🇪🇸 Spain

10 best places in Madrid

Madrid stays up late - tapas bars run past midnight while world-class museums sit next to street markets and baroque plazas.

Museum

Museo del Prado

One of the world's greatest painting collections, from Velázquez and Goya to Bosch.

Museum

Museo Reina Sofía

Home to Picasso's Guernica and Spain's finest 20th-century art collection.

Sight

Palacio Real

Western Europe's largest royal palace, dripping with opulent state rooms.

Sight

Plaza Mayor

A 17th-century stone square lined with arcades and pavement cafés.

Park

El Retiro

A vast city park with a boating lake, rose garden, and the glass Palacio de Cristal.

Market

Mercado de San Miguel

An early-1900s iron-and-glass market turned tapas-and-wine wonderland.

Sight

Templo de Debod

A genuine Egyptian temple on a hilltop with Madrid's best sunset views.

Café

Chocolatería San Ginés

A legendary 19th-century churrería serving hot chocolate and churros round the clock.

District

Malasaña

A bohemian neighborhood of vintage shops, bars, and street art.

Restaurant

StreetXO

Chef David Muñoz's daring fusion cooking, one of Europe's boldest tables.

FAQ

Best time to visit Madrid?

April to June and September to October are the sweet spots: warm without being brutal. July and August often push into the high thirties, the city empties out and some places close. Winter is dry and sunny with cold nights and far fewer tourists.

How many days do you need in Madrid?

Three or four days is a sensible minimum for the Prado, Reina Sofía, the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor and Retiro. Budget half a day for the Prado alone and give the evenings to tapas. A fifth day gets you to Toledo, Segovia or El Escorial.

Is Madrid expensive?

By Western European standards Madrid is moderate, cheaper than London or Paris, though rents have climbed fast in recent years. The metro and set lunch menus keep daily costs down, the tourist core does not. Several major museums have free evening slots.

How do you move to Spain?

The usual routes are work visas, the EU Blue Card, study, family reunification, the digital nomad visa and the non-lucrative visa for people living on passive income. Spain closed its property-based golden visa in 2025. Citizenship generally comes after ten years of residence, with a much shorter track for Latin American nationals, and the details change, so verify current requirements.