Madrid Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal€12.00≈ $13.71
- Mid-range meal€35.00≈ $39.97
- Cappuccino€1.80≈ $2.06
- Domestic beer€3.00≈ $3.43
- Taxi (per km)€1.10≈ $1.26
- Public transport ticket€1.50≈ $1.71
- Museum entry€15.00≈ $17.13
- Mid-range hotel (night)€130.00≈ $148.47
Food & Drink
- BotínCastilian · $$$
Recognized by Guinness as the world's oldest restaurant, operating since 1725, famous for wood-fired roast suckling pig.
- Mercado de San MiguelMarket food/Tapas · $$
An early-20th-century iron-and-glass market hall near Plaza Mayor packed with tapas stalls and vermouth counters.
- Casa LucioCastilian · $$$
A traditional tavern in La Latina famous for huevos rotos (broken eggs with potatoes) and a long list of celebrity diners.
- DiverXOAvant-garde · $$$$
Chef Dabiz Muñoz's three-Michelin-star restaurant known for a wildly creative, Asian-influenced tasting menu.
- Casa RevueltaTapas · $
A no-frills bar near Plaza Mayor beloved for its bacalao (salt cod) tapas, a Madrid institution since the 1950s.
- La BarracaSpanish/Rice dishes · $$$
A century-old restaurant specializing in Valencian paella and rice dishes just off Gran Vía.
- Taberna La BolaCastilian · $$
A family-run tavern near the Royal Palace serving cocido madrileño, the city's classic chickpea and meat stew.
- Chueca nightlife district
Madrid's LGBTQ+ nightlife hub packed with bars and clubs like Truco and Fulanita de Tal around Plaza de Chueca.
- Teatro Kapital
A seven-floor mega-club near Atocha with different music genres on each level, a Madrid clubbing landmark.
- Cardamomo
A long-running flamenco tablao near Puerta del Sol offering nightly live performances in an intimate setting.
Culture & History
- Museo del Prado
One of the world's greatest art museums, home to Velázquez's Las Meninas and Goya's Black Paintings.
- Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Spain's modern art museum, most famous for housing Picasso's Guernica in a dedicated gallery.
- Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
A private collection turned museum spanning Old Masters to 20th-century art, on the Paseo del Prado 'art walk'.
- Palacio Real de Madrid
Europe's largest royal palace by floor area, with opulent state rooms and the adjoining Royal Armoury.
- Cine Doré (Filmoteca Española)
A beautifully restored Art Nouveau cinema in Lavapiés run by Spain's national film archive, screening classic and world cinema.
- San Isidro Festival
Madrid's patron saint festival with traditional dress, chotis dancing, and free concerts across the city.
- Veranos de la Villa
A summer-long program of concerts, theatre and dance performances staged at venues across Madrid.
Nature & Outdoors
- Sierra de Guadarrama
A granite mountain range north of Madrid offering hiking trails and cooler air, an easy day trip from the city.
Active & Fun
- Metropolitan Gimnasio Retiro
A large fitness club near Retiro Park with pool, spa and extensive group class schedule.
- Piscina Casa de Campo
A large outdoor municipal pool complex in Madrid's biggest park, popular for escaping summer heat.
- Parque Warner Madrid
A Warner Bros-themed park south of the city with roller coasters and film-set areas.
- Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
A classic amusement park in Casa de Campo with rides, a haunted house and city views.