Did you know that Madrid is one of the highest capital cities in Europe and one of its sunniest? It’s home to a buzzing cultural scene, bustling nightlife, gastronomic delights, and beautiful buildings. It was my home for seven years, too.
Being a local, I discovered the city’s insider secrets, so I’m going to share my favorite things to do in Madrid — which you probably won’t find in your guidebook!
Living in Madrid for so many years with my Spanish partner gave me a unique perspective on the city. Beyond the famous landmarks and busy tourist spots, there’s a whole other side to the city of Madrid that only locals experience. From kayaking on a beautiful lake to finding the runniest tortilla in Malasaña, there’s always something to discover.
I’m going to help you explore Madrid like a true madrileño!
Things To Do in Madrid That Your Travel Guide Won’t Tell You
1. Cycle Around the City Ending in Casa de Campo Park for Lakeside Lunch
Do you like cycling? If so, you’ll love exploring Madrid on two wheels via its 64km (40 mile) cycle lane that circles the whole city. It’s called the Anillo Verde Ciclista, which means Green Cyclist Ring.
If you don’t fancy doing the whole thing, consider planning a route that starts and/or ends in the Casa de Campo. At just over 4,200 acres, this is the largest public park in Madrid. Situated immediately to the west of the city, it’s home to some great restaurants, such as El Urogallo, which overlooks its central lake.
Grab yourself a well-deserved lunch or dinner at the beginning or end of your route to round off this fun and sporty trip. Or, for a more leisurely activity, just head to the Casa de Campo for a relaxing bite to eat or stroll and leave the bike behind!
2. Healthy Eats and Gluten-Free Dining
Madrid is a foodies’ heaven. However, as I’m coeliac, gluten-free dining is crucial for me. Luckily, the city is a paradise for healthy eaters and gluten-free lovers alike. When you visit Madrid, try out some of these great bars and restaurants:
- Honest Greens: A chain of 12 (and counting) too-cool-for-school healthy-eating restaurants around the city. Think interesting salads, sharing platters, market plates, sugar-free cakes, specialty coffee, and healthy juices and smoothies — all set in a bustling and very trendy restaurant. Be prepared to queue; they’re popular. But it will give you time to get to grips with their extensive menu, which comes in English as well as Spanish.
- Grosso Napoletano Italian (gluten and gluten-free restaurants): Getting oven-baked gluten-free pizza in any city, let alone Madrid, is tricky. Step in Grosso Napoletano. This chain of Italian restaurants has six completely gluten-free branches in Madrid alone! Expect gluten-free pizza like you won’t find anywhere else and a ton of other gluten-free Italian delights. It’s truly delicious, set in a fun setting (think fluorescent “No Gluten Yes Party” signs), and my other half said he couldn’t tell the difference.
- Sana Locura: My favorite place to go on a Sunday! A bakery filled to the brim with gluten-free delights. You can buy bread, pastries, and whole cakes to take away or eat-in. My favorite was their avocado-smashed toast with poached eggs and sun-dried tomatoes, followed by their almond croissant. Their coffee is delightful, too.
- Leon The Baker: A more recent find, a 100% gluten-free bakery with shop to boot. Not to be confused with UK-based Leon Restaurants. They have various stores across the city, but look out for their dine-in restaurants, such as the one in Montecarmelo, for the best gluten-free breakfasts and lunches in town.
- Celicioso: Another chain of gluten-free bakeries in Madrid specializing in sugar-free cakes, they’re just as great for lunch and dinner. Check out their branch on Calle de Barquillo situated in the gorgeous Only YOU Boutique Hotel.
- Churrería Chocolateria 1902: You can’t go to the capital of Spain and not eat churros with chocolate. But it’s not easy if you’re gluten-free. For the real deal, head to this great churrería in the center of Madrid to try this yummy treat. (Tip: the chocolate on its own with a spoon is an excellent second choice.)
3. Pick Strawberries or Even Pumpkins
For an alternative fun thing to do in Madrid, try picking your own strawberries at Monjarama Farm. It’s a great activity with or without kids. Pick a half or full-kilo basket (8 or 10 Euros) and get picking. At the end, you can enjoy some of their strawberry ice cream, juice, or even beer and cider. They sell delicious strawberry jam, too.
