- 1 Puerta del Sol
- 2 Plaza Mayor
- 3 San Miguel Market
- 4 Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel
- 5 Almudena Cathedral
- 6 Royal Palace
- 7 Sabatini Gardens
- 8 Plaza d’Espana
- 9 Temple of Debod
- 10 Gran Vía
- 11 Plaza de Toros
- 12 Puerta de Alcalà
- 13 Plaza e Fuente la Cibeles
- 14 El rastro
- 15 Garden of Buen Retiro
- 16 Atocha station
- 17 FREE tour of Madrid
- 18 Read all the articles about Madrid
What to see for free in Madrid? Is it possible to discover the city at no cost? With my path yes!
In the path that I will show you below entrances to attractions and museums are excluded: with only one weekend available, you have to decide whether to visit only the museums or the city, there is no time for everything!
If you particularly love museums, I suggest you buy the MADRID CITY PASS I suggest you buy the one that will allow you to save time and money when visiting the city!
I chose the city, Madrid.
I traveled many stages on foot, while for longer distances I used the metro (read Getting around by metro in Madrid for more information on tickets and passes).
FREE tour of Madrid: do you know that in Madrid, Civitatis offers COMPLETELY FREE guided tours? See HERE all the details
Here is the route with the attractions I visited:
Puerta del Sol
This large square next to the Casa de Correos is a popular meeting place and almost all Spaniards will recognize the clock at the top of the Casa de Correos, as this marks the New Year’s countdown since the Middle Ages.
Puerta del Sol is the historic heart of the city and is always very busy: it is the ideal place to soak up the atmosphere of Madrid.
Easily accessible by public transport, this square offers quality shops and restaurants. The name means “gate of the sun”. It is the center of the radial network of roads in Spain (Look for the Km Zero: it is the center of the Spanish road network).
This is a very popular tourist destination that is considered even more spectacular at night than during the day.
At the side of the square look for the statue of the Bear with strawberry tree (El Oso y El Madroño) symbol of the city.
Plaza Mayor
Less than 10 minutes’ walk from the Royal Palace of Madrid is a historic square with over 400 years of history.
Probably because Plaza Mayor is the most famous square in Madrid but it is always full of tourists and artists who entertain them with live performances, the architecture is beautiful to admire and there are many places to eat a bite. In the center of the square you will see a 17th century statue of King Philip III of Spain who commissioned the construction of the square. You can spend a few minutes here or a few hours.
Rectangular square all balconies and buildings with crowded cafes.
San Miguel Market
An easy stroll from the Plaza Mayor takes you to this stunning Art Nouveau market which dates back to 1916.
The San Miguel Market is not just a fresh produce market (although there are food stalls), but rather the destination to buy the best fod that Spain has to offer, such as cava, pimenton (paprika) and saffron.
There is a plethora of tapas bars serving all dishes such as patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and boquerones, with a glass of beer, rioja or vermouth.
Fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, a rainbow of colors.
To eat something typical in a very nice place.
A funfair of colors, smells and flavors. A photo posted by Il Turista Informato (@ilturistainformato) on
Pontifical Basilica of San Miguel
Baroque style church in old Madrid.
The interior is very nice: a single nave with crossed arches.
Almudena Cathedral
The Madrid Cathedral was completed and consecrated by Pope John Paul in 1993.
There is a small courtyard at the entrance of the church with a statue of Pope John Paul II. The three doors of the church are beautifully carved and its gray-white facade is similar to that of the Royal Palace, which is opposite. Admission is free, but an offering box is prominently placed near the door.
Here King Felipe and Queen Letizia got married.
Royal Palace
Grand, sumptuous and impressive, even from the outside. Originally a royal fortress it became later the Royal Palace, today it is used only for state ceremonies.
Within its 135,000 square meters there are 3,418 rooms.
Is it possible to visit it? Of course, it is possible to visit the palace from 10:00 to 18:00 during the winter and from 10:00 to 20:00 during the summer. Prices vary depending on what you want to see and whether you decide to take an audio guide or not, but admission is free from 6pm to 8pm from May to September and from 4pm at 18:00 from October to March.
To make sure you don’t miss a thing, I recommend that you book this guided tour.
There is also a changing of the guard ceremony every Wednesday and Saturday, weather permitting. After a visit, you will agree with me that the Royal Palace is one of the best things to see in Madrid.
If you want to visit it internally but without a guide you can buy the Skip the Line entrance ticket HERE.
Sabatini Gardens
It is a monumental park which is located next to the Royal Palace.
Taking a walk here is certainly pleasant.
Plaza d’Espana
Super busy intersection and meeting point of the city.
Despite being a very busy intersection it is worth visiting Plaza d’Espana as the square, dating back to the 18th century, is a meeting point of the city and is a sight to behold: it houses a large monument of the famous Spanish novelist, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, built in 1925 and consisting of a stone sculpture by Cervantes overlooking sculptures of Don Quixote riding Ronzinante and Sancho Panza following him with a donkey, a fountain and a pond.
