Madrid is the proud capital of Spain. Many people who are going to Spain are focused on the beaches or Barcelona, but for me, Madrid is the absolute highlight of this Mediterranean country. The city breathes Spain, and it is just a treat to be on its lovely streets. The city is one of the biggest in the European Union, with 3.2 million inhabitants. When in Spain, do not skip this fantastic city. The city may not have too many sights, but it is the feeling that will amaze you.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How to get here: Madrid is easy accessible from all parts of the world. There is a big airport with many international flights. Besides it is easily reached by public transport and by car.

How much time needed: 3-4 days give you sufficient time to get to know the city.

Find the bear of Madrid at Sol

Sol is one of the main squares of Madrid, where there is always something happening. At the square, acrobates are doing their tricks, people are having a drink, and musicians are playing their music. My personal highlight is the statue of the bear (see picture above). For the football fans out there, the bear is in the emblem of Atletico Madrid.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: An hour should be sufficient for this square

Visit the mighty Plaza Mayor

The Plaza Mayor is the most beautiful square in Madrid. The entire square is surrounded by houses and restaurants, and it is fantastic just looking around the many people. Sitting on a terrace here is an absolute treasure and one of the better highlights of Madrid. There are also some pigeons on Plaza Mayor to improve the atmosphere.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 2-3 hours including a drink is great here. 

See the works of Picasso in Reina Sofia

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is my favorite museum in Madrid, mostly because of one of the most impressive paintings worldwide: La Guernica. This painting is huge and tells the story of the Spanish Civil War. The museum, named after a Spanish queen, also has paintings by Salvador Dalì and many more.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 1-2 hours

Stroll through the gorgeous Parque de Retiro

Parque de Retiro is a perfect city park to stroll in on a lovely sunny day in Madrid. The park has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2021. The highlights of the park are the water (see picture above) and the glass greenhouse. The park is especially great on a Sunday, when many locals come to have a walk. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1-3 hours depending on your pace.

Feel Egyptian culture at the Templo de Debod

The Temple de Debod is a hidden gem in Madrid because it is a bit further out of the city centre. This temple is the biggest Egyptian temple outside of Egypt. The temple was removed from Egypt to Madrid as a gift. It is lovely to walk around it and feel surprised that you are in Spain.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 20 minutes

Enjoy a game or Stadium Tour of Real or Atletico Madrid

I am a football fan, and then I recommend going to a game at one of the two best clubs in the world. I have been to both teams, and it is fantastic. If there is no game, you can do a stadium tour (I only did it at Real), and you will still be impressed by the stadium, prices, and information about maybe the biggest club in the world. 

Price: €35 for a Stadium Tour and game depending on game and place. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium for stadium tour, low for games. 

How much time needed: 2-3 hours for a game and 1-2 hours for a stadium tour

Eat in the oldest restaurant in the world

According to the Guiness Book of Records, Botín is the oldest restaurant that is still working. The restaurant was founded in 1725, and they still make their dishes as before. The Morcilla as a starter is great, but their specialty is the suckling pig as a main course. There can be some musicians as well, which contributes to the great atmosphere. 

Price: Depending on the dishes you order, of course!

Tourist occurrence: High, it is a bit of a tourist trap, but worth a visit. 

How much time needed: 1-3 hours

See the royal palace

Spain is one of the countries that still has a royal family, so there is also a huge palace, and it is in the centre of Madrid! Unfortunately, I did not have time to get into the palace, but from the outside, it is already fascinating, and this is an absolute highlight of the capital of Spain.

Price: €20

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: I do not really know, as I did not enter the palace. 

Have some bites at the Mercado de San Miguel

This is one of my favorite places in Madrid. The Mercado de San Miguel is very close to the Plaza de Mayor, and it is the perfect place to walk around and have some bites. There is a lot of jamón iberico and other great Spanish bites to enjoy. The prices are a bit higher, but the atmosphere makes it all worth it. The picture is terrible, unfortunately.

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1-2 hours 

Just walk around and stop at nice places

As I said before, Madrid may not have too many sights, but the best thing is to just walk around, have a drink, halve a lunch, stroll a bit, and enjoy the real Spanish atmosphere. The people are friendly, and there is always something going on as many people go out on the streets. Things is one of my favorite things to do in Madrid.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: The whole trip!

See the Mighty Gran Vìa

When you walk through the city centre of Madrid, it is almost impossible not to pass the impressive Gran Vía. This is not the most important highlight of this great city, but it is one of the most classic sights in Madrid. It also has some sights, such as the Madrid Arc de Triomphe: Puerta de Alcalá (see picture above).

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1-2 hours 

Enjoy views on Plaza de Cibeles

Another highlight on the Gran Vía is Plaza de Cibeles, with its impressive building, which may be my favorite building in the city. The fountain in the middle of the square is also impressive. This square is also one of the places where the football clubs in the city celebrate their trophies. 

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed:  20 minutes

Have a laugh in a Gocar

If you really want to do something fun, renting a GoCar is a nice activity. This is an out-of-the-box experience where you go in a two-person open car or motorcycle and cross the city. There is a radio that tells you the direction, and you will pass some of the highlights of the city, like Sol. You can do several routes with different routes, and you can pay per hour. This is a different experience, but locals will not do this. You can rent it close to the temple of Debod. I am not sure if it is still open.

Price: Depending on the route and time

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 2 hours. After that amount of time, we thought it was enough.

Things I have not done, but could be cool

• Prado Museum
• Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
• Cable car at  Casa de Campo

Final thoughts

Madrid is one of my favorite cities in Europe because it has a unique, authentic atmosphere with many great restaurants and bars. Experience the city is a real treasure, and it does not matter how often you get here; it will always be a fantastic city. There are good sights, but they are not the main thing for me. Madrid can never be skipped on a Spain itinerary. 

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