Madrid boasts an endless variety of shopping options, ranging from flea markets to international brand stores like Primark. Visitors can easily find satisfying places to shop for whatever they desire. While the El Rastro flea market is famous among tourists, it’s the Sunday open-air bazaar that truly attracts the most visitors, often leaving less attention for other events in its narrow streets.

One such event is the Santa Ana street market, held on the first Saturday of every month. This market offers a unique, multi-sensory experience with live concerts, workshops, delightful culinary bites, and more, making it a favorite among locals. For more details on special offers and performances, be sure to visit the official website.

Eyesore or architectural wonder? it’s impossible to ignore Torre Blancas, a misbegotten edifice built of exposed concrete, and has been serving as an icon of the Spanish Organicism architecture for years now.

This oddly-shaped, mixed-use building was designed by architect Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza and completed in 1969, during an era when brutalist structures were popping up all over Europe. But unlike its counterparts, Torre Blancas features round modular forms, something which makes it less intimidating and more theatrical and futuristic. Interestingly, the building’s circular façade is also well-reflected throughout its interior, which comprises a series of round rooms and spaces.

While access is restricted solely for residents, it is worth asking tenants for permission to visit inside.

Madrid boasts a glut of green lungs, including some of the world’s most renowned parks, many of which regularly attract an incessant stream of visitors for their serenity and quaint design.
Once an urban wasteland covered by a car-infested highway, Río Park is now among the city’s most inviting places. Inaugurated in 2011 as part of the Manzanares Riverside revitalization project, the park is popular among locals yet remains largely unnoticed by most tourists.

This green enclave is crisscrossed by an extensive network of bicycle lanes that wind along and astride the river, adorned with eye-catching bridges spanning the creek. Nearby, several shops offer bicycle rentals for 5-6 Euros per hour, making it an ideal activity for a sunny afternoon.

After cycling, visitors can explore the nearby Matadero, Madrid’s former slaughterhouse that has since been repurposed into an exhibition space as well as a local eatery serving a plethora of scrumptious snacks.

Formerly a separate town and now part of Madrid, Vallecas is a working-class neighborhood that might seem unremarkable at first glance. However, recent developments have transformed one of its avenues into a interesting place to behold amidst the typical suburban landscape.

Bulevar de la Naturaleza is the main avenue of the newly-built extension of Vallecas, a quintessential suburb dominated by wide-roads and residential areas.

In 2007, this avenue was rebranded as “Eco-Boulevard” and underwent an extensive remodeling from a car-centric street into a vibrant public space. As part of the project, a large portion of the road was converted into pedestrian walkways, featuring three cylindrical structures designed to resemble trees.

These tube-like structures not only encourage social gatherings by creating a cooler microclimate but also generate electricity through solar panels installed on their tops. According to the project developers, “Eco-Boulevard” aimed to be both environmentally friendly and socially revitalizing.

As the capital of a predominantly Catholic nation, Madrid is replete with numerous iconic churches that have inspired awe for centuries. Predictably, the architectural style of these churches becomes less traditional the farther one ventures from the downtown area.

For evidence, look no further than Parroquia San Pedro Mártir. Nestled along a busy highway in the northern part of the city, the church was built in 1960 as part of a convent complex. Despite its initially unassuming appearance, a closer look reveals a multitude of intricate details, including the ambient metallic nest encircling the cross atop the church.

Inside, the church’s facade gives way to a remarkable interior. Designed to accommodate 250 choir members and 750 worshipers, the space is bathed in natural light filtered through stained glass and skylights, creating a dynamic interplay of colors that provides a backdrop for the enchanting choral performances.

Overshadowed by the nearby Barajas international airport and Juan Carlos Park, the garden of El Capricho is Madrid’s ultimate hideaway, owing it to its unassuming location amid a cluster of real estate projects and highways.

The garden, originally part of the Duchess of Osuna’s estate, was established in the 18th century on a verdant meadow on the city’s outskirts. Translating to “whim”,  El Capricho aptly reflects the garden’s playful nature. It features a hodgepodge of elements, structures, and landscaped areas, each seemingly plucked from a fairy tale.

Dominating the southern part of the garden is a labyrinth of trimmed hedges, reminiscent of a human-scale Pac-Man maze. Further afield is Casa de la Vieja, a stone building modeled after a farmhouse and partly obscured by various creeping plants. Another quaint attraction is the neo-classic gazebo entitled “Temple of Bacchus”. Perching atop a grassy knoll, the rotunda serves as a photo-op spot for occasional Instagrammers.

Perhaps the garden’s single most unusual site is its 80-year-old bunker, left from the Spanish civil war, one of many throughout Madrid (more details ahead, in the next section). Take note that the bunker can be visited only with a guided tour (can be booked online).

The Spanish Civil War, which ravaged the country and claimed the lives of approximately one million people from 1936 to 1939, remains a deeply contentious issue in in present-day Spain. This conflict, followed by four decades of dictatorship, has left deep-seated scars on Spanish society, with some wounds yet to fully heal.

In the 80 years since the war ended, much of the physical evidence from that era has faded away, leaving only a handful of surviving vestiges. Among the most notable of which are the copious bunkers once used by both sides for command and shelter.

When Madrid was under siege by General Franco’s forces, many bunkers were built as part of the military effort to defend against the Nationalist troops. Among them is the bunker in El Capricho garden, where high-ranking officers sought refuge during bombings, accommodating up to 200 people.

In addition, at Parque del Oeste, a group of three bunkers can be observed, slightly elevated from the ground. This area was the epicenter of the Battle of Ciudad Universitaria, fought between Republican and Nationalist forces. These formidable concrete structures may lack aesthetic appeal, yet their historical merit makes them an essential stop for aficionados of history.

Tucked away in the southwestern outskirts of Madrid, FIO stands for Fundación Infante de Orleans, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Spain’s aeronautical heritage. FIO is based at Cuatro Vientos Airport, Spain’s oldest airport, which now serves as a hub for aviation clubs and training facilities.

On the first Sunday of each month, FIO organizes an open-air exhibition featuring small aircraft. Interestingly, many of the showcased planes are still in active use, with pilots present to interact with visitors, answer questions, and discuss their professional experiences.

The eventful day culminates between 1PM to 2PM, when an airshow featuring light airplanes performing breathtaking aerial maneuvers captivates the entire crowd leaves the crowd jaw-dropped.