Not sure where to begin when planning a trip to Madrid?
Before we arrived in Spain’s capital and largest city, Madrid, we spent hours searching the internet for things to do. Madrid is over 1100 years old, so there are bound to be many things worth seeing.
There are many quirky and strange things to do in Madrid. You might want to explore more of Madrid’s hidden attractions after you have seen the main tourist spots, such as the Parque del Retiro and the Royal Palace of Spain.
We were surprised by how much fun there was to be had in Madrid.
Madrid is a great place to start a road trip through Spain or Portugal . If you are taking the train from Madrid to Barcelona, there’s plenty to do and see.
MADRID: UNIQUE THINGS YOU CAN DO
Discover 15 things you can only do in Madrid.
EAT CHURROS CON CHOCOLAT AT SAN GINES
Although churros and thick chocolate are not unique to Spain, it is hard to find another Spanish city who does this combination as well.
San Gines opened in 1894 and has served churros, chocolate, and other treats to the public 24 hours a days.
The chocolate, which is served in a mug but can’t be drunk because it’s so thick, is a favorite of late-night patrons (especially those who frequent bars after hours). It’s a must-have for those who love dipping fried churros, which are deep-fried battered sticks with cinnamon and sugar.
Explore a piece of Egypt at the Templo de Debo
What could be more special than having an actual 2200-year-old Egyptian temple in your own city?
The Templo Debod was a gift from Egypt to thank them for their help in preserving artifacts, monuments and other cultural heritage when they constructed the Aswan Dam. The temple was not destroyed but instead, it had to be torn apart brick by brick before being rebuilt in Madrid.
The Templo de debod, originally built in honor of both Amun the god and Isis the goddess, is located in Parque de la Montana in Madrid, Spain. It’s close to the Royal Palace. The grounds are free to walk, but there is a fee for the main building.
SURREAL AT REINA SOFIA MUSEUM
The Reina Sofia Museum is unique because of what’s inside, not what it looks like.
You can spend hours wandering from one room to the next, surrounded by works of art.
The Reina Sophia Museum also has a well-known grouping of their collections.
Each room has a story that combines paintings, sculptures and posters with music, videos, and audio.
You don’t want miss ‘Guernica,’ one of Pablo Picasso’s most powerful antiwar paintings.
Enjoy the Space at SALA EQUIS
Sala Equis, located in the famous Alba Cinema in Madrid’s last X-rated Cinema, has been converted into a popular bar and cultural centre. The former mansion is divided into three zones, and offers plenty of space to explore.
Sala Plaza is the main area with a big screen, bar and a wide variety of food. Relax on the wooden benches, swings and lounge chairs while chatting with locals and friends.
The cozy 55-seater cinema has everything from classic horror, sci-fi, and blockbusters to the latest releases. Every month, they post a large rotating schedule (no movies Mondays). See what’s on at the site.
Eat Dirty at La POLleRIA and La Coneeria
What are some unique and delicious ice cream treats you can make? I’m in.
” What am I looking at? is a common phrase heard by people as they enter La Polleria or La Coneria, the sister shop.
La Polleria, a ice-cream shop in Madrid that had such a successful first year it was forced to move and spawned another “sister” location just down the road.
Both male (polofres, a play off slang for male genitalia) and female waffles (conofre, a play off slang for female genitalia), are hugely popular and both have long lines every day. You can enjoy a good laugh and a delicious ice-cream treat with the polofres or conofres that are on a stick.
IKONO: Explore your senses
Have you ever felt that you couldn’t play with something or touch it?
Most museums only let you look around. Ikono has five spaces that are based on the five senses.
Ikono is a one-hour walk that’s packed with photographic opportunities. Bring your camera or phone.
WALKING THROUGH PRADO MUSEUM
The Prado museum is the largest museum in Madrid and also one of the most prestigious museums in the world.
The Prado museum is located in a massive neoclassical building that was built in 1785. It is worth a visit on its own.
You can find some of the most inspiring collections of Goya’s, Bosch’s, El Greco’s, and Velazquez’s paintings, along with Spanish Romanesque Murals and Gothic Altarpieces. There are also works by Titia Botticelli Rafa Caravaggio and other Italian Renaissance masters.
TAKE IN MADRID’S STREET ART
Madrid’s street art is not unique. The quality and sheer scale of Madrid’s large-scale art is what sets it apart from other street art. Madrid is home to a variety of murals and street artwork, including a wall with 150 painted CCTV cameras, symbolizing that Big Brother is watching. There are also functional sundials, such as the Sombrerete, which has quaint, charming, and useful features.
