Madrid Royal Square

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Our top picks for the grown-ups in Madrid!
By Adam Fraiel

Explore Madrid’s adult-friendly attractions such as the nightlife, live shows, historic sights and more with our guide!

Madrid is the perfect destination for an adult-centric getaway. Sophisticated galleries, fine dining, romantic picnics, or riding through the streets on an electric Segway - whatever you consider fun, Madrid has it.

Whether you’re looking for something romantic or just a vacation with friends, Madrid is a brilliant choice. If you’re looking for inspiration for things to do in Madrid for adults, couples, or just grown-up fun, this list is the perfect starting point.

 

Watch a live Flamenco show

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Watch a live Flamenco show

Spain is the birthplace of Flamenco. It came to Madrid in the 15th century as a folk dance, and now it’s one of the most popular forms of Spanish dance around the world.

You can find performances all over the city, and you can catch one of the best Flamenco experiences at Torres Bermejas. With authentic costumes, mesmerizing choreography, and world-class musicians, it’ll certainly be a night to remember.

With Go City®, you also receive a 20% discount on food and drinks.

 

Chocolates and Churros Segway Tour

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Chocolates and Churros Segway Tour

Whoever thought to combine delicious churros (fried dough, usually dipped in sugar and chocolate) with the excitement of touring the city on a Segway is a genius!

Madrid is a very walkable city, but you’re on vacation. Why not try something new? Helmets, a reflective waistcoat, and an English-speaking guide are all included, so safety isn’t an issue.

Tour the city in style, stopping at some of the most iconic landmarks, such as The Royal Palace and Plaza de Ópera, before ending with a bellyful of crispy, doughy churros.

The Chocolate and churros Segway tour is a unique way to experience the Spanish capital, and one of the best things to do in Madrid for adults.

 

Experience Madrid’s renowned nightlife

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Experience Madrid’s renowned nightlife

Madrid is a vibrant city filled with incredible nightlife. Some of Madrid’s most popular nightlife spots are Chueca, Malasaña, and Huertas, to name a few.

Madrid’s nightlife scene is very diverse, offering everything from jazz bars and traditional Spanish music to nightclubs, with top DJs spinning the latest beats.

Keep in mind that most clubs open around midnight, but don’t start getting lively until around 2 am, with some staying open until 6 am.

If that’s a little late for your taste, there are plenty of opportunities for earlier pub crawls, rooftop bars, or watching live music around the city.

 

Visit one of Madrid’s amazing markets

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Visit one of Madrid’s amazing markets

If shopping’s your thing, Madrid is your city.

The Downtown area of Madrid is the city’s primary shopping district. Most shopping takes place on the streets around Puerta del Sol; here you’ll find the most shops and the most famous street in Madrid, Gran Via.

But, if you’re looking for something unique, it’s worth exploring Madrid’s many street markets. From gourmet food stalls to obscure collectibles in a railway museum, Madrid has a vast selection of markets.

Some markets worth exploring include Mercado de San Miguel, Mercado de Maravillas and Mercado de Motores.

 

Toledo and Segovia day tour

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Toledo and Segovia day tour

Toledo is an ancient city full of history and culture. It was once the capital of Spain and is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It’s also one of the most beautiful cities in Spain and you can get there from Madrid as part of a day tour.

Segovia is Spain’s hidden gem. It’s an old Roman city that’s full of beautiful architecture, amazing food, and stunning scenery.

You can tick off two UNESCO World Heritage Site in one day with your Go City® attraction pass, with a guided tour of Toledo and Segovia.

Explore the Royal Palace of Madrid

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Explore the Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace is the official residence of the King of Spain, but don’t expect to bump into him as it’s now only used for state occasions.

It’s an enormous building, the biggest functioning royal palace in Europe, with over 3000 rooms. Taking a tour of the Royal Palace is like stepping into a time machine, with exhibits that date back as far as medieval times.

If you’re taking a guided tour of the Royal Palace, it’s worth going early. It’s one of the most visited attractions in Spain, so it can get quite busy.

MAPFRE Foundation Art Exhibitions

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

MAPFRE Foundation Art Exhibitions

The MAPFRE Foundation is one of the city’s top museums. It houses a vast collection of works by some of the most famous artists in the world, from Salvador Dali to Pablo Picasso.

