7 Top Things to Do in Madrid, Spain

If you are planning your honeymoon or summer holidays in Spain, then Madrid should definitely be at the top of your list. Madrid is the heart of Spanish culture! The Spanish capital has hundreds of beautiful, couple-themed hotels lining up the street, a laid-back Mediterranean attitude to inject the right dose of romance in your honeymoon, and an affordable, flexible lifestyle for just any kind of budget.

Apart from so many things to do and see in Madrid, the energy in this city is unbelievable, and the security and safety mechanisms are extremely reliable. We recommend that you do your honeymoon here for at least 5 days in order to get the full Madrid romantic experience. If you are spending enough time there, don’t forget to check nearby cities, some of which you can easily visit in a daytrip, such as Toledo, Alcalá de Henares, Aranjuez or San Lorenzo del Escorial.

The country's capital is also famous for its many connections to fashion. Pack an extra suitcase when you’re going, because shopping is a popular activity here. Also, be sure to find a central place to stay in Madrid - that way, you can easily see everything within a week or so.

Madrid is the custodian of all of Spain's royalty. It is home to historic castles, palaces, and legendary Espanola culture. The theme parks, on the other hand, will indulge your romantic getaway instincts. Excellent shopping facilities, unlimited indoor adventures, lively markets, and elegant museums will all make your honeymoon in Madrid unforgettable.

If you want to get a real feel of all these attractions, it is best if you take a walking tour with a professional touring company, who will give you insights on all of the most renowned attractions. For your daytime outdoor fun, Madrid's fountain-filled plazas, grand churches and cathedrals, absolutely delicious street foods, and beautiful, ancient architectural wonders will sweep you off your feet.

Spain’s capital and biggest city is one of elegant boulevards, perfectly kept parks, and imposing, wonderfully maintained buildings. There’s arguably no better city in Europe to simply spend the day wandering round in. Madrid is known as one of Europe’s major repositories of fine art (the Prado Museum is a particular highlight), and it’s also home to two of Europe’s biggest football teams – Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid.

Plaza Mayor, Plaza de la Puerta del Sol, Puerta de Alcalá, Puerta de Toledo, Parque del Retiro, the Moncloa Lighthouse (which, mind you, is not a lighthouse), Plaza de España, Plaza de Cibeles are all nice sightseeing spots.

The Royal Palace is impressive. The Almudena Cathedral is worth visiting as well. If you are into religious buildings, visit the Real Monasterio de la Encarnación and the Convento de las Descalzas Reales. They are both very close to downtown. The Plaza de Toros is culturally important as well. If you like sports, the Santiago Bernabeu (home to Real Madrid) is one of the most famous stadia in Europe — and if you really are into football, go see the Wanda Metropolitano, Atlético’s venue.

Madrid being the capital of Spain has the quality of offering you the best, beyond your expectations. Here's a tip before you get on board: don't forget to pack your big bottle of sunscreen! The city hardly sees any clouds, if you want to flaunt your tan skin then this is where you belong. Madrid is rated as the sunniest city in Europe.

If you are in the city during June month, you’ll be lucky to witness Flamenco festival which ranges widely all over the city with dancers, singers, artists, instrumentalists and authentic talents.

You can renew your closet with everything luxurious, embellished and decorated as it the powerhouse of gold and high end fashion brands.

Go to Madrid if you like football (soccer), appreciate high art, simply enjoy wandering around a city and taking it all in. Madrid is a big city and naturally, there are numerous attractions to see there.

Some of the most famous attractions are the Buen Retiro Park, Museo del Prado, Plaza Mayor, Royal Palace of Madrid, Puerta del Sol, Plaza de Cibeles, Puerta de Alcalá, El Rastro de Madrid, Parque de El Capricho and El Escorial.



Once there, be sure to visit the following places.

1. El Retiro Park

If you want a cultural trip, then go to Madrid. It's the largest city in Spain by far, so there's always something going on. During the months of May and August, there are lots of festivals in Madrid. For the rest of the year, you have attractions such as the Prado Museum, the Retiro Park, the Royal Palace of Spain, and the Real Madrid home stadium, Santiago Bernabéu.

With hundreds of acres of roses and glass palaces, you and your partner will have a chance to bask in nature and its beauty, while at the same time enjoying relaxed, cool weather of the park. The rose garden in El Retiro also boasts of over 4000 roses and is surrounded by a lake with rowboats. There definitely can never be a better place to celebrate love other than the land of boats and roses.

2. Museo Nacional del Prado

Madrid boasts of three state-of-the-art museums where you can visit to see some of the most exquisite works of art that you will ever see in your life. One of these museums is known as Museo del Prado. It is Spain's national art museum and is home to art collections that date all the way from the Middle Ages. You will also see art collections from the 19th century.