Check out the article for a quick overview of some of Madrid’s most famous street art.
FLAMENCO SHOW – GO TO A FLAMENCO SHOWCASE
Madrid, while claiming to be the origin of Flamenco, is often referred to as the capital city. Madrid is home to the largest and most dramatic flamenco performances in the country, and several shows are happening every night.
Flamenco dancing, with its hypnotic movements, haunting vocals and rhythmic castanets beat, is a fascinating experience.
If you have never seen flamenco before, it’s a treat. You can catch it at a flamenco tablao like Corral de La Moreria, which was opened in 1956, or Villa Rosa, which first opened in 1911. Or, you could be in the city for one of many Flamenco Festivals such as Flamenco Real or Flamenco Madrid, or the Suma Flamenca festival held towards the end of the calendar year.
GET SPOOKED AT THE CHAMBERI GHOST STATION
Estacion de Chamberi, which was first opened in Madrid in 1919, is one of the original metro stations. This former metro station, located between the Bilbao stop and the Iglesia stop on the Blue Line was closed for many years, but passengers could still see it as they zoomed by on the tracks.
The station has a rich history. It was used as a shelter during the Spanish Civil War to protect the Nationalists from deadly artillery and bombing attacks. Eventually, it became a museum called Anden 0 in English.
The film includes a restored Chamberi Station, with old ticket booths, turnstiles and maps, as well as a video about the original construction of the Metro.
The Anden 0 Museum is a must-see for its beautifully reconstructed ads that line the platform of the metro. The ads are made up of colorful tiles just like they were when the metro first opened in 1909.
Eat at the oldest restaurant in the world, The Sobrino de Botin
The Sobrino de Botin, named by the nephew of its original owner as the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the World in the Guinness Book of Records, has been serving food for over two centuries.
The restaurant is so old, that patrons used to bring their own food and have it cooked by the owners.
The restaurant has maintained its Spanish roots, despite its obvious age. The restaurant’s most popular dish is the whole suckling pork, prepared faithfully in an old brick-oven.
REVERTE COMA MUSEUM: GO MACABRE!
Reverte Coma Forensic Museum is a fascinating place for those who enjoy macabre and grisly oddities. Over 1,500 macabre objects are displayed, including severed heads, mummies and 800 skeletons.
This is not for the faint-hearted, but if you’re interested in forensics and paleopathology, or are fascinated by the subject, then it’s well worth a watch.
You can see most of these items in the vast Faculty of Medicine Building at the Complutense University of Madrid. You can arrange a visit to the majority of these items, which are mainly for students. Contact the university or call ahead.
When something is not what it seems?
It’s at the Museum of Illusions in Madrid. This museum uses optical illusions to trick your mind. You’ll see tricks such as optical illusion and forced perception.
The majority of rooms are designed to fool your mind, and in some cases make you not see what is right in front. Bring your camera in either case. Some rooms at the Museum of Illusions require that you take pictures to fully appreciate their potential.
Visit a real Crystal Palace
Palacio de Cristal is a unique building in Madrid’s Parque De Retiro. Palacio De Cristal is a unique palace in Madrid’s Parque de Retiro. It is nestled right in the middle of the park and more like a large, empty space than a palace.
The ornate glass-and-steel greenhouse, which was completed in 1887 and sits along the lake shore in Retiro Park, was built to showcase greenery and art in a baroque style. The building, which is over 130 years old, still looks stunning. It’s especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves start to change.
Meet your eventual overlords at the Robot Museum
Who doesn’t love robots? Who doesn’t?
Are you afraid they will one day enslave you? But that doesn’t stop me from finding them fascinating. The Robot Museum in Madrid houses one of the largest robot collections around the globe. You can interact with them and see some of them.
The museum was founded in 2013 and pays tribute to the invention of robots, the current state of the art, as well as what might exist tomorrow. The Robot Museum in Madrid displays everything from humanoid robots to robotic toys, robotic animals and replicas of Star Wars androids. It also has the world’s smallest robotic robot, EMROS.
MADRID SPAIN: UNIQUE THINGS YOU MUST DO
There’s always something to do in Madrid, whether you’re visiting, stopping by, or live there.
Madrid is an amazing city that has a lot to offer. From restaurants and entertainment centers, to world-class museums and parks, and even more markets and shops than you can imagine, Madrid is filled with nature, art and music. Enjoy your time in Madrid, whether you are with your family or on your own.
Add your own suggestions to the list! Comment below!