I have to start this post by saying this is not a classic and usual guide to exploring Madrid. Sure, I will cover some classics —like Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace—but beyond those postcard moments, there’s a side of Madrid that feels more local and a lot more fun to explore. This is not your typical guide. It’s a mix of must-sees and lesser-known gems, the kind of spots that make you feel like you’ve uncovered something special. And what are my credentials? Well, I didn’t visit Madrid for 3 or 4 days. I spent a month studying Spanish and living (or at least trying) like a local. Over our 4 weeks in the Spanish capital, my husband and I mostly took advantage of the weekends to explore the city – especially the food scene. So, whether you are spending 3 days or a week, I’m sure this post will have plenty of options for you to choose from!
Where to stay in Madrid
Madrid has a variety of neighborhoods, each with its own vibe. It all depends on what you are looking for. For example, we stayed in Salamanca, a more residential area with elegant architecture, quieter but still well-connected, featuring lots of shops and restaurants. This is the link to the Airbnb where we stayed – and they accept short and long stays.
Sol & Gran Vía are the most popular among first-time visitors – close to major attractions like Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, and Gran Vía. It can be convenient but also crowded and touristy.
Other areas to consider are Malasaña (for nightlife), La Latina (for more local vibes), and Lavapiés (for the artsy scene).
Weather in Madrid
I can only speak with more “authority” about January – and compared to New York City, Madrid’s winter is pretty mild. We had so many sunny days with nice temperatures. The only downside is that sunrise is only at 8:30 am, which can be brutal sometimes lol. Also, all the locals told me July and August are the worst months to visit – it’s pretty hot.
Things to do in Madrid – classics
Here some of the spots in Madrid that make to all travel guides and my inputs and tips about each one:
- El Retiro Park – I visited this park so many times – mostly because I was training for a Half-Marathon while in Madrid, so this was the closest spot for me to run when running outside. I would say this is Madrid’s “Central Park. If you are a runner, there’s a running loop – a 4.5 km loop around the park. There is always someone running there – and it’s more crowded on the weekends. My favorite spots at the park were Monumento a Alfonso XII & Retiro Pond – you can rent a rowboat (€6–€8 for 45 minutes). It’s so gorgeous! Also, the Puerta de Alcalá, a historic arch and Madrid’s version of the Arc de Triomphe, is near the park, on the northwest, and it is pretty impressive.
- Prado Museum – this is one of the most important art museums in the world, and it houses a massive collection of European masterpieces, from Velázquez and Goya to Rubens and Bosch. But please remember it is a huge museum. I highly recommend renting their audio guide devices, and you can choose some of the available programs/tours. Buy tickets here!
- Reina Sofia Museum – it is where you’ll find modern masterpieces – and it’s best known for Picasso’s iconic “Guernica“, but the museum also houses an incredible collection of Dalí, Miró, and other avant-garde Spanish artists. To visit Reina Sofia, I booked a guided tour in Spanish, and it was really interesting to visit the museum, having more background and info about the history and interesting facts about painters and their art. Buy tickets here!
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum – it was a suggestion from one of my teachers at LAE Madrid, and I really liked it! This museum covers everything from Renaissance and Baroque to Impressionism, Cubism, and Pop Art. You will find Van Gogh, Monet, Degas, and Hopper. Buy tickets here!
- Plaza Mayor – this is one of Madrid’s most iconic landmarks—built in the early 17th century under King Philip III, it has witnessed everything from royal celebrations to bullfights, executions, and even the Spanish Inquisition. It’s beautiful but it can be crowded – I recommend stopping here in the morning – and avoid the restaurants in the area. According to videos I’ve watched, it’s overpriced.
- Royal Palace of Madrid – it is one of the most stunning palaces in Europe—larger than Versailles and Buckingham Palace, with over 3,400 rooms. Though it’s the official residence of the Spanish royal family, they don’t actually live here. Instead, it’s used for state ceremonies and open to visitors. We only saw it from the outside – but if you are interested, you can find tickets here. It’s really gorgeous at night as well!
Where to eat in Madrid
I would say our favorite thing to do when traveling is eating! And Spanish food is among our favorite cuisines. Also, Madrid is such a rich city when it comes to food… you can imagine we had a blast. We saved so many recs from followers, friends, and social media – we couldn’t visit all the spots, but I will share the map with you at the end of this post.
Restaurants
- Restaurante Marina Ventura – come here to try a delicious paella – and their croquetas were also tasty. The environment is super cool as well. I recommend making a reservation.
- Hundred – a burger spot. They have a few locations in Madrid (and also in Valencia), and they were rated by The World’s Best Burgers, known as the Michelin Guide to Burgers, as the best in the world in its 2024 rankings. For reference, the jury considered more than 800 eateries in more than 60 countries to choose the best. They have different varieties of burgers, and they are delicious and juicy! Also recommend making a reservation!
- Casa Benigna – this traditional spot in Madrid specializes in “Arroz en Patella” – rice in patella. Patella is the “plate” where they cook and serve the rice. This place was definitely one of the top three food experiences we had in Madrid. Such delicious rice with a crusty layer on the bottom served with an aioli sauce. Make a reservation!
- Sala de Despecie – this spot was also recommended by one of the teachers at LAE Madrid – they have a few locations in Madrid, and I absolutely love their concept. And this is how I summarize the experience here: it’s like having fine-dining dishes in a cool and casual environment. All plates are meant to be shared, and they finalize everything in front of you. The mix of ingredients and flavors is just incredible. Best artichoke I’ve had in my life! Make a reservation!
- Taberna Andaluza – expect a lot of dishes with seafood and fish – and a delicious selection of jamons!
Casual vibes
- Byblos – a casual spot for Lebanese food. Prices are really affordable here, and the portions are generous. A non-touristy spot near Gran Vía.
