Madrid Holidays

Must-visit landmarks

Madrid is an energetic capital where grand, sweeping boulevards give way to narrow, tapas-filled alleyways, and where iconic art sits just minutes from historic royal palaces.

• The Royal Palace (Palacio Real) – The official residence of the Spanish royal family, though now used only for state ceremonies. It’s an opulent building featuring over 3,000 rooms and an armoury full of historic weaponry. Book your tickets online in advance and time your visit for late afternoon to enjoy a spectacular sunset from the palace courtyard overlooking the Casa de Campo.

• The Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) – One of the most important art galleries in the world, holding thousands of European masterpieces, with a heavy focus on Velázquez, Goya, and El Greco. The museum is vast, so if you’re short on time, grab the free map at the entrance that highlights the top 50 masterpieces to keep you focused.

• El Retiro Park (Parque del Buen Retiro) – The green lung of Madrid. Originally created for the Spanish monarchy, it’s now a sprawling public park filled with marble monuments, landscaped gardens, and a large boating lake. Rent a rowing boat on the lake, then take a short walk to the Palacio de Cristal, a stunning glass conservatory that frequently houses free contemporary art exhibitions.

• Plaza Mayor – A grand, symmetrical, and completely enclosed Renaissance square in the heart of the city, historically used for everything from bullfights to royal coronations. Walk through the arches to admire the architecture, but avoid sitting down for a meal here, as the restaurants are famously overpriced for tourists.

• Temple of Debod (Templo de Debod) – An authentic 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple that was dismantled and rebuilt in Madrid as a gift from the Egyptian government. This is arguably the best spot in the city to watch the sunset, as the sky turns vivid shades of orange behind the illuminated temple ruins.

History and arts

Art is woven into the city of Madrid – from grand galleries and royal buildings to smaller details you’ll notice in local neighbourhoods.

• Reina Sofía Museum – Madrid’s world-class contemporary art museum, housed in a former 18th-century hospital. Make a direct line for Room 206.10 to see Picasso’s Guernica, a massive, powerful anti-war mural that is deeply moving to witness in person.

• Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum – Completing Madrid’s ‘Golden Triangle of Art’, this museum bridges the historical gap between the Prado and the Reina Sofía, featuring everything from 14th-century Italian primitives to American pop art. It’s generally quieter than its two famous neighbours, making for a more relaxed viewing experience.

• Sorolla Museum – Housed in the beautifully preserved former mansion and studio of Joaquín Sorolla, the ‘Painter of Light.’ The Andalusian-style courtyard gardens alone are worth the visit, providing a tranquil, shaded oasis away from the busy city streets.

Local experiences

Social rituals are distinctive in Madrid, from sipping vermouth in traditional taverns to tapas hopping in La Latina.

• La hora del vermut (Vermouth hour) – In Madrid, vermouth is not just a cocktail ingredient, it’s a cultural event. Around midday on weekends, locals crowd into historic taverns to drink sweet, dark vermouth straight from the tap. It’s traditionally served over ice with a slice of orange and an olive, accompanied by a small plate of crisps or pickled anchovies.

• Tapas crawling in La Latina – You don't sit down for a meal in the La Latina neighbourhood, you eat on the move. Start on Calle Cava Baja and hop from bar to bar, having one small drink and one tapa in each. Look for the discarded paper napkins on the floor inside traditional bars – in Madrid, a messy floor is historically a sign of a popular, high-quality establishment.

• Watching football at the Bernabéu – Real Madrid is intrinsically linked to the city's identity. Even if you can't get a match ticket, the stadium tour offers incredible access to the trophy rooms and the pitch.

Festivals and events

Festivals and events in Madrid bring the city together in different ways, combining traditional celebrations, large-scale street parties and a busy summer line-up.

• San Isidro (May) – The patron saint festival of Madrid. Locals dress in traditional costumes, dance the chotis in the streets, and gather in the San Isidro meadow for picnics and outdoor concerts.

