Madrid: what's actually worth it
When Philip II made Madrid his capital in 1561, he transformed a quiet hilltop town into the pulsing heart of an empire, leaving behind grand boulevards that still dictate the city’s rhythm. Today, Madrid feels less like a museum and more like a living room where time slows down for long dinners and animated debates under the sun. It is a vibrant metropolis that balances historic gravity with modern energy, inviting you to wander its plazas without a strict itinerary, letting the warmth of its people guide your journey through centuries of layered history.
Top things to do in Madrid
El Retiro Park
Park · ★ 4.8 (214,017 reviews)
Expansive, 19th-century park with boating lake & rose garden, plus numerous fountains & statues.
Check tours & tickets →Plaza Mayor
Plaza · ★ 4.6 (202,870 reviews)
Cafes & restaurants line the arches of this stately square with Philip III's statue in the center.
Check tours & tickets →Museo Nacional del Prado
Art museum · ★ 4.7 (155,279 reviews)
Art museum with Velazquez, Goya and El Greco masterpieces in vast 12th- to 19th-century collection.
Check tours & tickets →Royal Palace of Madrid
Castle · ★ 4.7 (131,501 reviews)
18th-century, ridge-top palace for state occasions, plus tours with rooms full of art and antiques.
Check tours & tickets →Mercado de San Miguel
Market · ★ 4.4 (162,670 reviews)
Circa-1916 covered market offering local food, delicacies & events in an elegant ambiance.
Check tours & tickets →Puerta de Alcalá
Monument · ★ 4.7 (63,192 reviews)
Triumphal arch near to Parque del Buen Retiro & rich with stone carvings & elegant sculptures.
Check tours & tickets →Cibeles Fountain
sculpture, historical_landmark · ★ 4.7 (57,301 reviews)
18th century neoclassical fountain depicting the goddess Cybele on a chariot pulled by 2 lions.
Check tours & tickets →Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
Art museum · ★ 4.7 (47,710 reviews)
Museum housing collection of 13th-20th-century European masterpieces, from Renaissance to Pop Art.
Check tours & tickets →Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Art museum · ★ 4.5 (71,075 reviews)
Sprawling museum for Spanish 20th-century art collection with works by Gris, Dali, Picasso & Miro.
Check tours & tickets →Casa de Campo
Park · ★ 4.6 (52,202 reviews)
Expansive park & former royal hunting ground, with small hills, streams & a boating lake.
Check tours & tickets →Where to eat
Mercado de San Miguel
Market · ★ 4.4 (162,670 reviews)
Circa-1916 covered market offering local food, delicacies & events in an elegant ambiance.
Website →Tapa Tapa Montera
Tapas Restaurant · ★ 4.6 (40,666 reviews)
Website →Chocolatería San Ginés
Dessert Shop · ★ 4.3 (72,314 reviews)
Founded in 1894, this cafe is known for its chocolate with churros.
Website →Rosi La Loca
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (25,994 reviews)
Maximalist, multicolored venue serving cocktails & tapas, plus Spanish dishes like paellas.
Website →Inclán Brutal Bar Spanish Grill & Cocktails Restaurante
Restaurant · ★ 4.7 (20,466 reviews)
Contemporary restaurant & bar serving grilled meats, rice dishes & tapas, plus signature cocktails.
Website →Los Montes de Galicia
Spanish Restaurant · ★ 4.8 (13,793 reviews)
Upscale, innovative Galician-based cuisine in an elegant space with design motifs from the region.
Website →Restaurant La Campana
Restaurant · ★ 4.5 (20,196 reviews)
No-frills urban tavern known for fried calamari sandwiches, plus classic tapas dishes & sangria.
Website →Asado Central
Steak House · ★ 4.8 (9,195 reviews)
Tours worth booking ahead
Free Walking Tours Madrid
Tour Agency · ★ 4.9 (3,002 reviews)
Meeting point for daily complimentary city tours on foot taking 2.5-hours in English & Spanish.
Check tours & tickets →Get outside
El Retiro Park
Park · ★ 4.8 (214,017 reviews)
Expansive, 19th-century park with boating lake & rose garden, plus numerous fountains & statues.
Website →Casa de Campo
Park · ★ 4.6 (52,202 reviews)
Expansive park & former royal hunting ground, with small hills, streams & a boating lake.
Website →Cuenca Alta del Manzanares Regional Park
Nature Preserve · ★ 4.6 (17,526 reviews)
Granite rock formations & pine forests inhabited by Iberian ibex & wild boar, plus birds of prey.
Website →Valdebernardo Forest Park | North Zone
Park · ★ 4.5 (5,343 reviews)
Website →Madrid Río Park
Park · ★ 4.7 (3,270 reviews)
After dark
Calle 365 Discoteca y cócteles Madrid
Night Club · ★ 4.8 (13,708 reviews)
Stylish nightspot with a bohemian ambiance producing imaginative cocktails & tacos.
Website →Salmon Guru - A CONTRACORRIENTE
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.6 (4,894 reviews)
Adventurous international dishes are served alongside funky cocktails at this dark, retro-style bar.
Website →Areia Club
Cocktail Bar · ★ 4.4 (5,034 reviews)
Easygoing, bohemian hangout specializing in creative cocktails, plus local & international eats.
Website →The Room Madrid
Night Club · ★ 4.6 (3,123 reviews)
More guides
Amsterdam Aruba Asheville Athens Atlanta Austin Bali Banff Bangkok Barcelona Berlin Boston Cabo San Lucas Cancún