Top 10 Free Things to Do in Madrid

This undoubtedly is the most fascinating thing to do in the city. The reason being simple, the Templo De debod is one of the only 4 Ancient Egyptian temples located outside of its homeland and is absolutely free for you to tour. This temple dating back to 2 B.C., was gifted to Spain by the Egyptian Government in 1968 for saving the temples of the Nubian region. The temple was deconstructed piece by piece to move to Madrid and then put together again. The temple is a great place to enjoy beautiful views of the sunset and also an excellent place for a photo op. It is located near another popular attraction of the city, the Royal Palace. How do you get here? You will have to Head past the Plaza de Espana all the way to Cuartel de la Montana Park, and you will see the Temple of Debod on top of the hill.

Calle Ferraz, 1, 28008 Madrid, Spain

Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 20:00 P.M.

Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9:30 A.M. to 20:00 P.M.

The temple is closed on every Monday, January 6, May 1, December 25.

Do stop by for a scenic view of the sunset and also for a peek into the temple for free.

The Plaza Mayor is perhaps, one of the most iconic buildings of Madrid. The Plaza Mayor also has deep roots in the history of the city and has been a bustling neighbourhood for centuries in the town.This significant public space is located right in the heart of Madrid and is sprawling with tourists and locals alike. A beautiful place to eat, shop, and walk around, you can spend endless time here and get entertained without shelling out a penny. This quintessential Madrid destination has always something going on, be it a charming holiday market or an impromptu street performance, while you are here, your time will be well spent. A brief peeks into the history of the place – Back in the 15^th century, the Plaza Mayor was known as Plaza del Arrabal and was home to a vibrant, bustling market. And many centuries before the Plaza Del arrabal,the exact place has been a venue for bullfights, live performances, and coronations. This location has been heard about since the beginning of the recorded history of Madrid. The current grand arcaded building was built in the year 1790 by architect Juan de Villanueva after devastating fires.

Plaza Mayor, 28012 Madrid

Open all-day

The Plaza Mayor makes a beautiful place for a photo op and is one amongst the top Madrid sites to see - be it free or paid.

The year-round comfortable climate of the city is great to soak in some sun. And what better place to get some sunshine than the El Retiro Park of Madrid. This 350 acres of greenery right in the middle of the city attracts tourist and locals alike. El Retiro Park is a great place to enjoy nature, waters, and sports. Once you are here, your options to have a great time are many.You can choose to cycle around the park, go for a brisk walk, skate, or simply enjoy the various street artists around the park. The park showcases many gardens, fountains,a vast boating pond where you can paddle around for a small price. You can also find many exciting green spaces around here like the Jardin de Vivaces and the Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez as well as the Jardines del Arquitecto Herrero Palacios. These gardens are a real visual treat for your eyes. The park is also home for the Rosaleda Rose Garden along with the Parterre Frances that holds the 400 years old Mexican Conifer.It is believed to be the oldest tree in Madrid. While you are walking around the park, you will come across many interesting sculptures and fountains, too, like the Monument to Alfonso XII, which watches over the boating lake. The park also holds one of the rare statues that is dedicated to the devil, the Fallen Angel. Some of the other interesting spots in El Retiro Park are the Galápagos Fountain, Teatro de Títeres (a puppet show theatre), Casa del Pescador and the Montaña Artificial.

Plaza de la Independencia, 7,

28001 Madrid

October - March 3:00 P.M. to 22:00 P.M. daily

April - September 6:00 P.M. to 0:00 P.M. daily

While you are here in Madrid,a stroll along the Paseo Del Prado will be great for any time, afternoon, or evening. Paseo Del Prado is the oldest and one of the broad boulevard in Madrid. This historic street has been declared Bien de Interés Cultural, a type of heritage register in Spain. The road is bordered with dense trees on both sides and calls for an excellent scenic walk. There are also many cultural and tourist spots in this boulevard and is also home to the Golden Triangle of Art, encompassing Prado Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and Reina Sofia Museum. Located in the heart of the city, the Boulevard is also home to many monuments and sculptures like the Villanueva Building,Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Neptune water fountain. Not only the walk, but the many museums that are around this area are also free.

