12 Can’t Miss Hidden Gems in Madrid

If you are visiting Madrid for the first time, you likely have hotspots such as Prado Museum, Puerta del Sol, Museo Reina Sofia, and Plaza Mayor on your agenda. However, there’s so much more to see and do in Spain’s capital.

If you want to get off the beaten path and explore beyond the typical tourist spots, bookmark this article because we are lifting the lid on Madrid’s 12 best hidden gems.

1. Visit Madrid’s ‘Second’ Crystal Palace

• Address: Paseo de la Chopera, 10, 28045
• Website: https://www.esmadrid.com
• Opening Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 9 am – 2 pm / Saturday through Sunday, 10 am – 2 pm

Most visitors to Madrid will head to El Retiro Park and will make a beeline to see the Crystal Palace there. However, there’s a secret spot equally impressive but with fewer tourists — Arganzuela Crystal Palace. This grand greenhouse is divided into four sections — subtropical, tropical I, tropical II, and cacti and succulents. There are almost 1,200 plant species to discover, and entry is free.

2. Explore the La Latina Neighborhood

La Latina is renowned for its tavernas, tapas, bars, and nightlife, but those in the know will tell you that there’s plenty more to see and do in this neighborhood. Stroll down Calle Cava Baja and through Plaza Paja to see grand churches, intriguing alleyways, and old-world avenues.

Iglesia de San Andres dates back to the 1600s and is where you’ll find the tomb of Madrid’s patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. Basilica de San Francisco El Grande is where you can see works by Spanish painters Francisco de Zurbarán and Francisco Goya.

3. Check out the Underground Museum Scene

Madrid is home to a curious network of underground museums in the city’s metro system. Here are a few of the must-see spots.

Chamberí Ghost Station

• Address: Calle de Luchana, 36, 28010
• Website: museosmetromadrid.es/museos/estacion-de-chamberi/
• Opening Hours: Friday 4 pm – 8 pm / Saturday 10 am – 2 pm & 4 pm – 8 pm / Sunday 10 am – 2 pm

This station was first opened in 1919 and provided shelter during the Spanish Civil War when terrified Madrileños would sleep there during bombing campaigns. When trains increased in length, extending the platform was impossible, so the station was permanently closed. Now, it serves as a public gallery where original ads have been reconstructed from colorful tiles — just as they were back when the station was in operation.

Trains do still tear through this station but the exhibition is separated from the track by a glass barrier to keep visitors safe.

Gran Via Station

• Address: Calle de Gran Vía, 21, 28013
• Website: metromadrid.es/en/node/4178

Gran Via station is one of the busiest in all of Madrid, and most tourists will pass through it on public transport at least once during their visit. However, few people know that a replica of the original early-20th-century entrance can still be viewed. There is also a small museum on the second intermediate level exhibiting archeological remains that were uncovered during excavation for the expansion of the station.

Principe Pio

• Address: Paseo de La Florida, 2, 28008
• Website: esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/museo-del-ferrocarril

Principe Pio is a huge, bustling travel terminal, and it’s also home to paleontological remains dating back more than 15 million years. More than 3,000 remains were recovered, including giant turtles, mastodons, otters, and deer. Most of the items can be found in the National Museum of Natural Sciences, but a few fossils remain in Principe Pio Station for the viewing pleasure of the commuters that pass through.

4. Shop at ‘The Market of the Frogs‘

• Address: C. de las Huertas, 50, 28014
• Website: barrioletras.com/mercado-de-las-ranas/
• Opening Hours: The first Saturday of each month

El Rastro is one of Europe’s largest flea markets and is extremely popular. For a more chilled shopping experience, head to the less touristy Mercado de las Ranas instead. Here, shoppers can pick up clothing, antiques, and endless curiosities.

On days that the market takes place, you’ll also notice that the surrounding bars and restaurants offer great deals to draw in hungry and thirsty shoppers, which we recommend you take advantage of.

5. Marvel at El Palacio de Linares

• Address: Plaza de Cibeles, s/n, 28014
• Website: casamerica.es/en/visitas
• Opening Hours: Check the current guided tour schedule on the website

No visit to the Spanish capital is complete without going to see the Royal Palace, but those in the know get off the beaten path to visit El Palacio de Linares. This 19th-century construction was the residence of the Marquis and Marchioness of Linares. The outside might not look like much, but once inside, you’ll be blown away by marble and bronze decor, intricate mosaics, and elaborate chandeliers.

This palace is only accessible via a guided tour, so if you don’t have the time or the budget, head to Longoria Palace in Chueca instead to see stunning Art Nouveau architecture for free.

6. Stroll in Madrid’s Many Green Spaces

El Retiro is the best-known park in Madrid, but plenty of alternative green spaces exist to explore and soak up Spain’s sunny weather. These are some of the best-hidden gems.

