ALL YEAR ROUND
In Milan, there’s the opera. In London, you must watch theatrical plays. For Madrid, it’s unforgivable if you don’t watch a flamenco show. A Spanish art form that combines singing, guitar playing, and dancing, flamenco dates back several centuries to 1774 and has been recognised by Unesco as a cultural masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage.
Madrid is widely recognised as the capital of flamenco with several small and large performances happening every day in small taverns or large theatres. To blend in with the locals, head to a tablao (flamenco bar) to witness a performance while enjoying food and beverages. We recommend the Michelin-starred Corral de la Morería. Established in 1956, it’s one of the oldest tablaos in Madrid, and has welcomed celebrities such as Richard Gere and Natalie Portman.
On Sundays and public holidays, head down to El Rastro at the city centre. You’ll be welcomed by over 1,000 vendors hawking all kinds of items. From secondhand clothes and old magazines to even vinyl records, the street market is a treasure trove and a walking tour on its own. It usually starts from 9am and ends at 3pm.
Madrid is home to several football clubs, but the two most famous ones are Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. Even if you can’t catch a game to soak in the raucous atmosphere, their football stadiums are worth a visit.
—
Spring (March – May)
Winter is over and with the thaw comes the bloom. During spring, Madrid also hosts the Mutua Madrid Open, which usually occurs for two weeks in April and May. Spain has given birth to several world-class tennis players such as Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, and the tournament is a great way to catch rising stars and tennis greats.
After you’re done with the tennis matches, here are our recommended Madrid spring activities.
Enjoy a leisurely outdoor brunch.
It’s the perfect weather to dine outdoors, and you can do no better than Dani Brasserie on the rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel. Enjoy spectacular views of the city while savouring Michelin-starred Dani Garcia’s take on Spanish and international cuisine. It’s a fantastic way to spend a leisurely afternoon. If Dani is full, other highly recommended rooftop brunch places are Oroya and Club Financiero Génova. You can enjoy the sun basking on your face while people watching and enjoying a Madrid-style brunch.
Venture out to the countryside to taste wine.
Spain is famous for its wine and Madrid has some of the best wineries in the country. If you like your wines bold and elegant, we recommend making a day trip to two wineries: Viñedos Tierra Calma and Bodega El Regajal. The former is located at the countryside and lets you sample its wares among beautiful flora and fauna. The latter, just a short 10-minute drive from Aranjuez, is a lot closer to civilisation and offers biodynamic vino.
Discover nature in Madrid’s parks.
There are several noteworthy parks in Madrid, but one of the most stunning is El Retiro Park. It’s one of the largest in the city, stretching over 125 hectares, and previously belonged exclusively to the monarch until 1868 when it opened to the public. There are several landmarks within, but you must check out the Crystal Palace. As its name suggests, it’s made from glass.
—
Summer (June – August)
Madrid comes alive in summer with a wide variety of events and activities. There are music festivals, summer cinemas, and more. Our favourite is the annual Veranos de la Villa Festival, which runs throughout July and August. Expect over 200 events, including theatre productions, circuses, music concerts, and more. This year, the festival celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Besides the festival, there are a host of activities that’ll make your Madrid summer jaunt more enjoyable such as the first game of the football season in August and the city’s renowned Pride Week in July.
Conquer the Triangle of Art.
Comprising the Thyssen, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Prado Museum, this walk lets you explore iconic Spanish art pieces from different genres and eras. End your triangle with a visit to the Thyssen, which was formerly a private collection of art, and learn about art restoration techniques.
Gorge on snacks at the Mercados.
Mercado is the Spanish word for market, and is also a great way to dive into Madrid’s heritage. Two of the most popular are Mercado San Miguel, which houses dozens of stalls selling fresh produce, fish, and meats, and Mercado San Antón, a stylish three-floor food extravaganza. You can’t go wrong with jamón, a dry-cured ham that’s an important part of Spanish cuisine.
Enjoy tapas and cocktails.
