Museo del Prado
Velázquez, Goya and Bosch under one roof; free in the last two hours, but go early and rested instead.
World-class art, endless tapas and a city that genuinely never sleeps.
When to go: April–June & September–October — the central plateau bakes in summer, bites in winter.
Best places to visit
Culture
Retiro Park
Row a boat under the monument, find the Crystal Palace — the city's green heart, busiest on Sundays.
Mercado de San Miguel
A glass-and-iron market of tapas counters — touristy but delicious; go off-peak for elbow room.
Reina Sofía
Picasso's Guernica is here, and it stops you cold; pair it with the Prado on an art-pass day.
La Latina tapas crawl
Sunday's Calle Cava Baja: hop bar to bar with a small plate and a wine at each — the Madrid ritual.
Templo de Debod
A real Egyptian temple gifted to Spain, reflecting in its pool at sunset — the city's free golden-hour spot.
Plan your trip to Madrid
WTFly finds the cheapest dates to fly there across a whole flexible window — then activities and a car to round out the trip.