What to do in Madrid – 20 unique attractions for 2025

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Written by Inbal Cabiri
Last updated date - July 18, 2025
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20 Unique Things to Do in Madrid in 2025 – Fun, Cool & Local Tips

Somehow it turned out that only after we had completed five plus years of living in Spain did we arrive in Madrid.
We were there – separately – but it was the first time with the children.

First of all – do you have a place to stay? If not, recommended best hotels in Madrid are waiting for you here.

So what do we do in Madrid?
Well, there are quite a few options.
I bring here the activities that we especially liked – which will be suitable for both those traveling to Madrid with children and those traveling in any other vehicle.

Prefer pictures?
Our three trips are concentrated in the highlights Madrid 1 , Madrid 2 , Madrid 3 on Instagram (not following yet? Right away)

September 2024 Update – I was invited on a press trip to Madrid and beyond, so there’s another new highlight

January 2025 update – another highlight :)

Where to stay in Madrid?

I highly recommend this hotel to stay in July 2023 This hotel to stay in May 2023
And also about the fact that we will be there in October 2022 .
You are welcome to read the detailed list of recommended hotels in Madrid.

How to get to Madrid?

From Barcelona – very convenient by train. For this you will need to go to Sants station and within two and a half hours, if you booked the fast train, you are in the heart of Madrid, at Atocha station.

Trainline – is the skyscanner for trains. Check what works for you on the date and time, then book directly from one of the companies’ websites – Ouigo | Ave | Avlo | Iryo.

Have you decided to rent a car for a longer trip? I recommend you check out a new website for comparing car rental prices .

Looking for a hotel in Madrid?

All the best recommendations you can't find anywhere else

To read

When to come to Madrid?

In the summer – very hot, in the winter very cold. Which leaves the transitional seasons as the best time to visit here.
The last time I was there was in July 2023 – there was one sweaty day of 35 degrees followed by extremely comfortable days in the 30s. Really bearable.

Where can I go from Madrid?

To the Pyrenees // To San Sebastian // Bilbao // To Picos de Europa // To Southern Spain

In any case, you will never be alone there. The city welcomes, it should be said, six million tourists a year.

Getting around in Madrid

There is a convenient and efficient metro and bus system. The hard card is bought on the metro and can be recharged. It is significantly cheaper than Barcelona.

Taxis – The Uber app worked great for us. Be aware that traffic in the city is not the best, there are a lot of traffic jams and sometimes it is faster to walk.

A Local’s tip!
Bus lines 001 and 002 (not to be confused with 1 and 2) are *free* lines, for the benefit of residents and tourists. In an unclear way, you have to ask the driver to print you tickets, you ask for the number of people you are with, tear them off and keep them until the end of the trip. Don’t forget to throw them in the blue paper recycling bin.

Food in Madrid

Like any capital city in Europe, Madrid has a very wide variety of eateries, from bars in the markets to fancy Michelin restaurants .

Since the topic is so important, I dedicated a separate post to it, where you can find recommendations for both vegetarians like me and those who are not.

And don’t come to Spain without reading this basic post about food .

Best unique experiences to do in Madrid

Last July, I was able to complete the “Golden Triangle” (the holy museum trinity) of Madrid and also visit the Reina Sofia and the Battiston Burmese in one weekend (!). What a joy.
Where to go if you only have the option of fitting one into your schedule? Well, it doesn’t seem to matter to me – each of them is a world in itself and there won’t be a wrong choice. Hope I helped :)

Prado Museum

I’ll start with the classics. Artists, art lovers, and anyone who is simply interested in enriching their general education, not necessarily in the artistic context, because the works are an accessible and open window to the historical/cultural/religious that allows direct access to what once was.
Huge names like Rembrandt, Goya, Rubens, Velázquez, and da Vinci are just some of the artists whose works you can admire. In total, the museum holds 20,000 (!) exhibits, so it’s worth setting aside a few hours for this experience.

Beyond the artwork, the building itself is stunning. It is built in an elegant neoclassical style and has wonderful natural light. The surrounding manicured gardens offer a peaceful respite and the perfect place to contemplate the master piece you have just seen.

