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 rainfall followers, 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 grab your umbrella, wellies and raincoat, because, even if the day is cloudy, in Madrid it won’t be gray at all.
1. Take refuge in the scenery of your favorite movies at Mundo Pixar
The rain that falls, the mood is shaken, the city is grey… And a space full of color, life and memories to go to when it rains in Madrid. Mundo Pixar is an immersive experience in which you will trace a peculiar journey through the iconic scenes of films such as Finding Nemo o Toy Story. You will visit the scare factory of Monsters S.A. carl’s house in UP, the village of Santa Cecilia in Coco…
Space 5.1 of the IFEMA Madrid Trade Fair Center. Avenida del Partenón, 5 (district of Barajas)
2. It’s theater time
It is always a good excuse to review the theater billboard in Madrid and discover that the offer is big enough to find something to your liking. In the National Classical Theater, the Program is perfect to lay the foundations and rediscover the reason for its fame and the charm of the theater.
If you prefer novelties and more daring productions, there are the Teatros del Canal or the Teatro Español. For shows, more relaxed performances and musical in addition to the Gran Vía, there are the Teatro Maravillas, the Lara the Rialto, the Rialto, and if you want a little bit of everything, the Teatro Reina Victoria will be a better option.
3. Going from museum to museum
No matter how many times you have been to the Museo del Prado, to the Queen Sofia or the Thyssen: they are never enough. In addition, 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 the home and workshop of the Valencian painter, or the Lázaro Galdiano Museum it is 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 art galleries the most important museums 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.
4. Visiting the Markets of Madrid
In the new life of the markets, now converted into gastronomic spaces and cultural events of the city, are a perfect option to solve rainy plans in Madrid. Many of them have had a recent facelift worth knowing, such as the San Anton Market or the Cebada, with a very appetizing leisure proposal. Others remain practically intact and with that balance between a neighborhood market where shopping and having a drink are not at odds, such as Tirso de Molina. Or also that of Antón Martín which in our eyes is one of the new gastronomic meccas of the capital.
5. Discover new specialty coffees
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, which is 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’s a good thing that it’s almost always accompanied by homemade sweets or sweets from their own bakery, where they can even sell sourdough bread, as is the case at Acid Backehouse. Two in one.
6. Visit the Descalzas Reales Monastery
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 away from Puerta del Sol. It is a building full of 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 used to live there and 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 Zurbarán and Tiziano. It is preferable to get the tickets in advance because visits are limited.
7. From book to book
Hard-to-find editions, books by weight, literary colloquiums, film series and booksellers delighted with their trade. It is not a question of going to a bookstore, but to a bookstore in 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 between their pages.
8. More than cinemas
A classic, we know, but it is a good occasion to review the Program of the alternative movie theaters in Madrid starting with the main one, the Doré Cinema. And continuing to have a drink and watch whatever they show at 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.
9. Enjoying a concert by candlelight
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.
Swapping the soothing sound of rain for the even more soothing sound of a string quartet or live piano is not bad at all.
10. Shopping malls
A suitable option for all audiences are the shopping malls. Not only are they a place for leisure and shopping, they have more and more activities, sports and experiences that differentiate and specialize them in 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 fashion and beauty brands in the middle of Gran Vía, there is X-Madrid WOW Concept and if you feel like strolling under cover near a lake in Madrid’s largest shopping center, at Oasiz both of them.
11. Discover the Royal Collections Gallery
The back of the Royal Palace and La Almudena Cathedral has released this year a museum that deserves a visit for both its form and content. The objects, books and art that the kings of Spain, from the Hapsburgs to the Bourbons, have treasured for centuries are now on display in this large minimalist space – reminiscent at times of a Blade Runnerset.
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.
12. A Spa session
A plan that combines beauty and relaxation (under a covered roof) can solve even the grayest of days. In the capital city you can choose between complete spa tours such as 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.
13. Madrid readings
If, despite all this, you don’t feel FOMO (fear of missing out), you can imagine that you are walking the streets of the city through the books. From Galdós to Santiago Lorenzo, Madrid has inspired many works by the most varied writers and from the most unpredictable points of view. This city has a lot of literature and it is never too late to start discovering it.
The rain is no longer an excuse, there are too many options to do in Madrid in the rain not to choose a plan under cover in which to forget about the (bad) weather.