The Atlas Obscura Guide To Madrid

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

Updated October 31, 2024

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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 117 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.

Ring the bell and you may be rewarded with these blessed treats.

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.

See all 6 Places to Eat in Madrid

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Madrid, Spain

History & Culture 22

Museums 21

Architecture 21

Art 19

Statues 13

Sculptures 10

Archaeology 10

Monuments 7

Ruins 7

Architectural Oddities 6

Subways 6

Hidden 5

Madrid Leaderboard

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Recent Madrid Activity

eamagea123

has been to Secret Nun Cookies at Monasterio del Corpus Christi
andy51edge

wants to go to Palacio de Cristal
andy51edge

wants to go to Atocha Station Tropical Garden
sylvanarrivera

has been to Templo de Debod
johnmills1985

wants to go to Panteón de Hombres Ilustres (Pantheon of Illustrious Men)

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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