Paseo Del Prado, 1, Madrid, Spain

Open all-day

Walk under the shades of the dense tree that line the street during any time of the day and take great selfies too.

Your trip to Madrid will be incomplete without visiting Puerta Del Sol and having tapas at the restaurants there. Puerta del Sol is right at the centre of the city, where you will find a stone slab that says ‘Kilometer Zero.’This is also the official Madrid location when Spain’s 6 national roads begin.There are many monuments around here like the ‘El Oso y El Madrono’ (the bear and the strawberry tree), statue of King Carlos III, and also the two fountains. Puerta del Sol is also the home of Madri’s city gates and is a great place to gather and sit during evenings. There are many cafes and restaurants in the area where you can try tapas. While free tapas has become a concept of the past, there are few restaurants around here that offer free tapas (bite-size food of any item in Spain’s cuisine) along with your drink. This city square also is home to the famous clock whose bell marks the traditional Spanish eating of the 12 grapes along with the beginning of the new year.

Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, s/n, 28013 Madrid

Open all-day

Spend your evening at Puerta del Sol city square, and have a great time along with great food.

A popular tourist destination, the Plaza De Espana is located in central Madrid, towards the western end of Grand Via. The statue of famous Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, best known for writing ‘Don Quixote,’highlights the centre of this square. Also, there are a series of landscape spaces created around the monument, making it a scenic delight.But, that’s not the only thing highlighted here. The fictional character of Don Quixote, written by Cervantes and his sweetheart Dulcinea is also featured at the Plaza de Espana. It also has two of Spain’s tallest buildings in the background, Torre de Madrid (Madrid Tower) that stands 142 meters tall, and Edificio Espana (Spain Building) that stands 117 meters tall. A popular time to visit Plaza De Espana would be on a sunny day. The place is crowded with sunbathers on a bright day. The area also has many street vendors, in case you want to indulge in some shopping or eating.

Plaza de Espana

The western end of the Gran Via, 2

8008 Madrid, Spain.

Timings: Open all-day

The Catedral de la Almudena of Madrid, is a Catholic Cathedral located in Madrid. The Cathedral was consecrated in the year 1993 by Pope John Paul II. When Spain made Madrid as its capital, it did not have a Cathedral. So the construction of this cathedral was initiated by Fransisco De Cubas in the year 1883, and the architecture was Gothic revival style. History says that the cathedral had been built on an old medieval mosque site, which was destroyed when Alfonso VI conquered Madrid city. After many hurdles,the Cathedral was completed in the year 1993,and now it stands as the principal church in the Diocese of Madrid. The Catedral de la Almudena is undoubtedly worth a visit during your stay in Madrid. Enjoy the sights of the splendid Neo-Gothic style architecture that also has a modern touch of contemporary art. The Neo-Romanesque Crypt and the Museum of Catedral de la Almudena that showcases the history of the Cathedral are the major attractions here.

Plaza de la Almudena 28013 Madrid

Please pay special attention to the schedules of the Catedral de la Almudena.

Monday to Sunday 10:00 A.M. - 9:00 P.M.

Monday to Saturday at 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 6:30 P.M., 8:00 P.M.

Sunday and holidays at 11:00 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 1:00 P.M., 6:30 P.M., 8:00 P.M.

Monday to Sunday 9:00 A.M. - 8:30 P.M.

Monday to Saturday at 12:00 P.M., 6:00 P.M., 7:00 P.M.

Sunday and holidays 10:30 A.M., 12:00 P.M., 1:30 P.M., 6:00 P.M., 7:00 P.M.

Please note that the Mass Church is generally not open to the public.