While one of the smaller galleries in Madrid, the MAPFRE Foundation Art Exhibitions showcase notable artists from the 19th and 20th centuries with some of the finest surrealist art ever created.

The museum’s permanent collection is constantly changing, so there’s always something new to see.

 

Take in a show at the Teatro Real

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Take in a show at the Teatro Real

Teatro Real is one of Madrid’s top attractions. It’s one of the most beautiful theaters in the world and has an impressive history dating back to 1818. It’s also home to the famous Spanish National Opera and Ballet companies.

Get dressed up in your finest to watch an opera, ballet, musical, or concert performance. Shows run throughout the year, and you can check their official calendar for all the current events.

Tickets sell fast, so try to book as far in advance as possible.

 

Enjoy a picnic in Retiro Park

Things to do in Madrid for Adults

Enjoy a picnic in Retiro Park

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life and relax for a few hours, enjoying a romantic picnic in Retiro Park.

While crowded on the weekends, during the week, it’s the perfect getaway to enjoy some quiet time with friends or loved ones. Home to over 1,000 species of plants, a stunning lake and rose garden, it’s the perfect place to disconnect and savor the tranquility.

If sitting around doesn’t excite you, get on your bike and explore the 350 acres. Take a two-hour guided bike tour of Retiro Park and explore every corner. Your guide will fill you in on the history and cultural significance as you cycle around this iconic park.

End the day with a beautiful sunset view

After all that exploring, culture, and adventure, finish your Madrid experience by enjoying a stunning sunset from an ancient temple.

The Temple of Debod is an Egyptian temple in the Parque del Rey, built in the 2nd century BC. It was once part of an Egyptian temple complex, given to Spain by Egypt in 1968. It’s now one of the best places in Madrid to see the sunset.

Next to the Royal Palace of Madrid, it’s open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM, and the entrance is free.

As it’s up on a hill, you’ll get a stunning view as the sun sets on the city of Madrid below.

The perfect end to a perfect trip.

 

Save on Admission to Top Madrid Attractions

Explore the best things to do with a pass for Madrid by Go City®. Select from top attractions with our All-Inclusive and Explorer passes, where you’ll enjoy access to galleries, museums, tours much more. So grab a Madrid attraction pass and make the most of it!

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Adam Fraiel
Go City Travel Expert

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Madrid skyline.
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Free Things to do in Madrid

