When I travel Spain, I always remember 2 hacks to avoid spending hours of my precious vacation just lining up for attractions.
One’s to book things in advance. The other is to opt for less-popular attractions rather than mainstream activities.
For best results, I combine the two and find unique things to book in Madrid.
Do this, and you’ll avoid most of the crowd, meet friendly locals, and achieve a more personalized travel experience!
Let me share the top off-the-grid activities I booked when I lived in Madrid for over two years.
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Overview: My favourite things to book in Madrid
- Guided tour of the Royal Palace
- Flamenco show at Corral de la Morería
- Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour
- Hot air balloon ride in Segovia
- Yoga class in Retiro Park
Table of Contents
1. Guided Tour of the Royal Palace
Ask anyone what to do in Madrid for a day, and they’ll likely recommend stopping at the Royal Palace of the Spanish Royal Family.
Now, you may be wondering:
How the heck could you skip one of the most famous landmarks in Spain?
Well, here’s the thing.
Most tourists in Madrid don’t bother getting an official tour of the palace.
They just purchase a ticket (or enter for free) and DIY the touring experience to save money.
However, trust me, a guided tour of the Royal Palace is one of the unique things to book in Madrid.
You won’t just visually enjoy the palace but also learn about its history, significance, and more.
There’s also the peace of mind of knowing you’ll never miss out on the most interesting parts of the palace, such as the Throne Room and Private Royal Apartments.
Book a guided tour of the Royal Palace
2. Private Prado Museum Tour
The Prado Museum is one of the most famous museums in Madrid, with a history dating back 200 years.
It’s often labeled as a museum of painters, not paintings since it tends to collect multiple or even dozens of works by its preferred artists.
When I first arrived in Madrid, I thought it would be impossible to experience this mainstream location in a unique way.
But that was only until I booked a private Prado museum tour with my close friends.
The private museum tour offered tons of perks to us art lovers.
Each of us sent our tour guide the list of artists we were interested in the most.
Then, our guide, Stefania, customized the tour to focus on our interests. Zero fillers.
Of course, though, we still explored the classic highlights, such as works by Titian, Murillo, and Goya.
The Prado Museum is one of the cool places in Madrid, Spain. Visit it through a small-group private tour for the best experience.
Book a private Prado museum tour
3. Flamenco Show at Corral de la Morería
My favorite city breaks in Spain typically included watching flamenco shows at Corral de la Morería, the world’s most famous flamenco tablao.
At first, I simply booked a Flamenco show of this iconic location because I read it in a travel book called “1,000 Places to See Before You Die.”
Plus, it’s conveniently located right next to the Royal Palace (near my accommodation at the time).
But months later, I became a regular at the place.
I realized that flamenco performances, with their complex combination of singing, dancing, and guitar playing, are not only fun to watch.
They also hold significant importance to Spanish culture. Watching flamenco performances often felt like I was peeking directly into Spain’s soul.
It took no time for me to fall in love with the experience of sipping my favorite drinks while watching the performances of 9 world-class artists. Then, ending the night with a gourmet 3-course dinner (with more drinks!)
4. Real Madrid Game at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
If you think booking a football game is one of the most unusual things to do in Madrid, it’s not.
This is especially true when we’re talking about a game between Real Madrid, one of the most famous football teams worldwide.
This team is so popular that thousands of people even book stadium tours to check out their museum in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Unfortunately, most tourists don’t grab the rare opportunity to see Real Madrid play in their home stadium!
I don’t want you to miss such an exciting experience, so just trust me and book a ticket for a live game.
When you enter the stadium, you’ll have the textbook definition of a “good time.”
You’ll be surrounded by the team’s fans (Madridistas), who will be passionate and enthusiastic the entire time.
And before you know it, the energy will have rubbed off on you!
Whenever you crave a break from all the shouting, you can drop by the concessions to purchase snacks, drinks, and spirits!
Watching a Real Madrid game is one of the best local things to do in Madrid. So, you’ll likely also meet a new local or two to befriend.
Book a guided tour of Bernabéu Stadium
5. Tapas and Wine Tasting Tour
Tapas and wine-tasting tours are some of the most unique things to book in Madrid.
These tours don’t just involve eating and drinking (though these are already a win for your tastebuds).
You’ll also get to explore some of the coolest places in Madrid, meet other tourists or locals, and visit local markets to buy exciting things in Madrid!
I still remember everything we did during our tapas and wine-tasting tour.
It was one of the best, cool things to do in Madrid.
We tasted five different tapas dishes (appetizer-like snacks native to Spain) in three different restaurants and explored renowned places like the Plaza Mayor and La Latina Neighborhood.
We wrapped up the night by enjoying cocktails on a rooftop, and I must say, the entire experience just felt very solemn and romantic.
Try to go easy with the wine tasting, though.