The whole square is bordered by two of the largest buildings in the city, the Tower of Madrid – one of the tallest skyscrapers built in 1957 and the Edificio España. Near the square you will find cinemas, parks, restaurants and the Temple of Debod.
Temple of Debod
It is a truly ancient Egyptian time, donated to Spain by the Egyptian government. Isn’t it strange to find it in Madrid?
Built around 200 BC, this temple was dedicated to the god Amon of Debod and Isis and was donated to Spain in 1968 as thanks for helping save the Abu Simbel temples.
Typically open from 10am to 8pm, be sure to double check the hours before you go as when I visited, the museum was closed due to technical issues. After you are done visiting the Temple of Debod, be sure to stay until sunset, your photos will be beautiful.
Un tempio egizio in mezzo a #madrid A photo posted by Il Turista Informato (@ilturistainformato) on
Gran Vía
If you want to have a first orientation of the city, a walk along la Gran Vía is a great starting point.
The nerve center of Madrid’s entertainment, shopping and culture, Gran Vía is a lively boulevard often full of life until dawn. During the day it is full of tourists and locals who stop in the numerous shopping centers, and in the evening there are couples walking holding hands, leaving the cinema or some musical.
This is also where the best nightclubs in Madrid are located. Things to see on the walk include the vast Telefónica building, built in 1928 and one of the earliest examples of a skyscraper.
Plaza de Toros
It is the arena for Madrid’s bullfights.
Next to it there is also the Bullfighting Museum, naturally linked to the world of bullfights.
Nice outside with the bulls attached to the wall.
Puerta de Alcalà
Triumphal arch in granite, in the 19th century it marked the eastern limit of the city. In the evening, all lit up, it is even more fascinating.
The beautiful #puertadealcala in #madrid A photo posted by Il Turista Informato (@ilturistainformato) on
Plaza e Fuente la Cibeles
This square is really beautiful: in the center the imposing fountain of Cybele (Fuente de Cibeles), and on the sides of the square 4 of the most important buildings in Madrid: Banco de Espana, Cuertel General del Ejército de Tierra, Palacio de Comunicaciones and Palacio de Linares.
Created in 1782 by Francisco Gutiérrez and Roberto Michel, the imposing fountain depicts the Roman goddess Cybele on a chariot drawn by lions. Behind the fountain is the Palacio de Cibeles cultural center, which hosts art exhibitions and workshops, conferences and concerts.
RECOMMENDED GUIDE: the best travel guide to visit Madrid.
Lonely Planet Madrid is your passport to the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see and what not to see and what hidden discoveries await you.
El rastro
Flea market open air located in the heart of La Latina. El rastro, born even in the Middle Ages and reached up to to us, it is open every Sunday from 10.00 to 15.00 and is the perfect place to go in search of antiques, used clothing, costume jewelery, vinyl records and stalls of all kinds.
Crowds of tourists flock in search of the perfect deal.
Garden of Buen Retiro
A walk in the open air, surrounded by nature and warmed by the sun: this is the ideal destination!
The Jardín del Buen Retiro is the large park in Madrid, a green and peaceful space in the center of the city. With a lake, trees, flower gardens, the Palacio de Cristal and the Monument to Alfonso XII, it is a perfect (and close) retreat from the hustle and bustle of Madrid city life.
It is also possible to rent a boat to go around the lake. Boats are typically around € 6 during the week and € 8 on weekends and holidays.
Palacio de Cristal in Parque Retiro #madrid #igersspain #igersmadrid A photo posted by Il Turista Informato (@ilturistainformato) on
Born as a royal park, you can enjoy it until midnight from April to September and until 10pm from October to March.
Atocha station
The inside is the real gem of Atocha station: a very original “jungle” and ponds with turtles.
Really unusual for a train station, don’t you think?
Where you least expect it, you’ll find tropical trees, a beautiful turtle pond and birds chirping. The architecture is original and the interior is truly one of a kind. Take a train or metro to one of the many nearby cities worth a visit, such as Alcala de Henares (Cervantes’ hometown) or El Escorial (the site of a beautiful monastery and a city where Spanish families lived).
FREE tour of Madrid
Yes I know, the free things to do in Madrid were supposed to be 15… but I have discovered that Civitatis offers completely free tours which you can join without commitment (but if you don’t go remember to cancel and leave the place to someone else, places are limited). Find HERE all the details of the tour (and see the great reviews)!
Do you have more time available? Treat yourself with a visit to the Prado museum, a flamenco show or a guided walking tour! I suggest you purchase attraction tickets in advance. Click HERE to save on the ticket price and also skip the entrance line to the attraction!
Don’t forget to buy the Madrid City Pass, the revolutionary card that allows you to save on various attractions. See HERE what is included in the MADRID CITY PASS
Read all the articles about Madrid
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