~ This post is written by Mark Lancy Sebastian. He is a traveler at heart with a strong passion for history—mostly Classical Greek and Roman, culture, food, and art. He thrives on poetry, baking, climbing hills, and befriending local cats (the ‘pspspspspspsp’ actually works!) and dogs. He is an editor at TheBetterVacation.com, a well-known travel platform. Do check out his website dedicated to the Vatican Museums, inspired by his passion for Christian history. ~
Very few cities in the world engage you like Madrid. Whether it’s the magical Flamenco’s cante, baile, and torque, matadors battling raging bulls in a zen-like ring, or Madridistas prodding their team to even more UEFA Champions League glory, here in lies Spain’s heart brimming with energy and charm.
Step away from the fanfare and limelight, and Madrid will still dazzle you with its palaces, world-renowned museums, ancient temples, picturesque neighborhoods, and lush, green parks.
Here are the top 10 must-see attractions you shouldn’t miss in Madrid.
Royal Palace Madrid: A Look Into Spain’s Regal Legacy
The 18-century Palacio Real Madrid remains Europe’s largest functioning palace and has been on every Madrid traveler’s ‘you-got-to-see-it’ bucket list for decades. This imposing residence of the Spanish Monarchy has well over 3,418 rooms, many of which are filled to the hilt with historical artifacts, exquisite tapestries, and artwork by renowned masters such as Francisco Goya, Tiepolo, Velázquez, and Caravaggio. The palace is also home to the world’s only surviving complete Stradivarius string quartet.
What not to miss
Spread out over 1.5 million square feet (135,000 square meters), the palace has so much to offer – from its grand staircase carved out of a single piece of San Agustin marble, its lavishly decorated Throne Room, the Hall of Mirrors, Royal Dining Room, well-preserved Royal Armory, the palace’s Royal Pharmacy boasting centuries-old medicinal recipes, to its Sabatini Gardens, and the Campo del Moro (Moor’s Field). To make the most out of your visit a fast-track/guided tour is the best way to cover all these attractions, and much more, at the Palacio Real Madrid.
Prado Museum: Madrid’s Finest Art & Culture Centerpiece
The Prado is all about neoclassicism which is evident from its non-Baroque style of buildscape. Along with the Museo Reina Sofia and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the Prado forms Madrid’s Golden Triangle of Art. It is home to 7,600 paintings and 1000 Greco-Roman statuary featuring the very best of the Spanish, Flemish, and Italian masters such as Velázquez, Goya, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Titian. Apart from hosting one of the world´s finest restoration workshops, the Prado Museum is renowned for embracing modern art forms.
What not to miss
The Prado is the only museum in the world to house the complete collections of El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Ribera, and Zurbarán. One piece that deserves special mention is Goya’s Black Paintings in Room 067. The most haunting among these are Saturn devouring his son, and the Witches’ Sabbath. If you are looking for further recommendations while touring the museum, don’t miss out on Goya’s The Third of May 1808; Velázquez’s Las Meninas; Rubens’ The Three Graces; Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath; and Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights. You’ll be surprised to know that just 2,000 of Prado’s artworks are on exhibit; nearly 17,804 of Prado’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures are stored in the archives.
Reina Sofia Museum: Chronicling the Rebirth of a Nation
As an integral part of Madrid’s Golden Art Triangle, the Reina Sofia is significant in many ways. It is Spain’s national museum of 20th-century art and houses masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. It also stands as a living monument chronicling the Spanish Civil War, the overthrowing of the Monarchy, and a country coming to terms with its post-war identity. The museum is composed of a newer building and an older building that was once a general hospital. Rumor has it that this wing of the museum is haunted, and you can still hear the harrowing cries of its patients!
What not to miss
Room 205.10 on Reina Sofia’s second floor displays Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. Depicting the brutal German and Italian bombing raid that shook the Basque town of Gernika, the painting’s brushstrokes capture the horror of the day. Room 205.10 also houses some of Picasso’s preliminary sketches and paintings like the gored horse, weeping woman and dead baby. Another room not to be missed is 205.15. This room contains the ‘surreal’ works of Dalí, Miró, Magritte, and Max Ernst. As always, opting for a guided tour can help you appreciate the tone and dichotomy of these paintings.