The Prado is the biggest and most famous, but the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia is home to the most iconic Spanish painting: Picasso’s Guernica. The Thyssen-Bornemisza is also well-known and, together with the other two, form the triumvirate of must see museums in Madrid. Other interesting museums and cultural centers, if you have the time are the Tabacalera, the Casa Encendida, the CaixaForum, the Sorolla museum, the Municipal Museum of Madrid, the museum of the National Library and the Fundación Telefónica.

3. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

The second museum, the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, is home to private art collections and is ranked as the biggest of its kind in the whole of Europe.

4. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

You can take your lover to the Museo Reina Sofía, home to more than 20,000 pieces of modern art. If you or your lover is a fan of Miró and Picasso, then you definitely visit this museum during your time in Madrid.

5. El Rastro flea market

This market will amaze you with its more than 3,500 stands that sell vintage treasures, foods, leather bags, clothes, and hand-made jewelry. Eat, shop, and mingle with the locals while here.

6. Calle de las Huertas

The city is also popular for its galleries, Tapas, and copas, all of which will excite you and your lover. Among things to do Madrid, mingle with a Madrilenian to enjoy tapas with them in a friendly atmosphere. It’s also home to the oldest still-existing restaurant in the world, Sobrino de Botín. So if you're wondering where to eat out in Madrid, that’s a pretty good option.

Madrid is also famous for providing some of the best nightlife in Europe. At the very least, it is the city with the highest amount of bars per capita among all European capitals. The night and party life in Madrid will knock your socks off if you are a party enthusiast. The inviting cocktail bars, moonlight dance parties, and lively nightclubs will not let you sleep at night.

7. Arabian Baths Experience at Almudena

The Hammam Al Andalus is in the Almudena neighborhood. Here, you can bath and get massaged in the legendary Arabic well, as you enjoy the intimacy of freshening up alongside your lover.

8. Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial

Escorial Palace is one of the best places to visit in Spain. Located inside the Spanish metropolis of San Lorenzo de Escorial, approximately 45 kilometers northwest of Madrid, the Royal Site of San Lorenzo de Escorial, or ‘El Escorial’ is a royal palace and monastery which dates back to the sixteenth century.

Hotels in Madrid

As we mentioned, there is a hotel for every budget in Madrid. The main characteristic of most of the hotels is their great views: You will be able to enjoy the great skyline of Spain while in your room, view the awesome traffic along the city's streets, and if your room is high enough, explore the entire length and breadth of Madrid’s beautiful structures.

The good thing about Madrid is that there are quite a number of English speakers, so you will not have to worry about language barriers. And what's more, nearly all hotels have spas that will give you and your lover professional facial therapies for a refreshing new look. And if you need to relax, Madrid boasts of many hotels with living-room inspired lobbies for that.

The cocktail bars, on the other hand, are up to international standards. For your entertainment, most hotels have in-house DJs who will not hesitate to play your music requests.

Bottom line: There is a hotel for all your relaxation, comfort, and budget needs in Madrid. All you need to do is find a suitable hotel for your tastes and preferences.

Best time to Visit Madrid

The best time to visit Madrid is September to November or March to May because these times of the year aren’t crowded, the hotels are cheaper, and the flights are very affordable. You can visit in December if you want to see the Christmas Markets in Madrid.

Madrid has inland Mediterranean weather also called dry Mediterranean or continental Mediterranean. You get 30ºC-40ºC in the summer and 10ºC-0ºC in the winter in Madrid. One thing that doesn’t change though is the sun, it is a weaker sun that doesn’t warm up like in the summer, but you’ll have a sun shining on the sky all throughout the winter, you don’t get the long cloudy weeks of Atlantic and northern Europe.

Winter in Madrid is a lot of fun anyway. It is a big city and in winter it is full of visitors from other parts of Spain, so it has even more people than usual. And there's lots of things to do in winter… all the Christmas activities of a large city and the Spanish Christmas traditions, plus all the university parties in my case.

Estacion de Atocha is the biggest railway station in Madrid. People can catch commuter, high-speed and regional trains here. The station was destroyed in a fire, and was rebuilt by Alberto de Palacio Elissagne and Gustave Eiffel, the designer of the Eiffel Tower. While this new and improved version looked great on the outside, the inside was still your run-of-the-mill, drab train station.

The owner of the station decided that the customer experience would be enhanced if the inside looked better too. So they added a 4000-square meter jungle to the inside. The jungle has over 500 species of animals and plants. Pretty cool, right? Atocha has two stations, and they didn’t do these renovations on both of them. The high-speed train station is like an airline terminal, but with more security.