Things to do in Madrid

44 activities, venues and outings in Madrid, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 44.

DoNorthern Suburbs
Atlético de Madrid
They play in La Liga, the top tier, and are one of the most successful teams in Spain, having won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey on ten occasions. They were European Cup runners-up in 2014 and 2016 and won the UEFA Europa League in 2010 and 2012. Since 2017 their home ground is Estadio Metropolitano, capacity 67,700, also known as Wanda Metropolitano. It's 10 km east of city centre in San Blas district, with its own metro station. The women's team play in Liga F (their top tier) at CD Wanda in Alcalá de Henares northeast of the city.
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Auditorio 400
The main venue for contemporary music, dance, and theatre performance.
DoChamberí-Castellana
Auditorio Nacional de Música
National Auditorium of Music
The main concert venue for the Spanish National Orchestra and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, as well as the main venue for touring classical artists and orchestras.
Ticket office: Mon 16:00-18:00, Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 11:00-13:00; closed Sat in July and the month of Aug
DoNorthern Suburbs
Auditorio Nacional de Música
National Auditorium of Music
The main concert venue for the Spanish National Orchestra and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, as well as the main venue for touring classical artists and orchestras.
Ticket office: Mon 16:00-18:00, Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 11:00-13:00; closed Sat in July and the month of Aug
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco
Cardamomo Flamenco Show
Authentic Flamenco show in the center of Madrid, one of the greatest tablaos flamencos all over Spain, typical Spanish food during the performance.
Shows daily at 18:00, 20:00, 22:00€32-39 (without drinks/dinner)
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Cine Doré
This is a wonderful old Spanish theatre dating from the 1920s. It has three screens and shows mainly art-house and critically acclaimed films in the original language. In the summertime, they screen movies on the roof.
From €2.50
DoChamberí-Castellana
Cines Dreams
This cinema is located in a shopping mall known for its ice-skating rink. It is a great place where teenagers can hang out since the mall also has restaurants, bars, and shops.
DoLa Latina-Austrias
Corral de la Morería
One of the most famous flamenco tablaos in the world. It′s right in the heart of the city, and you can enjoy a full-fledged Spanish meal while you watch performances by renowned international flamenco music and dance artists.
Daily 18:30-24:00€65+ (show only)
DoMalasaña-Chueca
Cuartel del Conde-Duque
This former military building now not only serves as a venue for musical, dance, and theatrical performances but also hosts contemporary art exhibits. Tickets for performances are also sold online.
Box office: Tue-Sat 17:30-20:30; exhibits: Tue-Sat 10:00-14:00 17:30-21:00, Sun and holidays 10:30-14:00
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Círculo de Bellas Artes
A non-profit cultural center located a short walk from Sol, the CBA offers up a wide variety of events and shows including film, music, art displays, dance, theater and more. See the website (in Spanish) for a list of activities. Great panoramic views of the city can be had from the Azotea, located at the top of the building.
Exhibits: Tue-Sun 11:00-14:00 17:00-21:00; Azotea: Mon-Fri 09:00-21:00, Sat Sun and holidays 11:00-21:00€4 (exhibits), €4 (Azotea)
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Essential Flamenco
Teatro Tablao Flamenco Torero
An authentic flamenco show in the heart of Madrid, set in a traditional exposed brick cave of the XIX century. Daily shows at 18:00, 19:30 and 21:00. Free drink included.
39€
DoMoncloa
Kinépolis
Outside the city, in the suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcon. The largest megaplex in the world by number of seats. Has 25 screens. The offer of movies shown in their original version is increasing.
DoSouthern Suburbs
Kinépolis
Outside the city, in the suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcon. When inaugurated, it was the largest megaplex in the world by number of seats. Has 25 screens. Typically on weekends only the new releases are offered in their original version, however Tuesday is "V.O. Day" when all movies are offered in their original version.
DoMoncloa
Las Tablas
A very popular flamenco tablao located near the Plaza España metro station. The package consisting of a Flamenco show (at 21:00 or 22:00) with a candle-lit dinner and a glass of Sangria wine is truly a treat.
DoArganzuela
Matadero Madrid
Madrid's former main abattoir (matadero), an early 20th-century industrial brick compound in Arganzuela district, has been converted to an arts and cultural centre since the 2000s. It is intended to serve as a cross-disciplinary laboratory of contemporary arts, including studios, exhibition spaces, a theatre, an arthouse cinema, and a library, as well as a café. One of the preferred spots of the city's "artsy" crowd to meet. There are performances and other events almost every day.
Usually Tue-Fri 16:00-21:00, Sat Sun 11:00-21:00, on Mon only the cinetheque is opened
DoSalamanca
Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
Las Ventas / Las Ventas Bullring
Arguably the most important bullfighting site in Spain. Unless you find this spectacle distasteful, this is a must see if you visit Madrid during the bullfighting season (May, during San Isidro). Tickets may nevertheless be expensive and hard to get for the more important corridas. Anyway, it usually is used as a venue for shows and concerts.
DoSouthern Suburbs
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo were relegated in 2019 so they now play in Segunda División, the second tier of Spanish football. Their home ground is Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas, capacity 15,000. It's in the Portazgo district, 2 km southeast of Atocha station, take Metro to Portazgo.