Thyssen Bornemisza Museum: A Menagerie of Modern Art
Like the Prado and Reina Sofia, Thyssen Bornemisza also channels Madrid’s artistic spirit. It houses the second-largest private collection of art once amassed by Baron Heinrich Thyssen Bornemisza. The Thyssen Museum offers a mix of varying art styles, some dating back to the Renaissance era. You’ll also find works of lesser-encouraged schools or art like Impressionism, Fauvism, German Expressionism, and 20th-century avant-garde movements dotting the walls of the Museum’s galleries.
What not to miss
Each floor of the Thyssen Bornemisza Museum represents a particular era of art, and it is best to take a guided tour if you want to make the most of your visit. For instance, the museum’s second-floor houses 13th- and 14th-century Italian, German, and Flemish religious paintings. It also includes masterpieces by Boudin, Canaletto, Courbet, Fragonard, Matisse, Picasso, and Renoir. Likewise, the first floor is dedicated to the impressionist and post-impressionist works of Cézanne, Degas, Gauguin, Pissarro Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh. The ground floor houses contemporary 20th-century art celebrating the works of Picasso, Braque, Juan Gris, Paul Klee, Max Ernst, Joan Miró, Chagall, and Salvador Dalí.
Santiago Bernabeu: In the World of Football’s Galácticos
Ask any Madridista, and they’ll tell you Bernabeu is where legends are made, history cemented, and records rewritten. Home to Real Madrid FC, the reigning La Liga and UEFA champion, and the most valuable club in terms of footballing revenue ($6.6 billion). The past few years have been anything less than magical for those in attendance at the Bernabeu—named after Real Madrid legend, Santiago Bernabeu, chanting with ‘Hala Madrid y nada más’ each time a goal is scored or a tackle won. The stadium, with its retractable roof and 85,000 seating capacity, is one of the top five most-visited stadiums in the world, with no less than 1 million tourists touring its grounds every year.
What not to miss
When visiting the Bernabeu, it’s best to take a guided tour which gives you access to restricted areas like the first-team’s dressing room, the players’ tunnel, the Real Madrid President’s box, and video and photo opportunities with first-team players. Other sections of the stadium that deserve your attention are the ‘Best Club in History’ room that houses paraphernalia by footballing greats like Alfredo Di Stefano, Santiago Bernabeu himself, Ferenc Puskas, David Beckham, Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the ‘Sensations’ room which houses Real Madrid’s stellar collection of 71 domestic and 34 international silverware.
El Retiro Park: Madrid’s Very Own Eden!
Madrid’s Parque del Buen Retiro, or Good Retreat Park, is more than an urban lung space. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to 19,000 trees spread over 350 acres of lush green and was once meant only for Spain’s royalty. El Retiro features a glass palace, statues, an artificial lake, numerous fountains, topiary and rose gardens, a ruined church, and more. El Retiro is a part of Madrid’s Landscape of Light, which includes the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, and Reina Sofía Museums, and Cibeles Palace.
What not to miss
The park, with its many enchanting spaces, offers tranquility reminiscent of the English countryside. Once you’re done taking in the scenery and strolling through the park’s many verdant paths, t head to El Retiro’s grand boating lake. A boat ride is one of the best ways to explore the park. It also offers views of the Cason del Buen Retiro and Salon de los Reyes, Palacio de Velazquez, and Palacio de Cristal (glass palace). You could also opt for a guided tour and get to know the park in its entirety. Other notable attractions include Madrid’s oldest tree, a huge shaggy Ahuehuete, and the world’s only publicly commissioned statue of Lucifer, El Angel Caído.
Templo de Debod: A Piece of Ancient Egyptian History
The last thing one would expect in a city predominantly Roman Catholic is an ancient Egyptian temple. This 2nd-century Nubian edifice was originally built in Aswan, Egypt, in 2 BC. It was relocated to Madrid’s Parque de la Montaña in 1968 as a goodwill gesture from the Egyptian Government, commending Spain’s support for the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia. The Templo de Debod is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis and Amun of Thebes. Today, it is a must-visit picnic spot in Madrid because of its peaceful settings, green pathways, and pools reflecting the setting sun’s rays. If you are looking for some awesome sunset and silhouette photo opportunities, Debod should be on your list.
What not to miss
Legend has it that the temple was where Isis gave birth to Horus, the Egyptian sky god. Because the vicinity has a certain aura to it. The temple is one of the very few Egyptian monuments to exist outside their place of origin. Though the Debod was transported block by block to its new home, you won’t find a stone amiss or anything asymmetrical about its design. Visitors usually make a beeline for the temple’s three rooms – Augustus Vestibule, Adijalamani Chapel, and Naos Vestibule – to marvel at their antiquities. Among these, the Adijalamani Chapel is the oldest part of the Debod, with scenes depicting the king offering sacrifices to different Egyptian gods etched on its walls.
