Tips for your first trip to Madrid

If you’re planning your first trip to Madrid and need a few recommendations, you will love our tips. Madrid is beautiful, fun and simply fascinating. Plus, the food is outstanding. Not only are there tasty tapas, tortillas de patata (potato omelettes) and wines, but the bakeries offer the freshest and most delicious bread and pastries. If you have time, you should also go see a Flamenco show or tablao.

The good news is that Madrid is a very walkable city and there is great public transit, as well. There is always something to do and one trip is never enough. From museums to parks to monuments, this city has it all. Just know that lunch and dinner is much later than American standards, so plan a nap or break in the afternoon if you want to experience Madrid’s nightlife.

Have you ever been to Madrid or are you planning your first trip? Here are the top things to do, including what to see, shop, and eat.

Top things to do in Madrid

Here are just a few suggestions for your first trip to Madrid:

Visit the museums: El Prado, Thyssen, and Reina Sofía are just a few of the outstanding museums in Madrid. Book private/semiprivate tours through viator.com, especially if you need to be efficient with your time.
Enjoy the churros: Churrería San Ginés is the most traditional. Hot chocolate in Spain is thick, almost like a pudding, so you dip the churros in the chocolate. It is not like the hot cocoa we drink in the US.
Visit the famous landmarks: explore Parque El Retiro, Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Puerta de Alcalá, Palacio Real, and Catedral de la Almudena. A Hop On/ Hop Off bus is a practical way to do sightseeing if this is your first visit.
Do a day trip: my top choice would be to visit Toledo, a medieval town where Catholics, Jews, and Muslims coexisted until the Inquisition.
Eat at the delicious restaurants: El Paraguas, Ten con Ten, Ultramarinos Quintin, Numa Pompilio, El Rincon de Jaen, and La Tasqueria are only a few of the amazing restaurants in Madrid. There are several Michelin favorites, but make sure to book in advance. make sure to checkout my Madrid Dining Guide.
Don’t forget to leave time for shopping: a must is El Corte Inglés (Spain’s version of Bloomingdale’s). Get tax refund forms for luxe items. Keep in mind you will need a customs seal before you pass security when you leave Spain.
Sample all the tapas and wine at the market: the Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid is the equivalent to Chelsea Market in NYC. Try the charcuterie, wines, seafood, and ham (jamón ibérico) because you won’t regret it.