With a whopping 6 million tourists annually visiting the Spanish capital of Spain and ranking amongst the top visited cities in Europe, the long list of best tourist attractions in Madrid enchants visitors, new and returning!
Art lovers, stroll through the Golden Triangle of Art and explore the top 3 art museums displaying everything from 17th-century art at El Prado Museum, contemporary pieces at the Reina Sofia Museum, and global art inside the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.
Looking for a dose of delicious tapas like a good Madrileño? Opt for a delicious tapas tour to get your taste buds acclimated, and then head to the magnificent rooftops at the Círculo de Bellas Artes and the Palacio de Cibeles!
Traveling with family? Check out the fun Faunia, a fun zoo with fun climbing opportunities and 2 large amusement parks not too far!
Ready to learn more? From catching a Real Madrid soccer game at the famous Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to walking through El Retiro Park, all the fun things to do in Madrid are calling your name! Let’s dive in!
1 – Royal Palace
Visit the regal Royal Palace of Madrid, located in the heart of the city, and get a sneak peek into the royal life of the Spanish crown, from ornate decor to its historic past.
With over 3,418 rooms, the Royal Palace welcomes all guests with the grand staircase that you climb up and pass by the King of Spain’s coat of arms. From room to room, revel in the opulent style of the rooms, from tall ceilings to gold and red details.
Dating back to 1735, the Royal Palace of Madrid is a national symbol of royal history, and though today the Royal Family doesn’t reside at the Royal Palace, the palace is still used for formal state events.
To see the palace in complete detail, including the Neoclassical Columns Room and the Throne Room, as well as compare different tickets, check out our complete Royal Palace of Madrid Tickets Guide!
2 – Prado Museum
Explore the wealth of art inside the Prado Museum, known as the national Spanish art museum and mainly housing historical Spanish paintings from El Greco, Velázquez, Francisco de Goya, and more important Spanish painters.
Divided in chronological order and by different artists, the Prado Museum is a walk through Spanish history via art that showcases everything from religious art to sculptures, and paintings, that also exhibits an art evolution.
Book a tour, and get the story behind some of the most important pieces inside, including “Saturn Devouring His Son” by Goya, “Las Meninas” by Diego Velázquez, and “The Firing Squads of May 3 in Madrid” by Goya.
Continue on museum hopping through the famous Paseo del Arte nearby. It’s approximately a 1-kilometer path where you’ll find other famous museums like the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and more!
See also: Prado Museum Tickets Price – Everything you Should Know
3 – Plaza Mayor
Another emblematic spot to add to your Madrid itinerary is the Plaza Mayor!
Dating back to its opening in 1620, the Plaza Mayor was a social space where the local market was held and hosted numerous bullfights, a few crown ceremonies, and even public executions.
Today, admire the recently renovated plaza with its orange/red facade, Spanish-style balconies, pointy towers, and the bronzed statue of King Philip ll in the middle. Plaza Mayor is always buzzing with life whether it’s with street performers in the summer or the city’s Christmas market in the winter, and lively cafes surrounding the edges of the plaza all year round!
Be sure to step inside the Casa de la Panadería, a bakery that’s been in the same spot since 1590! Inside, check out the reconstructed frescoes.
4 – El Retiro Park
Take a historic tour or join a fun segway ride through one of Madrid’s largest and most famous green spaces, El Retiro Park.
Also located centrally in Madrid, El Retiro Park is the perfect city break, with more than 125 hectares of green space, a 4.1-kilometer loop path to wander around, and take in a few sights in the park.
On the loop walk, you’ll see the Crystal Palace, as well as large fountains, historic sculptures, libraries, and cultural centers. You’ll also spot a few beautiful Andalucian-inspired gardens, and a few rose gardens, to spend a little extra time at.
Find the park buzzing with locals, whether it’s children gathering around the street performers, it’s locals doing their daily run and outdoor workouts, or people enjoying a lovely picnic.
To complete, rent a boat to row around the park’s lake!
5 – Palacio de Cristal
A structure built to showcase the native plants and other objects collected from the Philippines, during a time when the country was still a Spanish colony, the Palacio de Cristal (The Crystal Palace) is a historical sight in Retiro Park not to miss out!
