (free for EU citizens last 2 hours before closing). The palace is still used for state ceremonies, so check if it's open on your planned visit date.
Walk through Plaza Mayor
Madrid's grand 17th-century arcaded square was built for public ceremonies, bullfights, and executions. The restaurants under the arches are tourist traps — eat elsewhere and just enjoy the architecture. Street performers and seasonal markets fill the square year-round.
Stroll down Gran Vía
Madrid's main shopping boulevard features early 20th-century buildings that rival anything on Fifth Avenue or the Champs-Élysées. The rooftop terrace of the Círculo de Bellas Artes (€5 entry) offers one of the best views of the street and the city skyline.
Visit the Almudena Cathedral
Madrid's main cathedral sits next to the Royal Palace and took over a century to complete (1883-1993). Free entry, though a €1 donation is suggested. The crypt below (separate entrance, €1) has an unusual neo-Romanesque style worth seeing.
See the Temple of Debod
An authentic 2,200-year-old Egyptian temple gifted to Spain in 1968, now sitting in a park overlooking the Royal Palace. Free to enter (closed Mondays). One of Madrid's best sunset spots — the reflecting pool mirrors the temple at golden hour.
Parks and Green Spaces
Spend an afternoon in Retiro Park
Madrid's 125-hectare green heart has a boating lake, the Crystal Palace (free rotating exhibitions), rose garden, and tree-lined promenades. Rowboat rental on the lake costs about €6 for 45 minutes. The park is busiest on Sunday mornings when locals stroll.
Row a boat on the Estanque Grande
Visit the Palacio de Cristal (glass palace)
Walk through the Rosaleda rose garden
Visit Madrid Río park along the Manzanares River
A 10 km linear park built over a buried highway, with playgrounds, urban beaches (summer only), footbridges, and cycling paths. Much less crowded than Retiro. The section near Puente de Toledo has the best facilities.
Explore the Real Jardín Botánico
8 hectares of curated gardens right next to the Prado, with over 5,000 plant species. Entry is €6. A peaceful break between museum visits. The greenhouse collection is impressive in winter.
Tapas and Food
Bar-hop for tapas in La Latina
The streets around Cava Baja and Cava Alta are Madrid's tapas epicenter, with over 30 bars in a 4-block radius. The Sunday afternoon scene (after El Rastro market) is peak Madrid social life. Most tapas cost €3-6 per plate.
Browse the Mercado de San Miguel
A stunning cast-iron market building near Plaza Mayor with gourmet food stalls — oysters, jamón ibérico, wine by the glass, and croquetas. Portions are small and prices are higher than neighborhood bars (€4-12 per tapa), but the variety and atmosphere are worth one visit.
Try a bocadillo de calamares
Madrid's signature fast food: a crusty bread roll stuffed with fried squid rings and a squeeze of lemon. Bars around Plaza Mayor sell them for €3-5. It's simple, cheap, and weirdly addictive.
Eat cochinillo or cocido madrileño
Cochinillo (roast suckling pig) is a Castilian specialty — the meat should be so tender the waiter cuts it with a plate. Cocido madrileño is a chickpea stew served in three courses (broth, vegetables, meats). Both run €18-30 at traditional restaurants.
Visit El Rastro flea market (Sundays)
Madrid's famous Sunday flea market fills the streets of La Latina from 9 AM to 3 PM, with 3,500+ stalls selling antiques, vintage clothing, art, and random oddities. Watch for pickpockets in the crowds. After browsing, join the locals for cañas (small beers) at surrounding bars.
Nightlife and Entertainment
See a flamenco show
Authentic tablao venues in the city center host nightly shows with professional dancers, guitarists, and singers. Ticket-only shows cost €25-40; dinner + show packages run €60-90. Smaller venues with 50-100 seats offer a more intense experience than large theaters.
Experience Madrid's nightlife
Dinner starts at 9-10 PM, bars fill after midnight, and clubs don't peak until 2-3 AM. The Malasaña neighborhood has indie bars and vintage shops; Chueca is the LGBTQ+ hub; Huertas draws a mixed crowd of locals and visitors. Most clubs charge €10-20 entry with a drink included.
Have vermouth (vermú) at a traditional bar
Sunday noon vermú is a Madrid ritual — order a glass of house vermouth with an olive and a tapa at a bar counter. Bars in La Latina and Malasaña serve it from the tap for €2-4. The tradition is making a strong comeback among younger Madrileños.
Day Trips
Visit Toledo
A medieval walled city 30 minutes by high-speed train (about €13 each way), known as the 'City of Three Cultures' for its Christian, Muslim, and Jewish heritage. The Gothic cathedral and El Greco's paintings at the Church of Santo Tomé are highlights. Easily covered in a half day.
Explore Segovia
Famous for its Roman aqueduct (2,000 years old, built without mortar), fairy-tale Alcázar castle, and roast suckling pig restaurants. About 30 minutes by high-speed train (€13-15). The aqueduct spans 28 meters high and 800 meters long.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Madrid?
Three to four full days covers the highlights including world-class art museums, landmarks and architecture, parks and green spaces at a relaxed pace. Five or more days lets you dig into local neighborhoods and take day trips. Most first-time visitors find four days strikes the right balance between seeing enough and not feeling exhausted.
What is the best time of year to visit Madrid?
Spring and early autumn typically offer the best weather with manageable crowds. Summer brings peak tourism pricing and longer queues at popular spots. Shoulder season travel saves 20-30% on accommodation and gives you shorter lines at top attractions.
How much should I budget per day in Madrid?
A mid-range daily budget of $100-180 per person covers a comfortable hotel, two restaurant meals, and attraction tickets. Street food and local markets cut food costs significantly. Pre-booking tickets for popular sites online often saves 10-15% and lets you skip long queues.
What is the best way to get around Madrid?
Public transit handles most tourist routes efficiently and cheaply. Walking between central attractions is often faster than waiting for buses or trains during peak hours. Multi-day transit passes pay for themselves after 3-4 rides per day and remove the hassle of buying individual tickets.
Do I need to book attractions in advance in Madrid?
Top-tier attractions and museums frequently sell out during peak season so book 2-4 weeks ahead for guaranteed entry. Lesser-known sites and neighborhoods rarely require advance tickets. Morning time slots (before 10:00) are the most popular; afternoon slots after 14:00 often have shorter waits.