Madrid isn’t exactly renowned as a budget holiday spot, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to have fun once you’re there. In fact, there are stacks of free things you can do in Madrid, from visiting world-class museums and royal palaces to browsing flea markets, picnicking in the parks, and simply enjoying the city’s elegant architecture. Check out our selection of the best free things to do in Madrid, including: Plaza Mayor Cibeles Palace Retiro Park Prado and Reina Sofia museums Almudena Cathedral El Rastro flea market Gran Via Temple of Debod Plaza Mayor A stroll around this most elegant of Madrid plazas is essential and, crucially, will cost you absolutely nada. Plaza Mayor is the city’s beating heart, a grand square that’s accessed via nine monumental arches. Grab a selfie by the extremely photogenic Arco de los Cuchilleros then take in the intricate mythological murals that adorn the Casa de la Panadería and say hola to King Philip III sitting astride his trusty steed (albeit in statue form). Pro tip: there’s no better way to people-watch in Madrid than by grabbing a cone of hot, sugary churros with chocolate dipping sauce and finding a seat beneath one of the plaza’s ornate towering lamp posts. Enjoy! Cibeles Palace The crowning glory of the already magnificent Plaza de Cibeles, Cibeles Palace is a glorious architectural confection complete with Neoplateresque facade and great wedding-cake turrets. There’s no charge for admiring its extraordinary exterior, taking a peek inside and filling your Insta feed with #humblebrag snaps galore but, if your budget will stretch to it, it’s worth paying the €3 fee to ascend the tower for 360-degree city views that take in the 11-kilometer-long Calle Alcalá, the Colon Towers and, of course, Plaza de Cibeles itself, with its iconic marble fountain depicting the goddess Cybele on a lion-drawn chariot. Retiro Park There’s more than enough free eye candy in Retiro Park to fill a day’s sightseeing (or more). Don’t-miss landmarks include the glass-and-cast-iron masterpiece that is the Crystal Palace, once a hothouse showcasing local flora and fauna; now an exhibition space for the Reina Sofia Museum. Feast your eyes on the Fountain of the Fallen Angel, a monumental sculpture depicting Lucifer’s fall from grace, stop to smell the roses in the formal gardens, and marvel at the epic Monument to Alfonso XII from a prime position on the tranquil boating lake. See it all on a guided bike tour or take it easy – a lazy picnic of Spanish cheeses, cured meats and still-warm bread, scoffed on the lawns by the kitschy Fisherman’s House, is just about as good as life gets. Free Museums Madrid has more world-class art museums than you can shake a paintbrush at. Chief among these are the Prado and Reina Sofia which, between them, cover the history of (mostly) Spanish and European art from the 12th Century to the present day. We’re talking masterpieces by the likes of Picasso, El Greco, Goya, Velázquez, Dalí, Miró, Bosch, Raphael and van Dyck, to name just a few. You’ll find some of their best-known works here. Hit up Reina Sofia for a close-up look at Picasso’s Guernica, one of the most powerful anti-war statements ever committed to canvas, and head over to the Prado for Velázquez’ illusory Las Meninas, Bosch’s enigmatic Garden of Earthly Delights triptych and other bucket-list pieces. Entry to the both museums is free during the last two hours of opening. Reina Sofia is completely free to enter on Sundays and holidays. You can also save money on guided tours at both (and access to many other Madrid attractions) with a Madrid pass from Go City. El Rastro Market The picturesque old neighborhood of La Latina is worth a visit any day of the week (top tip for foodies: it’s where you’ll find some of the best tapas in town), but Sundays are particularly enjoyable thanks to the vast El Rastro, Spain’s biggest open-air flea market. It’s great fun just browsing the hundreds of stalls in the streets and lanes around Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores, all piled high with antiques, retro fashions, kitsch kitchenware, vintage vinyl records and, well, pretty much anything else you can think of. It’s free to look, and free to take Insta-worthy snaps galore. But bring your best haggling game, too: there’s no way you’re walking out of here without being tempted by a phrenological head, old street map, Spanish Civil War medal, or some such other souvenir curio... Gran Vía Sticking with the shopping theme, the Gran Vía is Madrid’s most famous shopping boulevard, a long, elegant stretch of capitalist excess with hundreds of stores, malls, bars and restaurants in which to splash the cash. But resist the lure of Mango and Massimo Dutti and there’s plenty of gratis fun to be had here, by simply admiring the eclectic architecture and soaking up the lively atmosphere. Look out for the landmark Metropolis building, topped with its gilded cupola and winged goddess, snap a selfie beneath the Capitol building’s old-school Schweppes sign and – oh, go on then – treat yourself to a refreshing Seville orange sorbet from one of the many fine gelato joints. Almudena Cathedral This glorious 19th-century confection at the bottom of Calle Mayor (and right next door to the Royal Palace) is free to enter. The neo-gothic interior’s clean lines, vivid stained glass windows and, yes, even pop-art decor, set it apart from other European cathedrals of this era, lending a strikingly modern look that surprises and delights in equal measure. Look out for statues of contemporary artists, painted icons by Spanish legend Kiko Argüello and a neo-romanesque crypt that houses the mortal remains of several Spanish royals and other dignitaries. There’s a €7 fee to enter the cathedral museum, which contains effigies of the city’s patron saints. Temple of Debod Last but by no means least, you simply must enjoy a sunset from the atmospheric environs of the Temple of Debod in Oeste Park. Dating from the 2nd Century BC, this sacred Egyptian shrine found its way to Madrid in 1968 and has been a favorite with locals, tourists and hopeless romantics ever since. Comprising of a small temple and several stone arches, set over tranquil pools amid beautiful gardens, the temple is pretty special at any time of day or night, but rarely more so than at sundown, when the whole place seems to glow a fiery orange. Cost of this unforgettable Madrid experience? Precisely zero Euros. Heavenly. Save on things to do in Madrid Save on admission to Madrid attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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