{"id":52302,"date":"2023-08-08T01:56:41","date_gmt":"2023-08-08T00:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogoespana.com\/?p=52302"},"modified":"2023-12-14T14:20:48","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T13:20:48","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-madrid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogoespana.com\/en\/blog\/best-things-to-do-in-madrid\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Best Things to Do in Madrid"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s certainly no shortage of things to do in Madrid.<\/p>\n

The capital city is filled with world-class museums, sprawling parks, stunning architecture, and a complex food scene.<\/p>\n

Prefer to browse through any of the more than 40 museums in Madrid<\/a>?<\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019re looking to go on a culinary tour of any of the thousands of restaurants in the city?<\/p>\n

With so many things to see and do, planning an itinerary for Madrid can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time.<\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re heading to Madrid for the first time, or you\u2019re coming back as a seasoned traveler, our list of the 9 best things to do in Madrid, Spain has something for everyone.<\/p>\n

Best Things to Do in Madrid<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Since Madrid is home to so many of the world\u2019s best museums, we\u2019re starting off our list of Madrid attractions.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Museo del Prado<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First on our Madrid sightseeing list is the Museo del Prado<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This world-class museum is said to have one of the most extensive art collections in the world and is considered one of Madrid\u2019s most important landmarks.<\/p>\n

Opened in 1819, the now-named Museo del Prado<\/a> currently houses over 20,000 works of art!<\/p>\n

Because of its extensive collection, it’s easy to spend hours roaming the halls of this museum and the masterpieces housed within it.<\/p>\n

From collections focusing on the Spanish monarchy<\/strong> to works by Francisco Goya<\/strong>, the museum is filled with can\u2019t-miss pieces from multiple periods throughout history.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason this museum is one of Madrid\u2019s most visited attractions and why we\u2019re including it in our list of things to do in Madrid.<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Royal Palace of Madrid<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The official residence of the Spanish monarchy, the Palacio Real (royal palace) is also open to the public.<\/p>\n

Each year, nearly 2 million people visit this palace that has played host to centuries of Spanish history.<\/p>\n

One of the largest palaces in the world, it is comprised of thousands of different rooms, historic gardens, and stunning artwork.<\/p>\n

One of the more popular Madrid tourist attractions, the lines to get in can be quite long.<\/p>\n

Planning ahead with a guided tour, or priority access to specific parts of the palace, isn\u2019t a bad idea.<\/p>\n

Another bonus while visiting this historic building are the views from the terrace.<\/p>\n

Admire the the surrounding countryside of Madrid after exploring the grand palace and its many rooms.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>El Rastro Flea Market<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Taking it down a notch from grand palaces, let\u2019s hop over to El Rastro flea market<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This historic open-air market (mercado al aire libre<\/strong>) stretches across multiple streets in the La Latina neighborhood of Madrid.<\/p>\n

There’s a reason El Rastro is the most famous street market in Madrid.<\/p>\n

With hundreds of open-air stalls to choose from, you can pick up a few souvenirs, memorabilia, or antiques from just about any vendor you can imagine.<\/p>\n

The market opens at 9:00 a.m., so be sure to get there early to beat the crowds before it gets too busy.<\/p>\n

After a few hours of perusing the eclectic mix of goods, stop by one of the many nearby tapas bars for a bite and a drink.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Mercado de San Miguel<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re in the mood to peruse gourmet food stalls, head over to Mercado de San Miguel<\/a> (San Miguel Market<\/strong>) for a huge selection of products from all different parts of Spain.<\/p>\n

From Michelin Star ice creams to Cantabrian cheeses, this market has it all and is truly one of the most accessible places to visit in Madrid for a gastronomic tour of Spanish cuisine.<\/p>\n

Originally opened around 1916, visitors to this market have the opportunity to experience food from all corners of Spain.<\/p>\n

One of the oldest markets in Spain, this is a must visit for food lovers and casual diners alike.<\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum<\/strong> is the third largest in the city.<\/p>\n

Located on Madrid\u2019s Art Walk, this museum has a large collection of works in a variety of modalities.<\/p>\n

Visitors can browse through centuries of art from the 13th<\/sup> century and up.<\/p>\n

You can even take an art and wine tour<\/a> through the museum to experience how art and wine intertwine throughout the history of art in Spain!<\/p>\n

Tickets to enter start at \u20ac13.<\/p>\n

However, it is free to enter the museum on Mondays from noon to 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Santiago Bernab\u00e9u Stadium<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For football fans, one of the best things to do in Madrid is to visit the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u stadium<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Home to one of the world\u2019s most successful football clubs, Real Madrid, there\u2019s plenty of amazing history to explore at this historic stadium.<\/p>\n

With a seating capacity of over 80,000, it is billed as the second-largest stadium in Spain.<\/p>\n

During a tour of the stadium, visitors are able to take an in-depth look at the stadium\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

You can even take a photo with a Champions League trophy!<\/p>\n

The stadium is one of the top things to see in Madrid for any die-hard Real Madrid<\/strong> fan.<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Estaci\u00f3n de Atocha<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Estaci\u00f3n de Atocha (Atocha Station<\/strong>) is Madrid\u2019s main station.<\/p>\n

Wondering why a train station is on our list of top things to do in Madrid?<\/p>\n

While the station has undergone multiple renovations, an old section of the station is now home to a tropical garden!<\/p>\n

The garden itself contains thousands of plants from numerous parts of the world.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great place to escape and enjoy the lushness of a tropical indoor garden.<\/p>\n

There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants inside the station if you\u2019re craving a bite to eat while admiring the foliage.<\/p>\n

Not to mention, the garden itself is free of charge!<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, or Las Ventas Bullring, located in the Salamanca district is an iconic landmark.<\/p>\n

The Plaza is composed of a few different sections. These include the bullring itself and a museum dedicated to the history of bullfighting.<\/p>\n

Visitors can buy tickets to attend a bullfight or simply tour the arena known for its stunning Moorish design.<\/p>\n

The Las Ventas bullring offers audio tours, group tours, and private guided tours.<\/p>\n

The venue also offers a realistic experience of what its like in the bullfighting world with a specialized dramatic performance.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>El Retiro Park<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We\u2019re ending our list with this beautiful park located in the heart of the city.<\/p>\n

El Retiro Park<\/strong> is a UNESCO world heritage site comprised of stunning gardens and over 15,000 trees!<\/p>\n

One tree in particular, known as El Abuelo<\/strong>, is theorized by some to be 400 years old<\/a>.<\/p>\n

El Retiro is an excellent place to wander down wide-open avenues, enjoy the many rose gardens, and admire the stunning statues scattered throughout the park.<\/p>\n

While there, stop by the stunning Palacio de Cristal<\/strong> (glass palace).<\/p>\n

Free to enter, this glass conservatory with ceramic tile flooring is surrounded by a gathering of stunning trees.<\/p>\n

22 meters high, this stunning crystal structure resembles a glass bird cage.<\/p>\n

This sprawling park has four separate entrances for visitors.<\/p>\n

The main entry gates are:<\/p>\n