So, I’m back in Madrid for the second time, after my quick visit to the Spanish capital in May (which I told you about here if you recall) to discover the NH Collection Gran Via. It was the perfect opportunity for me to put together a little city guide for this beautiful city! Whether you’re planning to visit Madrid for a weekend or spend a few days there, I’ve gathered all my must-sees and favorite spots in this complete guide to help you plan your trip.
By the way, I learned during this little getaway that this city, with its 3.2 million inhabitants, is known to be one of the safest in Europe, but also one of the most tolerant (the history of the Chueca district, which I expand on a bit later in the article, is very revealing from that point of view).
Regarding practical info for this Madrid city guide, I’d say the metro is cheap and perfect for getting around the city, and as usual, for all information regarding your stay, I encourage you to check with the Madrid Tourist Office, it’s always very useful (Plaza Mayor Tourist Information Centre – Plaza Mayor, 27 Madrid).
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Table of Contents
How to get to Madrid: my feedback on flying with Ryanair
I must admit I had never taken the low-cost airline before this trip. To get to Madrid, you first need to take the shuttle to Beauvais airport (the closest Ryanair airport to Paris). You can catch it at Porte Maillot, right next to the Palais des Congrès. You can buy your ticket on-site (be sure to check the shuttle schedules in advance based on your flight). It costs €15.90 or €29 for a round trip (in 2026, more around €17.90 one-way and €29.90 round-trip) for a 1 hour 15 minute journey. For my part, I took the 10:45 AM shuttle (arriving at Beauvais airport at 12:00 PM) for a 1:45 PM flight, and it was more than enough time.
Once there, the airport is quite small. In fact, Ryanair is practically the only one operating there… So, there is very little chance of getting lost. There are still 2 terminals, and when you arrive, you have to check the signs to see which one you need to go to.
My tips for going through security:
- Remember to go through security early enough as there is always a bit of a wait.
- Empty your water bottle in the restrooms before security (it will pass through without any issues if empty) and then refill it at the sinks before boarding the plane, as you get dehydrated very quickly while flying.
- Put your toiletries (attention, 100ml maximum) in a transparent plastic bag and take them out when you go through security.
- If you have a laptop or tablet (personally, I don’t like leaving mine in checked luggage), take it out too and put it in a bin (it must be visible).
In addition to your ticket, you can purchase the Priority option which allows you to have another small bag in the cabin in addition to your handbag (otherwise, only 1 bag per person is allowed in the cabin), as well as waiting in a special line before boarding the plane.
Good to know: you must check in before arriving at the airport (unlike most airlines), otherwise you may be penalized if you have to do it on-site.
Once you’ve checked in online, you must either print your boarding pass or present it on your mobile (but only via the free Ryanair app). In short, Ryanair and its fares can really be a great deal; you just need to get well-informed in advance to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Plus, in Madrid, you arrive directly at one of the city’s main airports, which is quite convenient.
Price of my Paris Madrid round-trip: €62.80 (it’s unbeatable, I admit)
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What to do in Madrid? Ideas for must-see visits and activities
As usual, here is a selection of ideas for visits and places to discover in Madrid through a city guide. A small addition: I didn’t have time to do it, but if you feel like taking a walk, Retiro Park is the perfect place to see a bit of greenery in the heart of the city, from what I gathered. I’ve made a note to do it on my next visit to the Spanish capital.
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Stroll through the neighborhoods of Las Letras, Chueca and Malasaña on foot
These three adjoining neighborhoods each have their own vibe and atmosphere, and discovering them on a walking tour can be a great way to experience different facets of the city. The Las Letras neighborhood, for example, is the literary quarter where great Spanish poets lived (below you can see Cervantes‘ house). Not far from there, Chueca is the gay-friendly neighborhood of the capital, a hub for Spain’s LGBT community.
Finally, the Malasaña neighborhood, which is extremely trendy today, is also the birthplace of the famous Madrid Movida in the 80s, driven in particular by the director Pedro Almodóvar.
I also advise you to take a look at the design shop Studio Kikekeller (Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 17 Madrid) in the Malasaña neighborhood, which is definitely worth a visit!
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Take a free walking tour in Madrid with Civitatis
Civitatis is a platform specializing in the online distribution of activities, excursions, and guided tours for the world’s main tourist destinations. The great deal is that they organize Free Tours (so, free guided visits) in several major cities around the world, which have no fixed price; at the end of the tour, each person is free to give the guide an amount in cash based on their level of satisfaction. This free tour will allow you to get to know the stories and iconic nooks and crannies of Madrid from yesterday to enjoy the Madrid of today.
Free tour in Madrid by Civitatis
Duration: 2h30
Link to book your free tour
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Take a tour of the city with the Madrid City Tour
This tourist bus (I had already tested this concept in Barcelona if you remember) allows you to go around the city by offering two routes:
- route no. 1 historic (which I took)
- route no. 2 modern
The principle is simple: you buy a ticket for 1 day and you can get on and off as many times as you want from the buses in circulation to visit a place, then continue your tour while listening to the explanations provided via headphones and based on the bus’s location. If the weather is nice, I advise you to go to the upper deck of the bus; you will have a better view.
