Free and Cheap Things to Do in Madrid
The elegant capital of Spain is steeped in history, rich in art & culture, and home to some of the most exquisite cuisine in the world; but experiencing the best of Madrid doesn’t have to be costly – in fact, many of the best things to do and see in Madrid are free or relatively cheap.
To guide you through a budget-friendly way to explore Madrid, we got some excellent local tips from our expert Madrid resident, Emma Lozano, who shared her top ten free things to do, places to visit, cheap eats, museums and more. If you’re soon taking a trip to Madrid, you’re in for a real treat!
Read on or press play and check out Emma’s Madrid travel guide and her favorite things to do here that will keep your budget almost intact.
Sol Square, surrounded by historic monuments, landmarks, and many restaurants, cafes and shops, is the site of Spain’s ‘Kilometre zero’, the geographical centre of Spain where all the national roads in the country officially begin, their distance measured from this point marked by a modest stone plaque in the ground.
It is from here that each of Madrid’s streets are numbered too, increasing with distance from kilometer zero. This is where your journey through Madrid should begin.
2. Gran Vía Street
Dubbed ‘Madrid’s Broadway’, a visit to Gran Vía street or the nearby Plaza del Callao is a great idea if you fancy catching some excellent live performances, shows, comedy or music. Hosting an array of national and international acts, an evening on Gran Vía is sure to be full of quality entertainment – much of which is free or quite cheap to check out, for example, stand-up comedy at La Chocita del Loro, a well-known, local-loved venue.
Always full of life, the bustling Gran Via street is lined with numerous shops, plenty of cheap bars and restaurants and boasts some of the most exquisite architecture in Madrid, such as The Metropolis Building with its incredible façade and cupola, or the more modern, Manhattan-inspired, Telefonica Building.
See also: Free guided tours in Madrid
3. El Retiro Park
El Retiro Park (locally known as Parque del Retiro) is one of the largest and most famous parks in Madrid. It’s known as “Madrid’s lung”, owing to the abundance of trees, lush green spaces and impressively manicured gardens which house remarkable monuments and fountains. It’s a great place to explore, mingle with locals, and one of the best free places to visit in Madrid.
Without doubt, one of the best cheap things to do in Madrid is to rent a boat and relax on the water of Retiro park lake, taking in the views of statues, monuments and beautiful buildings which adorn the park. Boat rental starts from €2 for 45 minutes and is a very enjoyable experience.
In the center of El Retiro Park is the fantastic Palacio de Cristal, which is made almost entirely out of glass. Also known as the Glass Palace, this conservatory was built in 1887 and was originally intended as a greenhouse for a vast array of tropical plants. Today, the expansive iron and glass structure is used for temporary exhibitions and events.
Entrance to the Palacio de Cristal is free, and you’ll likely see some exhibited artworks during your visit here. Surrounding the palace, you’ll often find musicians serenading passers-by while ducks and turtles enjoy the lake at the foot of the steps to the main entrance. This ornate structure is the jewel of Retiro park and certainly one of the best free things to do in Madrid!
5. Cibeles Square
Next on our Madrid travel guide of free and cheap things to see and do is the iconic Cibeles Square, the starting point of the Avenue of Arts. With the greek Goddess Cibeles (or Cybele as it is sometimes spelled) in the center, this incredible array of fountains and neo-classical marble sculptures marks the intersection of Paseo de Recoletos, Paseo del Prado (where the famous Prado Museum is located) and Calle de Alcalá, and is a must-see on any trip to Madrid.
The Plaza de Cibeles ties the districts of Centro, Retiro, and Salamanca together and is the scene of collective jubilation for fans of Real Madrid C.F. who flock here to celebrate the club’s frequent successes. As well as the magnificent Cibeles fountain, the square is punctuated by remarkable buildings such as the Cibeles Palace which today serves as Madrid City Hall, the baroque Linares Palacio, and the Buenavista Palace.
