What to do in Madrid

Activities, attractions and tours

Madrid
Madrid
Almudena Cathedral
Madrid
Madrid

Places to Visit in Madrid

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Let Expedia.co.nz help you find the most exciting and fun things to do in Madrid, Community of Madrid while also allowing you to save a ton on travel arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an urban explorer or an intrepid outdoor enthusiast, we can help you decide exactly what to do and see during your time in town.

Our thorough travel guides offer you an insider’s perspective on all of the best Madrid attractions from NZ$4, making it easy for you to decide which places to visit and when. And by using Expedia.co.nz to set your sightseeing schedule, you can take in more of the enchanting attractions this area is famous for.

From group Madrid tours and must-see landmarks to personal guides who take you off-the-beaten track, Expedia.co.nz offers you over 400 of the most popular events, activities, and attractions in this corner of the world. So whether you’re travelling alone, alongside a loved one, or with the whole family in tow, be sure to browse through our extensive travel guides prior to your plane touching down in this spectacular Madrid. We even have a massive selection of flights, car hires, and accommodation for you to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today, and you’ll be having the time of your life before you know it.

  • find price illustration

    Explore activities

    Explore thousands of experiences from activities and attractions to day tours and transfer.
  • calendar shield illustration

    Book with ease

    Skip the line- book tickets online in minutes to top attractions with free cancellation on many activities.
  • trophy illustration

    Treat yourself

    Members save % or more when you book activities.

Top places to visit

1. Gran Via

The Gran Via is a shopping hub and a center for nightlife. Like much of Madrid, the strip celebrates the past while embracing the future: boutique stores and international brands are housed in some of Madrid’s most iconic heritage architecture.
Learn more
Gran Via showing a city, landscape views and street scenes

2. Bernabéu Stadium

Real Madrid is one of the most internationally recognized soccer teams and their Santiago Bernabéu Stadium (Estadio Santiago Bernabéu) is among the sport’s finest. Watching a match at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is a lifetime dream for both long-term Madridistas and soccer enthusiasts. Walk on the hallowed turf of the playing field, browse the clubs impressive trophy hall and relive historical moments via multimedia exhibits.
Learn more
Cheer on the superstar players of one of the world’s most successful soccer clubs and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the colossal 81,000-capacity stadium.

3. Puerta del Sol

Madrid lies dead-centre in the middle of Spain – and the Puerta del Sol lies dead-centre in the middle of Madrid. It's here that Spain's map-makers and road-builders placed their starting-mark, to be used for counting distances around the country. But the Puerta del Sol isn't just about geography and maps – there are other reasons why this square is considered the focal point of the country. Meetings, celebrations and marches are naturally drawn here. Over the last few years, it has been the rallying point for Spanish protests over the global recession and Euro-crisis.
Learn more
Puerta del Sol

4. Plaza Mayor

Madrid is a city of many squares, plazas and parks – but none are quite like the Plaza Mayor. Sitting right in the heart of old Madrid, not only is it one of the city's oldest and biggest – it is probably its most breath-taking. Built to a design of 16th century artist Juan de Herrera, it was the 1790 reconstruction by Juan de Villanueva that stood the test of time (two other efforts burned down in great fires). But what all the designs shared, and what makes the Plaza Mayor so special, is its four-sided, three-storey high wall of arcaded housing – ringed by balconies, topped by towers, and painted with bright murals.
Learn more
Plaza Mayor showing a square or plaza, a monument and a statue or sculpture

5. Royal Palace of Madrid

If you could measure a royal palace by floor space, then Madrid's Palacio Real would come out on top. With 3,400 rooms, it's easily the largest in Europe. But the Royal Palace has more than size to commend it. There are the cool glades of the Sabbatini Gardens, the intricate formality of the Plaza de Oriente, which opens out on to the Royal Theatre, and the elegant grandness of the Plaza de la Armería, facing onto the Almudena Cathedral.
Learn more
Royal Palace showing a castle, a city and a park

