Madrid offers such a vast array of leisure, gastronomy, and cultural activities that it's impossible to take it all in. Add to that the routine that keeps us in the same places, and discovering the true gems becomes even more challenging. secrets of Madrid It gets even more complicated.
These eight places might not surprise a lifelong resident of Madrid. However, for visitors, they are hidden gems that enhance any stay in the capital.
The 8 secrets of Madrid at a glance
- El Capricho Park: 18th century historic garden with Civil War bunker.
- Crypt of the Almudena: a forest of more than 400 columns under the cathedral.
- Hopefully, in Malasaña: the basement with beach sand right in the city center.
- Quinta de los MolinosAlmond trees in bloom for two weeks a year.
- Montera's Secret Garden: a hidden garden terrace above a shop.
- Puri Stockings: a haberdashery that hides a nightclub.
- Infamous Types: bookstore, wine shop and exhibition hall all in one.
- San Fernando Market: the Lavapiés market that resisted the gourmet trend.
It's important to keep in mind that the opening hours of private establishments change frequently. Therefore, always confirm before heading out. For municipal spaces, you can check the website of [the relevant authority/organization]. Madrid City Council or on the portal of Madrid Tourism.
Practical information at a glance
These are the details you should write down:
- Free admission: El Capricho, Quinta de los Molinos and San Fernando Market.
- With entry: the Almudena crypt and the nightlife venues.
- Weekends only: El Capricho Park.
- Seasonal: the almond trees of Quinta de los Molinos, in February and March.
- Better in the afternoon: Infamous Types, I Wish and Puri Stockings.
*El Capricho Metro Station (Line 5).*
First of all, this true natural paradise was created in 1784 at the behest of the Duchess of Osuna, María Josefa Alonso Pimentel, a renowned patron of artists, bullfighters, and intellectuals who accompanied her on her walks. It was designed by the most prestigious gardeners and set designers of the time.
Today the park preserves a remarkable wealth of botanical and artistic treasures: pavilions, chapels, fountains, small squares, and the dukes' palace itself. It also conceals a Civil War bunker of over 2,000 square meters that housed the Headquarters of the Republican Army of the Center.
However, it's only open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, so you need to plan your visit.
2. The forest of 400 columns of the Almudena
*Opera Metro Station (lines 2 and 5).*
Meanwhile, at the intersection of Calle Mayor and Bailén stands the Almudena Cathedral, one of the youngest in Spain and the one that arouses the most disparate opinions.
However, few imagine that within its depths lies one of the city's most breathtaking spaces. The neo-Romanesque crypt houses a forest of over 400 columns, each with a unique capital, where it's worth getting lost and savoring the silence.
Furthermore, access is via the Cuesta de la Vega, through a different door than the cathedral.
3. Malasaña Beach
*Noviciado Metro Station (Line 2).*
When someone wants to downplay the capital's appeal, they resort to the classic "there's no beach here" line from the Los Refrescos song. Well, in Malasaña they decided to address that, or at least try to.
The Ojalá restaurant hides a space on its lower floor with a sand floor, beanbag chairs, and dim lighting, designed for enjoying a drink barefoot in the heart of the city. It's one of Madrid's worst-kept secrets among twenty-somethings and one of the least known to visitors.
4. The almond grove of Quinta de los Molinos
*Suanzes Metro Station (Line 5).*
Also, on Alcalá Street, one of the longest and most congested streets in the capital, there is this small palace surrounded by gardens that is surprising for its silence amidst the chaos.
If you visit in late February or early March, you'll find the almond trees in bloom. They flower for just two weeks a year and create one of the most photographed landscapes in the city. Consequently, those days are extremely crowded: go first thing in the morning.
5. The secret garden on Montera Street
*Metro Gran Vía (lines 1 and 5) or Sol.*
In contrast, this rooftop paradise leaves no one indifferent. Hidden on the terrace of a well-known shop in the city center is a lush garden where you can eat, have a drink, or simply escape the hustle and bustle of the street.
It's one of those places you discover by chance, as nothing from the street suggests its existence. The prices are more reasonable than you might expect given the location.
6. The haberdashery that hides a nightclub
*Tirso de Molina Metro Station (Line 1).*
On the other hand, Medias Puri is not what it seems. From the outside it looks like an old-fashioned haberdashery, with its display of stockings and its clientele seemingly from another era.
Behind that facade, however, lies one of Madrid's most vibrant clubs: several dance floors, performances, and a cocktail bar. Access is by password and prior ticket, so it's best to check beforehand.
7. Books and wine at Infamous Types
*Tribunal Metro Station (lines 1 and 10).*
Looking for a unique book, want to enjoy a coffee while you choose it, and browse through it afterwards with a glass of wine in hand? Tipos Infames combines a bookstore, wine bar, and exhibition space in the heart of Malasaña.
Specifically, it specializes in independent fiction and, in addition to books, it organizes tastings, presentations, and meetings with authors. It's the perfect place to stop on a rainy afternoon.
8. The San Fernando Market, in Lavapiés
*Embajadores Metro Station (Line 3).*
At a time when many traditional markets have become gourmet spaces with prohibitive prices, the San Fernando Market demonstrates that the traditional and the new can coexist.
Thus, ice cream, books, music, clothing, crafts, bars, and affordable fresh produce all come together under one roof. It is, in short, one of the best portraits of Lavapiés today.
How to plan your route through the secrets of Madrid
- In one dayIt groups together the Almudena, the Secret Garden of Montera and Infamous Types, all in the center.
- WeekendReserve Saturday or Sunday morning for El Capricho, which is only open on those days.
- In February or March: prioritize the Quinta de los Molinos because of the almond trees in bloom.
- At night: Medias Puri and Ojalá work better from the afternoon onwards.
- Combine it with our Madrid itinerary in 3 days or with a stroll through the Literary Quarter.
Frequently asked questions about the secrets of Madrid
These are just eight of the many secrets Madrid holds. And if you'd like us to show you the ones that aren't in any guidebook, join us on one of our tours.
Discover the secrets of Madrid
Above all, the highlights include the Almudena crypt with its 400 columns, El Capricho Park and its Civil War bunker, the almond trees of Quinta de los Molinos and the San Fernando Market in Lavapiés.
Typically between late February and early March, with a flowering period that lasts only about two weeks. The exact dates vary depending on the winter.
When to go
Yes. It has a separate entrance on Cuesta de la Vega and its own opening hours, different from those of the cathedral. It's advisable to check the worship times before going.
Open Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays only, with different hours in summer and winter. Access to the bunker requires a guided tour and prior booking.
Opening hours and location of Madrid's secrets
Not especially. El Capricho and Quinta de los Molinos have free entry, and the San Fernando Market maintains neighborhood market prices. Nightclubs do have room rates.
Not all of them. Certainly, the Almudena, the Secret Garden, Tipos Infames and Medias Puri are in the center, but El Capricho and the Quinta de los Molinos are on the outskirts, although well connected by metro.
