Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures

Trips Highlight

Tinkercast Yucatan Mexico family trip

Mexico • 7 days, 6 nights

Yucatan Family Adventure: Meteors, Pyramids & Maya Legends

from

Central Asia yurt night stars

Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights

Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars

from

Top Destinations

Latest Places

Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries

Download the App

Top Destinations

View All Destinations »

Countries

Australia
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan

Cities

Amsterdam
Barcelona
Beijing
Berlin
Boston
Budapest
Chicago
London
Los Angeles
Mexico City
Montreal
Moscow
New Orleans
New York City
Paris
Philadelphia
Rome
San Francisco
Seattle
Stockholm
Tokyo
Toronto
Vienna
Washington, D.C.

Latest Places

View All Places »

This intersection played a critical role in blues history. — Where the Southern Cross the Dog

The site today. — Site of the Namamugi Incident

Henry Turner Jr. rejects the notion that the blues should be frozen in time. — Henry Turner Jr’s Listening Room

Lee and Pup McCarty first set up shop in an old mule barn. — McCarty’s Pottery

Latest Places to Eat & Drink

View All Places to Eat »

The chilaquiles from Fonda Rosita are the stuff of legend. — Mercado de la Merced

Flores de calabaza and melty quesillo make for a divine quesadilla. — Tacos del Carmen

Amicar Hernandez and Paulina Rovilla wanted to properly celebrate these humble legumes. — La Frijolería

Rafael Villalobos relies on locally harvested grains for his superlative pastries. — Bodaega

Chef Jorge León changes the menu here constantly. — Alfonsina

Recent Stories

All Stories Puzzles Video Podcast

Most Recent Stories

View All Stories »

The Los Angeles Breakfast Club celebrated its centennial this year. — Raise a Toast to L.A.'s Century-Old Breakfast Club

about 23 hours ago

For the last 30 years, Ivan the Terra Bus has dutifully transported people between Antarctica’s airfields and research stations. The 2024–25 summer season marked Ivan’s final days on the ice. — One Last Ride for Antarctica’s 'Ivan the Terra Bus'

1 day ago

Florida Native Chili, served with house-made crackers, is a signature dish of the ever-popular Tampa restaurant, Ulele. — Gator, Boar, and Venison? Inside the Boldest Bowl of Chili in Florida

3 days ago

A close-up of an unidentified species of Conophytum with yellow flowers. This is one of many tiny succulent plants that have been confiscated by South African law enforcement. — Demand for Tiny Plants Is Driving a Poaching Crisis in South Africa

3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

Paris
London
New York
Berlin
Rome
Los Angeles

Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

All

Spain

Madrid

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Madrid

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

Updated March 5, 2025

Email

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 119 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

In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Madrid, Spain

119

History & Culture 22

Museums 21

Architecture 21

Art 19

Statues 14

Sculptures 11

Archaeology 10

Monuments 7

Ruins 7

Architectural Oddities 6

Subways 6

Hidden 5

Madrid Leaderboard

Places Added

Luis Morato

40
Xavixavir

38
Monsieur Mictlan

8
littlebrumble

2
Vamsi Krishna

2

Places Edited

Xavixavir

109
Luis Morato

86
hrnick

26
Monsieur Mictlan

19
sanprica

11

Places Visited

Xavixavir

110
Luis Morato

104
Jeffwraithes2

96
jaxxx93

96
hrnick

86

Recent Madrid Activity

silencioUnico

wants to go to Relics of St. Valentine at Iglesia de San Antón

1 day ago
silencioUnico

wants to go to Casa de los Lagartos (Lizards House)

1 day ago
silencioUnico

wants to go to Palacio de Longoria

1 day ago
TinySputniks

has been to Arches of the San Gil Barracks

1 day ago
loyalsidekick

wants to go to 'The Curious Neighbor'

1 day ago

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

See Fewer Ads

Become an Atlas Obscura member and experience far fewer ads and no pop-ups.

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App

Places

All Places
Latest Places
Most Popular
Places to Eat
Random
Nearby
Add a Place

Editorial

Stories
Food & Drink
Itineraries
Lists
Puzzles
Video
Podcast
Newsletters

Trips

All Trips
Family Trip
Food & Drink
History & Culture
Wildlife & Nature
FAQ

Community

Membership
Feedback & Ideas
Community Guidelines
Product Blog
Unique Gifts
Work With Us

Company

About
FAQ
Advertise With Us
Advertising Guidelines
Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy
Terms of Use

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.