Plaza Mayor: A City’s Connection With Its Past
The grand and expansive Spanish square forms part of the city’s oldest region, Hapsburg Madrid. Built by King Philip III, the square is a testament to Madrid’s tryst with the past. Many trials of the Spanish Inquisition and its subsequent executions took place here. In merrier times, it was the focal point for fiestas, processions, and even bullfights! The Plaza Mayor’s pillared arcades are today dotted by shops, cafes, and restaurants, as well as the municipal and cultural building ‘Casa de la Panadería’ on the north side of the Plaza and the four-story, twin tower ‘Casa de la Carnicería’ on the south.
What not to miss
First and foremost, there’s no escaping Philip III’s bronze equestrian statue, which provides some great selfies if you happen to be in the area. The Casa de la Panadería and Casa de la Carnicería look resplendent in the evening light, and the arcade, with its many cafes and tapas, offers a treat for food lovers. Evenings at the square are marked by cultural events, most notable among them being the Flamenco shows. You’ll also find walking tours that thrill you with sights and stories from the Spanish Inquisition. And if you’re with someone special, there are numerous professional photoshoot opportunities to explore at the square. Plaza Mayor also leads to Madrid’s Grand Via, the city’s most iconic shopping and nightlife avenue, which prides itself in being the Madrid street that never sleeps!
Madrid Fly: I’m a Bird, I’m a Plane, I’m Superman!
Europe’s largest indoor skydiving wind tunnel, Madrid Fly is that special place where the child in us can be a child again! Madrid Fly allows you to experience the power of flight without jumping out of a plane. its flight chamber, measuring 4.6 meters in diameter (15ft) and 18 meters high, is large enough for many spectators to fly at once.
What not to miss
Most of Madrid Fly’s chamber features glass walls, which aid in the ‘fly-like-a-bird’ experience. In fact, with adjustable wind speeds between 180 and 300 km/h, Madrid Fly creates a powerful cushion of air that supports your body as you float and fly in the tunnel. This experience is well-suited for beginners and experienced fliers. Each session comes with safety gear and instructions to make your free fall an exhilarating, and safe, experience.
Parque Warner Madrid: Rediscover Your Inner Child
Are you traveling with family and kids and looking for something more fun and relaxing? Then make sure you head to the Parque Warner Madrid! With over 42 attractions, five Warner Bros. and DC Comics-themed areas, and the world’s fourth-highest drop tower, the Parque Warner is guaranteed to give you thrills and joy to last a lifetime.
What not to miss
Experience the Hollywood Boulevard in Madrid while being greeted by Looney Tunes characters along the way. Don’t miss out on the ‘Superman: La Atracción de Acero’ high-speed rollercoaster and the ‘Batman: Arkham Asylum’ indoor coaster, which takes you through every twist and turn of Arkham Asylum. The Parque’s Movie World Studios gets you up and close with famous movie sets, props, and costumes, while the Cartoon Village will keep you spellbound for hours as you enjoy rides like the Roadrunner and Bugs Bunny coasters. If you are into Spaghetti Westerns, the ‘Clint Eastwood’ in you should be happy shooting your way through a Wild West recreation. The last man standing wins! Don’t forget to cool off at the Parque Warner Beach, which features a lazy river, wave pools, and slides like the Wonder Woman El Lazo Magico Ride and Harley Quinn: La Huida.
Bonus Attractions
Beyond the above mentioned, there are several other notable attractions in Madrid. Prominent among them are Madrid’s wholesale food markets – San Miguel, Gran Via, and Puerta del Sol– which are close to the city’s Plaza Mayor. Below are a few more attractions that offer you a quintessentially Madrid experience.
Emociones Live Flamenco in Madrid
While several Flamenco events dot Madrid’s evening landscape, watching this Andalusian folkloric dance form in the world’s first flamenco theater is a truly memorable experience. Performed by the Teatro Flamenco Madrid, the show is often followed by an elaborate dinner featuring Spain’s best dishes.
Zoo Aquarium Madrid
The Zoo Aquarium spread across 54 acres of land, is one of Madrid’s top family-friendly attractions. Home to 1,300 animals, belonging to more than 333 species, it is owned by the city but run by the international entertainment operator Parques Reunidos. Some notable attractions within the zoo include the Dolphinarium, Aquarium, and Aviary.