Dating back to 1887, the Crystal Palace was known in its time as one of the best examples of cast-iron architecture in all of Spain. The architect, Ricardo Velázquez Bosco was inspired by the Crystal Palace in London’s Hyde Park so he decided to make a version of it in Madrid.
Today, the structure is used as a cultural pavilion in the park that houses numerous temporary exhibits, worth stepping inside to browse through.
Entry into the Crystal Palace is free.
6 – Bernabeu Stadium
Soccer or Football, no matter what you call it, if you’re a sports fan, you won’t want to miss a game at the famous Bernabeu Stadium, home of the Real Madrid football club!
With the second largest seating capacity of any sports stadium in Spain, the Bernabeu Stadium is named after one of Real Madrid’s best managers between 1943-1978 named Santiago Bernabeu.
To look up any upcoming soccer matches, just head to their website and purchase directly from there. However, if you can’t make it to a game, or you’re just interested in the stadium itself, check out a stadium tour!
Learn about the ins and outs of the historic soccer stadium, visit the locker rooms, sit on the stands, and learn trivia and the history of the stadium and Real Madrid! Visit our complete guide on everything to know about a Santiago Bernabeu stadium tour to plan your activity!
7 – Las Ventas (Bullring)
Check out the largest bullfighting ring in Spain called Las Ventas, or more formally, The Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas.
Holding a staggering capacity of 23,798 people, Las Ventas also takes the title of one of the biggest bullfight rings in the world! Inside, check out the Bullfighting Museum, housing the deep history of this blood sport that has roots in Roman times, and popularized in Spain.
Take a tour of Las Ventas, and get to see more of the facilities and spaces inside, including a chapel for the Virgen de Guadalupe and another chapel for the Virgen de la Paloma. Check out the advanced technology and immediate care available in the infirmary for the bullfighters, and walk through the famous theaters and three cultural halls.
The cultural halls host a few pieces of bullfighting art, featuring historic bullfighters.
8 – Reina Sofia Museum
Another famous national Spanish art museum to visit is the Reina Sofia Museum, located a few steps away from the Prado Museum in central Madrid.
Named after the Queen Sofia of Spain, the Reina Sofia Museum has halls full of Spanish art, specifically pieces by famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, including Picasso’s famous Guernica.
With most contemporary pieces inside, the Reina Sofia has over 21,000 art pieces specifically from the 20th century, ranging in themes of politics and social issues, and the art styles including Cubism, Avant-Garde, Surrealism, and more.
To see the detailed pieces of some of Spain’s greatest artists at the museum, make sure to book a Reina Sofia Museum tour, and read our guide on how to score your Reina Sofia Madrid tickets!
9 – hop on and hop off bus tours
See all of Madrid’s top sites from the comfort of an open-ceiling bus on an exciting hop-on hop-off bus tour!
Offering various routes throughout Madrid, one of the top reasons that make a hop-on hop-off bus tour one of the best tourist attractions is that once you buy a 1 or 2-day ticket, you’ll not only get to sightsee around Madrid, but you’ll also get unlimited city transport as long as your tickets are valid!
Simply pick your route, explore all there is to see on your route, and then get off at one of the many stops along the city, and then hop on to the next route at the corresponding bus stop!
It’s an easy, comfortable, and informative way to get to know the city and its landmarks while listening to your included audio guide!
10 – Temple of Debod
Visit one of Madrid’s most famous monuments, Templo of Debod, a gift offered by Egypt of a stone temple that was taken rock by rock and reassembled in one of the most beautiful viewpoints of Madrid.
The Templo of Debod was gifted to Madrid by Egypt as a thank-you when Spain helped the country during heavy flooding after the construction of the great Aswan Dam. The Egyptian temple is said to date back to the 2nd century BC and was transported to Madrid in 1968. The site officially opened in 1972.
Today, the temple overflows with tourists, especially during sunset hours to catch the glowing sunset in one of the best spots in the city. So make sure to grab your spot with anticipation, and bring a snack as you join the Madrileños in watching the spectacular sunset.