What better way to top off a day of exploring Madrid than with a bite to eat and a glass of wine on one of Madrid’s best rooftops. While the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop terrace is relatively inexpensive, there are cheaper places to eat and drink in Madrid, but none will afford you a view quite like that of the ‘CBA’!
Surveying the Madrid cityscape from this rooftop is a fascinating experience, taking in spectacular views like la plaza Cibeles and Gran Via while savoring delicious local Madrid cuisine, traditional tapas and, of course, a drink or two. The building itself is home to one of Europe’s most renowned cultural centers, dedicated to the arts and sciences.
With more than 1,500 paintings, sculptures, literary works, historical documents, and other culturally important exhibits, the Círculo de Bellas Artes hosts numerous exhibitions, concerts, events, and activities and is well worth a visit as a very valuable yet cheap thing to do in Madrid.
The official residence of the Spanish Royal family in Madrid, the Royal Palace is the largest functioning royal palace in all of Europe. With a remarkable floor space of more than 135,000 square meters, the palace contains literally thousands of rooms to be discovered; 3,418 to be precise.
Nowadays used for official state ceremonies and visits, the site has housed a fortress or castle complex since way back when in the year 860 and a visit to the Palace is a trip through Madrid’s remarkable history. Entrance to this exquisite building is free (on certain days) for EU citizens and those of you from Latin America.
Surrounding the Royal Palace of Madrid, the delightful Sabatini gardens offers a peaceful reprieve from the bustling city outside the Palace boundary, complete with ornate fountains, sculptures, and pristinely shaped shrubbery – a wonderful addition to one of the best free things to do in Madrid.
Lavapiés is Madrid’s most diverse and multicultural neighborhood, famous for its underground culture but also its tradition. Young people are attracted to the culture, music, and street art in Lavapiés where they live alongside people from 80 different nationalities.
This colorful district is a wonderful mix of old and new, tradition and diversity; medieval streets bustle with art, culture, and cuisine from all over the world.
You can enjoy some of the best Asian food in Madrid here, for example, and wash it down with a local craft beer at a traditional Spanish tavern bar before venturing to an alternative art exhibit at La Casa Encendida (Ronda de Valencia, 2) or to view the works of old masters like Picasso at the Reina Sofía Museum.
Lavapies is truly one of the coolest places in Madrid to spend an afternoon or evening and there are a number of free walking tours around the area which you can easily book your spot on to explore and discover the joys of the district with a lovely local Madrid tour guide.
One of the best places to visit in Madrid for delicious and cheap food is, undoubtedly, Taberna El Buo, located very close to La Latina metro station and not far from Lavapiés. Here you can try the Spanish omelette with a bit of a twist – the huge Spanish tortillas here are simply a must eat!
And if the ultimate Spanish tortilla is too big for your belly, don’t worry – there are lots of delicious typical Spanish dishes on the menu at El Buo too, including croquettes, which we highly recommend. The décor is delightfully traditional, the food is delicious and cheap, the wine is excellent and the service is friendly – what more could you want?!
Right in the heart of the Spanish capital, there sits, perhaps quiet strangely, an ancient Egyptian temple dating from the 2nd Century BC called El Templo De Debod which is surrounded by green areas where locals love to relax, play sports, have picnics and chill out.
Egypt donated this temple to Madrid back in 1968 as a thank you gift for helping to relocate the Abu Simbel temples in 1959 which had been threatened by the rising waters of the Nile; so it was transported stone by stone from Egypt and rebuilt in its exact orientation on-site in Madrid.
A visit here is one of the better free things to do, not just for the novelty of being able to witness an authentic part of ancient Egypt in Spain, but the gardens surrounding it and the views of Palacio Real from here makes El Templo De Debod a great place to visit in Madrid.
There you have it, curious traveler. If you want to find out more about this incredible city, get to grips with the history, culture, and traditions of Madrid, and make the most of your time in the Spanish capital, then be sure to book a free tour of Madrid with a local guide on FREETOUR.com or the FREE TOUR app.
