Top-12 Amazing Things to Do in Madrid

There are many interesting things to do in Madrid for those who are interested in its rich culture and history. There are many beautiful beaches and resorts to spend your time just relaxing. Even for those who want to have an exciting time here, Madrid offers an interesting nightlife with plenty of food and entertainment options on offer. So, as you plan your vacation in Madrid, Spain, here are a few of the things to do in Madrid to guide you towards having an interesting and memorable vacation.

The first among the things to do in Madrid is the visit to the magnificent Royal Palace. The palace is the official residence of King Felipe VI, the reigning Monarch of Spain, and has been so since 1764. The palace itself was built in 1755 at the site of a 9^th century Alcazar. The mere expanse of this palace will strike you as this is the largest functioning royal palace in Europe (based on the floor area). The palace is spread around an area of 135,000 sq. Meters and has 3418 rooms. Though the King and his family do not stay here, it is widely used for royal functions and state events. However, several of the palace rooms are open for public viewing on most days. Here you will be amazed to see the wealth and the grandeur of the Spanish Royalty. As you walk down the ornate palace rooms you will be awestruck with their rich art and decoration.

Don’t miss out on your chance to visit the Throne Room, State Banquet Halls as well as the Royal private apartments. All of these are filled with a unique collection of art, including furniture, porcelain and has an impressive collection of silverware, watches, and the world’s only Stradivarious decorated string quintet. These rare string instruments are priceless, and a must-see in the Palace. Once you have seen the royal opulence, you can visit the Royal Armories and Pharmacy to see the royal arms and ammunitions. A stroll through the beautiful Royal Garden is a relaxing experience having gone back in time and is one of the things to do in Madrid.

Opens – 10:00-18:00 (October - March), 10:00-20:00 (April-September) The palace will remain closed on Christmas. Attractions will be temporarily closed due to state events.

Address - Calle de Bailén, 6, 28013 Madrid, Madri

There are many things to do in Madrid while you are on vacation. One of them is a visit to the Basilica de San Franciso El Grande, which is located close to the La Latina quarter. The Basilica made in neoclassical architecture style stands out as an artistic marvel and has paintings from Goya and Zubrin. You will see the impressive dome that is the largest in Spain and the fourth largest in Europe. This Madrid icon is a National Monument since 1980.

Once inside you can see the six chapels which are inside the church. There are large collections of paintings inside include the Zurbaran, Goya, Fransisco Jover, and many other famous artists. There are white marble statues of the 12 apostles and also of 12 prophets made of wood at the base of the done. These are one of the most beautiful and worth seeing things to do in Madrid.

Opens - Tuesday-Friday 10:30-12:30, 16:00-18:00, Saturday 10:30-12:30 16:00-18:00 (if there is no religious event to celebrate); July, August and September: Tuesday-Sunday 10:30-12:30, 17:00-19:00.

Address - Calle San Buenaventura, 1, 28005 Madrid, Barcelona, Spain

Taking a stroll on the Puerta del Sol is what is there on everyone’s list of things to do in Madrid. Being a public square, this is one of the busiest places in Madrid. This is the place where Madrid celebrates it's New Year ’s Eve with festivities and cultural shows with the bell ringing as the clock strikes 12 welcoming the new year. The program is telecast live since 1962. You can admire the beauty of the place wrapped in rich history as you take a walk down here. As you stand here, you are standing in the center, and the very heart of Madrid as this place serves as point zero of the city. All the roads in Spain are measured from this point onwards, and it has a plaque to announce the same. The origins of this square are as one of the city gates on the walls that surrounded Madrid in the 15^th century. The place got its name from the rising sun as it faced the rising sun towards the east. It was one of the important meeting places for people during the 17^th to 19^th century and had the post office located here. The walk takes you past the stairs of St. Philip Church, which was an important landmark and place for the congregation of city folks during that time.

Further down is the building where the presidency of Madrid is housed. The square has other architecturally grand buildings, which you can see, Palacio Real – the royal family’s official residence and further down the Parliament building along with the museum district are close by the square. Nearby streets have many restaurants, bars, and shopping centers where you can go for a night out after a stroll in the square as you wrap the things to do in Madrid for the night.