11 – San Miguel Market
Foodies, you cannot miss out on stepping inside the delicious San Miguel Market – a famous food market located right outside the Plaza Mayor, offering a variety of classic Spanish food to try!
From paella to sangria, jámon Iberico, cheese, and fresh produce, the beautiful San Miguel Market is the perfect food stop to add to your Spanish itinerary and stimulate your senses with so many colors, scents, and locals and visitors stopping in for a bite.
Opened originally in 1916, the elegant market with its frame exterior and wide glass panels allows passersby to glance inside the wonderful market, and step in to enjoy a bite from every type of regional Spanish cuisine.
If you want to explore the rest of Madrid’s food scene in depth, then consider signing up for a tasty food tour in Madrid, which includes a stop here!
12 – Thyssen-Bornemisza
Check out the different art styles living inside the Thyssen-Bornemisza art museum, from German Expressionism to American art, Russian Constructivism, and many other styles throughout 1,000 art pieces.
Named after a German-Hungarian entrepreneur, Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza, who began his art collection during the 1920s, the museum was later thought up after his wife from Spain, gave him the idea to open a museum in Madrid with his collection.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza is a great collection of art different from the Reina Sofia and the Prado, as the Thyssen-Bornemisza has a mix of different artists from different countries, with styles ranging from Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art, and more!
To get the most out of your museum-hopping experience, check out the different tickets available from access to the Thyssen with a meal, or skip-the-line tickets, with entry into the temporary exhibits.
13 – Catedral de la Almudena
Sitting in front of the Royal Palace is the Catedral de la Almudena (La Almudena Cathedral) which is the seat of the Archdiocese of Madrid, and an important church that has historically served in Royal Family functions.
Admire the beautiful tall ceilings, gorgeous glass windows, ornate altar, and classical style, and check out the La Almudena Cathedral Museum inside! Featuring pieces of the church’s history, important events that took place inside the church, as well as religious art. View beautiful pieces of mosaics, religious dress, and more!
Check out the crypt, housing over 400 columns with various biblical and nature scenes engraved into them. Here, you’ll find some of the resting places of some members of the Royal Family.
Tickets to enter the museum and crypt start at 6 euros for adults and 4 euros for students. The church is free entry.
14 – National Archaeological Museum
Visit some of the oldest artifacts found throughout Spain, and many other Mediterranean regions inside the National Archaeological Museum (MAN).
Founded by Isabel ll of Spain in 1867, spend an afternoon exploring the items inside the museum, from sarcophagus’ to jewelry, vases, animal and human figurines, coins, and more.
Of the many items to see inside the museum, check out the Lady of Elche, a limestone bust found in Elche, Spain, the Mausoleum of Pozo Moro, a stone mausoleum that was the burial spot for the Iberian King, the Statue of Livia, a statue of Livia Drusilla, the wife of the first emperor of Rome.
Browse the best tickets and tours to explore the museum’s deep history within Spain and the Mediterranean. Opt for a skip-the-line ticket, with a private guided tour, or the e-ticket and audio tour for only $13 USD.
15 – Puerta de Alcalá
Get your picture taken with the iconic Puerta de Alcalá, a historic archway gate that along with 4 other similar-looking archway gates, used to be the entrances into Madrid. Completed in 1778, the Puerta de Alcalá is located the on the roundabout in front of El Retiro Park, on the Plaza de la Independencia roundabout.
Each archway is named after the closest city to which they were in the direction of, and in the case of the Puerta de Alcalá, it was in the direction of the city of Alacá de Henares.
Admire the beautiful neoclassical design, it’s 3 major arches and two side doors. As much as it’s beautiful to see during the day, make sure to visit during the evening hours to see the famed archway lit up.
16 – Wanda Metropolitano Stadium
Visit the other famous soccer stadium in Madrid, this time it’s the Metropolitano Stadium, home of Real Madrid’s rival team, Atlético de Madrid.
Also known as Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, the soccer space seats over 68,000 people, and just recently opened in 2017! The Metropolitan Stadium has already been the host of important soccer matches, including hosting the Champions League Final in 2019, as well as hosting numerous concerts for various large-scale artists.