I really recommend not to miss it.

Address -C. de Ruiz de Alarcón, 23, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Need a coffee before? A few minutes walk away is Plenti Cafe. Pleasant to sit, welcoming service and delicious light meals.

Reina Sofia Museum

The Queen Sofia Museum is one of the world’s leading art museums. The museum was established in the residential building of the Queen Sofia House, which was formerly the home of Queen Sofia of Spain (who is still alive, and married to Juan Carlos I), and is therefore named after her.

This is one of the most impressive places for research and observation of the world of Spanish and global art.

The museum hosts a rich and impressive collection of 20th and 21st century artworks. The collection began to accumulate here in the 1980s and has grown over the years. Inside you will find fine works by world-class artists.

One of the most popular works in the museum is Picasso’s painting ” Guernica “, from 1937. I had no idea how enormous and impressive this work is. Guernica is considered a symbol of the potential threat of weapons leading to destruction and violence in war. Picasso created the painting over the course of a week. His progress is documented on the wall opposite and that is also interesting to see. Interesting to read about the work Here . It’s forbidden to take pictures in the entire hall of Guernica, so I don’t have any documentation, but! I opened Wikipedia and read what exactly its story is. So my warm recommendation is to take a guided tour, an audio guide if you like, or even dig around the web and understand what you’re seeing. It gives an extra dimension to the visit.

Another spectacular work in the museum is Dali ‘s ” The Persistence of Memory” or ” The Liquid Watches .” Dali, one of the most important artists in the Surrealist movement, created it in 1930. The painting shows soft, melting pocket watches, representing the relativity of space and time. While some claim it was influenced by Einstein’s theory of relativity, Dali claimed it was inspired by a surrealist perception of melting Camembert cheese. The painting also includes a strange creature reminiscent of a self-portrait and other elements that may allude to dreams and the passage of time.

The museum is large and very rich and you can spend a good few hours there. The inner courtyard with the kinetic sculpture is beautiful and I would have been happy to come here with a book. There is also a shop – not big, but nice.

Address – C. de Sta. Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Very close to Atocha train station.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is a renowned art museum located in Madrid, Spain. Founded by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his wife Carmen in the 20th century, the museum houses a magnificent and diverse collection of European art from the early Renaissance to the 20th century.

The museum houses rare works by world-class artists, including Renaissance artists such as Domenico Ghirlandaio, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists such as Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh, as well as contemporary art such as Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian. The collection offers a rich variety of art fields that depict the changes and developments in the history of European art.

In addition to the permanent exhibitions, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural activities.

Address – P.º del Prado, 8, 28014 Madrid, Spain

El Rastro Flea Market

A leisurely stroll among the stalls and shops of a flea market is the ultimate weekend pastime for me – exactly what’s fun to do after a good breakfast.

It provides a glimpse into the lives of others, human encounters that would not be possible under other circumstances, and most importantly – piles of rare items from the past that, if I could, I would load onto a truck and take with me. Yes, I know I could, technically, but what can’t we do for peace of mind at home?

This is one of the largest open-air flea markets in Europe, spanning several streets in the lively La Latina district every Sunday, from morning until afternoon.

El Rastro is not just a market, it’s a social gathering. While locals haggle, tourists cautiously explore and a street musician strums his guitar, there lies, to me, the true, local atmosphere of Madrid – vibrant, diverse and unapologetically passionate. Even when it’s rough, like a cake that’s a little burnt around the edges. That’s what it is and that’s the magic.

Retiro Park - cool place for the summer!

One of the great successes of the first trip, which was repeated on the second.

Retiro Park, officially known as “Parque del Buen Retiro”, directly translated as “Park of the Pleasant Retreat”, or loosely translated as “Park of the Lost”, is a promise that keeps its word.
An oasis that spans 125 acres in the bustling heart of Madrid and offers, of course, an idyllic escape from the fast pace of the city.