Open – All days

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

As your head out to spend your days in Madrid, add the visit to the Plaza Mayor to your things to do in Madrid. This is a popular tourist place in the heart of Madrid and is a few blocks away from the Puerta del Sol. A good place you spend a late morning or evening here shopping, eating or just walking around, this place is the pulse of Madrid frequented by locals and visitors alike.

As you walk around, you will see the bronze statue of King Philip III made in 1616, installed at the center of the plaza in 1848. The plaza has been destroyed by fires three times and has been restructured and constructed as many times since then. The plaza has nine named entry gates and has been the scene for many public events, bullfights, and executions in history. The plaza is now famous for its annual Christmas market and the weekly stamp and coin collection market. A must add to your things to do in Madrid.

Open – All days

Address - Plaza Mayor, 28012 Madrid

Among the many things to do in Madrid, a visit to The Prado Museum is a must. Officially called the Museum Nacional del Prado, this is the main Spanish national art museum in Madrid. This museum is the world’s finest collection of European art with artifacts dating from the 12^th to the 20^th century. It has also held the Spanish Royal Collection and is known to have the best Spanish Art collection. This museum was founded in 1819 and is one of the most visited in the world, with over 2.8 million visitors every year.Here you will be able to see a fascinating collection of Spanish art and paintings of famous artists like Rembrandt, Titian, Durer, Goya, and Velazquez, among others.

You can buy the tickets for entry priced at € 7–15 for children and adults and easily spend 3 hours in this museum. It allows free entry from 6 pm to 8 pm Monday to Saturday and 5 pm to 7 pm on Sundays and holidays and is closed on Dec. 25,25, 31, January 1 to 6, and May 1, & 15.

Address - Calle de Ruiz de Alarcon, 23, 28014 Madrid

Madrid has a liberal and open society, and things to do in Madrid include lots of activities and places to visit. To the especially inclined gays, lesbians, there are plenty of clubs, bars, and places of interest in Chueca. It is one of the best-known neighborhoods for gays in Madrid. It falls in the center of the city near Gran Via and is easily reachable by Metro Line 5. Most of the business, restaurants, and bars here are run by gays and are oriented towards them. Don’t worry if you are straight as this place is safe for all people with diverse orientations. The best-known gay hotels in Madrid are here. Hostal La Zona, Hostal Pizarro, and Hostal Puerta de Sol are located here. One of the best things to do in Madrid for gays is to take part in the Gay Pride fiesta that takes place on the last weekend of June. It has street parties, music, and concerts with all bars and pubs participating in this special occasion to celebrate the Gay Pride in Madrid.

Tip – Be careful of your bearings as there is a chance you may get lost in the narrow lanes in this district.

Around 220 Km from Madrid and about 2.30 hours drive lies the ancient city of Salamanca. Having a history dating back to the Celtic era, Salamanca is known for its magnificent sandstone architecture and the Universidad de Salamanca. This is one of the oldest universities in Europe and was founded in 1218. It was a known intellectual center in the 15^th and 16^th century and continues to attract local Spanish and international students. You can have a half-day visit to this beautiful city which is built atop several hills and by the banks of the Tormes River. The old city is a declared UNESCO World Heritage site and attracts many tourists, and a visit here is one of the things to do in Madrid.

The ancient city of Salamanca was founded even before the ancient Roman period by a Celtic tribe who made a fort to defend their territory. Post the Roman conquest, and this city became a hub of commerce and trade. One of the most astonishing things to see here is the 1^st-century bridge made by the Romans which still stands even today.

You can reach Salamanca by taking a taxi, bus or a train from Madrid.

If you have shopping in mind, head out to El Rastro Market, which is one of the most interesting things to do in Madrid. This is the most popular and busiest flea market in Madrid. Held in the open air, it is organized every Sunday and other holidays during the year. It is located near the Plaza de Cascorro and Ribera de Curtidores and easily reachable by the metro from any part of the town. You will be able to browse through may different things in this market for a cheap price, including antiques, curios, and rarities, which you will not find in any shops. You can haggle and bargain for the article of your choice from more than 3500 shops and stalls which are step up here. The different streets stall for selling different items, like animals and birds, paintings and art items, books and magazines, and clothes and accessories. It even has a lane with movie theaters where you can catch the latest movies.

