Madrid is the largest city in Spain with an interesting blend of old and new architecture. Like most big Spanish cities, you can expect great food, interesting historical landmarks, and tons of great things to do here.
Its energy can be seen channeling through the people's laid-back approach to life, where lunch does not start until 3 PM, the night does not begin until 12 AM, and you don't sleep until sunrise. Without further ado, here are the 9 incredible things to do in Madrid for solo travelers:
Madrid Things to Do Map
9 Best Things to Do in Madrid
1. Go on a Walking Tour around the city
One of the first things I like to do when arriving in a new city in Europe is to go on a walking tour to get a rundown of the place before diving deeper into a city, and Madrid is a great place to do that.
The walking tour often takes around 2.5 hours, starting at around 11 AM. The local guide will take you to all the famous tourist attractions in Madrid, such as Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, San Miguel market, and more, all in one go, which is great for those who are short on time.
If you are interested in the history of these places, the local guide will also explain their origins, the stories behind them, and more, which is something you don't get if you were to explore the city by yourself. If you love history and walking, you are going to love this walking tour. Be sure to book the tour in advance!
- Cats Hostel Madrid Sol (Budget)
- Hostal Falfes (Mid-Range) 👍 Top Pick
- INNSIDE by Meliá Madrid Gran Vía (High-End)
- Three Cities in One Day: Segovia, Avila & Toledo from Madrid (12 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Avila & Segovia Tour with Tickets to Monuments from Madrid (9 hours)
- Madrid Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour (3 hours)
Where to Stay in Madrid?
2. Hangout at Puerta del Sol
If you prefer to explore Madrid yourself, I highly recommend that you start your journey at Puerta del Sol, a massive plaza located right in the heart of Madrid.
This square is one of the busiest squares in the city, with restaurants and shops catering to both locals and tourists. All the roads converge here, which makes it a great place to begin your exploration.
You can also admire all the beautiful architecture around it while you are here, as well as shop for some souvenirs for your loved ones at home. You will also find that many food tours begin from here, so if you want to go wine-tasting or take a tapas night walking tour, your journey usually begins from here.
3. Visit the Plaza Mayor
After Puerta del Sol, you can visit the Plaza Mayor, located only a few blocks away, and admire the old town square while being surrounded by some of the most impressive structures in the city.
The Plaza Mayor is best known for its incredibly beautiful facade and all the cafes and restaurants that line the arches surrounding the square. Right at the center, you will also find the statue of King Philip III triumphantly riding his stallion.
Most of the walking tours will also stop here too, so if you wish to learn more about the history of the square and King Philip III, don't forget to join this walking tour.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- Three Cities in One Day: Segovia, Avila & Toledo from Madrid (12 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Avila & Segovia Tour with Tickets to Monuments from Madrid (9 hours)
- Madrid Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour (3 hours)
4. Visit the Royal Palace of Madrid
As you make your way across the city, you will likely stumble upon a massive 18th-century structure. That's the Royal Palace of Madrid, one of the most iconic buildings in the city and an incredible place to visit while you are in Madrid.
The palace serves as the official residence of the Spanish royal family for state ceremonies and receptions. It features the iconic symmetrical facade with a central courtyard, surrounded by a beautiful garden and stunning interiors, among other things.
If you love history and want to learn more, you can also tour around the Royal Palace on a guided tour, or you can buy an entry ticket here for around 15 EUR and gain access to the Throne Room, the Banquet Hall, the famous Hall of Mirrors, and more. The palace is open from 10 AM to 7 PM every day.
5. Check out Catedral de la Almudena
After you are done with the Royal Palace, be sure to check out Catedral de la Almudena, a stunning Baroque Catholic cathedral known for its colorful chapels, crypts, and museum, located just across the square from the palace.
The best part is that the cathedral is free to enter, and you will be completely blown away by the church's colorful mosaic window designs and the impressive murals on the ceiling. The church is open from 10 AM to 8:30 PM every day.
6. Eat at the Oldest Restaurant in the World
I bet you did not know that the oldest restaurant in the world is located in Madrid. Neither did I until my walking tour guide told me about it. The restaurant is called Sobrino de Botín, a Castilian-style restaurant that has been operating in this city for more than 250 years, making it the oldest in the world.
The restaurant still maintains its old-world atmosphere within the dining area and kitchen, to the extent that they still cook their food with their original wood-fired oven!
