The number of exciting activities in Madrid is endless. If you get your timing right, you can visit some of the most popular museums and monuments in Madrid, while experiencing the city in a very original way.
I’ve come up with a list of experiences that doesn’t include typical tourist attractions. These timeless things to do in Madrid are the must dos from years of experience. I’ve tried them all myself, that’s why I recommend them…
Get off the beaten track and see more of the best parts of Madrid that tourists often miss. Don’t be one of them, become an independent traveler and explore the city!
You should book your activities in Madrid before you leave home, since some of them fill up quickly. The tours recommended here all have easy online booking.
Explore the city with an open top tour bus
With great views from the top of the bus, strategically placed stops and interesting commentary, this hop-on hop-off bus tour is a fantastic way to see the sights of Madrid. Why? Because you can hop-on and off as many times as you like aboard the open-top double-decker bus! It’s, without a doubt, one of the best activities in Madrid.
There are 37 stops and the entire route takes approximately 80 minutes, and you only need to wait for 30 minutes at every stop for a bus to come. Your tickets are valid for 24 or 48 hours from the first time you use it.
More details on the Madrid city sightseeing bus »
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Segway tour around Madrid
Zip through the streets of Madrid on a revolutionary Segway! Not only is it easy but you will have loads of fun as well, particularly if you are traveling with children. There are going to love it…
You will see the Royal Palace, the Catedral de la Almudena, the Templo de Debod and the Plaza Mayor and many other highlights on this unique tour. You will be part of a very small-group tour (limited to 10 people), ensuring you’ll receive personalized attention from your guide.
Start your tour with a safety briefing and some basic training before setting off on a route through central Madrid.
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Indulge yourself with a relaxing Arab baths experience
A hammam is a place entirely dedicated to relaxation and well being, where you escape to pamper yourself in one of the most soothing activities in Madrid.
The Madrid Arab baths offer some of the most luxurious facilities to enjoy this long lost custom. Ultimately, the objective is to run away from the noise and stress outside and chill out while having a nice time in a silent and half-light space.
Rest your muscles with a dip in the hot thermal bath, and stimulate your senses with a splash in the cold pool before decompressing either in the warm pool or in the salt bath located underground.
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Guided bike tour: see Madrid with little effort
Touring Madrid by bicycle is a fun and sociable way to sightsee, and with plenty of rest stops there’s time to relax and see the sights. Suitable for all cycling abilities, you will visit all the famous sights, from the Royal Palace and Parque del Retiro to the Plaza Mayor and the Puerta del Sol.
The idea is that you follow a certain route with a friendly and knowledgeable guide. You pedal for a while until you reach an important site or monument where you stop to get some information and entertaining explanations.
So booking a Madrid bike tour helps you maximizing your time while discovering the best of the city.
Explore Madrid’s countryside on a hot air balloon
In search of a unique approach to sightseeing? Fly over Madrid’s Guadarrama sierra and the small local villages while travelling through the sky in a relaxed and peaceful manner. This fantastic activity is available to any one with a sense of adventure and an interest in the magnificent landscape that the outskirts of Madrid has to offer.
Take pleasure from the serene spectacle of the beautiful Castillian countryside waking gently at sunrise. The wrap-around view of the earth and sky is one which can be experienced no other way.
Enjoy one of the most thrilling activities in Madrid with the most experienced hot air balloon ride team. There is no such thing as an ‘average’ balloon flight; each one is a truly unique experience!