Things to Do in Madrid Spain: Museums, Palaces and Gardens

If you only have a long weekend, start with the art. The Museo del Prado is Spain's national art museum, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía is the national museum of modern art, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum completes the trio, all around a mile from the centre. Few cities put so many of their top things to do within one comfortable stroll, so give each museum its own morning rather than trying to squeeze two into a day.

For Madrid what to see beyond the galleries, the Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family, and Almudena Cathedral, the city's Roman Catholic cathedral, stands beside it. Closer still to the centre are the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, an art school, museum and gallery, and the Convent of Las Descalzas Reales, a monastery in the old core. The Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple, is about a mile and a quarter out and makes a memorable short walk.

The inner ring, within roughly a mile of the centre, holds most of the attractions in Madrid: the three big art museums, the Royal Palace and Almudena Cathedral, the National Museum of Archaeology, the Royal Botanic Garden and the Royal Spanish Academy, the institution that regulates the Spanish language. The Convent of Las Descalzas Reales and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando sit right at the centre itself.

A little further out are the quieter things to visit in Madrid. The Sorolla Museum is about a mile and a quarter away, the Museum of the Americas around 2 miles, and the Palace of Moncloa, residence of the Prime Minister, about 2.5 miles. Las Ventas, the city's best-known bullring, lies around 2.5 miles from the centre, with the Palacio Vistalegre arena about 3 miles out.

Beyond the city, the nearby towns of Leganés (about 7 miles), Las Rozas de Madrid and San Sebastián de los Reyes (both about 11 miles) and Pinto (about 12 miles) all have tours and activities listed, so it is worth checking them here if you are staying on the edge of the city or have a car.

Children who glaze over in picture galleries tend to do better with the Temple of Debod, a genuine Egyptian temple about a mile and a quarter from the centre, and the National Museum of Archaeology, where the collections span far beyond Spain. The Royal Botanic Garden, a garden and research centre around a mile out, gives everyone a green break between busier sights.

The Royal Palace is usually a hit with younger visitors simply for the sense of scale, and pairing it with Almudena Cathedral next door keeps walking short. In July and August daytime highs reach 33 to 34°C, so families are better off planning outdoor sights for the morning and saving museums for the hottest hours.

You can compare tours and tickets for Madrid's sights on this page, alongside hotel prices, car hire and package deals from Jet2holidays, TUI, loveholidays and On the Beach. Booking timed entry for the busiest museums ahead of your trip saves standing in a queue on the day.

May, June and September are the best months for sightseeing, with highs of 25 to 30°C. March, April, October and November are cooler, between 15 and 22°C, but bring more rain days, so keep an indoor plan ready. Madrid airport has direct flights from the UK and is about 12 minutes' drive from the city, with Leganés and Las Rozas de Madrid around 22 minutes away.