Jardin El Capricho

• Address: Paseo Alameda de Osuna, 25, 28042
• Website: esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/parque-del-capricho
• Opening Hours: Saturdays & Sundays 9 am – 9 pm April – September / Saturday & Sunday 9 am – 6.30 pm October – March

This park dates back to the 18th century and is one of the city’s most beautiful spaces. In fact, many of the city’s most renowned artists have drawn inspiration for their masterpieces from their time here, including Goya.

El Capricho is also home to a Spanish Civil War bunker, the headquarters of the Republican Army of the Central Region. Madrid City Council offers free 30-minute walking tours through the space on weekends, which can be booked here.

Quinta de los Molinos

• Address: Calle Alcala, 527, 28027
• Website: esmadrid.com/informacion-turistica/quinta-molinos
• Opening Hours: Daily 6.30 am – 10 pm

This park is home to many types of trees, including olive, pine, and eucalyptus, and is best visited between March and April when the almond trees are in bloom. The space is divided into the northern part which is landscaped beautifully, and the southern part which is more agricultural. The park also hosts a calendar of cultural events for families and young children, which are advertised locally.

Casa de Campo

• Address: Paseo de Puerta del Angel, 1, 28011
• Website: esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/casa-de-campo
• Opening Hours: 24/7 year-round

Casa de Campo dates back to the 16th century and feels more like a forest than a park, with a wide variety of flora and fauna to discover. There are many activities to enjoy, including an amusement park, zoo, aquarium, and a lake to stroll around. Madrileños head here to swim, run, and cycle year-round, and local families and groups of friends head to the restaurants and cafes during weekends for an al fresco bite to eat.

7. Sample the City’s Best International Food

• Address: C. de Augusto Figueroa, 24, 28004
• Website: mercadosananton.com
• Opening Hours: Daily 12 pm – 12 am

Mercado San Miguel is the well-known food market in Madrid, but Mercado San Anton is a hidden gem tucked away in Chueca. There are two floors of stalls to explore, and the cuisine on offer ranges from BBQ and tapas to woks and ceviche.

San Anton is also home to a produce market, so you can grab some ingredients and recreate your favorite dishes at home.

8. Visit a Tropical Garden in a Train Station

• Address: C. de Méndez Álvaro, 24B, 28045
• Opening Hours: Daily 5 am – 1 am

Most visitors know Atocha as the train station to catch high-speed services for easy day trips to Barcelona and Valencia, but few know about its hidden tropical garden. This lush green space is housed in a disused part of the station and contains 7,000 plants from over 260 species. What better way to wait for your train than by wandering among Polynesian coconut trees, Brazilian rubber trees, and cacao plants from Central America?

9. Take a Flamenco Class

• Address: C/ Santa Isabel, 5. 1ª planta, 28012
• Website: flamencoexperience.es
• Opening Hours: Contact the organizers for the schedule

It’s not uncommon for tourists to watch a flamenco show, but did you know you can learn the dance yourself? Classes are suitable for beginners and will teach attendees about Flamenco music and the techniques of the dance. From body position to facial gestures, this class covers it all.

10. Get to Know Madrid’s Multicultural Heart

Lavapies is thought to be the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in Madrid and most tourists don’t bother visiting, but those who do are rewarded with rich culture and colorful street art. Some of the best things to do here include visiting La Tabacalera — an old tobacco factory now functioning as a cultural art space — and Mercado de San Fernando — a great indoor food market.

11. Take a Tour of the Arts Quarter

• Address: The meeting point is confirmed upon booking
• Website: strawberrytours.com/madrid/tours/free-art-quarter-tour
• Opening Hours: Daily tours are available in various languages

Barrio de las Letras is one of the most artistic neighborhoods in the city and has been influential in creating the rich tapestry of Spain’s cultural landscape. Many of the best-known Spanish painters, playwrights, and authors have lived here, which makes it a fascinating place to visit.

Most people take walking tours of the city center, but we recommend a tour here instead. As well as getting a glimpse into the history of Madrid, you’ll hear enthralling tales of love, war, and everything in between. Tours are free, but tipping is encouraged.

12. Eat at the Oldest Restaurant in the World

• Address: C/ Cuchilleros, 17, 28005
• Website: botin.es
• Opening Hours: Daily 1 pm – 11.30 pm

Sobrino de Botin is the world’s oldest restaurant serving patrons for almost 300 years. This establishment was first opened in 1725 as a restaurant on the ground floor of an inn. At that time, guests had to bring their own meat and ingredients, which would then be cooked up for them. When the original owners died, they passed the restaurant to their nephew, which is ‘sobrino’ in Spanish (hence the restaurant’s name).

You might be glad to hear that bringing your own ingredients’s no longer necessary. Cuisine here has stayed true to its Spanish roots, and the signature dish is a whole suckling pig which is prepared in a traditional brick oven.

Madrid Many Hidden Gems Are Waiting to be Explored

There’s so much to do in Madrid that it’s impossible to tick everything off in a weekend or even a week. Be sure to check out some of these top hidden gems on your next visit — we promise you won’t be disappointed.