Don’t miss –
– Rosalda’s aromatic rose garden,
– The Glass House – Palacio de Cristal, a marvel of glass and metal.
– The Velázquez Palace and its changing exhibitions.
– You can rent a rowboat for a relaxing cruise across the magnificent Retiro Pool, with the royal monument of Alfonso XII in the background.
– In the northeast corner of the park (outside), there are two places to rent bicycles and other cycling equipment that will help you traverse the park in its entirety.
I recommend the motorized Kart with pedals.
Their names –
Diverbikes

Retiro Magic Activities al Aire Libre en el Retiro

If you are a fan of oriental pastries, head to Pastelería SHAM and stock up on pastries that you can eat in the park.

Prefer a guided tour of the park?

Do you like Segways? – Order from here

King's Palace

So yes, Spain has a king. And soon – a queen. The daughter of the current king, Felipe VI, Leonor was born in 2005. She currently serves in the army and is the heir to the throne.

The Royal Palace in Madrid is one of the most impressive places in the city. I came to it by chance, only because I was invited as part of a private historical tour of the city.
The building is huge and beautiful and tells the story of the kings and queens of Spain. Inside, countless rooms decorated with gold, antique carpets and very special furniture await you. The gardens surrounding the palace are a wonderful place for a relaxing walk with a beautiful view of the city. Besides, there are interesting exhibitions and collections of weapons and historical artworks. If you are lucky, you will see the Changing of the Guard ceremony – a true Spanish experience.

Here you can purchase skip-the-line tickets to the palace.

I highly recommend taking a tour to understand what you’re seeing.

CBA's rooftop

I can’t think of anything trendier than a rooftop, so we got a very nice one, which also provided us with a nice view of the Pride parade that was taking place in the city at the same time. It’s right at the end of Gran Via, just before the impressive Cibeles Square.

The Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid (CBA) is a private, non-profit cultural association, recognized as a “center for the protection of fine arts and for the public good”. Since its establishment, the association has carried out important work in the field of cultural creation and its dissemination throughout the world. The CBA is one of the most important private cultural centers in Europe and is precisely organized with open access to the most leading and innovative artistic developments. The activities at the center include plastic arts, literature, science, philosophy, cinema and artistic performances.

At the entrance, tell the guard that you want to go to the Azotea bar, pay 5 euros and take the elevator to the roof. There you will find a 360-degree view, seating at the bar or restaurant. There are better restaurants in Madrid, it is better to find something somewhere else, from experience.

Address – C. de Alcalá, 42, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Street art tour

I really love street art – not graffiti, but the murals, paintings, and works of art that are offered to the general public and often contain unconventional, protest, and even underground messages.

The first tour I participated in was in Shoreditch, London about a decade ago and it was particularly fascinating.

I participated in another tour in Athens and another in Barcelona.

The tour, to which I was invited, was conducted by the lovely guide Santi, and was interesting and was essentially an invitation to observe the public space in general. So many things are revealed if you lift your head up and to the sides! There is a lot to see here. To understand what you see, it is very worthwhile to take a tour – because otherwise it is difficult to understand what is behind it.

I liked the sustainable approach of the guide and this company in general. Whether it was taking small groups of up to 15 people so as not to disturb the residents or dedicating time to a wonderful community garden in the neighborhood, which seemingly deviates from the main theme of the tour. Santi took us through the length and breadth of the Lavapies neighborhood, which I had already passed through before but only now did I really notice the astronomical amount of artwork there. During the tour we also met the artist Tetoux, some of whose works we had seen just minutes earlier.

2 important discoveries from the tour –
1. Every year, the neighborhood holds a tapas festival called Tapaspies .
2. The neighborhood hosts an annual street art festival called Calle , in which 50 artists are invited to paint on the neighborhood walls and on the facades of various businesses (restaurants, shops). The works prepared during the festival are marked with square signs.

They also have hands-on tours specifically for children, which unfortunately we didn’t have the chance to try (it wasn’t available that day).

All the details about this tour are on the Cool Tour Spain website.

Carrer Cava Baja

A recommendation I received from a local – go to this street and its parallel, Carrer Cava Alta.

If you are looking for tapas – this is the place for you. A street full of energy and bars.