The great deal:
- there is a USB port on every seat so you can charge your phone during the ride
- there is Wi-Fi on board
- many languages are available for the explanations, including French of course (try several seats if your headphones don’t work, as some seats are faulty)
Madrid City Tour
Prices: from 29.70 € for 24h for an adult (39.60 € for 48h). 2026 update.
My advice: to do the tour of route 1 that I tested, you need to count 2 hours (with traffic in the capital it can be a bit longer than expected)
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Chill on the terrace of the Circulo Bellas Artes
This place is a Madrid cultural institution that has existed since 1880. It is now housed in a very beautiful iconic building in the center of Madrid, dating from the 1920s. The Circulo Bellas Artes offers a great program of concerts, shows, exhibitions, cinemas…
The great idea: go up to the top of the building to admire the 360-degree view of Madrid and/or have a drink at the rooftop bar of the establishment
Circulo Bellas Artes
Alcala 42 28014 Madrid
paid admission to go to the terrace/rooftop (6 €)
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Visit a few museums
The Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum are the three great art museums of Madrid. They are located not far from each other, on a large boulevard with gardens and fountains that was created in the 18th century, known as the Paseo del Arte (Walk of Arts).
For my part, as I had already visited the Prado during my first visit to Madrid about 8 years ago, I went to discover the other two great museums of the city this time, and a small lesser-known museum also towards the La Latina neighborhood in order to complete my Madrid city guide.
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Reina Sofia National Museum
This contemporary art museum is certainly the most famous in Madrid, especially because it houses Picasso‘s famous painting, Guernica. It is an essential cultural visit to make if you have never been there.
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Santa Isabel, 52 Madrid
Skip-the-line ticket reservation with Civitatis
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Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
This Museum, opened in 1992 (it celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2017), possesses a magnificent former private collection, bequeathed to the Spanish State by Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and by his father, Baron Heinrich.
In the collection, we find works by Van Gogh, Dali, Picasso, Degas, Canaletto, Rembrandt, Hopper, Kandinsky, Monet… In short, it is truly another cultural essential to discover during a visit to Madrid. The museum also regularly offers very beautiful temporary exhibitions.
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Paseo del Prado, 8 Madrid
Prices: 14 € / free admission for everyone on Mondays from 12 pm to 4 pm for the permanent exhibition (2026 update)
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Museo San Isidro
This small museum tells the story of the origins of the city of Madrid. We discover some prehistoric, protohistoric, and Roman-era objects (from archaeological excavations) as well as the early days of the city founded by the Muslims: Mayrit. It is a museum that I highly recommend if you want to know more about the history of the city. Plus, the museography is modern and quite well done.
Museo San Isidro Plaza de San Andrés, 2 28005 Madrid The great deal: the museum is totally free
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Take a tour of La Casa Encendida
This place is the cultural and social hub of the Fondation Montemadrid, housed in a historic building and open to the public since 2002. On the agenda at this cultural venue: temporary exhibitions featuring emerging artists, festivals, performances, concerts, an educational program, a library… And a very nice little bonus: the establishment also has a lovely little café for a gourmet break.
The pro tip: the venue also has a photo lab open to everyone, and if you have a project, you can come here to bring it to life
(it costs 4 € for 4 hours to get access to all the facilities, including the darkroom); free language classes for people in the neighborhood
La Casa Encendida Ronda de Valencia, 2 28012 Madrid open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm all exhibitions are free
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Attend a Flamenco show
An experience that I warmly recommend if you want to slip into the life of Madrid and discover their passion for this music and dance. A must for every Madrid city guide, I think! A moment filled with emotion that I experienced at the Teatro Flamenco, which I particularly recommend for discovering Flamenco.
Teatro Flamenco Calle del Pez, 10 Madrid
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Go on a Segway ride
I had already tested this type of ride in Barcelona, for example, and I once again experienced this way of getting around in Madrid. What can be nice in my opinion when you’re discovering a city is that with a Segway, you cover more distance faster and can therefore see more in a reduced amount of time.
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Where to eat in Madrid? My favorite food and tapas spots
Eating is serious business in Madrid, and drinking is too, of course. So, as is my habit for this Madrid city guide, I have made a little list of a few addresses that I had the opportunity to test during my stay.
Here are also some tips on specialties to taste in Madrid establishments:
- churros dipped in hot chocolate
- here coffee is enjoyed con leche (with a bit of milk)
- tortilla
- Vermut (an aperitif I tell you about below)
- beer as an aperitif
- croquetas, of course (I am a total fan)
- Iberian ham
- for dessert, a type of Spanish French toast (Torrijas e bartolillos)
- violet candies
- tapas obviously (personally, I think I could just make meals out of tapas because they are so good and varied in Spain)
- Madrid wine (produced in the region around the city)
To discover local gastronomy and buy good products, I highly recommend that you take a tour of one of the city’s markets (San Anton or San Miguel).