The Casa de Campo is Madrid’s own Central Park. This largest park in the city has a lot to offer for locals and tourists alike.Just pack a small lunch and you are all set for the day. This park was exclusively used by the Spanish Royal family until 1931 as a country house and hunting ground. This park was used by Phillip II for hunting, and he also built a country house here, giving it the name Casa de Campo. So,what can you do here? Well, the park has a lot to offer for its tourists. The park showcases bio-diversity through its marked forest environment. You can see a variety of birds around here. If you are travelling with kids, do hop on to the Gandola ( cable car) that connects the Country House with the West Park and also the Manzanares River).Another great place around here that your kids will enjoy is the Madrid Zoo Aquarium. It has over 6000 species from around the world and is also one amongst the few zoos that host giant Pandas. You can also see giraffes, gorillas, koala bears, leopards and dolphins around here. When its all about family, you can also make a pit stop at the Madrid Amusement park here. There is a rides mix suitable for all ages. The Abismo rollercoaster here needs a special mention. Casa de Campo is an excellent place for walking and sports too. This 1750 acres park offers you views of the city also from specific viewpoints called Miradores. Spend your evening here boating in the Casa de Campo’s lake and when you are tired,eat at one of the many wooden restaurants surrounding the lake that serve tasty tapas. For sports enthusiasts, the park is a great place to jog,mountain biking, or kayaking in the lake. There is something for everyone in this Madrid destination, and most of it is absolutely free!

Paseo de la Puerta del Angel, 1, 28011 Madrid, Spain.

The access to the Zoo, Amusement Park and Paseo de Extremadura, as well as the Lake area, is closed from 01:00 A.M. - 06:00 A.M.

The Prado Museum or the Museo Nacional del Prado is located in central Madrid and is considered to have one of the best European art dating to the 12^th century to the 20^th century. This museum along with other famous museums of the city like the Reina Sofía Museum and the Thyssen museums are not free to enter. But, if you plan ahead you can see them for free. There are certain days and timings of the week when the museum allows visitors free of cost. So, if you plan on visiting the Museo del Prado for free, visit the museum on Tuesday to Sunday between 6 P.M. to 8 P.M., or Sundays from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. If you are planning to visit the Reina Sofia museum without shelling out any money, visit between Monday to Friday from 7 P.M to 9 P.M, Saturday from 2.30 P.M to 9 P.M, or Sunday from 10 P.M to 2.30 P.M.

While away your time doing the most inexpensive thing at the city’s busiest shopping street the Calle Gran Via.This 1300 meters street attracts over 10 million people every year to its outdoor shopping mall and has a history of more than 10 decades. Bright lights, endless stores and energetic street define this place. The place has been recently made pedestrian-friendly too, to grab your bag and leisurely walk down from the Plaza Espana to window shop at stores like Zara and Mango and then head to other speciality stores of the area like the ‘Rituals’or ‘Herself.’ This 5^th Avenue cousin is perfect for some retail therapy. The street also showcases beautiful architecture and has been seen in many operas as well as films.

While we have listed the top 10 things to do in Madrid for free, there a few other popular things for you to explore in the city, free of cost. You can walk around the Royal Palace Gardens, or stroll the bullfight museum of Museo Taurino. If you have time, you can also visit the magnificent Palacio de Cristal, a beautiful glass palace that even holds exhibitions from time to time. If you happen to be in the city on a first Wednesday of the month, you can also visit the top of Palacio de Cibeles, large glass-domed Courtyard for free. If you are spending a Sunday in the city, gear up to visit the local flea market, the El Rastro like the locals. There are around 3500 stalls here that sell a variety of things, from antiques to clothes. Even, if you don’t intend to shop, the whole experience is worth the trip. Finally, when you are done for the day, cool off at the Madrid Rio, the city’s newly renovated river walk area or at spend some time at the abandoned railway station turned museum, the Anden 0. All in all, the city has a lot to offer for free for its tourists and locals.