6. El Retiro Park

Long a preserve of royalty, El Parque de Retiro is where the Habsburgs, Europe's most powerful monarchs, came to play. Its giant pond hosted mock naval battles, its formal gardens saw elaborate and extravagant plays. Now it's the place you come to, to picnic, promenade and ponder – and maybe push the paddle-boat out, onto the waters of the Estanque del Retiro.
Learn more
El Retiro Park which includes a garden

7. Prado Museum

Madrid's Prado Museum can count itself in an elite handful of global art museums, with a collection as famed for its quality as it is for its quantity – particularly when it comes to the Renaissance and Classical paintings of Europe. Works by Hieronymous Bosch, Rubens, Botticelli, van Dyck and Rembrandt hold pride of place, in a collection that ranges from the 12th to 19th centuries. Take a count, and you'll find over 7,000 paintings, 1,000 sculptures, and 13,000 prints and drawings housed here. Naturally, the works of Spanish artistic genius feature most prominently, with the Prado having world's most comprehensive collections of artists like Goya and Diego de Velázquez.
Learn more
Prado Museum showing interior views and art

8. IFEMA

IFEMA is the benchmark in excellence for those travelling to Madrid for work. Its location in the Barajas district, just on the outskirts of the capital and a short distance from the airport, is ideal for enjoying a comfortable stay, with the peace of mind of knowing that you’ll have all the services you need at hand, as well as a metro station just a few minutes’ walk away, ready to take you off to the city centre. There, you can enjoy the culinary delights of the most fashionable restaurants, take in the latest musicals on the Gran Vía or admire one of the many interesting exhibitions at the Prado or the Reina Sofia Museum.
Learn more
Few venues for fairs, exhibitions and conferences can compete with IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Madrid’s trade fair venue, for comfort, amenities and its modern style.

Black Friday Sale

Save up to 40% on select hotels
Book now

Recommended things to do in Madrid

Number of things to do
400
Cheapest thing to do on Expedia
Civil War in Madrid Discover the turbulent history of Spain: NZ$4
Top 5 things to do
Half-day tours
With kids

What to do in Madrid

Discover the most popular places to visit in Madrid

Gran Via showing a city, landscape views and street scenes

Gran Via

Madrid’s famous shopping strip has boutiques and international brands, an exciting nightlife and an impressive display of early 20th-century architecture.

Gran Via
Bernabéu Stadium

Bernabéu Stadium

Cheer on the superstar players of one of the world’s most successful soccer clubs and take a behind-the-scenes tour of the colossal 81,000-capacity stadium.

Bernabéu Stadium
Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol

The Puerta del Sol is where all of Madrid's roads meet, a central gathering point for madrileños, and home to some of its best-loved symbols.

Puerta del Sol
Plaza Mayor showing a square or plaza, a monument and a statue or sculpture

Plaza Mayor

A square-shaped piece of Madrid's soul – a sheltered 17th century quadrangle that has seen bull-fights and fiestas, fires and protests and kings that come and go.

Plaza Mayor
Royal Palace showing a castle, a city and a park

Royal Palace of Madrid

Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.

Royal Palace of Madrid
El Retiro Park which includes a garden

El Retiro Park

While Casa de Campo is a park walking on the wild side of western Madrid, its eastern counterpart, El Retiro Park, is Madrid's genteel, cultured take on park-life.

El Retiro Park
Prado Museum showing interior views and art

Prado Museum

A roll call of brilliant painters – Bosch, Rubens, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Goya and Velázquez – are waiting to be viewed at the Prado Museum.

Prado Museum
IFEMA

IFEMA

Few venues for fairs, exhibitions and conferences can compete with IFEMA - Feria de Madrid, Madrid’s trade fair venue, for comfort, amenities and its modern style.