I was so excited to try all the local wine varieties, like the Garnacha, that I almost stumbled down our hotel hallways.
Friendly tip: There will be lots of walking involved during the tour. So, make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Book a tapas and wine tasting tour
6. Cooking Class with a Local Chef
One of the most unique things to book in Madrid is a cooking class with a local chef.
I’ve been to multiple classes, and this half-day Spanish cooking class is definitely one of my favorites.
We started the day by visiting a local market. There, we learned valuable tips from the chefs on picking fresh ingredients and the most common food customs in Spain.
We cooked tapas and paella in pairs when we returned to the kitchen.
Since I got paired with a stranger (she’s a friend now), it was an exhilarating (though slightly awkward at first) experience.
Although the entire experience was four hours long, it felt so short because everything was so much fun.
Of course, my favorite part was tasting the fruits of our labor with the complementary bottomless sangria!
Fun fact: To this day, I still whip up the tapas I learned to make for guests visiting my home.
Book a half-day Spanish cooking class
7. Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Segovia
Regarding having unique experiences in Madrid, nothing can top riding a hot air balloon over one of Spain’s most beautiful cities.
It’s the lead of my list of secret things to do in Madrid.
Now, technically, the hot air balloon ride we booked was located in Segovia, a nearby city.
But we were picked up and dropped off in Madrid, so I still consider it one of the city’s hidden gems!
One word to describe the experience: breathtaking.
The flight was not at all nerve-wracking. The view of Segovia’s popular and off-the-beaten-path Spain attractions was phenomenal, especially since we were on a sunrise tour.
We spent a little over an hour on the balloon itself.
Before and after the flight, we enjoyed snacks, local products, and even champagne.
With your imagination alone, you can already tell this is one of Madrid’s best secret escapes! One of the most unique things to book in Madrid.
Book a hot air balloon ride in Segovia
8. Yoga Class in Retiro Park
If you only have 24 hours in Madrid, this activity typically won’t cross your list.
Even those who spend days in the city would likely consider yoga one of the very weird things to do in Madrid.
But, as a seasoned traveler, let me share a tip.
It’s incredibly helpful to take some time to stretch and relax during your travels.
This way, you’ll be able to rejuvenate and always be present throughout your trip.
And what better way to recharge than to join a yoga class in the renowned Retiro Park itself?
You get one-on-one yoga guidance that can help you explore your sensations, connect with Madrid’s nature, and focus your mind.
You’ll also enjoy the views of the park where many movies set in Spain are filmed. Hitting two birds with one stone.
Book a yoga class in Retiro Park
9. Segway Tour of Madrid
If you’re still looking for unique things to do, Madrid has you covered with its segway tours.
I can’t count how many times I’ve joined one of these tours while I’ve been in Spain.
The first time, I booked the tour to conveniently explore the city as a tourist (less fatigue, sweat, and effort).
But even after half a year of staying in Madrid, I still joined these tours just for the fun aspect of riding segways with friends or other tourists!
You’ll find many tours that only cover specific areas of Madrid, such as the Retiro Park.
But, if you want to make the most of your experience, make sure to join an all-around tour that lets you explore the majority of the city, not just the park.
That was exactly how my last segway tour in Madrid went.
We traveled across the city for nearly three hours, visiting hot spots like the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza Mayor, and Retiro Park.
There was light rain, but our tour guide was fully prepared with rain jackets for everyone in the group.
Joining a segway tour is one of the best, unique things to do in Madrid, so don’t miss out.
10. Day Trip to Toledo or Segovia
Food, culture, and some of the most beautiful sceneries on Earth.
Madrid already has numerous. scenic attractions.
But if you can spare a day trip from Madrid to Segovia or Toledo (nearby cities), you can explore more of Spain’s most beautiful places.
These locations are so conveniently close to Madrid that you can visit both in a full-day tour from the capital.
I fell in love with Toledo’s historical district. It used to be the capital of Spain and a peaceful city where Christians, Jews, and Muslims coexisted.
On the other hand, Segovia surprised me with its rich historical architecture, such as the Roman Aqueduct and the Alcázar castle. They were just out of this world to see in person.
Visiting both cities in a day was 100% worth it.
Book a full-day tour of Toledo and Segovia
My final thoughts on unique things to book in Madrid
Madrid is a busy tourism hub, especially during summer.
You’ll find long lines of tourists everywhere. So, you might not always secure entry after queuing for nearly an hour.
The best way to explore Madrid is to book things in advance.
Or better yet, try the unique things I listed above to book in Madrid!
Believe me, activities with less popularity are sometimes even more exciting than mainstream attractions.
The under-the-radar adventures were what made me stay in this city for years!
Need more alternative things to do in Madrid?
Or do you need recommendations on neighborhoods to stay in Madrid?
Don’t miss out on reading my other blog posts about my Spanish travels and recommendations!
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
