What is there to do in the centre of Madrid?

The centre of Madrid is home to the vast majority of the city’s tourist attractions: museums, monuments, markets, parks, good restaurants, shops, theatres, cinemas and places to have a drink.

The possibilities to see art, culture, a host of historic buildings and to immerse yourself in Madrid's central district are practically endless and are concentrated in this ideal area of Madrid.

If you are staying at a B&B HOTEL in Madrid, you can take advantage of your next visit to the capital to go sightseeing by taking as a reference some of our ideal plans to get to know the old town.

These are some of our suggestions that can inspire you to enjoy the centre of Madrid to the fullest.

All the things to see and not to miss in the centre of Madrid

Kilometre Zero is located at the Puerta del Sol and is the most central point of Madrid. From here you can start a fantastic route to the main public monuments of the city: the bear and the strawberry tree (symbol of Madrid), the Plaza Mayor, the Palacio Real or the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena.

All these emblematic enclaves, together with the Plaza de España and the Temple of Debod, are concentrated in the so-called Madrid de los Austrias, which corresponds to the old medieval layout. They are also considered essential destinations for any traveller who wants to get to know the central district and the main monuments of Madrid.

You can enjoy our B&B HOTEL Madrid Centro Puerta del Sol which is located next to great Madrid monuments. It is the perfect accommodation to relax, explore the city and fully enjoy your trip to the heart of the capital.

The centre of Madrid is full of important museums: the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen Museum, the Sorolla Museum, the Madrid History Museum and, of course, the Prado Museum. It is hard to find so much culture anywhere else in such a central space.

What's more, just by visiting the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofía Museum you will have seen a good part of the pictorial work of the history of Spain in recent centuries.

Admission to the Prado Museum is free from Monday to Saturday between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. And at the Reina Sofia, admission is also free on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In front of the Prado Museum lies Madrid’s main park: Retiro, one of the lungs of the city. A stroll through the more than 125 hectares of land is a must outdoor activity, as it is a historical garden that always ensures you have a pleasant walk. Or maybe you prefer to rent a boat and cruise across the pond while looking at the monument to Alfonso XII or that of Fray Pedro Ponce de Leon.

It is also possible to have a picnic, a highly recommended idea, especially in spring or summer. Another great park in Madrid is that of San Isidro, located in the neighbourhood of the same name, where every May a festival is held in honour of the saint and patron saint of Madrid.

The Madrid Zoo Aquarium is also an exciting day out for the whole family with plenty of animals from around the world as well as lots of interesting exhibitions.

What activities are there for all tastes in the centre of Madrid?

One of the great attractions of Madrid is shopping and one of the best areas to do it is the centre. Head to Calle Preciados and Calle Carmen, two parallel streets that start at Puerta del Sol and end in Callao. This area concentrates a large part of Madrid's commerce and highlights typical markets and shopping centres such as El Corte Inglés and Fnac. Essentially, they are the busiest streets in Madrid and in them you will find everything you need.

After shopping or a walk, you can take a break on a bar terrace. Madrid is full of them and there is something for every taste. In the centre of Madrid it is common to eat the traditional calamari sandwich. If you haven't tried it yet, we recommend you do so in the Plaza Mayor or in the surrounding area, and always accompanied by a cold beer. And if you like to go out for a drink, the neighbourhoods of La Latina, Malasaña or Las Letras are very lively areas during all hours of the day and night.

Finally, we would like to recommend Madrid Río, a magnificent natural setting on the banks of the Manzanares. It has public playgrounds, aquatic enclosures and leisure facilities, one of the most important of which is the beach.

Madrid Río offers something the capital has always lacked: a beach. It's artificial, but it's a great place to beat the heat if your visit to Madrid coincides with the warm summer months.

You may also be interested in finding out more before travelling to Madrid:

What is there to see near Madrid?
What can you do in Madrid at night?
Which cities near Madrid can you visit?
What can you do for free in Madrid?
What is there to do in Madrid on Sundays?
Are you looking for a hotel in Spain?
Any good restaurants in Madrid?
Are you visiting the Madrid Zoo?
When to travel to Madrid?
Monuments in Madrid

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