IFEMA
Movistar Arena

Movistar Arena

Catch an event at Movistar Arena during your trip to Madrid. Discover the fascinating museums and shops in this vibrant area.

Movistar Arena

Explore areas of Madrid

Default Image

Madrid Centro

4.5/5(135 area reviews)

Known for its fascinating museums and acclaimed art galleries, there's plenty to explore in Madrid Centro. Check out top attractions like Gran Via and Puerta del Sol, and jump on the metro at Sol Station or Gran Via Station to see more of the city.

Madrid Centro
Default Image

Sol

If you're spending time in Sol, check out sights like Gran Via or Puerta del Sol and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Sol Station or Callao Station.

Sol
Default Image

Salamanca

4.5/5(14 area reviews)

Contemporary fashion, gourmet cuisine, fine art and upscale residential living await discovery in one of Madrid’s most stylish neighborhoods.

Salamanca
Chueca featuring café lifestyle and a city as well as a large group of people

Chueca

5/5(8 area reviews)

This avant-garde part of Madrid is known as the gay quarter because of its numerous LGBT shops and bars, a Gay Pride march and an open-minded populace.

Chueca
Default Image

Malasaña

4.5/5(10 area reviews)

Loved by hipsters and students for its coffeehouses and nightlife scene, this creative neighborhood also has excellent art museums, theaters and shopping.

Malasaña
Default Image

Ibiza

During your stop in Ibiza, check out the parks, and jump on the metro at Ibiza Station to see more of the surrounding area.

Ibiza

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 

 

Day trip destinations from Madrid

Alcala de Henares

Alcala de Henares

Chinchon

Chinchon

Photo "Alcobendas" by Rodrigolive (page does not exist) (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Rodrigolive (page does not exist) (CC BY-SA)

Alcobendas

Arganda del Rey

Arganda del Rey

Photo "Getafe" by velomartinez (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by velomartinez (CC BY-SA)

Getafe

Photo by Loreto Herraiz

Las Rozas de Madrid

Photo "Mostoles" by Luiscamar (page does not exist) (CC BY-SA) / Cropped from original
Photo by Luiscamar (page does not exist) (CC BY-SA)

Mostoles

Photo by Raul Grande Revilla

Pozuelo de Alarcon

Frequently asked questions

Is Madrid worth visiting?
One of the most popular things to do in Madrid is explore Gran Via. Tick this major attraction off your itinerary, then discover more of the area's markets and culture.
How do I spend a day in Madrid?
When you've checked off popular attractions like Gran Via and Príncipe Pío Shopping Centre, spend the rest of your day discovering the food and retail options in Madrid.
What is the top tourist attraction in Madrid?
Don't leave without exploring Gran Via, rated the top tourist attraction in Madrid.
Is three days enough to stay in Madrid?
Three days in Madrid is plenty of time to visit the city's major attractions. Many guests book for three days on average. Gran Via, Prado Museum and Lope de Vega Theatre are top-rated sights. Want to see more? Hang around a bit longer to check off nearby hotspots such as Alcobendas.
Is Madrid a walkable city?
With exciting neighbourhoods and leading sights within walking distance of the city centre, Madrid is a great destination to see on foot. Enjoy wandering between Gran Via and Prado Museum. Then take a stroll around Sol, located 0.16 kilometres from the centre, and Barrio de las Letras, which is about 0.32 kilometres away.
What are some activities to do in Madrid with kids?
If you're looking for sights and tours for all of your group, we've got some awesome ideas for what to do in Madrid with kids.

What to do in Madrid for adults?
Paseo de la Castellana and Calle de Alcalá are just two of the things to do in Madrid. With lots of activities available, there's something here for everyone to experience.
Are there free things to do in Madrid?
In Madrid, Gran Via is a must-see spot for anyone looking to enjoy the city without opening their wallet. Also, check out the parks and other neighbourhoods, and speak with a local tour guide. It's a great way to explore the best free things to do in Madrid.