After you’ve toured the different markets, you can enjoy even more jamón and other kinds of tapas at the different cafes and bars littered around Madrid. Our personal favourites include Taberna Pedraza, Taberna Los Gallos, and Casa Suecia. A typical Madrid summer drink is the tinto de verano. Similar to sangria, it comprises red wine and soda, usually lemonade, and served cold. Head to the rooftop of the Palacio de los Duques Gran Meliá, Isa at Four Seasons, or Bar Trafagar for cocktails. But if you prefer bubbly, we recommend the champagne bar at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz.
Get under the skin of Madrid’s culture.
There are several Unesco-certified sites in Madrid, but one of our favourites is San Lorenzo de El Escorial. It’s an old town dating back to the 15th century that still bustles with activity and history. You must visit El Escorial, a vast building complex with multiple purposes and the most important architectural monument of the Spanish Renaissance. It’s a beautiful landmark filled with wondrous paintings and notable historical milestones.
—
Autumn (Sept-Nov)
The weather might slowly be turning cold again, but Madrid still remains as hospitable as ever. Before winter sets in, enjoy the last burst of sunshine with several festivals. Madrid Fashion Week welcomes the stylish set to view the latest collections from fresh-faced designers and veteran creative directors. For the arts and music lover, world-renowned opera house Teatro Real begins its slate of events in the cultural calendar. After the music ends though, the party still continues.
Play a round (or three) of golf.
Ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the world, the Real Club de Golf La Herrería first opened its doors in 1966. Its most striking landmark is the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, which dominates the background. Even if you don’t play golf, there are other activities you can partake in, such as tennis and padel. Or you can enjoy a meal at the beautiful La Herreria Restaurant and admire the views.
Shopping at Madrid’s iconic boutiques.
Autumn is the perfect weather to window shop and update your wardrobe, and Madrid offers excellent options. There is Las Rozas village, an open-air boulevard lined with designer stores and cafes just 30 minutes outside of Madrid. But if you prefer to remain in the city, Galería Canalejas in the heart of Madrid offers three floors of great shopping and sophisticated dining.
Harvest the grapes at the vineyards.
While you can taste wines all-year-round, autumn is the best time to visit the vineyards because that’s when the winery goes to work. Madrid Experience offers an excellent private tour where you can experience the harvest to the fullest. You’ll also learn about how the grape pickers work in tandem to remove the fruits that will be turned into wine, and even cut the grapes from the vine yourself. You can even step on the grapes with your feet, the way that they used to do in the past.
—
Winter (Dec – Feb)
There’s something magical about winter in Madrid. It might be chilly, but you can warm up with chocolate con churros at Chocolateria San Ginés and Cocido Madrileno at Lhardy.
There are several festivals we recommend, and the city of Aranjuez boasts many. Its winter festive calendar begins in Christmas and culminates with the Carnival parade, a joyous procession of costumes, bands, and even the occasional masquerade ball. The best place to celebrate the New Year is at Teatro Real, which has an annual concert.
Trundle down the Christmas markets.
If there’s one thing that Madrid does exceptionally well, it is the Christmas markets. The most popular is at Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s main square. This hundred-year-old fair features over 100 stalls selling all sorts of Christmas-related items. It runs from November all the way until the end of the year. Other notable markets you should visit are the ones at Nuevos Ministerios and Plaza de España.
Window shopping, the Madrid way.
There is shopping, and then there is shopping in Madrid, thanks to the aforementioned atelier routes. The experience will transport you from luxury boutiques to hole-in-the-wall shops that have been around for over a century. Madrid is the birthplace of powerhouse Loewe, which started in 1846 when a group of Spanish leather artisans came together. The flagship store is in the Salamanca district and occupies three floors in a 19th-century building. Along the same street, dubbed the Golden Mile, you’ll also find a bevy of other stores such as Chanel, Valentino, Bulgari, and more. For those who prefer a more eclectic shopping experience, shops like Casa de Diego (founded in 1868) and Gato Negro (since 1915) are ideal. The former sells everything from hand fans to castanets while the latter specialises in wool. They provide a unique lens into Madrid’s past.
Discover more Madrid wonders here.