If you can’t make it to a game, make sure to book a Wanda Metropolitano stadium tour, and gain access to the spaces where the soccer players get ready for their game, including locker rooms, physiotherapy rooms, and even get to sit on the bench that the soccer players use.
Access the stadium and check out the interactive museum inside with your Wanda Metropolitano tour!
17 – Círculo de Bellas Artes e Gran Via
See the different events happening at the Círculo de Bellas Artes, a cultural space in Madrid, and one of the most important in all of Europe.
Enjoy the variety of programs, events, and exhibitions highlighting different themes in philosophy, art, literature, science, and more!
One of the other main and popular features of the Círculo de Bellas Artes is the tall rooftop with spectacular views over Madrid, especially the beginning of Gran Via. With a chef-led bar and restaurant, it’s practically a no-brainer to come to this amazing place for a drink or two to admire the city from above!
To gain access to the rooftop, make sure to purchase your tickets at the reception on the first floor, then take the elevator to the top.
18 – Fuente de Cibeles
One of Madrid’s most famous monuments is the Fuente de Cibeles (Cybele’s Fountain), dating back to 1782, created originally as a source of water for the locals.
The fountain is the image of the Roman goddess Cybele, on a lion-drawn chariot, that at night, illuminates beautifully, and creates a sparkling effect on the water. Right behind the fountain is Palacio de Cibeles, a cultural center with another star rooftop restaurant!
Near the fountain is another one of Madrid’s most famous landmarks, this time it’s the avenue called Gran Via. Compared to New York’s Broadway, Gran Via offers a similar vibe as a street buzzing with theaters, the best shopping in the city, restaurants, rooftop bars, and tons of entertainment. So make sure to stroll in the glitz and glamour of Gran Via, taking in the city’s action!
19 – Museum of Illusions
Get ready to have your world turned upside down at the epic Museum of Illusions! Offering mind-bending experiences that will warp your perception of reality, or have you question what you’re looking at over and over again, the Museum of Illusions is a perfect add-on to the list of the best tourist attractions in Madrid for a rainy day!
Step inside the funky rotated room where everything is upside down, the Infinity Room where no boundaries exist, test gravity inside the Anti-Gravity room, and try not to get dizzy walking through the mystical Vortex Tunnel!
With over 15 different exhibits taking your curiosity for a spin, be surprised by all there is to discover inside the museum! Museum of Illusions tickets are available to purchase ahead of time and require you to select a time and date.
20 – Real Jardín Botánico
Enjoy a leisure walk amongst the botanical beauties at the Real Jardín Botánico (The Royal Botanic Garden) located beside El Retiro Park, and the Prado Museum.
Offering a picture-perfect view of all the plants inside the garden, opt for a guided tour and see everything from the greenhouses to the delicate roses, even a few vegetables grown inside, and a few other exotic plants. Learn about the history of the botanical garden, which was opened in 1775.
Just a few minutes car drive away is the National Museum of Natural Sciences, a space collecting samples of minerals, plants, animals, geological rocks, and stones, fascinatingly showcasing Spain’s natural history.
21 – Wax Museum
From historical figures in history to celebrities, Royal Family members, and famous athletes, the Wax Museum is a fun museum to add to your Madrid itinerary, to break in between your tour of the city’s history and art museums.
Pay attention to the amazing detailed work of the wax figures, appreciating the art and craft behind these unconventional pieces of art, while spotting your favorite figure to take a selfie with!
With over 400 different wax figures, and special effects filling the exhibits with sounds and sights, the museum is a perfect mix of figures that will appeal to both adults and children, with fictional characters like Buzz Lightyear and other cartoon characters inside.
Check out the Horror Train, and the Wax Horror Experience, offering a better interaction with the spookiest wax figures if you dare.
22 – Parque Warner
Cut loose and have some fun at Parque Warner (Warner Park) located 30 minutes from Madrid city center!
Brimming with attractions, shows, great food options, and more, Warner Park is the ideal place to spend some time, especially if you’re traveling with children. Enjoy a good mix of kiddie rides, a few refreshing water attractions, and of course, some moderately thrilling rollercoasters!
