15 things to do in Madrid, according to a local

My first trip to Madrid years ago was cut short due to a missed flight (long story). Luckily, I recently got to spend more time there when I visited a friend. That weekend getaway was a combination of walking around the city center and being shown around. I didn’t have time to do Withlocals private tours in Madrid (one focused on food or shopping would have been great), but I leave that for next time.

Here are 15 things to do in Madrid based on my friend’s input (and a few of my finds).  

Museums
Madrid is one of Europe’s top destinations for art lovers, no matter what style you like. The city is filled with museums: from the unmissable “big three” of the Golden Art Triangle to smaller, lesser-known galleries that are interesting in their own right. There’s even a defunct metro station to visit. 

1. The Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado)

Considered one of the most important museums in the world, the Prado houses European art dating from the 12^th to the 20^th Highlights inlude works by Francisco Goya, Diego Velazquéz (perhaps his best-known painting on display is Las Meninas from 1656), and Sir Peter Paul Reubens. In 2019, the museum is presenting a special program of exhibitions and activities to mark its bicentennary.

2. Queen Sofía Museum (Museo Reina Sofía)
The museum is mostly dedicated to Spanish art from the 20^th century. Its extensive collection features works by Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso, including the famous Guernica from 1937. Along with the nearby Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Reina Sofía is part of Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art.

3. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum)
This gallery, located in a mansion from the early 19^th century, houses one of the most important private art collections. It showcases seven centuries of ecclectic, mostly European art: from primitive Italian and Flemish painters, to Impressionists and post-Impressionists, to cubism and pop art. As such, it complements the other two museums.

4. National Museum of Decorative Arts (Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas)
In over 60 exhibition rooms, the museum shows the evolution of industial arts: ceramics, glass, textile, furniture. The highlight is an 18^th century kitchen, which was moved from a mansion in Valencia and features 1,500 tiles depicting domestic life. The museum is located near Puerta de Alcalá and overlooks Parque del Retiro (see Sites below). 

5. ABC Museum of Drawing and Illustration (Museo ABC)
Located in a former brewery, Museo ABC is a hip cultural space dedicated to the art of drawing and illustration, including comics. The building retains its original brick exterior, while several modern features have been added: steel tiles on the outside and triangular windows in the courtyard, which act as skylights for the underground galleries. Free entry.

6. Platform 0. Chamberí Station (Andén 0. Estación de Chamberí)
Chamberí was one of Madrid’s original metro stations, but got closed down in the 1960s when the city lengthened platforms to accomodate longer trains. A ghost station for a long time, it reopened as a free museum in 2008. You can view the platform, ticket booths, ceramic billboards from the 1920s, and displays about the history of the metro.

Sites
Like many European cities, Madrid is walkable: you could spend most of your trip following grand boulevards or wandering small streets. It’s also one of the sunniest cities on the continent, with nearly 2,800 hours of sunshine per year. Therefore, one of the best things to do in Madrid is go outdoors.

7. Temple of Debod (Templo de Debod)
This Egyptian temple from the 2nd century BC was originally erected near the religious center of Philae and dedicated to goddess Isis. In 1968,  the Egyptian government gifted the temple to Spain to save it from flooding during the construction of the Aswan Dam. Why Spain? It was a sign of gratitude for helping preserve the Abu Simbel temples. Debod was rebuilt in Madrid’s Parque del Oeste. I recommend visiting at night, when the temple is beautifully illuminated with lights and reflected in the water. Free entry.

8. The Alcalá Gate (Puerta de Alcalá)
Built in the late 18^th century as one of the main gates to the city, this neoclassical triumphal arch in the Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) is one of Madrid’s symbols and a National Monument. Made of granit, it features three main arches and two passageways. Its façade is decorated with sculptures, while the statues on top represent four cardinal virtues: fortitude, justice, prudence, and temperance. The name refers to the nearby street leading to Alcalá de Henares (see Day Trips below).

9. El Retiro Park (Parque el Retiro)
The magnificent 50-acre park at the edge of the city center is close to the Alcalá Gate and the Prado Museum. It used to belong to the Spanish Monarchy until the 19^thcentury, when Queen Isabella II was forced to abdicate and El Retiro opened as a public park. It contains a man-made lake, rose gardens (La Roselada) with over 4,000 flowers, statues along Paseo de la Argentina, the brightly-colored Casita del Pescador (The Fisherman’s Cottage), and the renowned Palacio de Cristal (Crystal Palace) – a glass and metal pavilion used for art exhibits. You can also see peacocks in Jardines de Cecilio Rodríguez.

10. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu)
Home of Real Madrid and one of the world’s most famous football venues. With a seating capacity of 81,000, it has hosted many high-profile matches since its opening in 1947 (UEFA Chiampions League, FIFA World Cup, Copa Libertadores). Catch a game – if you can get tickets – or take an interactive, 1.5 hr long tour of the stadium.

Day trips
If you visit Madrid for more than a weekend, it’s worth taking day trips to nearby historic towns. You can easily access them from the city by car, bus, or train.

11. Alcalá de Henares
Located 22mi/35km northeast of Madrid, Alcalá de Henares is known as the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote,” and home of the prestigious Alcalá University (1499). The historic quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town also has a large population of white storks, whose nests can be spotted on top of buildings

12. Segovia
Farther from Madrid than Alcalá – around 56mi/91 km in the northwestern direction – Segovia is another World Heritage city. It’s well worth a visit for its well-reserved elevated Roman aqueduct, the 12^th century royal palace Alcázar de Segovia, the 16^th Segovia Cathedral (one of the last Gothic chirches built), and remains of medieval city walls.

Food
A list of things to do in Madrid cannot exclude food. My favorite moments in the city involve eating tapas – especially patatas bravas (potatoes with a spicy sauce) – in a tavern or food hall, accompanied by a glass of Spanish wine or local beer.

13. Food Markets
My Madrid friend swears by Platea Madrid, a multi-levelgourmet food hall located in a former movie theater on Plaza de Colón. You can order typical Spanish dishes, but there is also international food: Italian, Mexican, Peruvian, Japanese. Mini-concerts and DJ sents often take place at the center stage. My go-to food market is Mercado de San Miguel, just off Plaza Mayor. This historic iron-and-glass building reopened in 2009 after renovation and features over 30 vendors, selling fresh tapas, baked goods, olives etc.

14. Tapas bars
If I want a no-frills experience, I look for a random taberna and order una caña(small draft beer) with a side of tapas. On my next trip, I want to try tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) and cold tomato soup at Bodega de la Ardosa– a small, classic bar in the otherwise trendy Malasaña area. Another option is the bargain Bar Santurce, known for pimientos de padrón (fiery green peppers from Galicia)

15. Churros and Hot Chocolate (Churros con Chocolate)
My fondness for churros (traditional fried-dough pastry) started at baseball parks in America, but I tried some of the best ones at San Ginés – Madrid’s oldest chocolatería. Located in a passageway west of Puerta del Sol, the café began serving churros in 1894 and it’s popular with locals and visitors alike. It’s open 24 hours a day year round, which means you can get those cripsy churros with a cup of thick dipping chocolate at any time.