Things to do in Madrid in 2027: 15 ideas to plan your trip

Art in Madrid: the three great museums of the Paseo del Prado

The axis formed by Paseo del Prado and Paseo de Recoletos packs into little more than a kilometre three collections that, together, trace Western painting from the Gothic period to the late 20th century. It is the natural starting point for anyone visiting the capital for the first time.

Prado Museum

Velázquez, Goya, Bosch, Titian and Rubens in Juan de Villanueva's neoclassical building. It deserves at least half a day: with an audio-guide ticket you can focus on the rooms holding Las Meninas and the Black Paintings without getting lost. A guided tour is also available for those who prefer a structured story.

Reina Sofía Museum

Housed in the former General Hospital next to Atocha, it holds Picasso's Guernica and a 20th-century collection featuring Dalí and Miró. It fits well into the early afternoon, after lunch in the Lavapiés neighbourhood.

Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum

In the Villahermosa Palace, opposite the Neptune fountain, it offers a very clear chronological route: from the Italian primitives to pop art, by way of Impressionism. It is the most manageable of the three in terms of time.

If you plan to see all three, there is the Paseo del Arte pass, which cost €32.80 in 2026 (indicative price, checked October 2026) and gives one entry to the permanent collection of each museum within a year.

Monumental Madrid: the Royal Palace and the heart of Habsburg Madrid

Between Plaza de Oriente and Calle Mayor lies the Madrid of the 16th to 18th centuries, the part most often explored on foot and the one that best explains the city's history as the seat of the monarchy.

Royal Palace of Madrid

The official residence of the Crown, though now used for state occasions, the palace opens its halls to the public: the Throne Room, the Royal Armoury and the Royal Pharmacy form the core of the visit. On Wednesdays and Saturdays the guard changes at the Puerta del Príncipe (from 11:00 to 14:00 between September and June, earlier in July and August), and on the first Wednesday of many months the solemn changing of the guard takes place in the Plaza de la Armería, free to watch. You can go in with an audio guide or on a guided tour.

A stroll through Habsburg Madrid

From the palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza de la Villa and Plaza Mayor are only minutes away. This is the area for wandering with no fixed route and ending with a vermouth on Cava Baja.

Football in Madrid: Real Madrid and Atlético stadium tours

Few European cities let you visit two top-flight stadiums with their own museums on the same trip. Both tours run on non-match days; when there is a game, the times are cut back or changed.

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour

Real Madrid's stadium, on Paseo de la Castellana, has unveiled a major redevelopment with a retractable roof. The tour includes a panoramic view from the top of the stands, the trophy room with the club's European Cups, the dressing room, the dugouts, the players' tunnel and the press room. Note that on match days and the day before, the dressing rooms and dugouts are not included. Santiago Bernabéu metro, line 10.

Riyadh Air Metropolitano tour

Atlético de Madrid's stadium, in the San Blas-Canillejas district, offers a tour of areas normally reserved for players and an interactive museum on the red-and-white club's history. Take metro line 7 to Estadio Metropolitano station.

Madrid outdoors: the Retiro and the city's great green spaces

Madrid has more green space than its reputation as a dry city suggests, and some of it ranks among the most precious parts of its heritage.

Retiro Park

Entry to the park is free. What you can book is a guided visit, on foot or by bike, explaining its origins as a 17th-century royal garden, the large boating lake with the monument to Alfonso XII, the Palacio de Velázquez and the rose garden. The Retiro is part of the Landscape of Light, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 25 July 2021 together with Paseo del Prado. The Palacio de Cristal is undergoing a full restoration due to finish in July 2027, so check whether it has reopened when you travel.

Casa de Campo

The great green lung to the west is home to the Zoo Aquarium and the Parque de Atracciones, and can also be explored by bike or around the lake. Get there by metro (lines 5 and 10) or on the cable car from Parque del Oeste.

Evenings in Madrid: a flamenco show in a tablao

Although flamenco was born in Andalusia, Madrid has for decades been one of its great stages, and a tablao show is among the most requested evening plans.

Tablao Torres Bermejas

Opened in 1960 on Calle Mesonero Romanos, a stone's throw from Callao and Gran Vía, its interior recreates the decoration of the Torres Bermejas at the Alhambra. Legends such as Camarón de la Isla performed on its stage. There are sessions with a drink or with dinner; the show usually lasts around an hour.

