They say Madrid is a city where you can find any kind of plan and activity to enjoy with your partner, your family or your friends. It doesn't matter if you're coming for a few days or if you're a true, born-and-bred Madrileño — one of those who hates going down Gran Vía at Christmas or who knows the Line 6 metro stops by heart. Nothing matters when you love the capital and want to enjoy it 100% in a different way!
We propose some typically Madrid things you must do if you haven't; if you have, you're free to repeat them; and if friends come to visit the city, you can't skip making plans with them that include something from this list.
Let's start with food — who doesn't love a good spot to eat well at a fair price, and on top of that, support an establishment with a long tradition and reputation behind it? Here are our favorite places:
- Eating great huevos estrellados at Casa Lucio, entering La Latina via Calle Cava Baja — the place sits in the same spot as the historic, old Mesón del Segoviano.
- Going to eat the best tortilla de patata of all the Malasaña spots, at Pez Tortilla. What we love about it? That it's not fully set, a little undone like the best tortillas should be (like the ones our mothers make).
- In the heart of Malasaña too, you must have a yayo at Casa Camacho: casera, gin and vermouth, accompanied — of course — by the classic pickle as a tapita.
- Trying the cod and the croquetas at Casa Labra. This taberna is famous for being the place where Pablo Iglesias founded the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party on May 2, 1879.
- Being amazed by the size of the tapas they serve you at El Tigre, eating until you burst, and then leaving with heartburn from their spicy sauce.
- The Las Bravas tavern claims to hold the copyright on the Salsa Brava for Madrid's patatas bravas. Dare to try them? Made artisanally and with very natural ingredients, it's one of the best spots in the city to soak up this sauce.
- After a long night out, finishing things off with churros and warm chocolate at San Ginés.
- If you have money and feel like it, you can drop in for a glass of wine or vermouth at a market like San Antón or San Miguel, although they tend to be packed.
- Buying a good Napolitana at La Mallorquina and savoring it as you stroll.
If what you love is not necessarily spending money and instead walking or exploring original places enjoying the good weather Madrid usually has and its views, here are some spots we recommend:
- Taking a night photo of the Schweppes neon sign with Gran Vía in the background (which you have to walk up and down at least a couple of times).
- Going to see the Puerta de Alcalá and looking for what's different on each of its sides.
- Going up to enjoy the panoramic views from the Círculo de Bellas Artes, and indulging in the colors the Madrid sky creates.
- Stepping into Retiro and getting lost in the infinity of its green, its famous Book Fair, or boating on the great central Lake and getting freaked out by the mutant carp.
- Watching the romantic sunset that the Templo de Debod offers in Madrid.
- Visiting the Twin Churches of San Antonio de la Florida — one of the fresco-painted domes is the original by Goya and the other is a copy. Could you tell which is which?
- Stopping to listen to the clock on Calle de la Sal, next to Plaza Mayor — the oldest watchmaker's in Madrid (1880), where the protagonist automaton plays a Madrid Chotis every quarter hour.
- Going to see the Carillon clock of the Plus Ultra building, right next to the Hotel Palace, where you can see figures of Madrid's Enlightened era like King Carlos III, the Duchess of Alba and the painter Francisco de Goya.
- Impressing your partner by taking them to the Parque del Capricho, which on top of everything is only open on weekends.
- Seeing Cibeles and the Palacio de Telecomunicaciones (today, the Madrid City Hall) lit up at night. They tend to dress up for special occasions, like purple for International Women's Day or rainbow for World Pride.
- Seeing La Quinta de los Molinos with all the almond trees in bloom, which teleports you to anywhere in the world and brightens your day.
- Strolling through Madrid Río and enjoying our river, El Manzanares (it's not the Seine or the Guadalquivir, but it's something).
And we keep going with more ideas you'll surely love and that will sound familiar — always keeping in mind that the long list we've put together here could go on forever, since this city has endless possibilities in food, culture and outdoor leisure.
- Buying a lottery ticket at Doña Manolita after waiting two hours in line thinking you'll win (we're still here…)
- You can't be from Madrid or visit Madrid without dropping by the Museo Reina Sofía and seeing Picasso's Guernica live.
- Likewise, a must-visit (even just to see what you remember from school trips) is the Museo Nacional del Prado, the largest Spanish art gallery and one of the best in the world.
- Going for cañas (small beers) in La Latina or the Barrio de las Letras (Huertas) and finding all kinds of alternative spots, each one more surprising than the last.
- Spending a Sunday morning at El Rastro de Madrid, walking through it and then having a few beers.
- Eating 12 chocolate bars on December 30 with the clock at Puerta del Sol, because since at the "preuvas" we can't eat grapes, we'd rather get fat and turn to Charlie and his Chocolate Factory.
- The Cuesta de Moyano is a place where you can always find a special gift for a book lover.
- Going to the Capitol or Callao Cinemas and watching a film in original version — at those old cinemas everything looks much more vintage. They were built in the 1930s with the intention of being multifunctional, and there they are, brightening Madrid's Gran Vía.
- And last but not least, taking a themed Guided Visit with Wake Up Tours, where you'll discover things you apparently didn't know and that you'll love learning about from an expert.
Get out there and do them all, and leave us more points you'd add to the list as the good Madrileños you are! Those who know Madrid a little less can tell us what they'd most like to do, or what they haven't crossed off the list yet. And the best part of all is that you decide the price, since they're free tours.
Every minute counts, so never stop doing what you love and never close the door to new and original plans. Enjoy the summer!