Hello readers,
Madrid is a beautiful city by day, but it goes through an incredible transformation when the sun goes down. When you’re done strolling around the different neighborhoods of the city or taking a dip in one of many available pools, you’ll first want to cool off and get a snack (maybe some homemade ice cream), and then head out for a busy night in the city. If you’re feeling a little lost on what to do, we have some ideas for you today.
If you’re a student or young worker and you don’t already know where you’re going to live, check out a shared flat in the city. Having a room in one of these can help you make friends in the city, teach you the language, and lower your cost of living. Grab your new friends; let’s head out for the night.
On your first night out, you might want to take a night tour to get your bearings in the city. Many kinds of night tours are available in Madrid, so pick one that gives you what you want. For the lazy there is a 1-hour Segway tour. This tour utilizes eco-friendly rides to efficiently help you see historic neighborhoods and illuminated monuments within the city, after dark. They also offer bike tours, walking tours, and tours with different focuses including a flamenco show.
If you still have energy when you finish your night tour, or if you decide to skip it all together, don’t worry; we have plenty of other ways for you to start the night.
One option is to head to the Museo Reina Sofia. This exquisite art museum has free access from 7 to 9 pm most Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturdays. Here you can see masterful examples of work in styles such as cubism and surrealism from the likes of Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso. They also have contemporary works and limited-time exhibitions that you won’t want to miss.
If art isn’t your style but you still want a relaxing night, think about going to the Auditorio Nacional de Música for a night of music. These concerts typically start around 7:30 pm, so keep that in mind when you’re planning out your night. If music sounds like a good idea to you, but you also want a mesmerizing show, you can’t go wrong attending a traditional flamenco performance; you have to see one of these traditional Spanish dances while you’re here.
Many of these shows will end long before the night is over. When you’re done with them, you will definitely want to stay out a bit longer, so up next, we have a few places for you to hang out with a couple of friends and to meet new people.
Madrid has what seems like a limitless number of bars to spend your night. These bars can vary greatly in style and atmosphere, so you may want to ask around and do a little research to find the right one for you. If you’re looking for a dapper experience, take a walk to Museo Chicote, a cocktail bar from the 1930s, previously frequented by the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Frank Sinatra. Angelita Madrid offers a totally different experience as a modern, gastro-cocktail bar with an emphasis on wines and local ingredients. Another popular place in Madrid, Bar Cock attracts large crowds, but retains a relatively open atmosphere because of its high ceiling and its owner’s strict attention to capacity. If you decide to go here, you may want to show up a little early so you don’t get stuck waiting outside.
No matter what you decide to do at night, remember that the metro shuts down at 1:30 am, but night busses run from 11 pm to 4 am. Also, don’t forget that Spanish nights start late and tend to last even later than you might be accustomed to. Thanks for reading our blog today! See you soon for more “getting around” articles. In the meanwhile, do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Hasta luego,
Your helpMadrid Team