The capital city is one of the most expensive in Spain, but that doesn’t mean you have to empty your pockets to enjoy all the city has to offer. This is our comprehensive guide filled with museums, clubs, parks, landmarks, monuments and much more that you can visit without spending a single euro.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in Madrid
This venue is a great spot to put your finger on the pulse of Madrid’s art scene. Constructed in 1887, it is an outpost of the Reina Sofía museum and is one of our favorite places in the city to take check out new exhibits. It’s right in the middle of the Retiro park, so you can stop in as while you take a stroll. The space is light-filled, and most often showcases larger installation pieces, sculptures and shows specifically designed to complement the atrium-like space.
Located in the same square as the Ritz Hotel, the Bolsa de Madrid is both a cultural landmark and a bustling center of business. Its neo-classical style was chosen to reflect the facade of the nearby Prado museum, and inside the building are two distinct areas. One part is the functioning trading section and the other is open for the public to view an exhibit about the market’s history.
Spain’s parliament, the Cortes, was built in the mid-1800s. The classic facade lends the destination an official, imposing air, and you can recognize the Cortes from the huge bronze lions guarding the entrance. Take a guided tour of the building any day of the week, but we recommend you hop on one of the free Saturday tours.
You truly can’t miss this gigantic church situated between Puerta de Toleda and the Palacio Real. The neo-classical destination is topped by a dome of 33m (108ft), which has recently been restored. This is a trend within the church, and don’t be surprised if some parts are covered in scaffolding when you visit. Things you can’t miss: an early Goya, 'The Sermon of San Bernardino of Siena' (1781), and several frescoes by other artists dating from the 17th to the 19th century.
Don’t be fooled by the longish metro ride to this plain-looking chapel – this is as much of a destination as anything else. It’s famous for being the burial place of Goya and for housing some of his luminous, recently restored frescoes inside. There are free guided tours of the Ermita, in Spanish and English, at 11am and noon on Saturdays.
This Egyptian temple honoring Isis and Amun is located on the edge of the Parque del Oeste. It dates back over 2,000 years and was sent in painstaking stages by the Egyptian government in 1968. We recomment you take a stroll at sunset to get the full experience.
This church, though largely reconstructed in the 19th century, has a formidable history dating back to the 1400s. It was a favorite of the Spanish monarchy for centuries and has been used for important state ceremonies like the religious crowning of King Juan Carlos.
Spain’s most important collection of paintings isn’t usually free to see, but there are certain times when it won’t cost you a cent to appreciate the permament exhibition. Be prepared to wait in line, but we think it’s worth it for such an amazing museum. Get in for free Mon-Sat from 6pm to 8pm and Sun and holidays from 5pm to 7pm. You can also visit for free on November 19 (the anniversary of the Prado) and the 18th of May (International Museum Day).
It’ll usually cost you €8 to get in to the Reina Sofía, but we’re here to tell you about the freebie days. Like with the Prado, there are certain days and times when – in exchange for waiting in line – you get to marvel at art without spending any money. Head over for free admission Mon-Sat (except Tue, when the museum is closed) from 7pm to 9pm as well as Sun from 3pm to 7pm. Entry is also free on April 18 and 27, May 17 and 18, October 12, and December 6.
The private art collection of the late Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza is considered one of the most important in the world, which is why general admission is usually €10. On Mondays from noon to 4pm, however, you can get access to the permanent collection absolutely free.
This venue is a one-stop-shop for your free art fix. It’s a multidisciplinary center designed to be a space for cultural exchange between emerging artists. You can find all genres of art, including performance art, music and video art, and there’s always something fun available for kids to enjoy. The centre also includes a fair-trade shop, a cafe, a library and classrooms.
The Conde Duque is one of Madrid's most important cultural centres. Here, you’ll find shows, exhibitions, talks, book days and workshops of all sorts. Summertime brings outdoor concerts and theater productions, and many of the city’s important cultural institutions are headquartered here.
Behind the waterfall in Plaza Colónand below the Columbus monument, this cultural centre offers attractions of all colors. Think theatre productions, puppet shows, operas and zarzuelas in the summer, as well as art exhibitions, usually featuring important Hispanic artists.
Since its establishment in 1981, Lola Moriarty’s gallery has been a hotspot for artists on the Movida scene and a haven for the Spanish avant-garde and contemporary art. She features a lot of photographers, but you can also find video art, paintings and video art that adds a splash of freshness to Madrid’s sometimes-staid art world.
This observatory is Madrid’s finest neo-classical building and was designed by Juan de Villanueva. It’s free and open to the public on Fridays, and still contains a working telescope.
A gallery, bookshop, publishing house and cultural centre all in one? Sign us up. Check out all this modern arte center and how it promotes artistic exchanges between Spain and Latin America through artistic endeavors.
