6 Things To Do In Madrid
Go Here! Adventures & moments from my travels…
The energy in Madrid is beyond anything I've ever experienced. Perhaps because it was my first time in Europe as an adult, or perhaps because it was my first time visiting Spain, Madrid cemented itself as a city I'd come back to again and again…
There are cities you want to visit and cities you'd live in. Madrid fell firmly in the latter category for me, and I say this despite experiencing icy winds and torrential rain for 90% of our trip (two weather conditions that are my least favourite). Madrid was meant to be the beginning of our much-awaited Euro summer, and after a false start with one glorious day of sunshine, we headed to the nearest Uniqlo to stock up on heattech (yes, it was that cold).
Despite all of that, Madrid is a wonderful, walkable city. The people are effortlessly cool, and while tourists are very much present, there are still markets, neighbourhood restaurants, cafes and bars that exist entirely outside that world. It's a city for discovery, for eating plates of jamón with glasses of vermouth in the open squares that seem to greet you every few streets, and for enjoying churros dipped in molten chocolate on a chilly afternoon. There really is something for everyone and every kind of season.
While food and places to stay are usually my focus, this Madrid guide is a little bit of everything. I've narrowed it down to six experiences, with additional restaurant and bar recommendations below.
Madrid: 6 Things Not To Miss -
Eat a tortilla at Casa Dani (with onions!) -
I've been a fan of the Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil for years, and when I first watched the Madrid episode, Casa Dani was one of Phil's very first stops. I remember watching him cut into a tortilla and immediately adding it to my bucket list. Now that I finally have, I can say without hesitation that this is one of the best things to do in Madrid and an absolute must for anyone visiting the city.
A tortilla española is a thick, savoury omelette stuffed with potatoes, a staple all across Spain, though every region puts its own spin on it. In Seville, for example, tortillas are served at room temperature with a rich brandy sauce (delicious, but so rich). There's also a debate about whether a tortilla is better with or without onions. As someone who loves the caramelised sweetness of well-cooked onions, I'm firmly in the with-onions camp.
We timed our visit between the breakfast and lunch rush and avoided the queue, but the line moves quickly regardless. Order a half tortilla to share between two. It arrives steaming, the molten potato and egg filling spilling out as you cut into it. Save your bread for mopping up every last bit - you're going to need it.
Take a boat ride in El Retiro Park -
We spent most of our single glorious day of sunshine in El Retiro, and I use the word park loosely. Spanning over 300 acres in the heart of Madrid, the grounds are home to palaces, lakes, monuments and probably more, but our 20,000 steps barely covered it.
Apart from exploring the surroundings (sadly the Palacio de Cristal was undergoing renovations when we visited in early 2026), my favourite moment was getting on a boat and rowing around the lake. A lovely, languorous way to people watch, enjoy the sunshine and take in the details of the Alfonso XII monument too.
Have churros at Chocolateria San Ginés -
A slightly touristy spot, yes, but San Ginés was established in 1894 so they know their stuff. Now I’ve had my fair share of churros, but I don’t think I’ve had a REAL churro until I tried the ones at San Ginés. You can choose between thin, crispy churros or the thick, pillowy porras, and both come with a cup of thick, dark molten chocolate. No dustings of cinnamon or powdered sugar - just fried dough and chocolate. Each churro is so well balanced it becomes less a snack and more a vessel for the chocolate. Honestly, how could you go wrong?
We arrived just before 10pm having had an early dinner (so 9 instead of 10:30pm) and waited around 15 minutes - the line almost doubled by the time we left.
San Ginés is open 24/7, so the best tip for avoiding queues is to visit during off-peak hours, before breakfast, during siesta or early evening before the dinner crowd arrives.
Buy a pair of espadrilles from Casa Hernanz -
Yes, Spanish fashion is great and yes, you could spend days in boutiques buying things. But I'm a shoe girl and I obviously needed to buy a pair of traditional Spanish espadrilles. Handmade with a jute or native grass base and thick canvas upper, these are without question the most comfortable espadrilles I've ever owned. I walked 22,000 steps in them and came out almost entirely unscathed.
The outside of the store has a display case with all the shoe styles and varieties, and it's extremely important that you decide what you want before you step inside. You'll have to line up (just get used to it), walk in and tell the shopkeepers which style, size and colour you want. You can try on your size but be hasty, as the line outside is long and you don't want to take too much time. The shoes are available online but you won't find all the styles or colours, so I’d reccomend visiting in person.
Send a postcard from La Postalera -
I'm a little romantic who loves keeping handwritten notes, cards and letters. We wandered past La Postalera, a wonderful little shop for souvenirs, art and posters, but what I loved most was their wall of postcards. You can pick one, buy a stamp and send it right then and there from the mailbox inside the store.
Embrace the siesta lifestyle -
This seems like a funny tip, but hear me out. I’ve lived in Australia for 10 years and Sydney especially is a VERY early city. Everyone is up at the crack of dawn exercising, grabbing coffee and being social. We finish work at 5pm, go for an early dinner and everything closes mostly by 10 or 11pm. If you want a coffee after 3pm, you’re not going to get it.
Spain is entirely the opposite. The first day we wandered out at 9:30am, which is basically a sleep in, and almost every single thing except the local fruteria was closed. We drifted around for about half an hour before the cafes started to open, and at 10am we finally sat down for coffee and reassessed all of our decisions. And yes, everything will close between 2 and 5pm for siesta. It's just a way of life.
Your big department stores and chain restaurants will stay open, but the little local places are too busy enjoying a long lunch and a rest before getting ready for the second half of the day. Once we embraced the longer sleep ins and heading home for an afternoon siesta so we could actually enjoy the 10pm sunsets and 10:30pm dinners, everything fell into place. Really, not a bad life to live at all.
Here are some more restaurants/ cafes and areas I loved in Madrid -
We stayed in Malasaña and it was a fantastic area. Around a 25-30 minute Uber from the airport and lots of streets with cafes, bars, restaurants and boutique shops. A 15-20 minute stroll from the city centre, El Retiro park and Plaza Mayor.
Zefir Madrid - a newly opened cafe a few minutes from the area we were staying. Beautiful interiors, pastry and great coffee. They don’t have a website or social media but you can find them here.
Biri Biri - A very Sydney-esque wine bar. Lots of great nibbles, steak and wine on the menu. A little on the pricier side but great for date night. Bookings recommended.
Acid Shop - Another very cool cafe (with three locations around Madrid). Beautiful interiors, great coffee and pastries. They have a larger communal table in the back, perfect for bringing your laptop or a group of friends.
Bar Sidi - A local spot open for breakfast, lunch and dinner - open from 9am-2am. Great service, very local food and great for tapas any time of the day.
Puerco Taqueria - I’m a little bias because this spot is run by my friend Andrea, but when I say they’re the best tacos I’ve ever tried, I mean it. Andrea is from Mexico so you know the tacos are authentic. The menu is tiny, the vibe is relaxed and the food is amazing.
La Colmada - a little tapas and wine bar which was a 3 minute walk from our accommodation. Great for a cheese and jamón board, pan con tomate and fish dishes.
Don’t miss out on -
Marinated olives
Jamón - it’s like a religion in Spain and you really can’t go wrong with it anywhere
Fresh tomatoes in summer
Vermouth
Queso tierno (cheese - you can buy it from any supermarket)
I'm Karina, a Sydney copywriter who writes about food, culture, lifestyle and travel. Read more about my travels on The Journal or Work With Me.
