Best Things to Do in Madrid in Summer
Home · Madrid · Summer
From the classic Polideportivo Municipal Casa de Campo and Azotea del Círculo, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
★ 4.1 · 770 reviews
Cool off at the Polideportivo Municipal Casa de Campo, where an outdoor lido sits among shaded lawns. Swim in the large pools or spread out a picnic with the kids.
Best season
★ 4.2 · 11,331 reviews
Discover Azotea del Círculo, a rooftop terrace high above Centro with a sweeping Madrid skyline. Sink into a lounge sofa with a cocktail or a glass of red wine and watch the city's light change.
★ 3.9 · 2,175 reviews
Spend an active morning at the Canal de Isabel II sports complex, a Chamberí institution since 1930. Swim in the large outdoor pool or run the park's circuit tracks among local regulars.
★ 4.8 · 216,670 reviews
Spend a slow morning in El Retiro, Madrid's former royal park at the heart of the city. Stroll tree-lined avenues, circle the boating lake and pause among fountains, statues and the rose garden.
★ 4.3 · 1,411 reviews
Watch Madrid light up from the top deck of a Big Bus night tour. Over seventy minutes you will glide past the Royal Palace, Cibeles and Almudena Cathedral with commentary in ten languages.
★ 4.5 · 30,737 reviews
Wander through Parque del Oeste, Madrid's tree-lined escape in Moncloa-Aravaca. Follow the shaded paths to the rose garden, then continue on to the Egyptian temple and the city views beyond.
★ 4.7 · 3,401 reviews
Visit the Monument to Alfonso XII, the grand colonnade beside Retiro Park's lake. Photograph it from the steps, or take a rowing boat out for the view from the water.
★ 4.5 · 2,180 reviews
Discover Vi Cool, an industrial-chic Centro restaurant with garden tables and a menu built around creative small plates. Share a tasting menu of cold dishes, hot dishes and dessert, with classic tapas like patatas bravas alongside.
★ 4.4 · 23,844 reviews
Test your senses at the Museum of Illusions Madrid, a family-friendly attraction in the centre. Step into tilted rooms and optical tricks, and snap photos that seem to defy reality.
★ 4.9 · 649 reviews
Settle into Flamenco de Leones, a small Salamanca tablao where flamenco and food share the evening. Watch intense live dance and music up close while sampling tapas at your table.
★ 3.7 · 10,105 reviews
Discover Kapital, Madrid's seven-storey nightclub packed with bars, a rooftop and music on every level. Move between floors, from the dance floor to karaoke, and keep the night going until morning.
★ 4.8 · 12,507 reviews
Book a table at Frutas Prohibidas, the Centro brunch address that made plant-based eggs Benedict a talking point. Sit down to a vegan brunch with specialty coffee and see how convincing the poached eggs are.
★ 4.5 · 910 reviews
Slip into FOUR Madrid Specialty Coffee, tucked on a peaceful plaza in Centro. Order a carefully made coffee with a light breakfast and linger at a table in the square.
★ 4.8 · 2,552 reviews
Discover Madrid after dark on a guided pub crawl that ends inside one of the city's nightclubs. Hop between four bars with a local party guide, enjoy welcome shots and games, then dance into the night with VIP club entry.
★ 4.4 · 831 reviews
Step into Madrid's Wax Museum, a timed-entry gallery of lifelike figures in the Centro district. Wander scenes from ancient Rome to modern pop culture and pose beside kings, athletes and musicians.
★ 4.2 · 14,661 reviews
Experience Sala La Riviera, Madrid's large-scale concert hall and club with several bars and an open terrace. Catch a headline show or club night with a powerful sound system and a big, energetic crowd.
★ 4.7 · 157,363 reviews
Plan around the Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid's great temple of Spanish painting beside Retiro. Spend a few hours in front of masterpieces by Velázquez, Goya and El Greco, moving through centuries of European art.
★ 4.6 · 4,037 reviews
Take a table at Carmencita Brunch Malasaña, a lively spot mixing North American brunch with Spanish ingredients. Order eggs Benedict or the breakfast burger, add a mimosa and enjoy the generous plates.
