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Things to Do in Madrid

Top attractions, best neighborhoods to wander, and the food you shouldn't skip in Madrid, Spain — 2026 traveler picks.

Top places to see

Landmark

Prado Museum

35 min from MAD

Free entry Mon–Sat 6–8pm and Sun 5–7pm. Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings are the highlights.

Landmark

Retiro Park

35 min from MAD

Madrid's answer to Central Park. Hire a rowboat on El Estanque lake for €6/hr. Buskers and street performers on weekends.

Market

Mercado de San Miguel

35 min from MAD

1916 iron market near Plaza Mayor — premium tapas stalls, jamón ibérico, and vermouth. Open from 10am.

Book tours + skip-the-line tickets

Compare tours + attractions in Madrid across GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Trip.com — free cancellation on most, and prices match direct booking.

Things to do in Madrid

Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.

Tours, tickets & day trips

Our pick

GetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Madrid and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.

Browse Madrid
Just need timed-entry attraction tickets? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Madrid.

Eat here first

Bocadillo de calamares (squid ring baguette) from Bar La Campana near Plaza Mayor — Madrid's iconic street sandwich, €3.50.

Local tip

Madrid's Metro Line 8 (pink) runs directly from the airport to the city centre with a €3 airport supplement added to the fare. Buy a Monedero card to avoid the supplement.

Where to stay

Hotels across Madrid — filter by neighborhood + budget on the map below.