A long row of taverns and bodegas with a variety of patatas bravas, pedronas and a variety of seafood in small bites, cheeses and local wines.

What’s cool here is the atmosphere of yesteryear – that’s exactly the story of the La Latina neighborhood – with the pastel-colored houses and old fonts.

Every August, this street becomes even more lively as locals celebrate La Paloma, one of Madrid’s biggest celebrations, with flamenco music, street performers and lots of food.

Wow Concept Store - A very cool place

If you’ve been to Madrid, I’m pretty sure you’ve walked past this store and chosen not to go in. I can understand why. Its ground floor looks like some kind of basic tourist trap, the kind you’d find in the center of Amsterdam/London/Berlin – a strange combination of cosmetics, shoes and electronics. What drew us in, apart from the impressive sculptures at the entrance, were the Polaroid cameras that the kids decided they wanted and, out of curiosity, we decided to explore the next floors. The findings were truly surprising.
It started with clothes – not conventional at all, not ones I would buy or even try on. Hipster/avant-garde/retro fashion – not something particularly interesting, so we kept going up.
On the 5th floor there were very beautiful housewares and even a small collection from Hay, the coveted Nordic brand, and even a few crumbs from Vitra, the Swiss brand that I’m just devastated about.
We continue up and on the sixth floor there is a beautiful restaurant with a really cool design! Full of people! And also an exit to the roof! What a great find. We didn’t eat here, but it’s really worth checking out just to sit in this designed space.
We go back downstairs and go down to the basement where the electronics floor is. The kids enjoy petting all sorts of new gadgets, a PlayStation room (I really considered leaving them there, they would never notice I was gone) and I was happy to see turntables and old video game machines. I almost bought sunglasses with speakers.

Great place, I really liked it.

Crazy Mary Librería & Co - a unique library

Pearl Jam and Madrid’s Las Letras neighborhood intersect at the new bookstore, Crazy Mary, named after the band’s song and album. Founded by book lovers Maria and Alfredo, their bookstore is a haven for book lovers. It has a selection of new titles, reissued classics, and hidden gems from independent publishers, all carefully curated. You can sit there with a cup of coffee and enjoy jazz music playing in the background.

Address Calle de Echegaray, 32, 28014 Madrid, Spain

Desnivel Bookstore

A bookstore and much more that deals with climbing. Even if you have a fear of heights, don’t miss a visit here. There is a rich selection of travel and travel books of all kinds, an entire floor of magazines and a fascinating corner of special and so, so beautiful children’s books.
A real experience to walk around here.

Address – Pl. de Matute, 6, 28012 Madrid, Spain

San Miguel Market

A market that was probably a kind of inspiration for the port market. Very popular with non-locals. Stalls full of fancy food – perhaps the most decorated tapas I’ve seen. If you’re vegetarian, you really don’t have much to look for here and if you prefer authentic food, this is probably not the place for you either.

Madrid with children

National Museum of Natural Sciences

The museum is not very large and not particularly interactive, but it is nice.

Founded in 1772, it has a comprehensive display of over six million exhibits – from prehistoric fossils to taxidermy displays of wildlife species and giant dinosaur skeletons.

When we arrived, a workshop that looked interesting had just ended – so it’s worth checking if there’s one when you’re in the area.

More suitable for children who are interested in the animal world, less so for those interested in science or those looking for activities.

IKONO -

A nice and quite Instagrammable complex that filled a (not cheap) half-hour gap in our schedule. Very close to the Atocha train station.

This room is one of those immersive experiences (I don’t know if the translation “sensory” or “immersive” is accurate, hence the English).
The idea, born from the founders’ experiences in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan, is to recreate the feeling of exploring new places and capturing unforgettable moments through photography, all within the city limits. The 600 square meter space includes 15 rooms, where visitors are invited to engage their senses and document them. The highlight was undoubtedly the blue ball pool.

Sweet Space

An interactive museum dedicated entirely to sweets. Another immersive experience, so to speak. With six rooms in total, each one showcases a specific aspect of sweets. If you, your mom, or your uncle is a dentist, you’re in for a treat. If not, plan ahead for how many sweets your guys are going to eat.
The coolest part – the spiral slide and the refrigerator where you can lock up your little monkeys (somehow in English it sounds much more politically correct) without it being considered a criminal offense. It’s just for the picture, after all.
Not cheap, not long. Don’t expect much.