To guide you through a budget-friendly way to explore Madrid, we got some excellent local tips from our expert Madrid resident, Emma Lozano, who shared her top ten free things to do, places to visit, cheap eats, museums and more. If you’re soon taking a trip to Madrid, you’re in for a real treat!
Read on or press play and check out Emma’s Madrid travel guide and her favorite things to do here that will keep your budget almost intact.
Top 10 things to do in Madrid
- Sol Square - Kilometre Zero
- Gran Vía Street
- El Retiro Park
- Palacio de Cristal
- Cibeles Square
- Círculo de Bellas Artes
- The Royal Palace
- Lavapiés District
- Taberna El Buo
- Templo de Debod
1. Sol Square - Kilometer Zero
Sol Square, surrounded by historic monuments, landmarks, and many restaurants, cafes and shops, is the site of Spain’s ‘Kilometre zero’, the geographical centre of Spain where all the national roads in the country officially begin, their distance measured from this point marked by a modest stone plaque in the ground.
It is from here that each of Madrid’s streets are numbered too, increasing with distance from kilometer zero. This is where your journey through Madrid should begin.
2. Gran Vía Street
Dubbed ‘Madrid’s Broadway’, a visit to Gran Vía street or the nearby Plaza del Callao is a great idea if you fancy catching some excellent live performances, shows, comedy or music. Hosting an array of national and international acts, an evening on Gran Vía is sure to be full of quality entertainment – much of which is free or quite cheap to check out, for example, stand-up comedy at La Chocita del Loro, a well-known, local-loved venue.
Always full of life, the bustling Gran Via street is lined with numerous shops, plenty of cheap bars and restaurants and boasts some of the most exquisite architecture in Madrid, such as The Metropolis Building with its incredible façade and cupola, or the more modern, Manhattan-inspired, Telefonica Building.
See also: Free guided tours in Madrid
3. El Retiro Park
El Retiro Park (locally known as Parque del Retiro) is one of the largest and most famous parks in Madrid. It’s known as “Madrid’s lung”, owing to the abundance of trees, lush green spaces and impressively manicured gardens which house remarkable monuments and fountains. It’s a great place to explore, mingle with locals, and one of the best free places to visit in Madrid.
Without doubt, one of the best cheap things to do in Madrid is to rent a boat and relax on the water of Retiro park lake, taking in the views of statues, monuments and beautiful buildings which adorn the park. Boat rental starts from €2 for 45 minutes and is a very enjoyable experience.
4. Palacio de Cristal
In the center of El Retiro Park is the fantastic Palacio de Cristal, which is made almost entirely out of glass. Also known as the Glass Palace, this conservatory was built in 1887 and was originally intended as a greenhouse for a vast array of tropical plants. Today, the expansive iron and glass structure is used for temporary exhibitions and events.
Entrance to the Palacio de Cristal is free, and you’ll likely see some exhibited artworks during your visit here. Surrounding the palace, you’ll often find musicians serenading passers-by while ducks and turtles enjoy the lake at the foot of the steps to the main entrance. This ornate structure is the jewel of Retiro park and certainly one of the best free things to do in Madrid!
5. Cibeles Square
Next on our Madrid travel guide of free and cheap things to see and do is the iconic Cibeles Square, the starting point of the Avenue of Arts. With the greek Goddess Cibeles (or Cybele as it is sometimes spelled) in the center, this incredible array of fountains and neo-classical marble sculptures marks the intersection of Paseo de Recoletos, Paseo del Prado (where the famous Prado Museum is located) and Calle de Alcalá, and is a must-see on any trip to Madrid.
The Plaza de Cibeles ties the districts of Centro, Retiro, and Salamanca together and is the scene of collective jubilation for fans of Real Madrid C.F. who flock here to celebrate the club’s frequent successes. As well as the magnificent Cibeles fountain, the square is punctuated by remarkable buildings such as the Cibeles Palace which today serves as Madrid City Hall, the baroque Linares Palacio, and the Buenavista Palace.
6. Círculo de Bellas Artes
What better way to top off a day of exploring Madrid than with a bite to eat and a glass of wine on one of Madrid’s best rooftops. While the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop terrace is relatively inexpensive, there are cheaper places to eat and drink in Madrid, but none will afford you a view quite like that of the ‘CBA’!
