Madrid in 1 Day for Free

Thinking of visiting Madrid by campervan? The first tip we can give you is to be very careful, because if you don’t have the local low-emission zone sticker  , you can’t even enter the first ring road without risking a fine. From 2025, Madrid will be off-limits on four wheels.

Based on our experience, we recommend parking here, from where you can reach the city centre in a 40-minute walk or two metro stops.

Here are 10 free things to do in Madrid if you’re short on time!

1. Stroll through Retiro Park

In this green lung of the city you can literally get lost wandering around. You’ll find shaded spots to rest or read a book, some facilities for a quick meal, the Crystal Palace (when we visited you couldn’t go inside the famous building, but admission is usually free), a few museums, and a lake you can also admire aboard one of the many rowing boats for hire on site.

2. Stroll along the elegant Gran Vía

This is one of Madrid’s most famous streets, where you can get lost among the shop windows of brand-name stores and restaurants, as well as come across some of the city’s most iconic buildings. A little trivia: in its golden age it was called “the Broadway of Madrid”.

3. Stroll along Calle de la Luna

From Gran Vía, if you head towards the university district, you can walk down this little street  , known as the mecca of manga! For a moment you’ll feel like you’re in a district of Japan, and you can browse through the pages of countless comics. If you get hungry, don’t hesitate to try the best ramen in Madrid  .

4. Sit down for a break in Plaza de España

For a moment you’ll want to close your eyes and picture yourself in New York on the steps of the Public Library — or at least that’s the effect it had on us!

5. Admire the city view from above

There are many panoramic viewpoints to see Madrid from above, but only one will let you do it for free! Going up to the 9th floor of the El Corte Inglés  shopping centre, you’ll find a beautiful terrace overlooking the elegant Gran Vía! You can also have breakfast, a snack or a drink sitting at one of the stools of the bar/restaurant.

6. Visit the museums

Madrid is also famous for its museums, particularly the Prado and the Reina Sofía museum of contemporary art! We gave up on the idea since the entrance queues were endless, but these museums can be visited for free at the following times:

• Saturday from 6pm to 8pm
• Sunday from 5pm to 7pm

• Monday-Saturday from 7pm to 9pm
• Sunday from 12.30pm to 2.30pm

• Sunday from 10am to 3pm
• Thursday from 5pm to 8pm

7. Admire the interior of Atocha station

Opened on 9 February 1851, it’s now home to a tropical garden offering a corner of peace and freshness in the city. We went there to eat Madrid’s typical “bocadillo”. What is it? Keep reading, or if you can’t wait, click here to find out!

8. Admire Plaza Mayor

It’s one of Madrid’s most famous squares, and we highly recommend visiting it early in the morning: there’ll be no one around, and it’ll give you a surreal atmosphere.

9. Visit the Cathedral

Admission to the Almudena Cathedral isn’t exactly free, but rather by “free donation”, though it definitely deserves a visit for the wonderful frescoes inside.

10. Admire the Royal Palace Square

A short walk from the cathedral, you can treat yourself to a stroll through the gardens, from where you can admire the Royal Palace from various angles.

Feeling hungry?

Around every corner you’ll find a spot to enjoy tapas, but we recommend not missing the city’s famous “bocadillo”: El Bocadillo de Calamares, the fried squid sandwich! It’s odd that in the centre of Spain, a good 350 km from the coast, the typical dish is squid. The reason? No one knows, but that’s how it is. Enjoy your meal 😂

If you look carefully you can find a good deal; we got one to take away for €3.95  and enjoyed it in the shade of the botanical garden. It was nothing short of delicious!

What do we think of Madrid?

Unfortunately, of all the European capitals, Madrid is the one that has moved us the least so far. We expected a more authentic style, but instead at every corner we felt like we’d already seen it, as if it were showing photocopies of corners of some other city. We wonder if you had the same impression visiting it!

For this reason, along with the sweltering heat, we only dedicated 24 hours to the Spanish capital. We’ll come back in another season, without the animals, so we can properly dedicate the attention it deserves to its artworks!

Our vlog

If you want to experience our adventures and misadventures in the city, you’ll find it all in this video.

Our maps