13 Cheap Things to do in Madrid
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Madrid is the capital city of Spain, and it's one of the biggest tourist destinations in Europe. The city has great architecture and culture, so there are lots of things to do - but even better than that, Madrid is also pretty affordable! When visiting Madrid, you’ll notice that food is very inexpensive at most places and the city is full of parks, museums, and other landmarks so you’ll never run out of things to do. This past October I spent five days exploring and tasting my way through Madrid, but every time I visit a new destination, I always have money on the brain, even if it’s in the very back of my head. Flying to Europe from the United States usually takes up the majority of my budget and by the time I factor in hotel costs, tours, and food, I’m not left with much so I’m always on the hunt for budget-friendly activities during my time away. Luckily, Madrid has lots of budget-friendly things to do, from free walking tours to discounted museum days, here are 13 of my favorite cheap things to do in Madrid, and some are even free things to do!
1. Take a Free Walking Tour
One of my personal favorite ways to explore a new place is through a free walking tour. Sandeman’s offers great free walking tours in major cities around the world and I love them so much that I usually make sure I book a free tour on my first day in a new city! These tours are a great way to get your bearings and a feel for the layout of the city. The guides who lead the tours are local volunteers who know their stuff when it comes to history and culture. Meet your guide in Plaza Mayor and from there, they'll take you around some of Madrid's most famous landmarks such as Royal Palace and Royal Opera House. Sandeman’s offers a few different free walking tours in Madrid; the original walking tour which is what I did, the Spanish inquisition tour, and the Majestic Madrid tour. All three tours last about 2.5 hours and highlight different neighborhoods in Madrid, all while teaching you about the rich history of the city. Even though the tours are free, tips are welcome!
2. Try Traditional Churros for Breakfast
Dessert for breakfast? Yes, please! One of the things I was most excited to try in Madrid were the churros. These fried dough sticks are served with hot chocolate or coffee and can be found at churrerías throughout Madrid with some dating back to the late 1800s. Churros are eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner--and they're a popular street food too! One of the most well-known places in Madrid for churros is Chocolateria San Gines located just off of Puerta del Sol and has been operating since 1894! Be prepared to wait in line when you visit, especially on the weekend, but the wait went by very quickly for us when we visited on a weekday morning. Order at the counter then choose to either sit inside or at an open table outside if the weather is nice. For less than €6 you can get an order of 6 hot, fresh churros and a small cup of chocolate to dip them in and for only €4 you can opt for 6 churros and a café con leche. Churros with chocolate in Madrid may also be included on select tapas tours, but either way it can’t be missed as it’s sure to put a smile on your face!
3. Explore Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madrid, and best of all - it’s free! The plaza is surrounded by historic buildings and a beautiful fountain, so you can enjoy people watching while you eat some tapas at one of its many tapas bars. Plaza Mayor was completed in 1619 and is known for its vibrant atmosphere, especially during special festivals throughout the year such as Carnaval, Feria de San Isidro, and the annual Christmas market. Visit the plaza in the morning to avoid the hustle and bustle of the tourist crowds and spend some time exploring the many shops all around the square. Be sure to look up! There are exquisite mosaic tile portraits all around the plaza walls that you don’t want to miss.
4. Grab a Calamari Sandwich
If you’ve done any research on can’t-miss things to do in Madrid, you’ve probably read about the famous calamari sandwich a million times. To be honest, I was skeptical at first, but after trying it, I highly recommend it! Plus, it’s a great inexpensive lunch. Bar La Campana and Bar Postas are a couple of the best places in Madrid to try a calamari sandwich and it’s located near Plaza Mayor. This casual eatery serves up fresh calamari sandwiches that only cost about €6 and comes with fries. Another delicious dish to try here are the Patatas Bravas!
5. Have a Picnic at Retiro Park
If you're looking for a cheap activity, have a picnic at Retiro park. It's the perfect place to have a relaxing day with friends or family. The park is huge and there are plenty of places to sit and relax while enjoying the beautiful weather! Retiro Park is the largest and most popular park in Madrid, and up until the 19th century, it was privately owned by the Spanish monarchy. This beautiful park is made up of 250-acres and is conveniently located to many popular museums so it’s a great place to explore after a day inside some of Madrid’s best museums. After you’ve had your picnic you can even rent paddle boats on one of its lakes for only €6, take a self-guided bike tour, or guided walking tour through the park!
