These summer plans in Madrid make the energy-sapping heat more bearable. In case by now there is no version of Summertime that relieves you and you are already short of ideas, what you need is to reconcile with the city. The parks indoor beaches, open-air nights, terraces and swimming pools are here to bring out the refreshing side of the city.
Terraces with views
1. Hotel Emperador
In the middle of Gran Vía is the largest rooftop swimming pool in Madrid, 14 meters long and six meters wide. It is at the Hotel Emperador, located at number 53 of the mythical avenue, which has a 1,000 square meterbeach club . A record-breaking terrace where celebrities such as Ava Gardner, Hemingway or Sofia Loren have passed through. Its views are equally privileged.
📍 Gran Vía, 53 (center)
2. Le Tavernier
Le Tavernier is located in the heart of Madrid, on the 8th floor of the Hotel INNSIDE by Meliá Madrid Gran Vía. And the views of the skyline are unbeatable. Its more than 500 meters of terrace with a seafaring soul and Galician flavor are an oasis where you can have the best cocktails and share a portion with friends. On Saturdays the hours stretch until 2 p.m., so it’s the perfect place to stretch out summer evenings.
📍 Calle Gran Vía, 34 (downtown)
Summer Cinemas
3. Cine Caliente
Adding to the wide range of summer cinemas that can be found in different spaces and districts of Madrid, and under the title Cine caliente, on Tuesdays from July 16 to August 20, the Bombilla Park hosts this summer a cycle in which the conventions of the movie theaters are broken. The films are curated by La Juan Gallery. The Program will feature classics such as Grease with commentary by Lydia Lozano and Lúa Gándara, or Twilight with commentary by Lala Chus and Bertus.
📍 Paseo de la Senda del Rey, 82 (La Florida)
💸 5€
4. La Estival
The summer cinema returns to the Plaza de España until September 15. La Estival will have a large 120 m² screen for projections and a gastronomic anteroom with 15 stalls, 5 more than last year. As usual, the audio will be broadcast through wireless stereo headphones that will allow you to listen to the film in original or dubbed version. Door opening hours from Monday to Friday are 5:00 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 noon.
As in previous years, there will be a extensive lineup of premiere films, special screenings, monologues and live podcasts, among other activities that have yet to be finalized.
Plaza de España (center)
💸 Tickets: between 10 and 20 €
Brunch
5. Colon Terrace
The brunch at Terraza Colón lacks nothing. It includes a welcome cocktail, savory dishes (such as Iberian ham sandwich or shrimp tabbouleh) and sweets (such as fresh pastries or homemade yogurt). There is also a DJ to start the weekend mornings off right, as they deserve, to take advantage of the cooler hours of the day.
📍 Plaza de Colón (center)
💸 From 29,95 €
Summer of the Village Concerts
6. Carla Bruni
Supermodel of the 90s, former First Lady of France and singer: Carla Bruni is the international star of the Verano de la Villa line-up. The Italian-French singer will play her quiet and romantic melodies on July 28th at 10 pm in the central courtyard of the Centro Cultural Conde Duque.
📍 Calle de Conde Duque, 11 (Conde Duque)
💸 25€
7. Something Surprising
Veranos de la Villa has managed to turn the concert Algo inesperado into a tradition of Madrid’s summer nights. This year it will surprise us again next Sunday, August 18 in the central courtyard of the Centro Cultural Conde Duque. The artist’s name will only be revealed once he/she is on stage. In the five previous editions, alternative Pop-rock groups such as Vetusta Morla, Morgan and Carolina Durante have played, as well as singers María José Llergo and Kiko Veneno.
📍 Calle de Conde Duque, 11 (Conde Duque)
8. Candlelight Concerts
In the most unexpected settings and by candlelight Candlelight presents a new summer Program ranging from Tributes to Vivaldi, Hans Zimmer, Coldplay or The Beatles to tributes to artists closer to home such as La Oreja de Van Gogh, Laura Pausini or Bad Bunny.
These concerts will take place in venues that are always worth revisiting -or visiting for the first time, if you haven’t yet-. We are talking about the Ateneo de Madrid, the Círculo de Bellas Artes or the Palacio de los Duques de Santoña. In addition, since it is summer, on certain specific dates and in places close to Madrid, the candlelight’s Magiosadas will go outdoors in new locations to bring its light and music outdoors.
📍 Severallocations in Madrid and surrounding areas
💸 From 15€
Swimming pools in Madrid
9. The beach of Parla
The culmination of Madrid’s municipal swimming pools is the Parla beach: a saltwater pool. You can even choose to lie on the grass or on the fine sand and enjoy the sun. With 3,000 cubic meters of crystal-clear water and three independent pools, this enclosure is one of the best kept secrets of the summer outside the capital. It is usually open from mid-June to mid-September.
Avenida de América, s/n (Parla)
10. The Casa de Campo swimming pool
The Casa de Campo Sports Center was refurbished in 2021, including the comprehensive remodeling of three of the five pools and the creation of a new beginner pool. It is one of the most attractive municipal swimming pools in Madrid thanks to the privileged environment in which it is located, surrounded by oak trees and very close to the Casa de Campo lake.
All kinds of water sports classes are organized in its facilities, for all ages, including swimming lessons for people with disabilities. The center also has a fitness center.
Paseo Puerta del Ángel, 7 (Casa de Campo)
Popular festivals
11. San Cayetano in Lavapiés
Editorial credit: Shutterstock
In August Lavapiés and La Latina dress up in chulapa because the festivities take up half a month and save the summer night plans of the Madrilenians. They begin the weekend of August 6 to 9 with San Cayetano, which this year will be held at the fairgrounds that will be located in the Plaza de Cascorro.
