The 5 Best Free Things to Do in Madrid

Madrid gives away more than it charges for: the best sunset in the city from a hill in Vallecas, museums that go free in the evening, and tours that cost nothing but a tip.

The 5 most popular of 6 free picks our hosts recommend — viewpoints, museums, markets and the parks Madrid actually spends its weekends in.

San Miguel market

Price No entrance fee

Located in the center of Madrid, this centenary market is the gastronomic temple of the city.

It consists of 33 stalls, and its architecture draws attention for its wrought iron and glass structure.

Inside, you can taste products from different parts of the country: from tapas made with fresh fish and seafood from the Galician coast to gourmet cheeses from La Mancha.

Thanks to its extensive opening hours, it is perfect for daytime and evening leisure.

In addition to food, it also offers activities such as wine tastings, cooking classes and cultural events.

El retiro park

Located in the heart of Madrid, the Retiro Park is an oasis of tranquility and natural beauty of 125 hectares, steeped in history.

Retiro Park was once the royal garden of the former Buen Retiro Palace, built by the kings of Spain in the seventeenth century as a place for spiritual retreat, walks, rest and vacations.

Take a leisurely boat ride or watch the swans on the pond, admire the majestic architecture of the Crystal Palace, stroll through the beautiful French and Spanish gardens or enjoy live music shows and open-air theater in the Amphitheater.

And for a rest from your walk, you'll find cafes and terraces with a relaxed atmosphere, and for the little ones there will be parks and playgrounds.

Explore it and discover why it's one of the most beloved places in the Spanish capital.

Cat mountain

Admission Free of charge

Discover this secret corner of the city, which has been closed for 20 years and is finally reopening!

Under waterfalls and a mountain you will find this cave from 1817.

Built as one of the romantic whims of the Retiro, you can climb to its top by a couple of paths to enjoy good views towards the park.

The cave allows the ascent to its dome, where a small temple used to stand.

Occasionally, exhibitions are organized, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy something unique and special, even if only for a short visit.

Free tour of Madrid

Meeting point Civitatis Tours - Calle Montera 32
Duration 2h
Language Spanish
Price Free

Welcome to this exciting tour through the historic streets of Madrid, where you will learn about the stories, legends and most emblematic corners of the city.

At the appointed time, we will meet at Civitatis headquarters and, from there, we will start walking around the Spanish capital.

In this free tour you will be able to see, the following must-sees of Madrid:

Puerta del Sol: Here, you will admire the Kilometer Zero, the Bear and the Strawberry Tree, the Clock of the Casa de Correos, and the statue of Carlos III.
Cathedral of the Almudena: Discover this centuries-old witness of faith and history in the city.
Plaza Mayor: You will learn about this bustling scene where the soul of the city beats incessantly.
Palacio Real: An architectural gem, where you will be told the secrets of Spanish royalty.
Royal Theater: Where the magic of art meets reality.

Finally, after 2 hours of enjoyable sightseeing, this free tour concludes at Plaza de Oriente.

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Museum of aeronautics and astronautics

Museum of aeronautics and astronautics (3/3)

Admission Free of charge

Enjoy a vast display of airplanes and reproductions of different aircraft models that have soared through our skies in the past.

It has almost 70,000 square meters and about 200 aircraft in 7 different hangars.

The entrance is free giving you the option to make a donation for the maintenance of the museum.

A formidable place for aviation enthusiasts, with large spaces where you can see aircraft from all eras, from a recreation of the Wright brothers' plane to more modern jets such as the F4 Phantom or the F5 Tiger.

To get there, it's ideal to go by car as there is free parking, but you can also use the subway to Cuatro Vientos station and walk 15 min.

It will be a very interesting way to spend your morning!

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