The city of Madrid, in my opinion, is the most beautiful city in Spain and probably the most beautiful city in Europe. If you have decided to travel to Madrid, you have made such a great decision. It is a historic city with warm weather and thousands of things to do! You do not need to spend tons of money to do activities in Spain because there are so many places you can visit for free. Madrid understands that you had to pay money for your plane ticket, your hotel, and probably most of your food. Here is a list of five of the most popular free activities in Madrid.
Free Activity #1: Museo de Reina Sofia:
This is the most popular contemporary art museum in Madrid and has quite the history. This museum was designed by Francisco Sabatini and was originally supposed to be a hospital. During the earlier years of its existence, there was a lot of debate about what should be done with it. Some even believed that it should be demolished, but eventually they decided to put on some extensions and make it a museum of modern art. It houses a permanent collection of art on the second and fourth floor. This is where you can find some of the more famous paintings. However, make sure you check out the other floors as well!
This museum is open for free Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Saturdays after 2:30 p.m., and Sunday mornings before 2:30 p.m..
Free Activity #2: Museo del Prado:
This museum is also really popular in Madrid and is one of the most famous in the world. Not only does this museum have paintings, but it also have sculptures, prints, drawing, famous antique coins, and so much more. They have approximately 8,000 paintings in this museum, however not all of them are in public view. They have very limited space and the new wing that they built is mostly a temporary location for these paintings. It’s still a great museum to visit though and basically everyone who visits Madrid makes sure to visit this location, so don’t miss out!
This museum is open for free from Tuesday to Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
Free Activity #3: Madrid’s Museo Taurino:
Spain is famous for bullfighting and this museum located in Madrid definitely reflects that. If you have ever been interested in bullfighting or are just curious about it, you should definitely check out this museum. It is located in the Plaza Monumental de las Ventas in Madrid. You can find a few different things in this museum, such as Bullfighting suits from late Bullfighters, painted portraits of these Bullfighters, and stuffed heads of some of the bulls that were ridden. It really is quite interesting and will give you a feel for the culture of Madrid. It’s definitely worth taking a look at.
This museum is always free.
Free Activity #4: El Parque Del Buen Retiro:
This is a great place to go to just relax for the afternoon. This park is the most famous park in Madrid and is a great place for free entertainment. When you walk through the park, you will see jugglers, people getting their fortune told, paintings being sold, street performers and venders, and so much more! If you want to go when there aren’t many people there, I would recommend going on the weekdays because this is when there is the least amount of people. On the weekends, especially in the afternoon, families living in Madrid take their afternoon walk through this park. So, if you want to get a better feel for Madrid Spanish culture, you should go on the weekends when the most is going on.
This park is always free.
Free Activity #5: Free Tour of Madrid:
Usually, you have to pay for a tour no matter where you go. But why pay for a tour that you could get for free? Madrid never used to have this option of a free tour, but now they do! So, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity. They have outings every day at different times and they go to the most famous and popular sites in Madrid. This way you can have a tour at a time where it is convenient for you and instead of going to the sites yourself, you can go with a tour guide and learn the history of each site!
For more information about this free tour of Madrid, go to www.mymadridfreetour.com. All the information you need about the tour is available on there.
Madrid is such an incredible city and doesn’t have to be a city where only rich people can visit. If you’re on a tight budget, there are free activities that you can engage in during your time in this fascinating city in Spain. I hope you enjoy these activities and get a chance to learn more about the history and culture of Madrid!