6. Visit the Palacio de Cristal
Palacio de Cristal is a glass palace inside Retiro Park and was originally built for the Philippines Exposition of 1887 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s made completely out of glass and iron and is surrounded by gardens, statues, and a duck pond with a fountain. Today, the Crystal Palace is home to the Reina Sofia Museum which holds exhibits throughout the year. Entrance to the museum is free and if there’s not an exhibit open during your visit, it’s still a beautiful site to see.
7. Go Inside Almudena Cathedral
Almudena Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Madrid, Spain and has quite an interesting history and design. The cathedral’s foundation was laid in 1883 and was at a standstill throughout the Spanish Civil War where it was completely abandoned in 1950 and the cathedral was later completed in 1993. Throughout this long time span of being constructed, the architecture changed from Gothic Revival to Baroque and Neo-Gothic - and the different architectural styles carry to the inside as well. The inside of the cathedral is bright, colorful, and unlike any other cathedral I’ve ever seen! It’s free to visit this cathedral, but a small donation is appreciated.
Almudena Cathedral
8. Take Advantage of Madrid’s Free Museum Days & Hours
Some museums like the Prado allow free entry during certain times throughout the week and on specific days that you should definitely take advantage of.
Free days - not all museums participate in these free days, but most do. April 18th , Monuments and Sites Day; May 18th , International Museum Day; October 12th , National Holiday of Spain; and December 6th , Day of the Spanish Constitution.
Prado Museo - Monday through Saturday from 6pm to 8pm and on Sundays from 5pm to 7pm.
Royal Palace - offers free entry to citizens of the European Union during the last two hours of operation every day.
Reina Sofia Museum (main building) - daily from 6pm-8pm, and Sundays from 1.30pm-2.30pm.
Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum - Mondays from noon to 4pm.
National Archaeological Museum - Saturdays after 2pm and Sunday mornings before noon.
Royal Botanic Gardens - Tuesdays after 2pm.
9. Stroll Through Casa de Campo Rose Garden in Parque del Oeste
If you're a fan of flowers and nature, the Casa de Campo Rose Garden in Parque del Oeste is a must-see. The park has over 650 varieties of roses grown on its grounds and over 20,000 plants, which makes it one of the largest rose gardens in Europe. The flowers bloom from spring through to summer and walking the grounds not only looks beautiful, but smells amazing too. It's open daily from 10 am to 7 pm and admission is free! Its location is a short walk from the Royal Palace and near the cable car and Temple Debod.
10. Take a Ride on the Madrid Cable Car
Departing from the western side of the city near Casa de Campo, the Madrid Teleférico is a great way to see the city from a different angle! Each cable car holds up to six passengers and there are 80 cable cars on the route. The ride lasts about 11-minutes each way as you travel through the air over Casa de Campo park. Roundtrip tickets cost €6 or a one way ticket costs €4 and both can be purchased on site at the station. We absolutely loved riding the cable car in Madrid and had wonderful views of the Royal Palace!
11. Visit Mercado San Anton for a Rooftop Drink
If you want to enjoy a cheap drink and see the city from above, head over to Mercado San Anton. The rooftop bar, 11 Knots North Terrace, is open until 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends. It's an excellent place for people watching--and with the view it's no surprise that this spot has become popular among tourists and locals alike. You can get beer for around €3, wine for €5-€6, and cocktails starting at €8. If you're looking for something more substantial than just drinks though, they also serve food like burgers or salads at reasonable prices as well!
12. Share Some Tapas
Tapas are small portions of food, meant to be shared and are a great way to try new foods and have fun with your friends! Order a variety of different tapas, such as croquettes (deep-fried mashed potato balls), patatas bravas (potato wedges topped with spicy tomato sauce) or albondigas (meatballs). And don’t be nervous to try more adventurous dishes too! Spain is known for having some of the best food in the world and specialties include suckling pig, pig ears, and tripe - and they taste better than you would expect! Some of my favorite tapas bars in Madrid are Casa Toni, Casa Gonzalez, and La Casa del Abuelo.
If you're looking for something more substantial than just small bites, ask for raciones instead - these are larger portions that come in two or three servings per dish so everyone can try everything on the menu without having too much left over.
13. Watch the Sunset at Temple of Debod
The Temple of Debod dates back to the 2nd century and was relocated from Egypt to Madrid in the 1960’s in order to save it from being torn down and was opened to the public by 1972. This astonishing temple is located near Oeste Park and the Royal Palace and offers free entry daily. The line was too long when I visited so plan on arriving at the site early to avoid long lines, but if you don’t want to wait in line, you can still walk pretty close to the temple to see some of the detail carved into the stone. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset because the temple glows as the evening sun hits it.
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
