Summer in Madrid: Best Tours & Activities — Trip Planner

What's actually worth your time in Madrid

The Royal Palace, with some 3,000 rooms and the only complete Stradivarius quartet in Europe, is the paid highlight. The Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen sit within a ten-minute walk of one another as the Golden Triangle. Retiro Park's Crystal Palace is free and stages rotating Reina Sofia installations. Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol are photo stops. The Temple of Debod, a genuine Egyptian temple gifted in 1968, is free and best at sunset.

Madrid after dark

Madrid eats at 22:00 and goes out at 01:00, later than anywhere else in Europe. La Latina fills for Sunday vermut once the Rastro flea market winds down, Malasana is the indie quarter, Chueca the gay one, and Huertas the loud touristy strip. Clubs such as Kapital run to 06:00. The Metro shuts at 01:30 and reopens at 06:00, so the standard tactic is to simply wait it out.

What things cost in Madrid

A single Metro journey in zone A costs 1.50 to 2.00 euros depending on distance, plus the 3-euro airport supplement. The menu del dia runs 12 to 18 euros with wine included. A cana of beer with a free tapa costs 2 to 3 euros in La Latina. Prado entry is 15 euros, Reina Sofia 12 and Thyssen 13, or nothing at all inside the free windows.

Madrid's museums, and which one to pick

All three great collections give away their final hours. The Prado, home to Las Meninas and the Goya black paintings, is free Monday to Saturday 18:00 to 20:00 and Sundays 17:00 to 19:00. The Reina Sofia, closed Tuesdays, opens free 19:00 to 21:00 most evenings and Sunday lunchtime, and Guernica hangs there. The Thyssen gives its permanent collection free on Mondays 12:00 to 16:00. Queues form 45 minutes early.

What to eat in Madrid

Madrid invented little and perfected the tavern. Cocido madrileno, a chickpea stew served across three separate courses, is the winter dish, while the bocadillo de calamares sold in the streets off Plaza Mayor is the cheap classic. Mercado de San Miguel is beautiful and overpriced, so head to Mercado de Anton Martin or the taverns of La Latina. Order vermut on tap on a Sunday, as everyone else does.

When to go to Madrid

The month to avoid is January — around 10°C (50°F) with roughly 6 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: May is the sweet spot, January the month most people skip.

Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.