
It is normal not to know what to do in Madrid in the rain, but with these plans rainy days in the capital will not seem boring. Although there is no shortage of followers of precipitation, especially in areas where it rains less, we always prefer to see it from the window, hear it in the background. However, staying at home is not the only way to enjoy it, it’s time to take the umbrella, wellies and raincoat, because, although the day is cloudy, in Madrid will not be gray at all.
1. It’s time for theater
It is always a good excuse to review the theater billboard in Madrid and discover that the offer is so large as to find something to your liking. In the National Classical Theater the programming is perfect to lay the groundwork and rediscover the reason for its fame and the charm of the theater.
If you prefer novelties and more daring stagings, there are the Teatros del Canal or the Teatro Español. For shows, more relaxed plays and musicals, in addition to the Gran Vía, there are the Teatro Maravillas, the Lara, the Rialto, and if you want a little bit of everything, the Teatro Reina Victoria will be a better option.
2. Go from museum to museum
No matter how many times you’ve been to the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia or the Thyssen: there are never enough. Plus, you can visit them for free at certain times and days of the week. Other options, perhaps less known, but also interesting, are the private collection of the Cerralbo Museum, the Sorolla Museum, which was home and workshop of the Valencian painter, or the Lázaro Galdiano Museum, also a private collection with authentic treasures of European silverware, jewelry and works of art by illustrious painters such as El Greco.
But if you already know all these, the most important art galleries in Madrid have temporary exhibitions of contemporary art that compete in some cases even with foundations and museums, only here you can buy it if the case arises.
3. Visit the Markets of Madrid
In the new life of the markets, now converted into gastronomic and cultural spaces of the city, are a perfect option to solve plans with rain in Madrid. Many of them have a recent facelift worth knowing, such as the Mercado de San Antón or the Mercado de la Cebada, with a very appealing leisure proposal. Others remain virtually intact and with that balance between neighborhood market where shopping and having a drink are not at odds, such as Tirso de Molina. Or Antón Martín, which in our eyes is one of the new gastronomic meccas of the capital.
4. Discover the new specialty cafés
Coffee is in fashion. Until about ten years ago it was difficult to find coffee that was not roasted and now it is increasingly easy to find specialty coffee in Madrid. This natural version, selected from the seed, usually served in coffee shops of minimalist aesthetics, brought from Nordic countries, has invaded most cities and ours was not going to be less, a good example is: Syra Coffee, Casa Neutrale and Golda, among others.
It is to be appreciated that it is almost always accompanied with some homemade sweet or from their own bakery, where they can even sell sourdough bread, as it happens in Acid Backehouse. Two in one.
5. Visit the Descalzas Reales Monastery
The interior of this building in Madrid, the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, is somewhat hidden to the general public and yet it is only 5 minutes from the Puerta del Sol. It is a building full of objects and works of incalculable value and not only because before becoming a monastery it was a palace, but because women belonging to the nobility entered it and when they did so their families made incredible donations to the institution. It became a monastery at the request of the daughter of King Charles I, Joan of Austria.
In it you will find more than 10,000 works of art, including paintings by Zurbaran and Titian. It is preferable to get your ticket in advance because visits are limited.
6. From book to book
Hard-to-find editions, books by weight, literary colloquiums, film series and booksellers delighted with their trade. It is not about going to an ordinary bookstore, but to the most original bookstores in Madrid. They have little to do with the big bookstores, the dedication and selection of who attends you speaks of each one of them and makes them unique. In many of them you can sit down and have a drink while you enjoy the adventures that lie between their pages.
7. More than cinemas
A classic, we know, but it is a good opportunity to review the programming of alternative cinemas in Madrid, starting with the main one, the Cine Doré. And continuing to have a drink and see what they throw in the Sala Equis, take advantage of the Cineteca de Matadero to discover non-fiction films and we can not overlook the selection of Cine de Círculo de Bellas Artes perfect for the classics.
8. Enjoying a candlelight concert
When the weather outside is not at all appetizing and you don’t know what to do in Madrid in the rain, the best thing to do is to change the gray clouds for the bright glow of thousands of candles. Candlelight offers several weekly concerts with the best tributes in classic version of your favorite musicians, groups and singers. From Queen to Hans Zimmer to Coldplay to Ed Sheeran, there’s sure to be a program to suit your tastes.
Changing the soothing sound of the rain for the even more soothing sound of a string quartet or a live piano is not bad at all.
9. Shopping malls
A suitable option for all audiences are the shopping malls. They are not only a place for leisure and shopping, they have more and more activities, sports and experiences that differentiate and specialize in different areas. If you are looking for sports such as climbing -or surfing, for sunnier days- X-Madrid is the place; if you prefer to know niche brands of fashion and beauty in the middle of Gran Via is WOW Concept and if you feel like walking under cover near a lake by the largest shopping center in Madrid, in Oasiz they manage to combine both.
10. Discovering the Royal Collections Gallery
The back of the Royal Palace and the cathedral of La Almudena has released this year a museum that is worth a visit both in form and content. The objects, books and art that the kings of Spain, from the Habsburgs to the Bourbons, have treasured for centuries are now on display in this large minimalist space – reminiscent at times of a Blade Runner set.
A first edition of Don Quixote, the epic sculpture of St. Michael the Archangel defeating the devil by Luisa Roldan or medieval Arabic books on zoology are just some of the jewels that can be seen here.
11. A Spa session
A plan that combines beauty and relaxation (under a covered roof) can solve even the grayest days. In the capital you can choose between complete spa tours like the Hammam Al Ándalus, built on the ruins of a Roman baths in the middle of Atocha street; or indulge yourself in the largest spa in the city, 1400 meters of hedonism overlooking the Plaza Canalejas, a luxury squared.