Walk through the different themed areas, from Hollywood Boulevard to Cartoon Village, the Old West Territory, to see more fun games, and if you’re looking for other types of fun, check out the shows put on from musicals to cartoon character shows.
During October, see the park transform into a zombie-infested theme park, adding a layer of fear to your fun! Just make sure to look behind your back often…
Be sure to grab your tickets online, including skip-the-line tickets!
23 – Tapas tour
Eat your way through Madrid’s food scene on a traditional tapas tour, and enchant your taste buds with traditional Madrid bites, at the best local spots in the city!
Tapas is a traditional type of “small plate” with food that typically comes free with a drink, and can be either hot or cold, and some are more filling while others are light.
When you book a deliciously exciting tapas tour in Madrid, you’ll get a crash course on the food history in Madrid, and Spain as a whole as you follow your guide throughout the city! You’ll get to visit and try incredible tapas and wine at local and traditional hole-in-the-wall bars and cafes that most locals visit.
People watch, see and dine inside a traditional tapas restaurant with your group on this memorable tour for the senses!
24 – Teatro Real
Bring your finest outfit for a night out at the Teatro Real, locally known as “El Real” for an evening of opera and classical music.
Located in central Madrid, near the Palacio Real, the Teatro Real hosts several amazing, high-quality productions, some of the best in Europe, in its regal space accommodating 1,748 visitors, with 28 boxes, not including the large Royal Box.
Within the circular lobby, admire the beautiful works of art, some of which were previously housed inside the Prado Museum, and stop by the gift shop for unique souvenirs!
Book a guided tour of the theater, and choose between an audio tour, a guided tour with a staff member, a backstage and tech tour, or a behind-the-curtain tour to see how each production practices its presentation from costumes to rehearsals and more!
25 – Puerto del Sol
Step foot into the true heart of Madrid, the famous Puerta del Sol, a public square where you’ll find the famous statue of the bear and the strawberry tree, the city’s symbol, and the famous clock on the Real Casa de Correos.
Named after the old entryway into the city that existed where present-day Puerta del Sol is, this gate was where the morning sunlight glowed through the gate and into the city, hence the name meaning Gate of the Sun.
Walk around and be in the middle of all the action at Puerta del Sol, noticing the statue of King Carlos lll, facing towards the Casa de Correos in the middle of the square. Find the plaque on the floor right in front of the Casa de Correos that symbolizes the center of the radial network of roads in Spain.
26 – Sweet Space Museum
Step into the trendy and creative Sweet Space Museum, a space full of Instagram-worthy photo ops, various themed rooms, and dozens of snacks along the way to sweeten one of the newest tourist attractions in Madrid!
Enticing your senses, view the awesome lollipop waterfall, and the candy-floss palm trees, jump in a white ball pit, and view amazing kaleidoscope art, and other funky creations that will take your mind for a spin! Leave everything behind, and focus on having a fun time with your friends, in the sweet escape of the Sweet Space Museum!
Tickets for the Sweet Space Museum start at $13 USD, with a few options including an interactive tasting experience with your entry, and tasting all types of sweets like milkshakes, ice cream sandwiches, marshmallows, and much more!
27 – Madrid Zoo Aquarium
Book your skip-the-line tickets to the Madrid Zoo Aquarium, one of the world’s largest and oldest zoos, with a staggering 2,000 square meter aquarium!
Take a break from the museums, and head to the zoo aquarium, where you’ll get to see animals of all different sorts, from Mediterranean creatures to animals from Africa, Central America, Asia, Australia, and more! Learn about all the different animals, from pandas, dolphins, and elephants, to a few unique animals like Ñandú, Yaks, and Meekrats.
Then head to the aquarium, and view sea creatures typical of the Mediterranean Sea like the Mediterranean Seahorse, Mule Pipefish, Green Turtles, and others. Catch the dolphins in action at the fun and interactive shows, or watch sea lions get fed!
There’s an abundance of fun awaiting you at the Madrid Zoo Aquarium!
28 – Liria Palace
Culture lovers cannot miss out on a visit to the Liria Palace, a beautiful Neo-classical palace dating back to the 18th century, that once belonged to one of Spain’s most important, aristocratic families.
