Madrid is one of the most underrated cities in Europe according to me. When going to Spain, a lot of people choose to go to Barcelona for a weekend or southern Spain to spend some time by the beach. I beg you to put down Madrid on your to-go list, because this capital has everything from beautiful architecture and lively neighborhoods, to rich cultural heritage, vibey restaurants and a vibrant arts scene. Although famous for tapas bars and nightlife, Madrid has a very relaxed vibe for being such a big city. Spending 3 or 4 days in Madrid gives you enough time to explore everything this city has to offer. What is also really good is that you can walk basically everywhere. I have listed some top things to do for a weekend in Madrid along with a recommendation on where to stay below, let’s check it out!
Spend some time in bohemian Malasaña
Malasaña is a charming and vibrant neighborhood in the centre of Madrid. With colorful houses and a bohemian spirit, Malasaña is filled with coffee shops, bakeries and vintage stores. It’s a student friendly area and one of the most popular places to visit for a weekend in Madrid. Right by the historic square Plaza del dos de Mayo you’ll find many lively bars and on the weekends small market stands show up. This is the place to go in the evening for great vibes.
Shop at the flea market El Rastro
El Rastro is the most popular open air flea market in Madrid and one of the most famous in Spain. It is organized every Sunday from 9AM to 3PM, so make sure to plan your weekend in Madrid accordingly. The market hosts over 1 000 merchants and you’ll find everything from clothing and accessories to kitchenware, albums and magazines and artisanal goods. El Rastro is located in the neighborhood La Latina and has its hub in Plaza de Cascorro. Bring cash!
Eat and drink your way through Mercado de San Miguel
Mercado de San Miguel is an indoor market located in the heart of Madrid. It opened more than 100 years ago and is one of the most important gastronomic markets in the world. It offers its visitors a taste of every part of the Spanish cuisine. Here you’ll find Iberico ham and other charcuterie, fresh seafood, paella, cheese and wine. Spend some time here and walk between the 20+ stands selling quality tapas and pair it with a glass of wine or sangria.
Take a walk and relax in Parque del Retiro
Retiro Park is a lush and beautiful park in the middle of the city and a place locals go for exercising, tanning and relaxing. The park has several monuments to visit as well, for example the Alfonso XII monument. Stroll the paths through the park and soak in the relaxing atmosphere.
Rent a boat in Parque del Retiro
In the middle of the Retiro Park you’ll find a small lake. This is an artificial lake used by a former king to reenact the Spanish armada navy battles for the enjoyment of the royalty. One of the most popular things to do in Parque del Retiro is renting a rowboat on this lake. The price per boat is €6 Monday through Friday and €8 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Check out Palacio de Cristal (The Glass Palace)
The Glass Palace is located in Parque del Retiro, originally built as a greenhouse to showcase flora and fauna. Today it is used for contemporary art exhibitions, hosted by Reina Sofía Museum. If going to Parque del Retiro, make sure to stop by this palace, almost entirely made out of glass. Status per October 2024: The Glass Palace is temporarily closed due to construction.
Eat and drink at one of the Paraguas restaurants
Grupo Paraguas is a group of seven restaurants – El Paraguas, Ten con Ten, Ultramarinos Quintín, Amazónico, Numa Pompilio, Aarde and Origen – around Madrid, all within the concept of fine dining but with different themes. The restaurants are incredibly Instagram-friendly with their beautiful interior, and also serve great food of course. When I visited Madrid, I went to three of these restaurants. I started with lunch at Aarde, in their outdoor area right by the roundabout Plaza Independencia. I chose to have dinner at Numa Pompilio, mainly because of their cosy outdoor terrace. Make sure to book a table at the terrace, located in the backyard of the restaurant. It is one of the most romantic restaurants I have ever been to. And they serve delicious Italian food. Finish it up with a drink at Amazónico, the vibe here is amazing!
Get lost in the neighborhood La Latina
La Latina is a neighborhood in central Madrid with narrow alleys and colorful houses, almost reminding you of a maze. There is no structure at all in how the streets lead. I can almost guarantee you will lose your sense of locality when walking these. Although, this makes La Latina so charming. Just strolling around, getting lost and enjoying its charm and picturesque buildings. This along with visiting its multiple art galleries, tapas bars and cafes.
Have an afternoon drink at a rooftop bar
I’m a fan of having drinks at outdoor servings in picturesque streets, watching people pass by and being in the middle of it all. But I don’t say no to a rooftop bar once in a while. In Madrid you can find some really nice ones, my favorite being The Hat. This is a rooftop bar located on top of the hostel with the same name, with a view of the roof ridges of Madrid.
Experience the famous art museum Prado
The Prado Museum is the most famous art museum in Madrid, hosting some of the most renowned art collections in the world. In the Prado Museum you’ll find more than 2 200 paintings, with the most extensive collection of Spanish art. Entrance costs €15 and you can purchase tickets both online and on site. I would highly recommend buying it online though, to avoid queuing. Don’t make the same mistake I did, that will say buying a ticket on site and having to queue for about 40 minutes.
Visit Palacio Real de Madrid
Palacio Real de Madrid is the royal palace of Madrid and one of the most beautiful and best kept palaces in Europe. It is also the biggest palace in Europe with 3 418 rooms, spread across 135 000 square meters. Nearly 1.5 million people visit the royal palace of Madrid every year to look at the art and treasures hiding inside. An entry ticket costs €20. I’m not the biggest fan of visiting palaces so I didn’t go inside myself. If you’re like me, you should at least walk past it to take a look from the outside.
Eat tapas, tapas and more tapas
No weekend in Madrid is complete without having tapas – small dishes that you can just keep ordering more and more of, because the Spanish cuisine is just delicious. Some of my favorite spots for tapas in Madrid is La Musa Latina (dumplings, tacos, steak, you name it), Taberna El Schotis (typical Spanish tapas) and El Viajero (amazing charcuterie).
Shop at Calle Gran Vía
Calle Gran Vía is the most popular street in Madrid, stretching for 1.3 kilometers. This is one of the best shopping streets in Madrid because along it you’ll find the most famous retail stores, so get ready to spend some money. This is however the most busy street in Madrid, attracting over 10 million people every year.
Try a bocadillo de calamares at Plaza Mayor
Playa Mayor is a 400 year old square in the heart of Madrid with a lot of cafes and restaurants, and a statue of Filip III in the middle. Except being famous for its architecture, it’s also known for the octopus sandwich, more known as bocadillo de calamares.
Visit Salamanca – the American neighborhood
Something you’ll notice about Madrid is the structure of the streets, which is non-existent. I usually have a good sense of locality but I had a really hard time navigating in Madrid. But then you visit Salamanca and all of the sudden it feels like you have been transported to New York with square shaped blocks and long avenues. This is the place to go for high end stores and fine dining.
Where to stay in Madrid
La Latina is the perfect area to stay in for a weekend in Madrid. You’ll be close to many top attractions like Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza Mayor and the Royal Palace. Plus, La Latina is one of the cosiest neighborhoods with colorful houses and picturesque streets. I stayed at La Posada del Dragón and can recommend that. This is more for the mid-range traveler, with double rooms starting at €175 per night. An option for the budget traveler is The Hat, with dorms starting at €28 per night.