Head out after the shopping towards the late afternoon to the many bars which offer drinks and tapas after a busy shopping spree.

Tip – For a good bargain, visit this market between 9-10 am as it is lean during this time.

Madrid’s true center or kilometer zero is located on the Puerta de Sol, which faces the east and hence its name. You can visit this busy Madrid city center, and that is always crowded and provides plenty of things to do in Madrid. Built as one of the gateways to Madrid, this place is a tourist spot which is akin to Times Square in New York in the US. It has restaurants and bars where you can have a good time just relaxing and people watching. It is vibrant at night with Madrid’s hottest nightclubs and bars. Even if you don’t drink it has plenty of entertainment with street performances. I say one of the must-visit places in Madrid at night!

Open – This place is open 24x7

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

Gran Via or the Great Way is a shopping street located in central Madrid close to Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Espana. This is the most famous area of Madrid and has a large number of hotels and movie theaters because of which it is sometimes also called the “Spanish Boadway. The street has a beautiful architecture with buildings made in Vienna Secession style, Art Deco, and Plateresque styles showcasing their 20^th-century revival architecture. You can have a pleasant evening here, among many other things to do in Madrid. The many Plazas here will keep you entertained with hours of shopping and movie theaters where you can watch the latest flicks. If you walk further towards Plaza de Espana, the street meets a square called the Plaza del Callao, which is named after the battle of Callao. This place is considered the heart of the cinema in Madrid and has six theaters. The Capitol is one of them and is located in an attractive Art Deco building.

Further down the Gran Via, built between 1925 and 1929, are two sky-scrapers, Edificio Espana and Torre de Madrid, which are beautiful architectural structures built-in 1950. Further down this street joins other streets leading north — overall, an interesting place for spending some time here while you are in Madrid.

Zara is a Spanish fashion store chain and is a popular brand in Europe and the Americas. While you plan things to do in Madrid, ensure that you spend some time at Zara’s largest store in Madrid and also in the world. Spread across 6000 square meters, this gigantic store has four floors and is located in the upscale financial district of Madrid – Paseo de la Castellana. Located in Madrid’s Castellana Avenue, this new Zara store opened on 7^th April 2017 and is the largest Zara store anywhere. You can have the time of your life shopping for women’s wear, accessories, men’s wear and kids wear in this store which is a technology marvel in the retail segment. You will see “Smart and interactive fitting rooms,” RF-enabled systems, and mobile payments at play throughout the store, which is one of its kind and are enough to give you a unique shopping experience. To top it all you will find this store cheaper than the one you find in the US. On average you will get the same product 25-30% cheaper here. So, a visit to the Zara store to fulfill your shopping cravings is a must on your next visit to Madrid.

Opens – 10 am to 10 pm

Las Rozas Village is a factory outlet and a shopping center just about 30 minutes’ drive from Madrid city center. It is one of the favorite shopping destinations of locals and people visiting Madrid. The market place has a huge collection of over 100 fashion houses and international fashion wear that have their stores in this place selling goods at attractive discounts of up to 60% making it an ideal shopping destination. The discount sale is a year-round affair in the Las Rozas Village; hence, you can visit here any time that you come to Madrid. Just put it in your list of things to do in Madrid. You can reach here by taxi or self-drive car, taking the A6 freeway and exit on the 19^th. You will find the guide signs to reach Las Rozas Village. You can also use the bus service that is provided free of cost by the village. This complimentary service runs from Plaza de Espana to the Las Rozas Village.

This is one of the nine villages which are operational across the world and are in cities, including London, Milan, Barcelona, and Paris.

Address - Calle Juan Ramón Jiménez, 3, 28232 Las Rozas de Madrid

So next time you are planning a vacation in Europe, make sure it is Madrid. The place is mesmerizing and has everything for you, history, architecture, art, and lots of shopping. So, pack your bags and head out to the land of bullfights!