The Liria Palace is worthy of a visit, not just for the beauty of the palace, and its historical furnishings taking you back in time, but also for the important cultural pieces inside. The Alba Family was known for its large art collection, many of which include pieces by Spanish artists like Goya, Velázquez, and El Greco, just to name a few.
Step inside the collection of regal sculptures, and impressive tapestries, and visit the library full of important Spanish documents, and even the first copy of the famous Spanish book, Don Quixote, and handwritten documents by Christopher Columbus.
65-minute guided tours are available.
29 – Parque de Atracciones de Madrid
Another theme park to add to your itinerary is the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, located 13 minutes away from the city center at Casa de Campo!
A bustling 20-hectare park with dozens of attractions for all ages like bumper cars, carousels, all the way to high drops, and intense roller coasters! Bring your kids to the attractions with their favorite cartoon characters, or stop by for the park’s entertainment, like a show put on by Dora and her friends, the classic Little Red Riding Hood, musicals, and more!
Book the skip-the-line tickets that you’ll receive on your phone when you purchase ahead of time, and if you don’t want to wait in line inside the park for your favorite rides, check out Speedy Pass!
Upgrade the fun to Experiencias VIP to get special access to the park, games, and even food!
30 – Railway Museum
Head to the nearby neighborhood of Delicias in Madrid, and journey inside the fascinating Railway Museum, one of the largest collections of historic railroad artifacts in all of Europe.
Stationed inside a 19th-century train station with an incredible iron framework, the station is known as the oldest station in Madrid, in which locals would take the train to their destinations within Spain, and even Portugal.
Inside the Railway Museum, you’ll get to see actual trains, carriages, and old photography showing you what the station and trains looked like in their prime.
Check out the Railway Historical Archives, and the Railway Library and Newspaper inside, where you’ll learn tons on the rich heritage of rail travel in Spain.
The Railway Museum is sure to teach you something uniquely interesting about Spain’s history uniquely through the lens of this antique mode of transportation.
31 – Sorolla Museum
Step inside the home of another famous Spanish painter’s home, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida at the Sorolla Museum, taking a look at not only his famous paintings but also his perfectly conserved home.
The Sorolla Museum is located in the neighborhood of Chamberi, a quick 9-minute metro ride from the city center, and it is the home in which Sorolla and his family lived between 1911-1923.
The style of art Sorolla was most known for was impressionist and Luminism, outdoor scenes, specifically in the Mediterranean, and a few pieces showcasing social issues.
Book a tour of the Sorolla Museum, walking through the House/Museum, to admire the art, the original decor remaining in the house, the clothes left in the wardrobes, the jewelry, and much more of the personal items left throughout the house, truly feeling like it’s stuck in time.
32 – Real Basílica de San Francisco el Grande
See a few of Velázquez and Goya’s paintings for free inside the Real Basiíca de San Francisco el Grande, located in Madrid’s lively La Latina neighborhood.
Gaze at the Neo-classical exterior of the church, and allow your gaze to meet the large dome, officially recognized as the country’s largest dome and the 4th largest dome in all of Europe.
The church was built where it stands today because the land was offered to Saint Francis of Assisi after spending some time in Madrid, while on his way through the holy pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela, back in 1776.
Today, you can enter the beautiful basilica, and admire the detailed decor inside, from the large dome to the ornate paintings inside, white marble details, and gold tones throughout. View a great collection of art from some of Spain’s most important artists.
33 – Velázquez Tech Museum
You’ve seen pieces like Las Meninas and other important works of art inside the Prado Museum, but now it’s time to experience it as real as can be at the impressive Velázquez Tech Museum!
Through the work of multiple projectors, see the art come alive before your eyes, enticing your attention all around you with holograms of moving objects within some of these important and historical Spanish pieces.
Along with a beautiful soundtrack to completely elevate the experience, feel like you’ve stepped inside Velázquez’s art room, as he paints one of his famous pieces, and get the story behind some of these pieces in the most interactive way possible.
Tap into your inner genius, and “Paint Your Own Menina” by adding your own ideas to the famous painting by Velázquez! The museum will pick out the winning portrait, and then feature it at the Meninas Madrid Gallery!