- Tko Tacos – a tacos chain – with tacos for €1! Such a great deal.
- Honest Greens – we discovered this chain in Barcelona, and we got obsessed with their salads and bowls with fresh and healthy ingredients. I just wish one day, they open in the US. Seriously! The brunch menu is also full of delicious options. Plus, they have a lot of locations in Madrid.
Tapas
- Casa del Abuelo – come here for their “gambas al ajillo” – garlic shrimp. I will never ever forget this dish. Also, order a glass of Vermouth and fall in love with this Spanish drink.
- Casa Revuelta – they are famous for their cod – or bacalao, a super crispy deep-fried fish. This is a no-frills spot; you will be standing the whole time (and their menu is short). You can expect lines, but it is fast.
- Casa Dani – they won the best “Tortilla de Patata” in Spain. That alone should convince you. I was impressed – and this tip came from a local. Their menu also features a lot of “montaditos” or mini-sandwiches.
- Casa Toni – come here for a variety of tapas. I highly recommend trying morcilla, patatas bravas, and mushrooms.
- Cañas y Tapas – although the service here was really slow – and that was probably because they were packed and understaffed – tapas here were delicious, especially the croquetas!
Sweets
- Alex Cordobés – when in Spain, you need to try their Tarta de Queso – which is like their version of cheesecake but much better, in my opinion. It’s really creamy, and you will usually find different flavors. This is probably the most famous spot in Madrid for Tarta de Queso – and it’s worth the hype (and the wait in line!). We tried the classic, the white chocolate, and the dulce de leche, and it’s hard to pick the best one.
- Maritta – a casual spot that also sells Tarta de Queso with different flavors – we tried the pistachio one, and it was as good as the ones from Alex Cordobés.
- Galletown – one of the best discoveries in Madrid was this spot. The owner was super nice, and she makes American-style cookies – and honestly, in our opinion, her cookie beats a lot of famous cookies in NYC. I guess her cookies have more like a homemade flavor. I highly recommend getting the galletona as well, which is a cookie cup with a delicious filling (flavors vary).
- La Dolce Fina – the best dulce de leche gelato I’ve ever had!
- Moulin Chocolat – a spot for French-style treats like macarons, chocolate eclairs & galettes. I went there for their viral – and delicious – croissant a la frambuesa (raspberry croissant) filled with a “tarta de queso” crem.
Non-obvious things to do in Madrid
- Entertainment: I was really impressed with Madrid’s cultural scene – there are so many plays and musicals to see! If you are fluent in Spanish, I recommend checking the play. We saw Una Madre de Pelicula, a dramedy monologue starring Toni Acosta, a famous and incredible Spanish actress, at Teatro Bellas Artes. We had such a great time – plus, I do think the prices of the tickets are reasonable – starting at €17. Another thing we did was buying tickets for a comedy show, and that was wild, honestly. And I say that because understanding comedy in another language requires a lot of context and background, so I would say that we didn’t get half of the jokes, but it was ok: my mantra was putting myself out there. We attended Dani Rovira’s show, “Vale la pena“.
- Cooking class – I love cooking, so I decided to look for cooking classes in Madrid, and I found Kitchen Club. They offer a variety of classes – Asian cuisine, Spanish cuisine, Japanese cuisine… – in a gorgeous environment. You not only learn how to make delicious dishes and techniques, but you also get to eat what you cook, and it’s an open bar event. We paid around €70 per person for this class called “Arroces contemporaneos”, where we learned 4 different recipes with a Spanish chef, surrounded by fun Spanish people.
- Cinema: Another thing I did was going to see a movie in Madrid. I know, I know: with the streaming services, there are a lot of original movies and series in Spanish to watch, but it was about the experience itself – plus, not all Spanish productions are available on streaming platforms. Also, the tickets were very affordable – €6.
- Flamenco show – my husband really wanted to see a Flamenco performance, and after some research on Reddit, we decided to check a performance at Corral de la Morería. You can either make a reservation for the performance only or to also have dinner there. Tickets are €40-50 per person – and since I thought the food was a little expensive, we decided to eat at another spot before the show.
Transportation in Madrid
Madrid has an efficient and affordable public transportation system, primarily comprising the metro and bus networks. A single journey on the metro costs between €1.50 and €2.00, depending on the number of stations traveled. If you are staying for an extended time, I recommend the “Metrobús” ticket – I usually pay about €6 for 10 rides, and it is valid across both metro and bus services. You can also use Uber and Bolt for ride-sharing services – and I recommend always checking both cause the price difference can be significant. Overall, I found the prices for rides affordable (but remember: I live in an expensive city – NYC, lol).
Shopping
- I would say Gran Vía is a great spot to shop, since you find all the famous stores close to each other. Expect all the famous fast fashions like H&M, Primark, Zara and its sisters brands Stradivarius and Bershka, Mango, plus other spots like Sephora, Nike and Kiko Milano.
- If you love to visit grocery stores when traveling, check Carrefour (there are tons of Carrefour and Carrefour Express in Madrid) and Mercadona – a famous grocery store chain in Spain –and I definitely recommend it!
Other tips & resources
- I saved a lot of tips from Tik Tok, of course, but I highly recommend Spain Revealed on YouTube. It’s a couple based in Madrid and they have so many amazing tips and great advice!
- Airbnb Experiences, Fever, and Eventbrite are great places to look for experiences, tours, and events. I also found this article on LAE Madrid’s website about Language exchange experiences really helpful.
- And as I promised, you can have access to my Madrid’s map with more than 70 spots that my husband and I saved – these were recs from locals, friends and followers!
I hope you like this post and it can inspire you to enjoy this amazing city!
Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!
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