12. San Lorenzo in Lavapiés
The San Lorenzo festivities are held from August 10 to 13. As in previous years, the stalls and booths will be located in Lavapiés, Nelson Mandela and Cabestreros squares. The musical performances, still to be confirmed, will be in the Arturo Barea square.
13. The Virgin of La Paloma
The biggest festival of the summer is that of the Virgen de la Paloma and its fervor is only comparable to that of San Isidro. These are the festivities that inspired Jonás Trueba’s film La virgen de agosto and also a comedy classic, La verbena de la Paloma, from 1963, starring Concha Velasco and directed by José Luis Sáenz de Heredia.
The Virgen de la Paloma culminates the almost 9 days of celebrations that will take place during the first two weeks of the month, and are from 14 to 17 August. The nerve center of these festivities is the Carrera de San Francisco and the Plaza de los Carros. The musical performances will take place in the Vistillas, as in previous years.
Water parks
14. Warner Beach Park
Amusement park lovers are in luck. Warner Beach Park brings together the best of the original version of the popular theme park in an aquatic experience that includes slides, pools and other outdoor activities. In addition, the venue includes zones of rest and stores with merchandising of the characters that have starred in our childhood: the Looney Tunes.
A-4, Exit 22 (San Martín de la Vega)
15. Villanueva de la Cañada Aquopolis
Whether with family, friends or as a couple, Aquopolis is the ideal proposal to take a dip in a fun way. The water park has facilities that offer alternatives suitable for all ages, such as slides, pools, ponds… And many more attractions where water is the main element.
Avenida Dehesa, s/n (Villanueva de la Cañada)
From 34,90 €
Beaches and natural pools
16. San Juan Reservoir
Located just an hour from Madrid, Pantano de San Juan is one of the most visited areas by locals during the summer. The marsh is considered one of the natural beaches suitable for bathing and has numerous leisure options beyond swimming, such as beach bars, water sports and other areas ideal for organizing a picnic with incredible views.
This year, the reservoir also maintains the recognition of the blue flag in the Virgen de la Nueva beach, so there are no excuses for not taking a dip in what is considered ‘the beach of Madrid’.
San Martín de Valdeiglesias. It is accessed through the M-501, popularly known as the “road of the marshes”.
17. Las Presillas
The spectacular natural pools of Las Presillas are located about 80 km from the capital, specifically in the area of Rascafría. The enclosure has all kinds of equipment, among which you can find trails, parking area for vehicles, toilets, kiosks and landscaped areas in which to rest. Likewise, accessibility to the site is really easy, since it has a bus route that allows you to go from Plaza de Castilla.
On the other hand, a trip to Las Presillas also allows you to immerse yourself in the environment beyond the pools themselves. A short distance from them, you will find the Recreational Area La Isla and the Monastery of El Paular, places worth discovering to enrich your day in the mountains of Madrid.
Rascafría, Community of Madrid. To get there from Madrid, take the A-1, turning off towards Lozoyuela, and then take the M-604.
Taste a good ice cream
18. Töto Ice Cream
At Töto Ice Cream they have two star ice creams: the baked apple with cinnamon is almost a classic, which combines great with the pecan nut and toffee, and another essential is the white chocolate with lime.
This ice cream shop started in Malasaña by master ice cream maker Hernán Rodríguez and since 2022 has two more stores. They have their own bakery, because in addition to ice cream, they have pastries, cakes, sandwiches and specialty coffee.
Gravina, 10 (Chueca); Plaza de España, 9 (downtown) and corredera Alta de San Pablo, 12 (Malasaña)
Small tub: 3,8€
19. Mistura
Mistura’s menu contains delicious flavored ice creams and other desserts that delight the palates of those who visit one of its establishments. With its handmade ice creams made with local products, Mistura offers a unique texture that changes in front of the diner.
Once you have chosen the flavor and toppings with which you want to add a magical touch, the ice cream is mixed on a granite slab at low temperature to achieve the optimal fusion between the ingredients just before being tasted. In addition, with the location of its stores in the most popular and fashionable places in the capital, you will always be in time to enjoy a good ice cream.
Various locations
From 2,6 €
Exhibitions: fresh among art
20. The Berlin Wall. A World Divided
20 original meters of the Berlin Wall, 300 objects of those who lived on both sides, testimonies of people who lived this tremendous dystopia that divided the city of Berlin (and the whole world) are gathered in a single exhibition space (Canal Foundation) throughout the summer.
Castellana Room 214 (Fundación Canal, Canal)
Tickets: from 12 €.
21. PHotoESPAÑA
The great event of photography in Spain will be held this year until September 29th with exhibitions touring all over Madrid. For example, the melancholic, raw photographs of Javier Campano (Barrios. Madrid 1976-1980) on the transformation of Madrid’s neighborhoods in the 1970s. Or Iwan Baan. Instants in architecture, who with his photographic work knew (and knows) how to capture both the works of the great architects of the moment and the traditional buildings of the world (you will find it at the ICO Museum).
Different locations.
Varies according to the exhibition (there are several free of charge)
22. CaixaForum Madrid
This space greets us every time we pass by Paseo del Prado with its immense vertical garden. Inside, summer evenings become a refuge from the heat in its “Summer Nights”, with different evening activities, visits to the exhibitions, musical moments…
Paseo del Prado, 36 (neighborhood of Las Letras)
Depending on the activity.
Small escapades, verbenas and lots of water, even if not a drop falls from the sky. In July and August the city continues, but at a different pace, and the summer plans in Madrid allow us to forget about the high temperature alerts, even if only for a few hours.
This article was written by María F. Carballo, Miguel Sánchez and Elena Francés.