10 Free Things to do in Madrid That You Shouldn't Miss

June 5, 2021 Esmeralda Fenner

So many of Madrid’s buildings look like castles, you’ll think you’ve stumbled into a fairytale. Even City Hall is astounding, with its white pinnacles and neo-Gothic features. A self-guided architecture tour can begin by the great bear statue in the central Puerta del Sol. Wander by the fanciful Royal Palace before absorbing the natural beauty of Retiro Park, then visit one of the city’s many museums. You could happily cap off each day by nibbling on forkfuls of paella while sipping Spanish rioja.
Restaurants in Madrid

1. Plaza de Santa Ana

Plaza de Santa Ana, Madrid Spain
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4.5 based on 2,763 reviews

Plaza de Santa Ana

Tapas bars and clubs line this scenic plaza, making it one of Madrid's most popular nightlife hotspots.

2. Parque del Retiro

Plaza Della Indipendecia 7, 28001 Madrid Spain https://www.esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/parque-del-retiro
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4.5 based on 55,644 reviews

Parque del Retiro

Peaceful urban park centered around a beautiful lake.

Reviewed By boboj885 - Madrid, Spain

This is one the most beautiful and the biggest park in Madrid. All you want you can find here, tranquility, piece, joy, lake, glass house, you can rent a boat and enjoy in the lake or walk in the botanical garden or just gather with your friends and enjoy in the beauty of this huge park.

3. Plaza de Cibeles

Calle Alcala and Paseo de Recoletos, 28014 Madrid Spain http://www.aviewoncities.com/madrid/plazadecibeles.htm
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4.5 based on 5,544 reviews

Plaza de Cibeles

4. Casa Museo Lope de Vega

Calle Cervantes 11, 28014 Madrid Spain +34 914 29 92 16 [email protected] http://www.casamuseolopedevega.org/es/
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4.5 based on 741 reviews

Casa Museo Lope de Vega

"My little house, my peace, my garden and my study" Such was the way Lope described his house in a letter to a friend. A visit to this house es a testimony, a literary and emotional journey, an invitation to travel through art, literature and history to a bygone Madrid. Access to the museum is via guided group tours (maximum 10 people accompanied by a guide)Tours must be booked in advance by telephone or email.

Reviewed By breezy1435 - Saratoga Springs, United States

Constant Companion and I booked an English Tour several months in advance and hoped for the best! We had tried to visit last year but on the day of our reservation the guide fell ill. Our guide, only two months in his job this year was terrific! I cannot say enough good about him--passionate, humorous, and accommodating! We were the only two on the tour so he showed us all the rooms, told wonderful stories, and provided us interesting insights. Lope de Vega was a contemporary of Cervantes. He wrote many plays, had 17 children, became a priest, had several loves including the "love of his life" in his 40's, an actress! It is this home which he purchased to settle down, to devote time to his gardens, and to outsmart the tax man by "having a military guest in his home"! We completely enjoyed our visit, particularly the living room, the bookcases, and the objects donated by a daughter who became a nun! Very highly recommended Madrid treasure!

5. Puerta de Alcala

Plaza Independencia 1, 28001 Madrid Spain http://www.palaciodehielo.com
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4.5 based on 3,984 reviews

Puerta de Alcala

Reviewed By Homfirth - Holmfirth, United Kingdom

This is considered to be the first modern post-Roman triumphal arch built in Europe even older than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. It was a gate in the former Walls of Felipe IV and stands near the main entrance to the Parque del Buen Retiro. Today it is in the centre of a very busy traffic intersection and it’s difficult to take photos because of the continual stream of traffic.

6. Gran Via

Street Gran Via, 28013 Madrid Spain https://diario.madrid.es/granvia/lo-que-ha-sido/
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4.5 based on 14,311 reviews

Gran Via

7. Paseo del Prado

Paseo del Prado Paseo Del Prado, 1, Madrid Spain +34 913 69 11 97 http://turismomadrid.es/es/
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4.5 based on 4,347 reviews

Paseo del Prado

8. Malasana

Calle Manuela Malasana 20, 28004 Madrid Spain +34 910 17 77 04
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4.5 based on 670 reviews

Malasana

Reviewed By skankis

This central barrio of Madrid bordered by the streets of gran via, fuencarral and plaza de España and plaza de Bilbao has to be Madrids hippest and greatest nightlife centre. Street after street and plaza after plaza of bars ,restaurants and thousands of locals out and about having fun. Other areas like Huertas (very touristy), Chueca (mixed and gay ), La latina (tapas bars central), lavapies (Madrids multicultural bars and restaurant hub) and the street that never sleeps la Gran via are fantastic. But if you want nightlife that outlasts any other place on earth you have to exoerience Malasaña. More so when the good weather arrives . Thats when youll see people like snts on the streets. In the cold weather its obviously alot quieter and people are more indoors.

9. La Latina

Madrid Spain +34 913 66 59 48 http://www.facebook.com/El-campo-de-Cebada-180735625274126
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4.5 based on 1,415 reviews

La Latina

10. Plaza de Oriente

Calle de Bailen, 28013 Madrid Spain
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4.5 based on 3,161 reviews

Plaza de Oriente

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