The Atlas Obscura Guide To Madrid

96 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Madrid, Spain

Updated September 21, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Madrid

Sobrino de Botin

Madrid, Spain

Sobrino de Botin

The oldest restaurant in the world is this old-world Spanish eatery, still known for its suckling pig.

Madrid, Spain

Palacio de Cristal

Madrid's romantically ornate crystal palace has been offering shelter to plants and art for over a century.

The temple by night

Madrid, Spain

Templo de Debod

An ancient Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid, Spain.

Jardín Tropical Estación de Atocha.

Madrid, Spain

Atocha Station Tropical Garden

A lush indoor jungle fills this bustling Madrid transportation hub.

Old map

Madrid, Spain

Chamberí Ghost Station

Abandoned for decades, trains still pass through the now-restored remains of one of Madrid's first metro stations.

Fountain of the Fallen Angel

Madrid, Spain

Fountain of the Fallen Angel

Commonly acknowledged as the only public monument to the Devil himself.

Pretty stunning for 250 years old

Madrid, Spain

Real Jardin Botanico

Over two centuries old and counting, Madrid's massive botanical garden contains one of Europe's only desert environments.

Air Crash.

Madrid, Spain

Air Crash

A whimsical brother of the nearby Fallen Angel statue takes the falling part quite literally.

See All 96 Things To Do in Madrid

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Madrid

Sobrino de Botin

Madrid, Spain

Sobrino de Botin

The oldest restaurant in the world is this old-world Spanish eatery, still known for its suckling pig.

Madrid, Spain

Kiosko de Horchata Miguel y José

Madrid's last horchata kiosk is a blue-and-white beacon of refreshment.

No luck the first day we went!

Madrid, Spain

Secret Nun Cookies at Monasterio del Corpus Christi

Order cookies baked by cloistered nuns in a 400-year-old monastery.

Madrid, Spain

Tío Pepe Sign

For decades, Puerta del Sol has been illuminated by a giant, guitar-wielding bottle of sherry.

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Explore Madrid, Spain

History & Culture 16

Art 14

Archaeology 9

Sculptures 8

Statues 8

Ruins 7

Museums And Collections 7

Monuments 6

Transportation 5

Hidden 5

Architectural Oddities 5

Sacred Spaces 5

Madrid Leaderboard

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Recent Madrid Activity

J

janepollard

wants to go to Museum of Popular Art and Traditions
J

janepollard

wants to go to San Ginés Book Shop
J

janepollard

wants to go to Royal Chapel of St. Anthony of La Florida
D

danwelk323

wants to go to Real Jardin Botanico
D

danwelk323

wants to go to The Rocker Grandma

Stories About Madrid

The Rodin portrait correctly identified by Luis Pastor.

Solved: A Case of Mistaken Identity in a Madrid Art Museum

Auguste Rodin takes his rightful place in the portrait gallery, evicting King Leopold II of Belgium.

by Matthew Taub

What do the lines mean?

There's a Secret Code Hiding on These Madrid Security Bollards

It took the power of the internet to crack it.

by Juan Pablo Garnham

November 21, 2018

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