Other tablaos with a history

The city keeps other long-standing venues, such as Corral de la Morería near Calle Bailén, each with its own format and repertoire. Choosing between them comes down mainly to which neighbourhood and time slot suit you.

Family days out in Madrid: theme parks, zoo and nature

If you are travelling with children, the capital has several venues that fill a whole day. Three of them open seasonally, so the calendar is the first thing to look at.

Parque Warner Madrid

In San Martín de la Vega, south-east of the capital, with areas themed around Warner Bros. films and cartoons. It runs on a seasonal calendar, broader in spring and summer, with special events in autumn. The easiest way there is by car or on the transport services laid on during the season.

Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

In Casa de Campo, with roller coasters for teenagers and a children's area. Its opening days also vary through the year: in winter it is usually limited to weekends and public holidays. Batán metro, line 10.

Zoo Aquarium de Madrid

Also in Casa de Campo, it combines a zoo with an aquarium. It is open all year round, which makes it a good winter option.

Faunia

A nature theme park in Valdebernardo, to the east of the city, with recreated ecosystems (jungle, polar regions, forest) and animal encounters. Valdebernardo metro, line 9.

Day trips from Madrid: Toledo, Segovia and El Escorial

Three World Heritage cities lie less than an hour and a half from the capital and are easy to visit in a day, either independently or on an organised trip with a guide.

Toledo day trip

The city of three cultures, perched above the Tagus, brings together its primate cathedral, synagogues, the Cristo de la Luz mosque and works by El Greco. The high-speed train from Atocha takes about half an hour; organised trips usually combine transport with a guided walking tour, either full-day or half-day.

Segovia day trip

The Roman aqueduct, the Alcázar and the Gothic cathedral line up along a single walk through the old town. Most trips include the guided outdoor walk and leave free time; check each listing to see which monument tickets are included.

El Escorial Monastery

Philip II's monastery, about fifty kilometres north-west, holds the Pantheon of Kings and an extraordinary library. Independently, take buses 661 and 664 from the Moncloa interchange (around an hour) or the C-8 Cercanías commuter line.

Getting around Madrid: metro, tourist pass and where to stay

The metro reaches almost every sight and is the quickest way across the city. For short stays there is the Abono Turístico de Transporte, a tourist travel pass giving unlimited journeys on the metro, EMT buses and Cercanías for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 days. In zone A (the municipal area) it cost €10.30 for one day and €17.50 for two days in 2026, with a discount for under-11s (indicative prices, checked October 2026). If you want to go to Toledo or El Escorial, zone T also covers the wider region.

Neighbourhoods to stay in

• Sol and Austrias: everything within walking distance, ideal for a first visit.
• Huertas and Barrio de las Letras: next to the museums, with plenty going on at night.
• Salamanca: calmer and more elegant, well connected to the Castellana.
• Malasaña and Chueca: nightlife, independent shops and cafés.

Safety and day-to-day life

As in any big capital, keep an eye on your phone and wallet on the metro and in the busiest spots, such as Sol or Gran Vía. Spanish mealtimes are late: lunch starts from 14:00 and dinner comes after 21:00.

When to visit Madrid in 2027: weather and seasons

Madrid has a continental climate: cold, dry winters, very hot summers and two in-between seasons that are the most pleasant for walking.

• Spring (April to June): the best time for the Retiro and day trips. May brings the festivities of San Isidro, the city's patron saint, around the 15th.
• Summer (July and August): very hot in the afternoons. Plan museums for the middle of the day and walks for early morning or dusk. August is the month of the traditional street festivals of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma.
• Autumn (September to November): mild temperatures, the football season under way and a packed cultural calendar.
• Winter (December to February): Christmas lights, the Plaza Mayor market and shorter museum queues; the theme parks scale back their calendars.

Booking ahead in high season

Easter, the long weekends in May and December, and weekends with a big match are when time slots for museums, stadium tours and day trips fill up fastest.

How to check availability for your Madrid plans

Each of the fifteen activities in this guide has its own page with a calendar. Select the date you are interested in and press «Check availability»: we will see whether places remain for that day and, if you ask, send you an email alert so you do not miss out. Online booking is completed with our booking partner, and each activity's cancellation terms are always shown before you pay.

A suggested four-day itinerary

1. Day 1: Royal Palace, Habsburg Madrid and a tablao in the evening.
2. Day 2: the Prado in the morning, the Retiro in the afternoon.
3. Day 3: a day trip to Toledo or Segovia.
4. Day 4: the Reina Sofía or the Thyssen, plus a stadium tour.