Surveying the Madrid cityscape from this rooftop is a fascinating experience, taking in spectacular views like la plaza Cibeles and Gran Via while savoring delicious local Madrid cuisine, traditional tapas and, of course, a drink or two. The building itself is home to one of Europe’s most renowned cultural centers, dedicated to the arts and sciences.
With more than 1,500 paintings, sculptures, literary works, historical documents, and other culturally important exhibits, the Círculo de Bellas Artes hosts numerous exhibitions, concerts, events, and activities and is well worth a visit as a very valuable yet cheap thing to do in Madrid.
7. The Royal Palace
The official residence of the Spanish Royal family in Madrid, the Royal Palace is the largest functioning royal palace in all of Europe. With a remarkable floor space of more than 135,000 square meters, the palace contains literally thousands of rooms to be discovered; 3,418 to be precise.
Nowadays used for official state ceremonies and visits, the site has housed a fortress or castle complex since way back when in the year 860 and a visit to the Palace is a trip through Madrid’s remarkable history. Entrance to this exquisite building is free (on certain days) for EU citizens and those of you from Latin America.
Surrounding the Royal Palace of Madrid, the delightful Sabatini gardens offers a peaceful reprieve from the bustling city outside the Palace boundary, complete with ornate fountains, sculptures, and pristinely shaped shrubbery – a wonderful addition to one of the best free things to do in Madrid.
8. Lavapiés District
Lavapiés is Madrid’s most diverse and multicultural neighborhood, famous for its underground culture but also its tradition. Young people are attracted to the culture, music, and street art in Lavapiés where they live alongside people from 80 different nationalities.
This colorful district is a wonderful mix of old and new, tradition and diversity; medieval streets bustle with art, culture, and cuisine from all over the world.
You can enjoy some of the best Asian food in Madrid here, for example, and wash it down with a local craft beer at a traditional Spanish tavern bar before venturing to an alternative art exhibit at La Casa Encendida (Ronda de Valencia, 2) or to view the works of old masters like Picasso at the Reina Sofía Museum.
Lavapies is truly one of the coolest places in Madrid to spend an afternoon or evening and there are a number of free walking tours around the area which you can easily book your spot on to explore and discover the joys of the district with a lovely local Madrid tour guide.
9. Taberna El Buo
One of the best places to visit in Madrid for delicious and cheap food is, undoubtedly, Taberna El Buo, located very close to La Latina metro station and not far from Lavapiés. Here you can try the Spanish omelette with a bit of a twist – the huge Spanish tortillas here are simply a must eat!
And if the ultimate Spanish tortilla is too big for your belly, don’t worry – there are lots of delicious typical Spanish dishes on the menu at El Buo too, including croquettes, which we highly recommend. The décor is delightfully traditional, the food is delicious and cheap, the wine is excellent and the service is friendly – what more could you want?!
10. Templo de Debod
Debod Temple at night
Right in the heart of the Spanish capital, there sits, perhaps quiet strangely, an ancient Egyptian temple dating from the 2nd Century BC called El Templo De Debod which is surrounded by green areas where locals love to relax, play sports, have picnics and chill out.
Egypt donated this temple to Madrid back in 1968 as a thank you gift for helping to relocate the Abu Simbel temples in 1959 which had been threatened by the rising waters of the Nile; so it was transported stone by stone from Egypt and rebuilt in its exact orientation on-site in Madrid.
A visit here is one of the better free things to do, not just for the novelty of being able to witness an authentic part of ancient Egypt in Spain, but the gardens surrounding it and the views of Palacio Real from here makes El Templo De Debod a great place to visit in Madrid.
There you have it, curious traveler. If you want to find out more about this incredible city, get to grips with the history, culture, and traditions of Madrid, and make the most of your time in the Spanish capital, then be sure to book a free tour of Madrid with a local guide on FREETOUR.com or the FREE TOUR app.
