10 Unmissable Things To Do In Madrid At Night
If you are planning a trip to Madrid, good for you! The Spanish capital has so much to offer, day and night, fall or summer. But when the night begins, there is something about Madrid that one can't really put the finger on.
It is grand, magical, lively, and surprising! It is delicious, exciting, entertaining, and romantic! No wonder tourists and locals alike stay up till the wee hours of the morning.
So, if you want to see what Madrid is all about at night, here are 10 things you shouldn't miss. But before you set on that journey, make sure you store your belongings at one of our secure luggage storage Madrid locations. This way, you won't have to worry about your luggage when you've had a couple of cocktails.
Mercado de San Miguel
One of the many things to do in Madrid at night is to spend a few hours at the Mercado de San Miguel. Located in central Madrid, just a 2-minute walk from Plaza Mayor, this covered market is a must for every tourist, day and night. However, the true magic happens when the sun sets.
When darkness falls, this 1916 local food market becomes a great place to stop by and get a taste of Spain. Try some local delicacies, tapas, seafood, and whatever your heart desires. Then, top it up with some Spanish wine, and you are set for the night.
Besides the food stalls and shops, you can find many cafes and pizzerias in the market.
Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 10 am -12 am; Friday & Saturday from 10 am - 1 am
Hammam Al Andalus Madrid
If you are a fan of soaking in a Turkish bath the way the sultans did, you can do so in the only Arab baths in Madrid. What better way to relax after a long day adventure than soaking your body and mind in complete silence in the center of the city. Located close to Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol, the Hammam Al Andalus will give you a night to remember.
For those looking for something different to do in Madrid at night, enjoy a free 90 minutes tour across three baths with different temperatures. Or relax in a steam room, have a cup of mint tea, and get a massage with essential oils from rose and lavender for a truly relaxing experience.
When you are done pampering, you have everything you need from a shower, body lotion, shampoo, hairdryer, straight iron, and more! The visit to the baths is a great idea to unwind after a few days of fun in Madrid and prepare you for the long flight home.
Hours: Monday-Sunday from 9.30 am - 11.30 pm
Madrid Nightlife
Madrid nightlife has everything you can think of. From classical live music and street performance to legendary cocktail bars, pub crawls and churros, and hot chocolate in the wee hours of the morning. Of course, the Spanish capital is famous for the many cocktail bars serving delicious cocktails you'll never ever forget.
Madrid Atocha will put you in the heart of the action. The options to have fun in Madrid at night are countless. Dance the night away in the Chicote nightclub, a place where legends like Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Sofia Loren used to hang out. Or have the time of your life dancing in Joy Eslava, a four-level nightclub in the heart of Madrid that also shows live acts and cabaret-style performances.
For more fun and a delicious cocktail, head down to one of the best cocktail bars in Madrid, the Dry 1862, which won the "best Spanish Cocktail Bar award" in 2014. You see, the options are many. All you need to do before you hit the town is gather your friends or bring your loved one and enjoy Madrid at night like no other city before.
Tapas Crawl
When it comes to delicious food, Madrid has endless options. From Michelin-starred restaurants, lively tapas bars, and hidden bodegas, Madrid eateries will keep your palate happy and stomach full. However, while you should certainly try to get a spot in some of Madrid's finest restaurants, if you want to truly experience Spanish cuisine the way the locals do, you have to do a tapas crawl.
Some of the most delicious tapas can be found off the beaten path, and you can book a tour with a local guide or go on a tapas crawl yourself using this helpful guide. So start your culinary journey in the La Latina neighborhood. You can find many tapas bars and restaurants serving traditional tapas here.
Located in the La Latina areas, the Calle Cava Baja is one of the most famous streets in Madrid, filled with tapas bars and restaurants where you can easily hop in and out and sample new food. Some places even serve tapas for free. Make sure to bring your friends or family along to share the delicious Madrid food and this fun experience.
Madrid's National Auditorium
For those who want to spend a relaxing night out listening to classical music, there is no better place than the Auditorio Nacional de Música. Located in the Chamartin neighborhood, just a 3-minute walk from metro stations Cruz del Rayo and Prosperidad, this Auditorium is a great place for live music concerts performed by the Spanish National Orchestra and Choir.
There are up to four concerts a day and plenty of sessions at night. The concerts are held in two concert halls, Symphony and Chamber. If you want to feel the grandeur of the Auditorium, try to enjoy a concert in the Symphony room, which has a capacity of 2,338 seats. The Chamber is significantly smaller, but with 688 seats, it is still worth visiting.
