Things to do in Madrid

Madrid packs a lot into a compact centre. Here are all 57 sights in our planner, starting with the must-sees and then grouped by theme, each with opening hours, price and the time you need.

Last updated: 20 October 2026

Don't miss

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Tim Adams · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Royal Palace (Palacio Real)

Europe's largest working royal palace, with 2,000 rooms, the Throne Room, Royal Armoury and Royal Pharmacy.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–18:00, Sun 10:00–16:00 (Oct–Mar); Apr–Sep Mon–Sat until 19:00
• 🎟️ Price: €18
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Emilio J. Rodríguez Posada · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

Prado Museum

Spain's national art museum, with Velázquez's Las Meninas, Goya's Black Paintings and Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun and holidays 10:00–19:00; free Mon–Sat 18:00–20:00, Sun 17:00–19:00
• 🎟️ Price: €15
• ⏱️ Visit: ~2.5 h

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Jorge Franganillo · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Plaza Mayor

The 17th-century arcaded square of the Habsburg city, with the Casa de la Panadería frescoes and the King Philip III statue.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Puerta del Sol (Kilometre Zero, Bear and Strawberry Tree)

Madrid's central square, with Kilometre Zero, the Bear and Strawberry Tree statue and the Casa de Correos clock.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Sightseeing: squares, landmarks and viewpoints

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Felipe Gabaldón · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Gran Vía

Madrid's grand boulevard of early 20th-century façades, theatres, cinemas and shops, from Alcalá to Plaza de España.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Fernando · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Almudena Cathedral

Madrid's neo-Gothic cathedral facing the Royal Palace, with a colourful modern interior and a dome terrace.

• 🕗 Hours: Daily 10:00–20:30 (Sep–Jun); museum and dome Mon–Sat 10:00–14:30
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Sammy pompon · CC0 · Wikimedia

Plaza de Oriente

An elegant garden square between the Royal Palace and the Teatro Real, lined with statues of Spanish kings.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Jorge Láscar · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

Barrio de las Letras (Huertas)

The old literary quarter where Cervantes and Lope de Vega lived, with quotes set in the pavement and lively tapas bars.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: A. Barra · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Royal Botanical Garden

An 18th-century botanical garden beside the Prado, with greenhouses, terraces and thousands of plant species.

• 🕗 Hours: Daily 10:00–18:00 (Nov–Feb), until 19:00 in Oct and Mar
• 🎟️ Price: €4
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Miguel Diaz from Boadilla del Monte, España-Spain · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

Plaza de Cibeles & CentroCentro (Palacio de Cibeles)

Madrid's emblematic fountain square, facing the Palacio de Cibeles with its rooftop viewpoint over the city.

• 🕗 Hours: Square always open; CentroCentro viewpoint Tue–Sun
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Max Alexander / PromoMadrid · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

Retiro Park (lake, Crystal Palace)

The great city park, with a rowing lake, the glass Crystal Palace, rose garden and shaded promenades.

• 🕗 Hours: Daily 06:00–22:00 (Oct–Mar)
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Fernando Pascullo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Puerta de Alcalá

The 18th-century neoclassical triumphal gate on Plaza de la Independencia, next to the Retiro Park entrance.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open (exterior)
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0 h

La Latina & Lavapiés

Photo: Enrique Cordero · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

Basilica of San Francisco el Grande

An 18th-century neoclassical basilica with one of Europe's widest domes and a Goya painting inside.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sat 10:30–14:30 and 16:00–18:30 (Oct–Jun)
• 🎟️ Price: €6
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Tejiendo Malasaña · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Malasaña

The hip, bohemian quarter around Plaza del Dos de Mayo, full of vintage shops, cafés and street art.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Matt Joseph · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Temple of Debod

An authentic 2nd-century BC Egyptian temple, moved stone by stone to a park with sunset views over Madrid.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00–20:00 (16 Sep–14 Jun); grounds open all day
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Plaza de España

A large square with the Cervantes monument, flanked by the Edificio España and Torre de Madrid skyscrapers.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Antonio.velez · CC BY-SA 3.0 es · Wikimedia

Campo del Moro Gardens

Landscaped royal gardens below the Royal Palace, with peacocks, fountains and a view of the palace from the Manzanares side.

