10 Best Free Things to Do in Madrid

Walk around the lake or visit the Palacio de Cristal, a palace made of glass in Madrid’s Parque del Buen Retiro. It’s probably one of the best spots in the city for a picnic on a sunny afternoon. Casa de Campo on the west side of Madrid is almost eight square miles, great for a bike ride or even some light hiking (it was once a hunting estate many years back). The Parque Europa offers a tour of Europe without leaving Spain. Located just a few miles outside of the city in the suburb of Torrejón de Ardoz, the park features giant replicas of 18 European monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Trevi Fountain and Tower Bridge.

Situated on the ninth floor of the El Corte Inglés department store in the Callao plaza, this cafe/market/gourmet food shop has incredible views of Madrid’s famous Gran Via and surroundings. You won’t be able to enjoy the views for too long without having to sit and pay to order a drink or snack, but you can at least pop up for a quick panoramic shot of the city, perfect for your Instagram.

Grab your sneakers and give yourself a DIY walking tour of some of Madrid’s most famous spots. Start in the Puerta del Sol, the main plaza in the center of Madrid. Check out the famous bear statue and the giant Tio Pepe atop of one of the buildings, an emblematic landmark in Madrid. Make sure to stand on the Kilometer Zero (KM0) plaque on the ground, which is allegedly the exact center of Spain. Continue down Calle Mayor until you end up in the massive Plaza Mayor, which has 237 balconies facing the cobblestone square. Then, head over to the Mercado de San Miguel, a market where you can window shop the food stalls. Take in the scents and sights of aged cheeses, giant legs of ham, fresh seafood and enjoy the bustling atmosphere.

If you’re not too tired by now, you can continue your walking tour down Calle Mayor to visit the Catedral de Almudena and the Palacio Real. Both spots are tremendous monuments where you can spend quite a bit of time walking around the outside and seeing the buildings from every angle. The nearby Sabantini gardens located next to the palace will give you the perfect photo opportunity: snap the north wall of the palace from the front of the pond in between the manicured trees and bushes.

Madrid is a city full of museums and most offer a day or several afternoons where you can enter free. Many smaller museums and galleries allow free entrance on Sundays, but make sure to check each individual website to confirm. Here’s a list of the free days at some of the most popular museums.

Museo del Prado: Free from Monday to Saturday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Sundays and holidays from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Museo Nacional Centro del Reina Sofia: Free on Monday and Wednesday to Saturday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Free on Sundays from 1:30 to 7:00 pm and free all day on April 18, May 18 and October 12.

Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza: Free on Mondays between 12:00 and 4:00 pm.

Gran Via is the 5th avenue of Madrid. Bright lights, theaters and endless shops line the energetic street. Leisurely walk down from Plaza España, stopping in Spanish stores like Zara or Mango to check out the latest fashions. When you reach Calle de Fuencarral, turn left and wander up this less hectic shopping street for smaller shops like Rituals or one-of-a-kind boutiques like Herself.