34 – Faunia
Spend a fun day interacting with different world ecosystems and climates at Faunia, a uniquely enjoyable zoo experience different from any other of its kind!
Explore over 1,200 different animals from 152 different species and feel the extreme climates inside temperature-regulated rooms that mimic the weather from the Artics to the Amazon! See several different animals from seals to toucans, penguins, lemurs, and more, living in their perfect ambient, right in Madrid!
Check out the different animal activities, from touching small sea lions, manatees, and even communicating with lemurs!
If you have kids, bring them to rock climb different boulders, and climbing walls, with all the safety precautions and an instructor on site. Within the Faunia Zoo is Faunia Ventura, a fun adventure park with climbing routes, zip line circuits, and other fun for children!
35 – Cerralbo Museum
Time travel back to 19th-century Madrid at the Cerrablo Museum, the palace-turned-museum that belonged to the aristocratic family of Marquis of Cerralbo.
Although not talked about enough, the Cerralbo Museum is a true hidden gem when it comes to Madrid museums relating to palace architecture, and Spanish art to check out!
Inside, you can wander through the different rooms of the palace, each room decorated in 19th-century furnishings and decoration, as well as a great collection of art that the family members got ahold of throughout their years within Spain and Europe.
From exquisite pieces of porcelain, tapestries, clocks, drawings, glass objects, and other accessories within the home, the Cerrablo Museum will fascinate all culture and art lovers!
See upcoming cultural events at the museum, from temporary art exhibits to specialized guided tours of the palace, to concerts and more!
36 – National Music Auditorium
Visit Madrid’s main music theater, the National Music Auditorium, housing 2 concert halls, and typically hosts around a maximum of 4 concerts per day, from the afternoon to the evening.
At the National Music Auditorium, you can expect classical concerts to take place, as they are the headquarters for the Spanish National Orchestra and Choir and the Spanish National Youth Orchestra, amongst many other prestigious national musical groups.
Make your way to the National Music Auditorium, and get your tickets for one of the concerts taking place at the auditorium. To get your tickets, make sure to purchase them in person at the box office at the auditorium, however, the box office closes all of August and on December 24th and 31st. In that case, you can buy them online!
37 – Flamenco show
You cannot leave Madrid without attending a Flamenco show, of course! Choose the best flamenco show to attend from a dinner and drinks option with the show, to an entry-only flamenco show at one of the best “tablaos” in the heart of Madrid!
Originally a dance from the southern part of Spain, Andalucia, a flamenco show in Madrid will not only open you to a beautiful performance, but the talented dancers will passionately perform this time-honored style of dance and music, bringing the heat from Andalucia to Madrid!
In between the performances, you’ll learn stories and legends surrounding the origins of this traditional southern-style Spanish dance, with roots in Sephardic music, Arabic, Greek, Jewish, Romanian, Moorish, and more influences!
Tickets for a memorable flamenco show in Madrid start at $27 USD and the show typically lasts 1 hour.
Looking for the best Madrid tours?
With over 30 different attractions throughout Madrid alone, check out all the other amazing Madrid tours to help you discover the city!
From tours of the Royal Palace, and the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium to day trips and tours to nearby towns and cities like Toledo and Segovia!
Make the most of your Madrid travels, and check out more Madrid tours!
Visiting Madrid on a budget?
Make sure to sign up for a free walking tour of Madrid, and see the landmarks on foot, as you learn about the city’s history, and feel the city’s vibe with your knowledgeable tour guide.
See also: Free Walking Tours in Madrid – Complete Guide
Save big on all the major city attractions with The Madrid Pass! Enjoy skip-the-line entry into Madrid’s top museums and the Royal Palace, plus audio guides, the sightseeing tour bus, and more!
Final thoughts
Now that you’ve gone through the list of the best tourist attractions in Madrid, we hope that you’ve been able to highlight which attractions entice you the most to explore the Spanish capital!
From the historic Royal Palace to world-class art museums, and spectacular views of the city from the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and more, Madrid is awaiting you with open arms.
Happy travels!