Madrid
Madrid in the rain
Madrid has few rain days: five to seven a month from October to May, and one or two in July and August. On a wet day, spend it indoors. The Prado, the Thyssen and the Reina Sofía are close enough to link with an umbrella, and the Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral and San Miguel Market are all under cover. Keep the Retiro, Gran Vía and the squares for the dry hours.
- Stops under a roof: 7
Data checked on October 4, 2026
A rainy day, stop by stop
A day built only from stops that are under a roof, in an order that keeps the walks short.
Day 1
Royal and Habsburg Madrid · Paseo del Arte and Retiro
3 stops · 6 h 15 of visits · 31 min on foot
Open this day's route in Google Maps-
10:00 am12:00 pm
Royal Palace
The official residence of the Spanish crown, used today for state ceremonies. The self-guided route goes through the grand staircase, the throne room and a long series of decorated state rooms, and the official site gives about 45 minutes for it.
Take one of the first slots. Large bags are discouraged, so leave them at the hotel.
Choose a date and time slot on the official site or buy a ticket through Civitatis. You can also queue at the ticket office, which closes one hour before the palace.
Winter hours run from October to March: Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00, Sunday 10:00 to 16:00. In summer, Monday to Saturday runs to 19:00. Closed on 1 January, 6 January, 1 May and 25 December, and from 15:00 on 24 and 31 December. It can close at short notice for official events. In winter, Monday to Thursday 16:00 to 18:00, EU citizens and residents get free entry with ID, at the ticket office only.
Source: Patrimonio Nacional, checked October 4, 2026
- 8 min walk
-
12:08 pm1:23 pm
San Miguel Market
A 1916 iron-and-glass market hall turned into a food hall, with stalls for tapas, seafood, cheese, ham and wine. Visitors graze standing up instead of shopping for groceries.
It is busiest at lunch and on weekend evenings. Eat a few bites here and have the main meal elsewhere.
Open Sunday to Thursday 10:00 to midnight, and Friday, Saturday and the eve of holidays 10:00 to 01:00.
Source: Mercado de San Miguel, checked October 4, 2026
- 23 min walk
- Lunch break
-
2:46 pm5:46 pm
Prado Museum
Spain's national art museum, home to the main collections of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. It is large, so most visitors choose a route through the highlights instead of trying to see everything.
Arrive at opening or after lunch and pick two or three galleries. Covering it all takes most of a day.
Book your ticket online for the day you want. The ticket-office queue can be long around midday.
Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00, Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 19:00. Entry is free in the last two hours of each day, when the queue is long. Closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026
- Running late? Drop San Miguel Market first. Nothing is booked there.
Every stop under a roof
-
Prado Museum
Spain's national art museum, home to the main collections of Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. It is large, so most visitors choose a route through the highlights instead of trying to see everything.
Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026
-
Royal Palace
The official residence of the Spanish crown, used today for state ceremonies. The self-guided route goes through the grand staircase, the throne room and a long series of decorated state rooms, and the official site gives about 45 minutes for it.
Source: Patrimonio Nacional, checked October 4, 2026
-
Reina Sofía Museum
Spain's national museum of 20th-century art, best known for Picasso's Guernica, with works by Dalí and Miró. The collection is in the Sabatini building, and the Nouvel building has the newer entrance and the temporary exhibitions.
Source: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, checked October 4, 2026
-
Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum
Sits between the Prado and the Reina Sofía with a collection that runs from early Italian painting to the 20th century, including Impressionists and Expressionists. It is smaller than its neighbours, and the museum suggests about two and a half hours.
Source: Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, checked October 4, 2026
-
San Miguel Market
A 1916 iron-and-glass market hall turned into a food hall, with stalls for tapas, seafood, cheese, ham and wine. Visitors graze standing up instead of shopping for groceries.
Source: Mercado de San Miguel, checked October 4, 2026
-
Almudena Cathedral
Madrid's cathedral stands across the square from the Royal Palace. It was consecrated in 1993 after more than a century of construction. Entry to the cathedral is free, and a donation of 1 euro is requested.
Source: esMadrid, checked October 4, 2026
-
Bernabéu Tour
The home of Real Madrid, with a tour of the stadium views, the dressing room and dugouts, and the club museum. It sits in Chamartín to the north, a metro ride from the centre.
Source: Real Madrid C.F., checked October 4, 2026
Rainy days by month
Climate averages: Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET), Madrid Retiro, 1991-2020 normals.