Since opening in 1992, this museum has housed exhibits featuring many major Spanish artists, including Martín Chirino, Antonio López García, Blanca Muñoz and Luis Gordillo. With branches in London, New York, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Santiago, this expansive space is not to be missed.
This cultural foundation was established by the wealthy financier Juan March in 1955 and remains one of the most formidable in Europe. The foundation hosts a few major exhibitions, and many works of contemporary art are also on permanent display. The foundation also schedules free concerts, jazz cycles, conferences and readings that are definitely worth a visit.
This brick and tile building is nestled amongst the trees of the Retiro and crowned by large iron and glass vaults. Similarly to the Palacio de Cristal, it’s a Reina Sofía annexe and boasts airy, natural galleries. You can always good temporary shows by different arists like Cindy Sherman, Nan Goldin, Juan Muñoz and José Manuel Broto.
Owned by a Spanish/German duo, this gallery promotes abstract and figurative art and has brought European contemporary art into Spain while spreading Spain’s avant-garde art across the world.
Does a bar decorated with fake fur, Star Wars posters and 1970s psychedelia sound like your cup of tea? If so, read on. Tupperware is a lowkey bar serving up resonably priced drinks without a cover charge, and there’s always different kinds of music playing.
Honky Tonk brings local country, blues and rock acts to Mdrid , and its own Gary Moore/Rolling Stones-influenced band performs regularly. Get here early (or elbow your way to the front), as you’ll want a good view of groups playing music from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
The city’s oldest bar, La Fontana de Oro used to be one of the most iconic spots in Madrid. These days, it's an Irish pub. Although it isn’t anything special during the day, everything changes after nightfall. The room fills, energy builds and live music acts take the stage, making this a worthy stop on your night out.
Step inside the Passenger and you might be confused. You came in for a drink, but all the sudden you find yourself on a train. Don’t fret – the wide wooden seats and screens flashing landscapes were made to give the impression that you’re hurtling throught the countryside. Some evenings feature live music to accompany your drinks, and on Thursday evenings you can see all kinds of performances in this odd little spot.
At the end of Calle Serrano, practically on the corner of Príncipe de Vergara, you’ll find this classic bar for young, middle class kids who head here for hot music and unhinged fun. It doesn’t charge cover (unlike most of the other spots in the neighborhood) and drinks are reasonably priced.
If you remember the 80s with a sort of melancholy nostalgia, a night at Gris will take you all the way back. Think cheap drinks, rock/punk concerts and techno vibes. It can get crowded on weekends, but don’t let that stop you from reveling in tunes that transport you to the era of John Hughes.
This 118-hectare park is one of our favorites in the city for a leisurely stroll, a picnic or a tour of the many monuments and museums within its limits. Check out the monument to Alfonso XII, the Casón del Buen Retiro, and the Palacio de Cristal, built for the 1887 Philippine Exposition. The gardens of the Retiro also boast a rose garden, the Casa de Vacas cultural centre, and numerous fountains and statues, including the famous Fallen Angel (Ángel Caído).
The roadworks everyone thought would never end to move the the M-30 motorway out of sight have finally been completed, and now it’s a pleasure to walk along the banks of the Manzanares. Loads of parks with swings, slides and the usual kiddie attractions are dotted along the five miles of this green space. There are jet fountains the little ones can play in and cool off in summer. Parents can take a break from all the commotion at the bars with terraces that line Madrid Río. Don't forget your bikes or skates – this is the perfect place to break ‘em out.
At over 1,722 acres, the Casa de Campo is Spain's largest green space. It dates back to 1553, when Felipe II moved his court to Madrid and bought the Vargas family’s country estate, which was later expanded through with the addition of surrounding farms. During the reign of Fernando VI it was declared a Royal Forest and continued to be crown land until the days of the Second Republic, when it became a place for public use.
The park has a large lake, where you can hire a boat or a kayak, sports facilities, numerous paths through the trees and bushes for running and cycling, and various leisure facilities like the famous cable car, an amusement park, the Zoo Aquarium, a fairground and the Madrid Arena. There are plenty of restaurants scattered throughout the park, mainly around the lake.
There is a park in Madrid that is unknown, even to many locals, where the almond trees bloom each spring. It's the Quinta de Los Molinos, in the El Salvador neighbourhood. Its 21.5 acres are home to a large number of olive, pine and eucalyptus trees, as well as various fountains and a lake. But the real stars of the show are the white and pink flowers on the almond trees, which give off a heady scent.
This garden once belonged to the Count of Torre Arias, but in 1920 became part of the estate of César Cort Boti, an engineer and architect. It was categorised as a historical park in 1997 and fills up with families playing ball games, couples of all ages, and groups of friends taking photos of the colourful trees with their mobile phones.
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