Location: Madrid
Top Things to do in Madrid
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What to do and see in Madrid, Community of Madrid: The Best Things to do
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. Prado National Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 56,733 reviews
The Prado has one of the largest art collections in the world, and is best known for its diverse assortment of works by Velasquez, Goya and El Greco.
Reviewed By EricM59cc - Miami Beach, United States
Must see attraction in Madrid, beautifully organized and great collection from Spanish masters and some extra bonus with masterpieces by Bosh, Rubens,... Highly recommended.
2. Royal Palace of Madrid
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34,553 reviews
Luxurious, over-the-top rococo palace with over 2,000 opulently gilded rooms.
Reviewed By WizWiz - England, United Kingdom
The excellent audio guide was sufficient for exploring the palace without a guided tour The Palace was really impressive, the view from the Scenic viewpoint was breathtaking and the works of art inside were very antique and impressive; do make sure you include a visit to the armoury. Overall, the sheer splendour of the palace was breathtaking, every one of the rooms exquisite, and particularly the magnificent Throne Room. Well worth a visit
3. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,159 reviews
World famous modern art museum featuring a diverse collection of 20th century Spanish art, from Picasso to Solana.
Reviewed By psdunner - Bethesda, United States
Wonderful collection of modern art the video, long, of the history from the Civil War on is fascinating and a unique way of learning history. The works of modern Spanish artists is incomparable.
4. Museo Sorolla
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,378 reviews
The Sorolla Museum preserves the original atmosphere of both home and study of the painter Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (Valencia, 1863 - Cercedilla, 1923). It houses the richest collection of his works, colourful paintings irradiating light and vitality. It is one of the more complete and best preserved artist homes remaining in Europe. The garden, also designed by himself, is a beautiful oasis in the city.
Reviewed By PatAustralia
This small museum in a smart part of Madrid is a gem. Not crowded, cheap entry fee, excellent English signage and audio and peaceful. It is worlds away from the bedlam of the Prado and Thyssen. It is Sorolla’s house and garden and we spent a leisurely hour or so taking in the beauty and cleverness of this wonderful Spanish artist who specialised in ‘light’. Plenty of really good cafes close by for a coffee afterwards. Highly recommended.
5. Parque del Retiro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55,644 reviews
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.
6. Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16,537 reviews
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum offers visitors an overview of art from the 13th century to the late 20th century. In the nearly one thousand works on display, visitors can contemplate the major periods and pictorial schools of western art such as the Renaissance, Mannerism, the Baroque, Rococo, Romanticism and the art of the 19th and 20th centuries up to Pop Art. The museum also features works from some movements not represented in state-owned collections, such as Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism and the experimental avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. In addition, it boasts an important collection of 19th-century American painting not found in any other European museum institutions. Permanent collection hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00 to 19.00 Monday: 12.00 - 16.00* *Free entry with the sponsorship of Mastercard.
Reviewed By barryb487
On a prior visit to Madrid, I'd toured the Prado and Reina Sofia, both of which are excellent and well reputed museums. However, the "Thyssen" proved to be my favorite art museum in Madrid for two reasons: 1) The quality of the private collection housed here is superb; and 2) The galleries within the museum are ideal for displaying the collection, light, bright, fresh...a truly pleasant experience. As an inveterate international traveler who also loves art, this was a welcome respite from many larger and somewhat overwhelming museums.
7. Museo Arqueologico Nacional
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,099 reviews
Works dating mostly from Hispanic prehistory to the Modern Age, but it also includes some other cultural remains: Greek, Etruscan, Roman and various South American cultures.
Reviewed By 485carmencitad - Madrid, Spain
NATIVE POPULATION, as Tartessos, Turdetani, Iberian, Celts, Ligurians Galaicos, Astures, Cantabrians, Várdulos, Basques, MEDITERRANEAN Phoenicians Carthaginians, Greek, CONQUERORS Roman ,Vandalos, Suevos, Alanos, Goths Byzantine, Visigoths Arab... All these peoples constructed or left his fingerprint in Spain and you can find his track and his memory in the objects that are exposed in this eclectic Archaeological National Museum Dating from 1867, after a Conscientious renovation project is maybe the best archaeological museum in Europe and, therefore, in the world'. It traces the evolution of human cultures, from prehistoric times up to the 15th century.Remarkably, the great majority of pieces came from excavations carried out within Spain, illustrating the extraordinary continuity and diversity of human settlement in the Iberian peninsula. illustrating the extraordinary continuity and diversity of human settlement in the Iberian peninsula.
8. Gran Via
9. Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22,606 reviews
Reviewed By DaveH717 - Preston, United Kingdom
Having done the nou camp tour, which was excellent, this tour was high on my list to do whilst in Madrid. Bought tickets on line from the Real Madrid web site, cheaper than other sites. The ground is right next to the metro, so easy to find. This is not a guided tour and audio tour is extra. You are directed up a series of outside elevators, getting a view of Madrid, until you reach the top and go through to a fantastic view of the pitch/stadium from up high. Takes your breath away. The tour continues going through various rooms , history of the club, tribute to special players, a trophy room that goes on for ever, golden boot winners including Michael Owen, a special European Champions trophy room, changing rooms, conference room and others. You then walk around the stands until you reach pitch side with the dug outs..amazing views. All this is done at your own pace. Only downside is that you have no option but to queue a couple of times to have your picture taken, one with the champions league trophy, but luckily for us the tour wasn't busy so little waiting.
10. Plaza Mayor
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 26,554 reviews
Huge plaza packed with cafes, bars and tourists.
Reviewed By Falconaf1971 - Leigh, United Kingdom
One of my favourite parts of the city of Madrid, we were there during the day and also at night to eat. A beautiful square with tourist information, plenty of places to eat and drink although we recommend Gusto’s, a great ice cream shop on the same side as the tourist information, just beware of the Spanish flamenco dresses lined up and also any character such as Mickey Mouse offering to let you take a photo with them as they want money off you for this, and some can be a bit damanding. But other than this it’s great, the architecture is stunning plenty of people around and souvenir shops just out of this square. It’s a short walk from puerto del sol another favourite place. Well worth a trip here, we did it every night