Keep in mind that the concert hall opens only 45 minutes before the concerts start.
Ticket office hours: Monday, 4 pm - 6 pm; Tuesday - Friday: 10 am - 5 pm; Saturdays: 11 am - 1 pm (except July).
Parque Warner Madrid Theme Park
If you are looking for fun things to do with the entire family, then take a day tour to visit Madrid's most exciting theme park. Located 15 miles south of Madrid, the Parque Warner theme park welcomes everyone and any age. The park features five themed areas, including the Old West Territory, Hollywood Boulevard, DC Super Heroes World, Cartoon Village, and Warner Bros Movie World Studios.
You can do many fun activities in the park, including watching free shows, eating at one of the many restaurants, enjoying the rides, or shopping for souvenirs. Some of the rides are age-limited, but the staff is there to tell you whether your kid is allowed or not. Be prepared to wait in long lines. Some attractions take up to 1 hour of queuing to get in.
You are not allowed to bring food to the park, only a few water bottles. If you get hungry, your options are to either spend a lot on food in the restaurants or eat in your car (if traveling by car). Getting to this family-friendly amusement park is easy, and you can either drive, take the train, or get on a bus. The Metro line is not accessible this far.
Hours: Weekdays: 11 am - 10 pm, weekends: 11 am-midnight or 3 am.
Note: Hours differ. Check their website for updates or follow them on social media to stay updated with all the latest news.
Reina Sofía Museum
Madrid offers something fun for museum lovers too. One of the best things to do in Madrid at night is to visit a museum. And this is not any museum; it is the Reina Sofía Museum, named after Queen Sofia and home to Pablo Picasso's "Guernica."
There is free admission from 7 pm - 9 pm most days of the week (check their website for updates). Besides Picasso's masterpiece, the Reina Sofia Museum is home to other Spanish contemporary and modern art that comprises over 22,400 works. Make sure you arrive a little earlier as the lines get really long.
Getting to the Reina Sofia Museum earlier also gives you time to marvel at the fascinating neo-classical building. The Reina Sofia Museum is located near the Atocha train and metro stations. It is part of the Golden Triangle of Art, along with the Prado museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum.
Evening City Tour
One of the best ways to explore Madrid at night is to get yourself on one of the guided tours. This way, you'll be able to see most highlights in the city, learn about Madrid's history, and find some interesting facts about each landmark in no more than four hours.
Most night tours take you to places like the Royal Palace, Plaza Mayor, and Gran Vía, and it is usually a small group tour, made of up to 15 people. Many night tours offer optional flamenco dance, but you can leave the traditional dance for another night.
If you are not fond of tours, you can easily explore the city on your own. The best neighborhoods to stroll around in Madrid at night are La Latina, Las Letras, and Madrid de Los Austrias.
View the Sunset from a Rooftop Bar
If you ask a local what are the best things to do in Madrid at night, they will send you to one of the many rooftop terraces to enjoy the beautiful sunset over the city. Many of them are cocktail bars and restaurants located in the city center, such as the Sunset Lockers rooftop bar at the Mercury Hotel Santo Domingo.
If an ideal night for you is stunning views of the city, listening to live music, and tasting some really good food, then check out Hotel Riu's Terrace. There is a small fee, but it will be all worth it. Or enjoy a glass of wine at the Círculo de Bellas Artes rooftop terrace overlooking the most famous street in Madrid, the Gran Vía.
Your options are endless, and whichever one you choose, rest assured it will be a night to remember.
Flamenco Show
You can't leave Spain without seeing traditional flamenco dance, and Madrid has the best places where you can watch one. Flamenco show normally lasts up to two hours, and it features guitarists and singers from all over the country. Keep in mind that Flamenco shows in Madrid pop up on every corner, and some don't have a very good reputation. So do your homework before booking yourself a spot but also refer to our guide when you are in doubt.
Some of the best places to enjoy a good authentic Flamenco show are the Corral de la Moreira (the oldest flamenco venue in Madrid), the dance school Amor de Dios (open Friday and Saturday only), Cardamomo (located in the city center), Cafe de Chinitas (near Gran Via housed in an 18th-century palace) and many more!
Madrid at Night
With so many exciting things to do in the Spanish capital, you will never want to leave. Madrid at night has a little something for everyone starting from tapas and a pub crawl, contemporary art museums to classical music concerts and segway tours! The endless options will keep you busy day and night, so you will never forget your trip to Madrid.