★ 4.4 · 5,088 reviews
Settle into Bendita Locura Coffee & Dreams, a stylish Salamanca gastrobar built for lingering. Order brunch from the set menu, finish with the cheesecake and take a seat on the terrace or the deep indoor couch.
★ 4.5 · 72,263 reviews
Spend an afternoon at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid's home of modern Spanish art. Walk its multi-floor galleries past Picasso, Dalí and Miró, and follow the movements that shaped the 20th century.
★ 4.6 · 4,054 reviews
Settle in at Tablao Flamenco 1911, an ornate Madrid venue where flamenco and Andalusian cooking share the evening. Watch dancers, singers and guitarists perform live, with short introductions that explain what you are seeing.
★ 4.3 · 4,762 reviews
Take a seat at Tablao Flamenco Torres Bermejas, a tile-decorated Madrid venue dating from around 1960. Enjoy live flamenco from dancers and musicians, paired with a fixed-price dinner or a set drink.
★ 4.0 · 821 reviews
Discover Berria, a wine bar and restaurant on Plaza de la Independencia right by the Puerta de Alcalá. Work through its vast list by the glass alongside a straightforward menu of simple dishes.
★ 4.7 · 48,468 reviews
Discover the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, where 700 years of European art unfold in one central Madrid building. Move room by room from Old Masters and Dutch painting through to modern art and Pop Art.
★ 4.4 · 4,538 reviews
Reserve an evening at Tablao Flamenco Corral de la Morería, a well-known Madrid restaurant with nightly flamenco. Dine on inventive Spanish dishes, then watch dancers, a singer and a guitarist perform up close.
★ 4.5 · 4,193 reviews
Experience Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco, an intimate Madrid theatre where flamenco unfolds just metres from your seat. Watch dancers, singers and guitarists perform with raw passion over a drink in the candlelit room.
★ 4.4 · 1,167 reviews
Start the day at Hola Coffee Fourquet, a small specialty café in Centro with its own takeout window. Order a latte or flat white, add a croissant or cookie, and enjoy it on the spot or on the move.
★ 4.4 · 1,368 reviews
Grab a table at El Pinche Taco, the Centro favourite for real Mexican street food. Order a round of tacos with tostadas, elote and tamales, and soak up the lively late-night buzz.
★ 4.7 · 28,961 reviews
Walk into the National Museum of Archaeology, a neoclassical landmark in Salamanca that follows Iberian history from prehistory onward. Explore cave art, Islamic pottery and ancient artifacts laid out in clear chronological order.
★ 4.8 · 966 reviews
Discover a lively way to see Madrid's nightlife with this guided bar crawl and free nightclub entry. Meet your guide in the centre, work through several bars with games, shots and drink deals, and finish on the dance floor.
Madrid · ⚽ Sport
Polideportivo Municipal Casa de Campo
1h30
Madrid · 🍸 Drinks
Azotea del Círculo
1h15
Instalaciones Deportivas Canal de Isabel II
Madrid · 🌳 Nature
El Retiro Park
2h
Madrid · 🧭 Tours
Big Bus Panoramic Night Tour
Parque del Oeste
Madrid · 🏛️ Landmark
Monument to Alfonso XII
30 min
Madrid · 🍽️ Food
Vi Cool
Madrid · 🎭 Entertainment
Museum of Illusions Madrid
1h
Flamenco de Leones
Madrid · 🌙 Nightlife
Kapital
3h
Madrid · 🥐 Breakfast
Frutas Prohibidas – Brunch y Café de Especialidad en Madrid
FOUR Madrid Specialty Coffee
45 min
Guided Pub Crawl Madrid Experience and Club Entry
4h
Wax Museum Entry Ticket
Sala La Riviera
Madrid · 🎨 Museum
Museo Nacional del Prado
2h30
Carmencita Brunch Malasaña
Bendita Locura Coffee & Dreams
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía
Tablao Flamenco 1911
Tablao Flamenco Torres Bermejas
Berria
Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum
Tablao Flamenco Corral de la Morería
Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco
Madrid · ☕ Coffeebreak
Hola Coffee Fourquet
25 min
El Pinche Taco
National Museum of Archaeology
Top Pub Crawl with Drinks and Free Nightclub Entry
