Looking for a typical Sunday in Madrid? A Madrid Sunday is all about getting out onto the city streets, enjoying some delicious food, a good coffee, and taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
There is so much more to Madrid than El Prado and the bullfights – here are my top favourite things to do in Madrid on a Sunday.
Unique Things to do in Madrid on a Sunday
1. Stroll through El Retiro park with thousands of Madrilenos, watching bands perform, boats on the pond, and clowns making balloon animals.
2. Visit the terrace lookout of the Circulo de Bellas Artes building for a view of the city skyline and the Gran Via, Madrid’s main street (admission to the rooftop is 1 Euro).
3. Enjoy tapas and beer at one of the sunny outdoor tapas cafés in the La Latina quarter. While there, play this fun La Latina Quarter exploration game!
4. Sip a beer under an incredibly blue Madrid sky at one of several restaurants with tables set up inside the Plaza Mayor, Madrid’s main square. This in-app guide includes information about many sights in Madrid, including Plaza Mayor.
5. Dunk “churros” into a thick, sweet chocolate drink at La Chocolateria de San Gines, one of Madrid’s most popular chocolate bars just off the Calle Arenal pedestrian mall. This tour stops for a chocolate stop here!
6. Take in the buskers and musicians along with thousands of Madrilenos on the Puerta del Sol plaza then join them as they amble along the Calle Arenal pedestrian mall towards the Opera House. This fun treasure hunt starts at Puerta del Sol plaza.
7. Savour a coffee and watch the elegantly dressed Madrilenos stroll by at the outdoor patio of Café Gijon a few blocks north of the Prado museum on the Passeo de Recoletos.
8. Take in the sunset view of Madrid while enjoying a light snack or a glass of wine at the glass enclosed rooftop restaurant on top of the department store El Corte Ingles on Gran Via near the Callao metro stop.
9. Stand shoulder to shoulder with the locals drinking draft beer and enjoying inexpensive tapas at the Almeria tapas bar in the La Latina quarter. (P.S. if you LOVE tapas and are heading to Barcelona any time soon, check out these cheap tapas bars in Barcelona).
10. Wander around the newly refurbished, glass enclosed Mercado de San Miguel, the oldest in Madrid, and visit the food stalls while sipping wine and sampling thin slivers of Spain’s famous Pata Negra ham.
Madrid Sunday Markets
Love exploring markets? Then why not spend your Sunday checking out these Madrid Sunday Markets.
El Rastro
El Rastro is one of the biggest outdoor Sunday flea markets markets in Madrid (actually, in the whole of Spain) and has been a weekly tradition for over 400 years. There are over 1,000 vendors offering everything from antiques to furniture, artwork and clothing.
Location: Calle de la Ribera de Curtidores, 28005 Madrid, Spain
Opening hours: it is open every Sunday in Madrid from 9am to 3pm.
Mercado de Motores
This beautiful vintage thrifting market is held every second weekend of the every month. It includes handmade clothing, live music and delicious food. What makes it even more special is that it’s located inside an old train station!
Location: Museo del Ferrocarril, Paseo de las Delicias, 61, 28045 Madrid, Spain
Opening hours: it is open every second Sunday in Madrid from 11am to 10pm (visit their website to confirm dates).
Madrid Sunday shopping hours
Sunday is generally the day of rest in Spain, with many shops remaining closed on a Sunday. However, as more foreigners move into the city you’ll find that there are a few shops open on a Sunday (though, with limited opening hours).
Supermarkets and department stores are usually open all day on Sundays, from 10am to 9pm. In the city centre, you’ll often find small food or souvenir shops open a Sunday.
Check out these other places to visit in Madrid.