Robot Museum

Quite disappointed after the sweet space, we stumbled upon this museum as if it were a great bargain. It wasn’t cheap either, but at least it was interesting.
Located in the same hidden mall as the “Sweet Space”, on the floor above.
Our instructor was fascinating and charming, the children were fully attentive for 40 minutes. This is really not trivial. Even I, whose closest thing to robots was “Star Trek” that I saw a few years ago, really enjoyed the instruction.
We saw there – robots that participated in movies, a line of pet robots from Sony and not only, all kinds of other robots from different periods in the history of the last thirty years. At the end there is an area where you can play with different toy robots and also buy them in the store.
A very pleasant experience.

Balloon Museum

A temporary museum that used to operate in Madrid, moved to Barcelona and now travels to other cities. I’m leaving the text about it because they’re still looking for it in Madrid.

The museum is about hot air, balloons, and blooming spheres, in their broadest sense. Each space was designed by a different artist.
It starts again, like any immersive performance (see above) in a room with mirrors and hanging balls.
It continues with regular bubbles and smoke bubbles (cute) and continues, of course – in a huge ball pool. This time the balls are white and they are also on the ceiling. Besides, there is music and lights. Your time here is very limited. You will have time to take a few selfies and then you will be called to move on.
Overall, very nice. Neat and organized.

Velazquez Museum

I haven’t felt so cheated in a long time. I don’t usually give negative recommendations here, but in my opinion this place crossed the line.
Over 30 euros (for the three of us) for the 25 minutes we spent there, including waiting time for the video with holograms – outside the room and in the screening room.
This place, in my opinion, cheapens the entire digital art industry that has become trendy in recent years. If you’ve been, I’d love to hear what you thought.

Warner Park - Amusement Park

Warner Park is one of the leading theme parks in Spain. It offers an exciting and unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Located in the Madrid suburb of San Martín de la Vega, about a forty-minute drive from the center of Madrid, the park covers a large area and combines diverse attractions based on characters and films from the famous Warner Brothers studios.

The park is divided into five themed areas : Hollywood Boulevard, Old South Village, Cardboard Network, DC Superheroes World, and Warner Beach. Each area offers unique attractions and facilities.

For extreme enthusiasts – one of the main attractions in the park is the “Superman: The Kryptonite Attraction” roller coaster, which offers a crazy ride at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Also try “Batman: Escape from Arkham”, an inverted roller coaster (!). For families with small children, there are suitable attractions such as “Tom and Jerry: The Mouse Adventure” and “Scooby-Doo: Adventure.”

In addition to the attractions, the park offers live performances with familiar characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and more.

There are restaurants and food stalls as well as many souvenir shops.

It is important to note that the park is very popular, especially during the tourist season and holidays, so it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early to make the most of all the attractions. It is also worth checking the show schedule and planning your visit accordingly.

How do we get there?
By car, train, bus number 412 or 413 or organized transportation

When is it open?

June 24, 2024 – December 31, 2024 (non-consecutive, see exact details on the website )
Opening hours July-August 12:00-midnight

Warner Beach Park - Water Park

The water park, known as Warner Beach, is an integral part of the Warner Park in Madrid. Madrid can be very hot in the summer and this is a great opportunity to cool off.

The park features a variety of water slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and wading areas for young children. Among the slides are the “Perfect Storm” and the “Tornado.”

The water park area has a variety of food and drink options.

Lockers and storage rooms: There are facilities for storing personal belongings and changing clothes.

When is Warner Beach Park open?
Between June and September

Many more interesting attractions in Madrid

Tours, museums, day trips out of the city – it’s all here.

What must be on the list? Tell me about the places you loved in Madrid.
And if you followed my recommendations – tag me on Instagram!
Our three tours are focused on the highlights of Madrid 1 , Madrid 2 , and Madrid 3. (Not following yet? Start now).