DoChamberí-Castellana
Real Madrid
For football fanatics, a trip to the Santiago Bernabeu, the home of local club Real Madrid is not to be missed. Real Madrid is the most successful football club in Spain and Europe, having been crowned Spanish champions a record 32 times and European champions a record 11 times. Their biggest rivals by far are FC Barcelona, with which it contests matches known popularly as El Clásico at least twice a year. The rivalry between the two sides is by far the biggest in Spain and one of the most intense in the world, and stems from the longstanding traditional rivalry between the Spanish and Catalan speaking parts of Spain. As such, tickets for such matches often sell out very quickly. In case you arrive in Madrid on non-match periods, you can take a self-guided tour of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. It includes tours around the field, the dressing rooms, the Press Room and the Real Madrid Museum where the trophies and other memorabilia are kept. Without a loyalty card, the typical fees for adults is €35 (online, €38 at the ticket office). However, a few days before a match, the chances are you will not be able to take the full tour, but only a part of it, with at least the Real Madrid Museum, at a reduced price.
€35+
DoNorthern Suburbs
Real Madrid
They play soccer in La Liga, the top tier, and are the most successful football club not only in Spain but in Europe, having been Spanish champions 32 times and European champions 14 times. Their biggest rivals are FC Barcelona, and these twice-yearly El Clásico matches sell out quickly, as does El Derbi against local rivals Atlético de Madrid. Their stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu, has a capacity of 81,000. It's one km south of Chamartin railway station and has its own Metro stop. On non-match days you can take a self-guided tour, adult €25, which includes the pitch, dressing rooms, Press Room and trophy museum. On days close to matches there is reduced access & entry price but the museum remains open. (The women's team play in Liga F their top tier at Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium towards the airport.) Real Madrid also runs a basketball team known as Real Madrid Baloncesto, which like its illustrious football counterpart is the most successful in Spain and Europe, having won a record 34 Spanish league titles and 10 EuroLeague titles.
DoLa Latina-Austrias
Teatro Real
Royal Theatre
The main opera theatre in Madrid. Tickets can be purchased online here.
Box office: Mon-Fri and Sat with performance 09:15-20:00, Sun and holidays 2 hrs before performance
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Teatro de la Zarzuela
The Spanish version of the operetta (zarzuela) is performed here. This is also the main concert venue for the Community of Madrid Orchestra.
Tickets: Mon-Sat 12:00-20:00, Sun 12:00-18:00
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Yelmo Cineplex Ideal
Cine Ideal
Probably the best known V.O. (versión original, or original language) theatre in Madrid, it offers the largest selection of movies and is a short walk from Sol.
Do Not mapped
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
Performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above), at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, and online.
€5 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/children)
DoRetiro-Paseo del Arte Not mapped
Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid
An orchestra that performs in El Retiro Park in the summer. Tickets can be purchased at the Teatro Monumental (listed above) and at the tourist information centre in Plaza Mayor, as well as online.
€5 (adults), €3 (seniors/youth/children)
Do Not mapped
La Trashumancia
Annual event during which the centre of Madrid is free of cars and is instead filled with shepherds exercising their ancient right to drive sheep and livestock through the city.
Do Not mapped
Madrid Gay Pride
Annual event held between the last week of June and the first of July, with more than 1.5 million people in the street from all around the world. It began as a weekend party, but lately turned into a full-week extravaganza.
Do Not mapped
Orquesta Nacional de España
Spanish National Orchestra
Tickets are sold at ticket offices in the Auditorio Nacional de Música, Teatro María Guerrero, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro de la Comedia, and Teatro Valle-Inclán.
DoChamberí-Castellana Not mapped
Orquesta Nacional de España
Spanish National Orchestra
Tickets are sold at ticket offices in the Auditorio Nacional de Música, Teatro María Guerrero, Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro de la Comedia, and Teatro Valle-Inclán.
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés Not mapped
Orquesta Sinfónica de RTVE
RTVE Symphony Orchestra
Performs every Th and F at the Teatro Monumental on Calle Atocha.
DoMoncloa
Cines Golem Alphaville
C/ Martín de los Heros, 14
DoArganzuela
Gruta '77
Concerts everyday: pop, rock, and punk.
DoSouthern Suburbs
Gruta '77
Concerts everyday – pop, rock, and punk.
DoArganzuela
Madrid Open
Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open
Held in mid-May at La Caja Mágica.
DoSouthern Suburbs
Madrid Open
Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open
Held in mid-May at La Caja Mágica.
DoMoncloa
Renoir Cines Princesa
C/ de la Princesa, 3
DoMoncloa
Renoir Plaza de España
C/ Martín de los Heros, 12
DoRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Renoir Retiro
C/ Narvaez, 42
DoMoncloa
Sala Arena
Sala Heineken
National touring acts for rock and pop music.
DoArganzuela
Sala La Riviera
Another large venue for touring rock and pop bands.
DoSol-Letras-Lavapiés
Teatro Monumental
Monumental Cinema
C/ de Atoche, 65

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Madrid (CC BY-SA 4.0).