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The Hielo y Carbon restaurant at the Hyatt Centric Madrid hotel
This high-end gourmet restaurant is located in the beautiful Hyatt Centric Madrid hotel, which was recently renovated.
You eat wonderfully well in a chic and refined setting, and the icing on the cake is that the cocktails (between 12 € and 14 €) offered by the establishment’s bartender are truly excellent!
Hyatt Centric Madrid Calle Gran Vía, 31, 28013 Madrid, Spain Price: dishes between 16 € and 32 € The little extra: the hotel has a magnificent rooftop that must be super pleasant for sunny days
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Lunch at the Vermuteria Gran Clavel (closed)
Here is a very good address to note if you want to learn about the tradition of Vermouth (a flavored wine, a type of wine-based aperitif) in Madrid. You will be able to discover this Spanish aperitif while enjoying some tapas.
For your info, the restaurant is ideally located along the Gran Via.
Price of tapas: between 4 € and 13.50 €
Price of a glass of Vermut (there are several kinds): between 3 € and 5 €
Gran Clavel (closed)
Calle Felipe V, 6, 28013 Madrid
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Lunch at Arzabal
This establishment is right next to the Reina Sofia museum (you can even access it directly from inside the museum), so it is the ideal place for a lunch break in the middle of your visit, for example.
The restaurant has a superb and large terrace at the back of the establishment, as well as a sort of heated glass roof where you can eat in winter while enjoying daylight, which is very pleasant.
As for the food, it’s also very good and quite hearty. I recommend that you accompany your meal with a local wine because it is quite interesting to discover.
Arzabal Restaurant Edificio Sabatini Museo Reina Sofía, Calle de Santa Isabel, 52, 28012 Madrid
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Dinner at the Mercado de San Anton
This market, which I mentioned in the introduction to this section, is the ideal place to go to eat! Inside, you will find numerous food shops where you can buy food and sit at tables in the center of the mercado to devour your culinary findings.
Another possibility: go up to the top floor and settle into the Cocina de San Anton restaurant, as we did. Update 2026: the top floor restaurant is no longer “La Cocina de San Antón”. It has been replaced by 11 Nudos Terraza Nordés.
Mercado de San Anton Calle Augusto Figueroa, 24 Madrid
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Drink a cocktail at the Museo Chicote
It is the most famous bar on the Gran Vía and also the first cocktail bar in Madrid (it opened its doors in the early 1940s) and has seen many stars walk through its walls, such as Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, and even Pedro Almodovar.
Museo Chicote Calle Gran Vía, 12 Madrid To try: the Clover Club (10 €)
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Dinner at Mercado de la Reina
This restaurant, located right next to Museo Chicote, is a great spot to grab a bite after having a few cocktails (the upside is that there’s not much walking involved and, depending on the state you’re in when leaving the bar, that can be very handy…).
Mercado de la Reina Calle Gran Vía, 12, 28013 Madrid, Spain
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Where to sleep in Madrid? NH Collection Suecia Hotel
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, during my last trip to the capital in May 2018, I stayed at the NH Collection Gran Via. And this time, I was staying at another hotel from the NH Collection brand in the Spanish capital: the Suecia.
This 5-star hotel, which I had briefly discovered on that occasion last year, is located in the heart of the city’s historic center. Renovated in 2016, it was originally inaugurated in 1956 by the Swedish royal family and notably served as the Madrid residence for Ernest Hemingway (hence the name of the hotel’s hidden bar) as well as the revolutionary Che Guevara.
My room
Once again, as in all the NH hotels where I have stayed, the bedding was incredibly comfortable, and I always appreciate the 5-star services like slippers at the foot of the bed and the little chocolate when you come back to turn in (yes, I know, you get used to these kinds of luxuries quickly, but rest assured, I can do without them too).
The Rooftop
The ideal place at the very top of the building for a little aperitif, with super cozy decor and a breathtaking view of the city.
The Hemingway Bar
This hidden cocktail bar is located in the hotel’s basement. You can go there to enjoy a cocktail (even if I didn’t find the quality of theirs amazing), but you go more for the atmosphere of the place and the way to access it (a hidden door in the restrooms).
Breakfast
I advise you (as always in NH establishments) to order eggs (scrambled, omelet, or sunny-side up); they are absolutely delicious!
NH Collection Suecia Hotel
Calle del Marqués de Casa Riera 4 28014 Madrid
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Thanks again to Ryanair and Madrid Destino for this great discovery and for allowing me to create this Madrid city guide.
I hope this Madrid city guide will have made you want to discover or rediscover the Spanish capital, and if you also have your own favorite spots for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Photo credits: Melle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free; permission from the photographer is required before any use