It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and one of the best things to do in Madrid, so be sure to check the place out. The restaurant is open from 1 PM to 4 PM for lunch and 8 PM to 11:30 PM for dinner. They really do have their meals quite late here in Spain!
7. Take a break at Plaza de España
After spending the entire day visiting beautiful palaces and bustling plazas, you can take a break at Plaza de España, a beautiful leafy park with an impressive stone and bronze statue of Cervantes, a Spanish writer widely regarded as the greatest writer in the Spanish language and one of the world's greatest novelists.
In the summer, many public events are often held here, as well as street performers and all sorts of entertainment that will keep you occupied for some time. So be sure to check it out while you are here. The buildings around the park are also stunning and definitely worth checking out as well.
8. Check out the Temple of Debod
One of the last things I expected to see in Madrid is an ancient Egyptian temple! The Temple of Debod is an ancient Egyptian temple and museum that was moved from Aswan, Egypt and relocated here as a gesture of gratitude for Spain's assistance in saving the Abu Simbel temples in Egypt.
The Temple of Debod is an excellent example of ancient Egyptian architecture. It consists of several well-preserved stone structures, including a small temple dedicated to Isis and a larger one dedicated to Amun-Ra. It originally stood in the village of Debod near Aswan, and it is believed to have been constructed during the 2nd century BC. That's more than 2000 years old!
It is a little slice of Egypt in Spain where you can visit its museum and learn more about the ancient Egyptian civilization and the temple's history. The temple is open from 10 AM to 7:30 PM every day except on Mondays, and it is free to enter.
9. Visit Segovia and Toledo as day trip
If you have a day to spare in Madrid, be sure to go on a day trip and visit two of the most beautiful cities in Spain, Segovia, known for its well-preserved Roman aqueduct, and the imperial city of Toledo, one of the most important historical cities in the country.
With an organized tour, you will spend about 12 hours traveling between these cities with around 2.5 hours free to explore Segovia and its Alcazar before moving on to Toledo. You will visit its cathedral on a guided tour, including free time for about 4 hours, before heading back to Madrid.
It is a great way to see some of the best Spain has to offer in one day. An organized tour should cost about 50 EUR and you can reserve your spot here.
How to Get to Madrid?
The best way to get here is to fly directly to Madrid. I would recommend you browse through Skyscanner or Expedia to find all the cheap flights from where you live to Spain and compare them so that you can find the one that best fits your itinerary.
How to Get Around Madrid?
With this itinerary, you should be able to walk to all the places I recommended here. For Toledo and Segovia, you are going to have to rely on an organized tour to get there and back in one day.
Daily Budget
Traveling here will typically cost you more than visiting most other countries. You can expect to spend around $45 - $65 USD per day per person, including food, accommodation, and transportation.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Madrid, Spain?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Madrid, Spain:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Spain
I hope you found this guide helpful in your trip planning. If you want to read more about Spain, I have written a few more travel guides, all listed here:
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Spain? Check out my 10-day backpacking itinerary for Spain.
- Are you traveling to Spain as part of a bigger Europe trip? Be sure to check out my 3-month itinerary for Europe from Portugal all the way to Sweden.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Seville is home to one of my favorite pieces of architecture in Spain, the Plaza España. If you are heading to Seville, be sure to check out our travel guide on 8 Best Things to Do in Seville, Spain.
- Granada is also another great city to visit. The city is full of culture, cheap tapas, and the beautiful Alhambra fortress waiting for you to explore. Check out my 8 Best Things to Do in Granada, Spain.
- Barcelona is in its own league when it comes to culture and unique architecture compared to the rest of Spain. Here’s a complete 2 Days in Barcelona Itinerary, the capital city of Catalonia.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 23 photos that will inspire you to visit Spain.
- You can also watch my Spain travel video here: "Spain to Leave Spain" travel video.
- To see all articles about Spain, visit the Spain Travel Guide page.
- Looking for a place to go after Spain? How about France or Portugal? Visit our France travel guide page and Portugal travel guide page for more information.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
2 Comments
Never did a walking tour in Madrid but last month I visited the city and decided to do a bike tour.
You pass by Almudena Cathedral, Gate of Alcalá and end the tour in Retiro Park.
It was great!
Sarah
Thank you for your report, Sarah! A biking tour would definitely allow you to see way more of the city. Excellent choice for those who are looking for something a little more active. :)