At Monjarama, you can pick strawberries from May to September, grapes in September, and pumpkins from September to November. If you visit during pumpkin season, you can even take a trip on the tractor and decorate your pumpkin for Halloween!
It’s about half an hour to the north of the city by car, so you could take a taxi there.
4. Go Kayaking
When you think of Madrid, you probably think of its beautiful old buildings, plazas, and tapa bars, but if you step out of the city, Madrid hosts some spectacular countryside right on its doorstep. If you hire a car, you can be in El Berrueco, a small town leading to Madrid’s largest reservoir, El Atazar, in less than an hour. Madrid is so well-connected, you can also get there by public transport for an easy day trip.
It is also a great spot to go for a stroll on its perimeter path — the Gran travel route 300 (GR300) surrounds the lake and is 66km long — and the summer months also host kayaking, which is tons of fun. I have taken nearly all of my guests up there at one point or another.
5. Go Skiing
The Madrid region is home to its very own mountain range. You’ll find the Sierra Norte de Madrid one hour north of the city. Here, you’ll find the small ski villages Valdesqui and Puerto Navacerrada, from which you can access 33km of ski runs.
Be aware that they’re very popular, so you have to get there early to find a parking spot. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Moncloa, west of Madrid city center, to Puerto Navacerrada in an hour and a half.
6. Flowering Almonds at Quinta de los Molinos
When I first moved to Madrid, I lived right by this gorgeous and little-known park to the east of the city and loved going running there. What I didn’t realize is that it’s famous in its own right for its gorgeous flowering almond trees that come into bloom in February or March.
To get there, take the metro to Suanzes, which runs on the green line (linea 5) from the center of Madrid.
At the north entrance, you’ll also find Espacio Abierto, a restaurant and cafe with a terrace overlooking the park and a large and free indoor play center for kids.
7. Runniest Tortilla (Malasaña)
Have you tried Spanish tortilla? Made from eggs, potatoes, and olive oil, it’s a Spanish staple — simple and deeply satisfying at the same time. Bodega de la Ardosa, a historic wine cellar in Madrid’s trendy Malasaña district, is one of the best places to try this culinary delight, serving it beautifully runny.
I have happy memories of this emblematic Madrid institution as my other half and I started our first date there.
While you’re waiting for your tortilla, crawl under the bar to the other side and check out the photos of its 132-year history. Then, carry on your evening with a tour of some of the other many cool cafes, bars, and shops in Malasaña.
8. Curry in La Latina
While Spanish cuisine is delicious, you may be yearning for curry during your time in Madrid. For authentic and low-priced curries, head to Calle de Lavapies in Madrid’s multicultural La Latina neighborhood. This historical zone is home to many immigrants and is also one of Madrid’s oldest districts, housing narrow streets and wide squares such as Plaza de Cascorro.
While you are there, visit the lively Calle Cava Baja for a drink or tapas or just to soak up the buzzing Spanish culture.
For a more upmarket curry, you can also check out Bangalore Modern Indian Cuisine in Calle Diego de Leon in central Madrid.
9. Jardín El Capricho
No list of hidden gems and unusual things to do in Madrid would be complete without a mention of the beautiful and incredibly romantic Jardín El Capricho.
Located east of the city near Barajas airport and walking distance from El Capricho metro station on line 5, this gated park was built between 1787 and 1839 for the Duchess of Osuna. It’s been open to the public since 1999 after an extensive refurbishment by the City of Madrid and offers free entry.
The serene park houses a mansion, labyrinth, monuments, and a small pool, as well as a 2,000-square-metre underground bunker used by the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War. It’s an idyllic spot to step away from the bustle of the city and enjoy nature and wildlife, take pictures, and steep in the history and beauty of the place.
It’s only open on weekends and bank holidays; check out their official website for opening hours before you visit.
