Weekend in Madrid: Best things you can do

Beautiful Madrid draws millions of visitors each year, not to mention everyone who wants to move to this graceful city. Spain’s capital is known for its vibrant streets, outstanding cuisine, and world-class museums.

There’s so much to see and do in this amazing city that you just might want to stay forever.

If you’re moving to Madrid, consider a furnished Blueground home in lieu of a traditional year-long rental. Having a flexible lease lets you live on your schedule, not your landlord’s, plus you don’t have to waste precious time and energy furnishing your new apartment.

All of Blueground’s furnished rental apartments are designed to help our guests show up and start living — in style!

Our move-in-ready homes in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America come with equipped kitchens, luxury linens, fast Wi-Fi, and more.

When you skip the apartment search and book a flexible rental, you can spend your first weekend in Madrid exploring the city, not looking for a new apartment or shopping for basics.

Here are just a few of our favorite things to do in Madrid.

Friday: Dinner and a Movie

Why not spend your first night in your stylish new apartment relaxing and recharging for the weekend ahead?

Just pick up something nice for dinner at the famous Mercado de San Miguel, or check out Glovo or Uber Eats to have something delicious delivered right to you.

After dinner, settle down in front of your Smart TV to get to know your new city on the small screen.

There are so many great movies set in Madrid that it’s hard to pick just one. We love Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

Pedro Almodóvar’s Oscar-nominated dramedy chronicles the adventures of an actress who sets out to discover why her lover suddenly left her — and learns a lot more than she bargained for!

The film was shot at Estudios Barajas in Madrid in 1987, and you’ll recognize the city in exterior shots.

Some scenes take place in the city’s stylish Almagro neighborhood, and others in neighboring Salamanca, the site of tomorrow’s adventure.

Saturday: Shopping Spree

After breakfast, head to Madrid’s glamorous Salamanca neighborhood for some retail therapy.

All in all, this lovely area is home to the “Golden Mile.” This is an area of upscale shops and restaurants on and around Serrano and Ortega y Gasset streets.

Whether you’re ready to buy or just window shopping, pace yourself.

All in all, there are many international luxury brands like Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. They all have a presence in Madrid.

The Golden Mile is also home to El Corte Ingles, Spain’s largest department store. This retail showplace dates back to the 1940s and carries almost anything you can imagine!

Finally, You don’t miss Magrit, home to some of the most exclusive (and expensive) shoes in Spain.

Sunday: Cultural Highlights

Today’s adventure takes you to vast El Retiro, a huge park just southeast of Madrid’s city center. You can stroll along landscaped paths between landmarks like the Fountain of the Fallen Angel and the Puerta de Alcalá triumphal arch.

Overall, there are plenty of places to stop for a picnic or just to sip your coffee. Visitors can even rent boats and skim across the surface of the lake.

Is it cold or rainy?

Don’t worry, El Retiro is also the setting for many of Madrid’s finest museums, including the world-famous Prado Museum and the National Museum of Decorative Arts.

There’s also the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, which houses prime examples of European art from the Renaissance to the present.

And last but not least are the Palacio de Cristal, a museum modeled after London’s Crystal Palace, and the Palacio de Velázquez Museum, known for its impressive collection of contemporary art.

We hope we’ve given you more than enough ideas to make the most of your first weekend in Madrid.

If you’re still renting the old-fashioned way, you owe it to yourself to find out more about the Blueground experience.