• 🕗 Hours: Daily 10:00–18:00 (Oct–Mar); 10:00–20:00 (Apr–Sep)
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Museums and galleries

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Kyle Magnuson from Los Angeles, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

A private collection from Italian primitives to Pop Art, filling the gaps left by the Prado and the Reina Sofía.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Fri and Sun 10:00–19:00, Sat 10:00–23:00; Mon 12:00–16:00 (free)
• 🎟️ Price: €14
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: CaroEspinoza · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Reina Sofía Museum (Guernica)

Spain's modern art museum, home to Picasso's Guernica, plus Dalí, Miró and Spanish 20th-century art.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon, Wed–Sat 10:00–21:00, Sun 10:00–14:30; closed Tue; free Mon, Wed–Sat 19:00–21:00 and Sun 12:30–14:30
• 🎟️ Price: €12
• ⏱️ Visit: ~2 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Zarateman · CC0 · Wikimedia

National Archaeological Museum

The Lady of Elche, a replica of the Altamira cave and Iberian, Roman and Visigothic treasures, in a palace near the Puerta de Alcalá.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sat 09:30–20:00, Sun and holidays 09:30–15:00; closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €3
• ⏱️ Visit: ~2 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Lázaro Galdiano Museum

A collector's mansion full of Goya, Bosch, ivories and enamels, in a quiet palace on Serrano.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Fri 09:30–15:00 and 16:30–19:30, Sat–Sun 09:30–15:00; closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €8
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Cerralbo Museum

A 19th-century aristocrat's palace kept as it was, with a ballroom, a mirrored gallery and a collection of art and armour.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sat 09:30–15:00 (Thu also 17:00–20:00), Sun and holidays 10:00–15:00; closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €3
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Museum of the Americas

Pre-Columbian gold, the Tudela Codex and colonial art, in a museum near the Moncloa tower.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Wed and Fri–Sat 09:30–15:00, Thu 09:30–15:00 and 16:00–19:00, Sun and holidays 10:00–15:00; closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €3
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando

Goya's academy, with his self-portrait and works by Velázquez, Zurbarán and Arcimboldo, steps from Puerta del Sol.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00–15:00; closed Mon and all of August
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Javier Perez Montes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Royal Collections Gallery

A modern museum beside the Almudena Cathedral with royal tapestries, Stradivari instruments and the Spanish crown's treasures.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–20:00, Sun and holidays 10:00–19:00
• 🎟️ Price: €14
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Descalzas Reales Monastery

A 16th-century convent where royal nuns lived among tapestries by Rubens and paintings by Titian, visited with a guide.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sat 10:00–14:00 and 16:00–18:30, Sun and holidays 10:00–15:00; guided visits only; closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €9
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: J.L. de Diego · Public domain · Wikimedia

San Antonio de la Florida (Goya's frescoes)

The small chapel whose dome Goya painted in 1798, where he is also buried; free to enter.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 09:30–20:00 (summer 15 Jun–15 Sep 09:30–14:00 and 15:00–19:00); closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Fernando · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

CaixaForum Madrid

Exhibitions in a rebuilt power station with a brick facade and Patrick Blanc's vertical garden next door.

• 🕗 Hours: Daily 10:00–20:00 (Mon–Sun and holidays)
• 🎟️ Price: €6
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Museo del Romanticismo · Public domain · Wikimedia

Museum of Romanticism

A 19th-century aristocratic mansion with period rooms, portraits, a Goya and a tea room in the garden.

• 🕗 Hours: Nov–Apr Tue–Sat 09:30–18:30, Sun and holidays 10:00–15:00 (May–Oct until 20:30); closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €3
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Fred Romero from Paris, France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Madrid History Museum

The city's story in maps, models and paintings, behind a baroque doorway on Fuencarral; free to enter.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00–20:00 (summer 15 Jun–15 Sep to 19:00); closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Architecture

La Latina & Lavapiés

Photo: AlesKubr2 · Public domain · Wikimedia

Matadero Madrid

A brick slaughterhouse complex turned into a contemporary arts centre, with exhibitions, a cinema and a weekend market.