10. Rooftop Bars
Madrid is famous for its many tapas bars and it’s a great place for a bar crawl or wander. However, it’s also home to some great rooftop terraces where you can sip a cocktail or vino and watch some of the amazing Madrileñian sunsets I’ve grown to love. Of its many rooftop bars, these are three of my favorites:
- The Palacio de Cibeles is a remarkable building situated at the intersection of Madrid’s central Paseo del Prado and Calle de Alcala. It was inaugurated in 1907 and was formerly the city’s central post office and telecommunications building. Enjoy amazing views from its sixth-floor Terraza de Cibeles while sipping one of its luxurious cocktails and enjoying its divine tapas sharing dishes.
- While sightseeing in my favorite capital city, stop off at Spain’s iconic department store, El Corte Inglés, centrally located between Madrid’s central Plaza Puerta del Sol and the Gran Vía. The Callao branch found here boasts its own rooftop Gourmet Experience, which is a great place to admire the sights of Madrid from above. It comprises a variety of small food outlets, from oysters to ice cream, and a gourmet market to boot.
- Oscar’s Terrace, at the top of Hotel Room Mate Oscar just near the Gran Vía, is another great rooftop bar in Madrid. Sleek and stylish, it offers panoramic views, cocktails until 1 a.m., a pool in the summer, and brunch on Saturdays. It is one of the best spots to add to your things to do list in Madrid!
11. Versión Original Cinema
If you’re longing to watch a movie while visiting Madrid but are worried about the Spanish language, worry no more. Madrid has a good number of cinemas offering films in Versión Original (VO), which means “original version” and, therefore, original language. VOSE means there will be subtitles in Spanish (Versión Original Subtitulos Español), so it’s great if you’re trying to learn Spanish!
Cinemas like Cine Renoir Retiro right by El Retiro Park, Cine Renoir Plaza de España to the west of the city, and various Yelmo cinemas offer films in “version original.” Look for the words versión original or letters VO or VOSE on their movie listings.
12. Go to a Conversation Exchange
Speaking of learning Spanish, cosmopolitan Madrid is an excellent place to learn. Conversation exchanges are a brilliant way to practice your Spanish, find new places to hang out and make friends, too. They were my lifeline when I first moved to Madrid.
The events have a good number of Spanish people wanting to learn English (there are many) and foreigners wanting to learn Spanish. They’re sometimes organized at tables where you speak English at one and then move to the next to speak Spanish, or with a bell every few minutes to advise you to change language. Some are just free for all, and you’ll change the language depending on who you’re speaking to.
Look at Meet Up for an event, or check out this article.
13. Mercado de Motores
Madrid offers many great mercados, or markets, including a good number of food markets opened in the last few years and the famous El Rastro Flea Market. However, for something different, try out its Mercado de Motores, hosted every second weekend of the month in its Railway Museum (Museo del Ferrocarril).
Wander among the old trains and expect to find everything under the sun, from vintage clothing to vinyl records, home decor, and everything in between. If you’re hungry, they have food trucks for a bite to eat, washed down with a Spanish cerveza or sangria.
Activities on offer vary each month, from cheese tasting to crafts; check out their schedule. There are kids’ activities too and even live music. It’s a great weekend event.
14. Vintage and Sustainable Fashion
As well as being Spain’s biggest city, Madrid also hosts some great sustainable fashion brands and a whole host of vintage stores. Look out for The Circular Project Shop in Moncloa, B-Corporation Ecoalf’s flagship store in Tribunal, Brava Fabrics, and eco-friendly backpack brand Lefrik.
For vintage fashion, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Malasaña. Head to Corredera de Baja de San Pablo and Calle del Espíritu Santo for starters.
15. Watch a Gig
If you’re a big fan of live music like I am, Madrid will be your heaven! Madrid has everything from the Mad Cool festival every July featuring huge acts like the Foo Fighters, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, and more. Check out touring acts throughout the year, too; Bruce Springsteen played in 2024.
For smaller acts, head to Malasaña and Chueca, where bars such as Café La Palma and Intruso Bar serve up everything from rock to blues to jazz. You could even catch a flamenco show to experience the best of Spanish culture.
Find It All in Madrid
I hope this list has whetted your appetite for some of the more unusual things to do in Madrid besides the typical tourist attractions. From green spaces to sustainable fashion to gastronomy delights and live music, Madrid has it all. Enjoy your trip!
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