• Madrid Orgullo/Pride (July) – Madrid hosts one of the largest and most vibrant Pride celebrations in Europe, transforming the Chueca neighbourhood into a massive, week-long street party promoting equality and diversity.

• Veranos de la Villa (July – August) – A brilliant summer cultural festival offering dozens of outdoor concerts, theatre performances, and open-air cinema screenings in parks and historic courtyards across the city.

Live like a local

Live like a local in Madrid by following the city’s rhythm – slower mornings, late lunches and evenings that stretch well past midnight.

• Late dining – Madrileños operate on a completely different clock to the rest of Europe. Don't expect to eat dinner before 9 pm. True locals will often only sit down for their main evening meal at 10 pm or 10.30 pm.

• Sitting on a terraza – Whenever the sun is shining (which is often), locals flock to outdoor terrace tables to drink beer and talk animatedly for hours. Securing a prime table on a busy square is a local sport.

• Sunday mornings at El Rastro – Visiting Europe’s largest open-air flea market on a Sunday morning is a weekly ritual, followed immediately by beers and calamari sandwiches in the surrounding La Latina bars.

Daytrips

Daytrips from Madrid are easy to plan, with fast trains opening up historic cities and smaller towns beyond the Spanish capital.

• Toledo – The ancient, former capital of Spain, known as the ‘City of Three Cultures’ for its historic blend of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish architecture. It’s 30 minutes away by high-speed AVE train.

• Segovia – Also 30-minutes away by train, Segovia is a stunning medieval city famous for its impossibly large, perfectly preserved Roman aqueduct and a fairy-tale castle called the Alcázar.

• San Lorenzo de El Escorial – A colossal, austere royal monastery and palace complex nestled in the Guadarrama Mountains, serving as the historical burial site for Spanish kings. It takes an hour to get there on the train.

• Ávila – 90 minutes away on the train, this UNESCO World Heritage city is completely encircled by the best-preserved medieval city walls in Europe, offering a deeply historic, atmospheric walk along the battlements.

Why couples love Madrid

Madrid excels at effortless romance. Couples can hire rowing boats in El Retiro park, share tapas in candlelit taverns, and end the evening at one of the city's many spectacular rooftop bars overlooking the illuminated Gran Vía.

Why families love Madrid

Spanish culture is incredibly accommodating to children, and it’s normal to see young kids out with their parents late into the evening. The city offers vast, safe green spaces like Casa de Campo, interactive museums, and the crowd-pleasing joy of eating churros for breakfast.

Why groups love Madrid

The entire dining culture in Madrid is based around sharing. Tapas means large groups can easily split the bill and try a bit of everything without the formality of a sit-down dinner. Meanwhile, massive, affordable apartments in neighbourhoods like Malasaña make group logistics simple.

Why solo travellers love Madrid

Madrid is deeply welcoming to solo travellers. The bar culture means you can simply perch on a stool at a crowded counter and instantly feel part of the atmosphere. The city is highly walkable, very safe, and English is widely spoken in the central districts.

The metro

The metro in Madrid offers fast and cheap travel across the entire city. It’s one of the best and cleanest underground systems in Europe. You must purchase a rechargeable ‘Tarjeta Multi’ card from the machines and load it with 10-journey tickets, which can be shared among multiple people.

Commuter trains (Cercanías)

Commuter trains are ideal for day trips to surrounding historic towns like El Escorial or Aranjuez. These operate completely separately from the Metro. They are fast, reliable, and depart from the major transit hubs like Atocha and Chamartín.

Walking

Madrid is incredibly compact and best seen on foot, especially the central districts like Sol, La Latina, Huertas, and Malasaña. However, be prepared for some subtle but tiring hills, particularly when walking up towards the Royal Palace.

Taxis and ride-hailing

For late-night journeys home or travelling to and from the airport with heavy luggage, taxis are your best bet. Official Madrid taxis are white with a diagonal red stripe on the front door. They’re strictly metered and very reliable. Apps like Cabify and Uber are also widely used and legal in the city.