• 🕗 Hours: Open-air site daily 09:00–22:00; individual venues vary
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Food and markets

Austrias & Royal Palace

Photo: Fernando · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Mercado de San Miguel

A cast-iron 1916 market hall turned gourmet tapas market, with stalls of ham, oysters, pintxos and wine.

• 🕗 Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–24:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–01:00
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

La Latina & Lavapiés

Photo: Fen Labalme from Pittsburgh, US · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

La Latina & Cava Baja

The old tapas quarter around Cava Baja and Plaza de la Paja, packed with bars and taverns.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open (bars from lunchtime, busiest Sun midday and evenings)
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Earlyspatz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Mercado de San Antón

A three-floor Chueca market with fresh-produce stalls, tapas counters and a rooftop terrace above the roofs.

• 🕗 Hours: Market Mon–Sat 09:30–21:30; food stalls daily 12:00–24:00; rooftop restaurant daily 13:00–01:00
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

La Latina & Lavapiés

Photo: Txapisotegi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Mercado de San Fernando

The Lavapiés market where produce stalls share the hall with bars serving vermouth, empanadas and international food.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon 09:00–14:30 and 17:30–21:00, Tue–Sat 09:00–22:00, Sun 11:00–18:00
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Mercado de San Ildefonso

A three-floor street-food hall of specialist stalls and terraces on Calle Fuencarral, busy from lunch to late.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Thu and Sun 13:00–24:00, Fri–Sat 13:00–01:00
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Beer

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Plaza Mahou (Bernabéu brewery)

Mahou's brewery inside the Bernabéu, where you can taste its beers, a lager brewed on site, and try pulling a pint.

• 🕗 Hours: Sun–Thu 12:00–23:00, Fri–Sat and eves of holidays 12:00–24:00
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Chocolate

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Tamorlan · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia

Chocolatería San Ginés (chocolate con churros)

Madrid's classic churros with thick hot chocolate since 1894, in a narrow passage near Puerta del Sol.

• 🕗 Hours: Always open, daily
• ⏱️ Visit: ~0.5 h

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Basilio · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Chocolatería Valor (Postigo de San Martín)

The chocolate maker's own café with thick hot chocolate and churros, near the Descalzas Reales.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Thu 08:00–22:30, Fri 08:00–24:00, Sat 09:00–01:00, Sun and holidays 09:00–22:30
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Wine

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Javier Pérez Montes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

Bodega de la Ardosa

A 19th-century tavern in Malasaña famous for vermouth on tap and its potato omelette, busiest at the Sunday vermouth hour.

• 🕗 Hours: Sun–Thu 09:00–02:00, Fri–Sat 09:00–02:30
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

La Latina & Lavapiés

Photo: Amos Bühler from Dresden, Germany · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Taberna Antonio Sánchez

Often called Madrid's oldest tavern, with a zinc bar, bullfighting memorabilia, house wine and classic dishes like rabo de toro.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Thu 13:00–17:00 and 19:00–23:00, Fri–Sat 13:00–17:00 and 19:30–23:30, Sun 13:00–16:30
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Views from above

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Carlos Reusser Monsalvez · CC0 · Wikimedia

Faro de Moncloa

A 92 m tower with a glass-walled lift and a 360-degree balcony over the city and the Sierra de Guadarrama.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 09:30–19:30 (last ascent 19:00; 20:00 in the other season); closed Mon except special openings
• 🎟️ Price: €4
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia

Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop

The terrace on top of the arts centre looks over Gran Vía, Cibeles and the skyline, with the Minerva statue beside it.

• 🕗 Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–01:30 (last entry 00:30), Fri–Sat 10:00–02:00 (last entry 01:00)
• 🎟️ Price: €6
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Carlos Delgado · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Mirador Madrid (CentroCentro, Cibeles Palace)

The viewing deck in the tower of the Cibeles Palace, reached by an 88-step stair, with a 360-degree view of the old centre.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 10:30–14:00 and 16:00–19:30 (timed visits every 30 min); closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €4
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Malouette from Copenhagen (Denmark) · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia

Riu Plaza España 360º rooftop

The 27th-floor terrace of the Riu Plaza España hotel, with a glass walkway and views over Plaza de España and the Royal Palace.

