It’s theater time!
It’s always a good excuse to check out the theater listings in Madrid and discover that there is so much on offer that you are bound to find something to your liking. At the Teatro Clásico Nacional, the program is perfect for laying the foundations and rediscovering the reason for its fame and the charm of theater.
If you prefer new and more daring productions, there are the Teatros del Canal and the Teatro Español. For shows, more relaxed plays and musicals, in addition to Gran Vía, there are the Teatro Maravillas, the Lara, the Rialto, and if you want a little bit of everything, the Teatro Reina Victoria is the best option.
No matter how many times you’ve been to the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofía or the Thyssen, it’s never enough. What’s more, you can visit them for free at certain times and on certain days of the week. Other options, perhaps less well known but also interesting, are the private collection of the Museo Cerralbo, the Museo Sorolla, which was the home and studio 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 such illustrious painters as El Greco.
But if you already know all of these, Madrid’s most important art galleries have temporary exhibitions of contemporary art that in some cases rival those of foundations and museums, except that here you can buy the art if you wish.
It’s like being in a Sherlock Holmes case with the sound of rain in the background, except that everything takes place in a courtroom (or, in other words, an iconic Madrid venue). The Jury Experience is an immersive theater experience in which the audience members are the judges in a complicated case that involves a moral dilemma.
Whether it’s a million-dollar robbery, a love triangle with a bad ending, or a murder without a human perpetrator, the audience decides the final verdict after hearing the testimonies and analyzing the evidence. Watching someone solve the case in a mystery movie is fine, but doing it yourself is better.
Visit Madrid’s markets
The markets, now converted into gastronomic and cultural spaces in the city, are a perfect option for rainy days in Madrid. Many of them have recently been given a facelift that is worth seeing, such as the Mercado de San Antón or the Mercado de la Cebada, which offer a very appealing range of leisure activities. Others remain virtually unchanged and strike a balance between a neighborhood market where you can shop and have a drink, such as Tirso de Molina. Or Antón Martín, which in our opinion is one of the capital’s new gastronomic meccas.
The rain is getting you down, we know, but imagine how frustrated the little ones in the house (or your inner child) are. Luckily, Madrid always has an ace up its sleeve. Babylon Park, an indoor park with everything: arcade games, video games, virtual reality, and various attractions (such as a roller coaster and a shuttle) where you can escape the rain and cold. A refuge for the young at heart or to let off steam after weeks of rain. It works just as well with kids as it does with friends your own age.
Coffee is in vogue. Until about ten years ago, it was difficult to find coffee that wasn’t roasted, but now it’s becoming easier and easier to find specialty coffee in Madrid. This natural version, selected from the seed, which is usually served in minimalist cafés, brought from Nordic countries, has invaded most cities, and ours is no exception. A good example is: Syra Coffee, Casa Neutrale, and Golda, among others.
It is appreciated that it is almost always accompanied by homemade or in-house baked goods, where they may even sell sourdough bread, as is the case at Acid Backehouse. Two in one.
Visit the Monastery of Las Descalzas Reales
The interior of this building in Madrid, the Monasterio de las Descalzas Reales, is somewhat hidden from the general public, yet it is only 5 minutes from the Puerta del Sol. It is a building filled with priceless objects and works of art, not only because it was a palace before becoming a monastery, but also because women belonging to the nobility entered it and, in doing so, their families made incredible donations to the institution. It became a monastery at the request of the daughter of King Charles I, Juana of Austria.
Here you will find more than 10,000 works of art, including paintings by Zurbarán and Titian. It is best to buy your ticket in advance as visits are limited.
If the rain forces you to seek shelter, there’s nothing better than taking refuge inside this church and immersing yourself in a sensory journey along the course of the Vltava River. FLOW is an immersive experience with classical and electronic music and video mapping projections, replacing the gray Madrid sky with an explosion of lights and color.
From book to book
Hard-to-find editions, books sold by weight, literary colloquiums, film series, and booksellers who are passionate about their craft. These aren’t your typical bookstores, but rather the most original bookstores in Madrid. They have little in common with large book retailers; the dedication and selection of the staff speaks for each of them and makes them unique. In many of them, you can sit down and have a drink while enjoying the adventures that lie within their pages.
There is no better (or more effective) way to romanticize a rainy day in a big city like Madrid than by going to a live jazz show. Listening to blues, soul, or pure jazz anthems after closing a large umbrella and taking off a long coat? Yes, please.
From songs by Louis Armstrong and Al Green to others by Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye, The Jazz Room turns every show into a trip to 1920s New Orleans. And without leaving Madrid.
Fifty professionals (including engineers, archaeologists, and 3D modeling experts) worked for five years to create this virtual reality experience that now allows us to “travel” to the past of Machu Picchu from Nuevos Ministerios. Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City is a 45-minute plan to lose yourself and find yourself in the Sacred Valley. Meanwhile, outside, it’s raining.
More than just cinemas
A classic, we know, but it’s a good opportunity to check out the programming at Madrid’s alternative movie theaters, starting with the main one, the Cine Doré. Then grab a drink and see what’s playing at the Sala Equis, take advantage of the Cineteca de Matadero to discover non-fiction films, and don’t overlook the selection at the Cine de Círculo de Bellas Artes, perfect for classic film lovers.
When the weather is not appealing and you are not sure what to do in Madrid when it rains, the best thing to do is to swap the gray clouds for the bright glow of thousands of candles. Candlelight offers several weekly concerts with the best classical tributes to your favorite musicians, bands, and singers. From Queen to Hans Zimmer, Coldplay to Ed Sheeran, there’s sure to be a program to suit your tastes.
Swapping the relaxing sound of rain for the even more relaxing sound of a string quartet or live piano is not a bad idea at all.
Shopping malls are a great option for all audiences. They are not only places for leisure and shopping; they increasingly offer activities, sports, and experiences that differentiate them and specialize them in certain areas. If you’re looking for sports such as climbing—or surfing, for sunnier days—X-Madrid is the place to go; if you prefer to discover niche fashion and beauty brands in the heart of Gran Vía, there’s WOW Concept; and if you fancy a covered walk near a lake in Madrid’s largest shopping center, Oasiz combines both.
Discover the Royal Collections Gallery
Behind the Royal Palace and La Almudena Cathedral a new museum has opened this year that is well worth a visit for both its form and its 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—which is sometimes reminiscent of a scene from Blade Runner.
A first edition of Don Quixote, Luisa Roldan’s stunning sculpture of the Archangel Saint Michael defeating the devil, and medieval Arabic books on zoology are just some of the gems that can be seen here.