Madrid is an exciting city with beautiful parks, charming boulevards and some of the most famous art in the world. This is a big city with lots to see and do, so it helps to remember a few key highlights to guide your trip. Fortunately, many of the city's main attractions are within walking distance of each other, so you can explore the things that interest you most at your own pace!
See the Prado Museum 
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See the Prado Museum (Hotels nearby)
There are many museums in Madrid, but if you only have time to visit one, make it the Prado Museum. The Prado Museum has thousands of paintings and hundreds of sculptures celebrating Spanish, Italian and Flemish art. This is a very popular museum with lines often stretching out the door. The museum is generally open from 10am to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays and from 10am to 8pm every other day. You can visit the museum for free during the last two hours of each open evening.
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People-Watch in Plaza Mayor (Hotels nearby)
For a break from sightseeing in Madrid, stop at one of the outdoor cafés around Plaza Mayor. This public square in the centre of Madrid is a great place to relax and people-watch for a while. Order a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy the scenes of street performers and tourists from all over the world. The square is busiest in the late afternoon and evening. It is very touristy here, which means the shops are expensive and most of the best restaurants are a little more off the beaten track. But it is still worth a visit, and there are also holiday markets held at the square seasonally.
Taste Spanish tapas 
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Sample Spanish tapas (hotels nearby)
It would be a shame to spend some time in Madrid without experiencing the culinary bliss of authentic Spanish tapas. A tapeo is a bar crawl that focuses on both tapas and drinks, and you can also take a tapa tour of the city for a truly immersive experience. Recommended tapas bars in Madrid include Casa Gonzalez, La Venencia and El Tempranillo. Be sure to try typical food such as cocido madrileño, huevos rotos and a famous sandwich called bocadillo de calamares.
Relaxing in Retiro Park 
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Relax in the Retiro Park (Hotels nearby)
Retiro Park, also known as Parque del Retiro translated as 'The Retreat', is east of the centre of Madrid and full of gardens, lakes, playgrounds and lots of green space. The park was once home to the palace of Felipe IV, but is now open to the public. This is a great place to rent a rowing boat, stroll through the rose garden and even watch family-friendly outdoor theatre performances. If you travel to the city by public transport, you can reach the park by getting off at the Retiro, Ibiza or Atocha metro stations.
Watch a Real Madrid football match 
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Watch a Real Madrid football match (Hotels nearby)
In the north-central region of Madrid, you can visit the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, the main football stadium (city). The Real Madrid team plays here, so plan to attend a match if you can. Even if the team is not playing during your visit, it is still worth stopping by the stadium for a tour. The tour includes a history room, photo montages, the presidential box, the dressing room, the benches, the press room, the official shop and much more. Tours last about an hour and a half and cost 25 euros for adults. Get off at the Santiago Bernabeu metro stop if travelling by public transport.
Browse the Rastro outdoor flea market 
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Browse the Rastro outdoor flea market (Hotels nearby)
El Rastro is not your average flea market, and is a market that dates back to the 15th century. Most of the market is located along Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores between Plaza de Cascorro and Ronda de Toledo. Here is a great place to find small souvenirs, clothes, jewellery, bags and an exciting atmosphere with live music. There are also many shops lining the streets behind the market that you can enter too. The market takes place on Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is popular with locals and tourists.
Watch a live flamenco show 
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Watch a live flamenco show (Hotels nearby)
Music and dance are an important part of Spanish culture, so watching a live show in Madrid is a must. Café de Chinitas is a popular place to watch traditional dances and the performance venue known as Tablao Flamenco Cardamomo. Corral de la Morería and Casa Patas are other excellent local options. Because Madrid is such a large and popular city to visit, many of the country's best performers come here to show off their skills.
Try the local beer 
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Try the local beer (nearby)
You might expect to see locals in Madrid drinking lots of wine and sangria, but beer is a big drink here. Lots of local restaurants and bars open their patios when the weather is nice, providing perfect places to sip a beer. Mahou is Madrid's popular and very drinkable pilsner. There are also microbreweries in Madrid that are fun to visit, such as Fabrica Maravillas, Be Hoppy, Mad Brewing and Más Que Cervezas.
Explore the neighbourhood of Condé Duque 
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Explore the Conde Duque neighbourhood (Hotels nearby)
As far as neighbourhoods go, Conde Duque is a great place to wander around and get to know the city better.Conde Duque is a space for music, theatre, dance, exhibitions and films. Here you can catch a show and also visit the fashion shops, public squares and old taverns. It is quieter and less touristy than other parts of the city with a local and lively atmosphere.
See the ancient Egyptian temple of Debod 
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See the ancient Egyptian temple of Debod (Hotels nearby)
One of the most unusual sights to see in Madrid is an ancient Egyptian temple called Templo de Debod. This temple was donated by Egypt to Spain in 1968 as a gift to help save historic sites at risk of flooding. You will find it in the Parque de la Montaña, surrounded by a reflecting pool. While it is beautiful to see during the day, it is absolutely incredible while lit up at night. At night, you will often find young adults walking around and getting ready for a night on the town. There is no charge to see the monument, and feel free to take as many photos as you like.