• 🕗 Hours: Daily 11:00–01:00 (last entry 00:00)
• 🎟️ Price: €10
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Shopping

La Latina & Lavapiés

Photo: Msoltanolkotabii · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia

El Rastro flea market (Sundays)

Madrid's open-air flea market and antiques streets, every Sunday morning around Calle Ribera de Curtidores.

• 🕗 Hours: Sundays and public holidays 09:00–15:00
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~2 h

Sol & Gran Vía

Photo: Zarateman · CC0 · Wikimedia

El Corte Inglés Callao

Spain's big department store on Plaza del Callao, with a gourmet food hall and a 9th-floor terrace looking down the Gran Vía.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–22:00, Sun and holidays 11:00–21:00; Gourmet Experience (9th floor) later
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Malasaña & Chueca

Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Calle Fuencarral

The pedestrian stretch toward Glorieta de Bilbao is the main street for young fashion, vintage and design shops.

• 🕗 Hours: Street always open; shops usually Mon–Sat about 10:00–21:00
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Ricardo Ricote Rodrí… · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia

Calle Serrano (Golden Mile)

The axis of the Salamanca district's Golden Mile, lined with Spanish and international luxury brands.

• 🕗 Hours: Street always open; shops usually Mon–Sat about 10:00–20:30
• 🎟️ Price: Free
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

With kids

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: Badefa · CC0 · Wikimedia

Santiago Bernabéu stadium tour

Real Madrid's rebuilt stadium: trophy museum, pitch-side views, dressing rooms and the tunnel.

• 🕗 Hours: Mon–Sat 09:00–19:00, Sun and holidays 09:30–18:30
• 🎟️ Price: From €37
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: RealGrouchy · Public domain · Wikimedia

National Museum of Natural Sciences

Dinosaur skeletons, minerals and the mounted animals of Spain's national natural history museum, a classic rainy-day stop with kids.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat–Sun and holidays 10:00–20:00; closed Mon
• 🎟️ Price: €7
• ⏱️ Visit: ~2 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Barcex · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Railway Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril)

Steam locomotives, royal carriages and a model railway in the Art Nouveau Delicias station.

• 🕗 Hours: Oct–May: Mon–Fri 09:30–15:00, Sat and holidays 10:00–19:00, Sun 10:00–15:00; Jun–Sep daily 10:00–15:00
• 🎟️ Price: €7
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1.5 h

Huertas & Paseo del Arte

Photo: Ayuntamiento de Madrid · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia

Madrid Planetarium

A dome showing films about stars, black holes and eclipses, with free exhibitions in the lobby; good for a rainy hour with kids.

• 🕗 Hours: Tue–Sun 10:00–13:45 and 17:00–19:45; closed Mon (term-time mornings reserved for school groups)
• 🎟️ Price: €3.60
• ⏱️ Visit: ~1 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Tiia Monto · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Zoo Aquarium Madrid

Pandas, dolphins, an aquarium and bird shows in the Casa de Campo park: the big family day out of the city, best on a dry day.

• 🕗 Hours: From 1 Nov: Mon–Fri 11:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00 (last entry 1 h before closing; holiday Mondays to 18:00; 24 and 31 Dec to 16:00)
• 🎟️ Price: €29.50
• ⏱️ Visit: ~4 h

Plaza de España & Casa de Campo

Photo: Pavlemadrid Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

Roller coasters, a tower drop and family rides in the Casa de Campo; in October the Halloween season runs until 1 November.

• 🕗 Hours: Weekends only until the Christmas holidays: Sat 12:00–20:00, Sun 12:00–19:00 (Halloween season to 1 Nov until 22:00/21:00; 5–30 Dec daily, mostly to 21:00)
• 🎟️ Price: €23.90
• ⏱️ Visit: ~5 h

Retiro & Salamanca

Photo: FDV · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia

Faunia

A nature park in indoor habitats with polar penguins, a tropical forest and bird flights, 8 km east of the centre.

• 🕗 Hours: Autumn–winter: Thu–Fri 11:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 11:00–18:00; closed Mon–Wed except holidays (calendar on faunia.es)
• 🎟️ Price: €33.95
• ⏱️ Visit: ~3.5 h

Plan your trip → Put these places in a day plan with walking times.