What to see, what to do Madrid?
The 10 good reasons to go Madrid
Enjoy the green spaces
La Casa de Campo, the Retiro Park, the Madrid Rio, many possibilities for walks.
Visit exceptional museums
The Prado or the Reina Sofia, to admire Picasso's Guernica or Goya's Dos de mayo.
Relive the Movida
Listen to rock music in Malasaña and go shopping in the thrift stores in the footsteps of Pedro Almodóvar.
Attend a match
Real Madrid or Atlético de Madrid, make your choice and go cheer on the stars!
Stroll through the Madrid of the Habsburgs
The Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de la Vila, there is no shortage of monuments.
Treat yourself to tapas
Croquetas, tortillas, patatas bravas... the list of tapas is endless!
See a flamenco show
There are plenty of quality addresses in the center of the capital. Olé!
Party all night long
Bars and discos abound. There are sometimes more people out at 5am than at 12pm.
Shopping
Luxury brands, big brands, thrift stores, fashion victims will be ecstatic.
Shopping at the Rastro
To look for an old bullfighting poster on Sunday with its squid sandwich!
What to visit Madrid?
Interview: My Madrid
by Baptiste Tharreau, author of the guide
In love with Madrid since he was a teenager, Baptiste Tharreau, who has been criss-crossing the world for Le Petit Futé for over 15 years, travels to the Spanish capital every year to unearth the latest bargains. He likes to go from the very chic Gran Via to the bohemian soul of Lavapiés, hunt for bargains at the Rastro, try out the latest tapas bars or catch a good soccer match at the Bernabéu.
See the video of the interviewGood to know to visit Madrid
Timetable
Many museums and monuments close on Mondays. They are usually open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm. Here is a list of places that remain open on Mondays: the Reina Sofía Museum; the Prado Museum; the Thyssen-Bornemisza (from 12h to 16h); the Royal Palace; the Almudena Cathedral; the Wax Museum; visit to the Town Hall, Plaza de la Villa, at 17h; the Royal Carpet Factory; the Campo del Moro Gardens; Casa de Campo; the Retiro; the Sabatini Gardens; the Botanical Garden.
To be booked
For most of the capital's major tourist sites, booking online on the Internet offers discounts and often even saves you a long queue. Think about it!
Budget & Tips
Madrid boasts three exceptional museums that are not to be missed: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. To make your visit easier, you can purchase the Paseo del Arte card(tarjeta Paseo del Arte), which allows you to visit all three museums for €36.06. Some museums also offer free night visits, such as the Reina Sofía on Mondays and Wednesdays to Saturdays from 6pm to 8pm, or the Prado from Mondays to Saturdays from 6pm to 8pm. A real bargain!
Main events
Madrid celebrates Christmas in style. From the end of November, the city is decked out in decorations (a bus takes you around to admire the most beautiful) and the Plaza Mayor hosts a fairytale market. The Christmas lottery draw, Spain's most popular, the 12 strokes of midnight on December 31 at the Puerta del Sol and many other events celebrate the end of the year. In spring, Semana Santa, major Champions League matches and events to celebrate Dos de Mayo are on the program. In summer, the capital's life is punctuated by popular festivals (with a funfair atmosphere) in the various districts. In autumn, it's time for the national holiday on October 12.
Guided tours
Agencies, mainly located around the Plaza Mayor, offer guided tours by bike, Segway, electric scooter, etc.
